Marvels of spiny mouse regeneration: cellular players and their interactions in restoring tissue architecture in mammals.

Understanding the cellular and molecular determinants of mammalian tissue regeneration and repair is crucial for developing effective therapies that restore tissue architecture and function. In this review, we focus on the cell types involved in scarless wound response and regeneration of spiny mice (Acomys). Comparative -omics approaches with scar-prone mammals have revealed species-specific peculiarities in cellular behavior during the divergent healing trajectories.

Spatial transcriptomics reveals asymmetric cellular responses to injury in the regenerating spiny mouse () ear.

In contrast to other mammals, the spiny mouse () regenerates skin and ear tissue, which includes hair follicles, glands, and cartilage, in a scar-free manner. Ear punch regeneration is asymmetric with only the proximal wound side participating in regeneration. Here, we show that cues originating from the proximal side are required for normal regeneration and use spatially resolved transcriptomics (tomo-seq) to understand the molecular and cellular events underlying this process.

The Hox transcription factor Ubx stabilizes lineage commitment by suppressing cellular plasticity in .

During development cells become restricted in their differentiation potential by repressing alternative cell fates, and the Polycomb complex plays a crucial role in this process. However, how alternative fate genes are lineage-specifically silenced is unclear. We studied Ultrabithorax (Ubx), a multi-lineage transcription factor of the Hox class, in two tissue lineages using sorted nuclei and interfered with Ubx in mesodermal cells.