Embryos are regeneration and wound healing masters. They rapidly close wounds and scarlessly remodel and regenerate injured tissue. Regeneration has been extensively studied in many animal models using new tools such as single-cell analysis. However, until now, they have been based primarily on experiments assessing from 1 day post injury. In this paper, we reveal that critical steps initiating regeneration occur within hours after injury. We discovered the regeneration initiating cells (RICs) using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics of the regenerating Xenopus laevis tail. RICs are formed transiently from the basal epidermal cells, and their expression signature suggests they are important for modifying the surrounding extracellular matrix thus regulating development. The absence or deregulation of RICs leads to excessive extracellular matrix deposition and defective regeneration. RICs represent a newly discovered transient cell state involved in the initiation of the regeneration process.

中文翻译：

---

非洲爪蟾尾部再生过程中再生起始细胞的表征


胚胎是再生和伤口愈合的大师。它们迅速闭合伤口，无疤痕地重塑和再生受伤的组织。使用单细胞分析等新工具在许多动物模型中对再生进行了广泛的研究。然而，到目前为止，它们主要基于受伤后 1 天的实验评估。在本文中，我们揭示了损伤后数小时内发生启动再生的关键步骤。我们利用再生非洲爪蟾尾部的单细胞和空间转录组学发现了再生起始细胞（RIC）。 RIC 由基底表皮细胞瞬时形成，其表达特征表明它们对于改变周围的细胞外基质从而调节发育非常重要。 RIC 的缺失或失调会导致细胞外基质过度沉积和再生缺陷。 RIC 代表了一种新发现的瞬时细胞状态，涉及再生过程的启动。