Hydrogen peroxide is necessary during tail regeneration in juvenile axolotl

Background Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a key reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during appendage regeneration among vertebrates. However, its role during tail regeneration in axolotl as redox signaling molecule is unclear. Results Treatment with exogenous H2O2 rescues inhibitory effects of apocynin-induced growth suppression in tail blastema cells leading to cell proliferation. H2O2 also promotes recruitment of immune cells, regulate the activation of AKT kinase and Agr2 expression during blastema formation. Additionally, ROS/H2O2 regulates the expression and transcriptional activity of Yap1 and its target genes Ctgf and Areg. Conclusions These results show that H2O2 is necessary and sufficient to promote tail regeneration in axolotls. Additionally, Akt signaling and Agr2 were identified as ROS targets, suggesting that ROS/H2O2 is likely to regulate epimorphic regeneration through these signaling pathways. In addition, ROS/H2O2-dependent-Yap1 activity is required during tail regeneration.

Automated summary

The study found that H2O2 plays a promoting role in axolotl tail regeneration by affecting the expression of AKT kinase and Agr2, suggesting that ROS/H2O2 may regulate the regeneration process through these signaling pathways.