A population of stem cells with strong regenerative potential discovered in deer antlers
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
The annual regrowth of deer antlers provides a valuable model for studying organ regeneration in mammals. We describe a single-cell atlas of antler regrowth. The earliest-stage antler initiators were mesenchymal cells that express the paired related homeobox 1 gene (PRRX1+ mesenchymal cells). We also identified a population of "antler blastema progenitor cells" (ABPCs) that developed from the PRRX1+ mesenchymal cells and directed the antler regeneration process. Cross-species comparisons identified ABPCs in several mammalian blastema. In vivo and in vitro ABPCs displayed strong self-renewal ability and could generate osteochondral lineage cells. Last, we observed a spatially well-structured pattern of cellular and gene expression in antler growth center during the peak growth stage, revealing the cellular mechanisms involved in rapid antler elongation.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Science (New York, N.Y.) |
Volume | 379 |
Issue number | 6634 |
Pages (from-to) | 840-847 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 0036-8075 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
ID: 338525003