In Apostichopus japonicus, apoptosis controls intestinal regeneration through iPLA2 and EGFL7 signaling.

• VV Subba Rao

  English

  Author

• W Golding

  English

  Author

By eliminating damaged or superfluous cells, apoptosis maintains organismal homeostasis. There is
growing evidence that apoptosis also promotes tissue remodeling and activates regenerative pathways.
However, the regulatory mechanisms that connect this type of planned cell death to regeneration are still
not well understood, especially in animals that are evolutionarily basal. This study found strong apoptotic
activity throughout important regenerative stages in the sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), a model
for intestinal regeneration. Intestinal regeneration was severely hampered by pharmacological
suppression of apoptosis during wound healing and mesenteric scaffold development.

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