| First Author | Xu H | Year | 2021 |
| Journal | Cell Regen | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 19 |
| PubMed ID | 33937937 | Mgi Jnum | J:321737 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6727538 | Doi | 10.1186/s13619-021-00081-9 |
| Citation | Xu H, et al. (2021) Activation of the Melanocortin-4 receptor signaling by alpha-MSH stimulates nerve-dependent mouse digit regeneration. Cell Regen 10(1):19 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND: Expression of Mc4r in peripheral organs indicates it has broader roles in organ homeostasis and regeneration. However, the expression and function of Mc4r in the mouse limb and digit has not been fully investigated. Our previous work showed that Mc4r-/- mice fail to regenerate the digit, but whether activation of MC4R signaling could rescue digit regeneration, or stimulate proximal digit regeneration is not clear. RESULTS: We analyzed the expression dynamics of Mc4r in the embryonic and postnatal mouse limb and digit using the Mc4r-gfp mice. We found that Mc4r-GFP is mainly expressed in the limb nerves, and in the limb muscles that are undergoing secondary myogenesis. Expression of Mc4r-GFP in the adult mouse digit is restricted to the nail matrix. We also examined the effect of alpha-MSH on mouse digit regeneration. We found that administration of alpha-MSH in the Mc4r+/- mice rescue the delayed regeneration of distal digit tip. alpha-MSH could rescue distal digit regeneration in denervated hindlimbs. In addition, alpha-MSH could stimulate regeneration of the proximally amputated digit, which is non-regenerative. CONCLUSIONS: Mc4r expression in the mouse limb and digit is closely related to nerve tissues, and alpha-MSH/MC4R signaling has a neurotrophic role in mouse digit tip regeneration. |
