Project description:Mice were wounded and measured for regeneration starting 4 days after wound closure with simultaneous measurement of hair follicle neogenesis and biopsing. At each time point, RNA was collected from one mouse with high number of regenerated follicles and one without regenerated follicles.
Project description:Mice were wounded and skin samples of the scar collected on the day of wound closure. We compared Mixed mice (B6/FVB/SJL), a strain of high regeneration, versus C57bl mice, a strain of low regeneration.
Project description:Mice were wounded and skin samples of the scar collected on the day of wound closure. We compared Mixed mice (B6/FVB/SJL), a strain of high regeneration, versus C57bl mice, a strain of low regeneration. Whole skin biopsies of wound scars were submitted for Affymetrix Exon arrays. 4 mice each of 2 distinct strains of differing regeneration levels were collected.
Project description:Mice were wounded and measured for regeneration starting 4 days after wound closure with simultaneous measurement of hair follicle neogenesis and biopsing. At each time point, RNA was collected from one mouse with high number of regenerated follicles and one without regenerated follicles. Whole skin biopsies of wound scars were submitted for Affymetrix Exon arrays. 3 replicates of mice with high number of regenerated follicles, 3 replicates of mice with no regenerated follicles; each pair taken at a different date after wound closure.
Project description:Cutaneous wounds in adult mammals typically heal by scarring. However, large full-thickness wounds undergo wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN), a form of regeneration. Here, we show that WIHN requires transient expression of epidermal Msx2 in two phases: the wound margin early and the wound center late. Msx2 expression is present in the migrating epithelium during early wound healing and then presents in the epithelium and mesenchyme later in the wound center. WIHN is abrogated in germline and epithelial-specific Msx2 mutant mice. Unlike the full-length Msx2 promoter, a minimal Msx2 promoter fails activation in the wound center, suggesting complex regulation of Msx2 expression. The Msx2 promoter binding sites include Tcf/Lef, Jun/Creb, Pax3, and three SMAD sites. However, basal epithelial-induced BMP suppression by noggin overexpression did not affect WIHN. We propose that Msx2 signaling is required for the epidermis to acquire spatiotemporal competence during WIHN. Topologically, hair regeneration dominates in the wound center, coinciding with late Msx2 expression. Together, these results suggest that intrinsic Msx2 expression supports epithelial competency during hair follicle neogenesis. This work provides insight into endogenous mechanisms modulating competency of adult epidermal progenitors for mammalian ectodermal appendage neogenesis, and offers the target Msx2 for future regeneration-promoting therapies.