Tail Tales: What We Have Learned About Regeneration from Xenopus Laevis Tadpoles

The review on Xenopus laevis tadpoles highlights their remarkable ability to regenerate tails, including spinal cord, muscle, and skin, within 7-14 days post-amputation through epimorphic regeneration. This process involves scar-free wound healing, blastema formation, and tissue differentiation, driven by key signaling pathways such as TGFβ, FGFs, BMPs, Wnts, and NF-κB, influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium signaling. Mechanotransduction via the Hippo/YAP pathway, metabolic shifts, and epigenetic changes also play crucial roles. The study emphasizes the importance of regeneration-organizing cells (ROCs) and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regeneration, with potential implications for regenerative medicine in humans. Despite advances, further research is needed to fully understand the interactions of these pathways and their evolutionary aspects.