A population of stem cells with strong regenerative potential discovered in deer antlers

Science. 2023 Feb 24;379(6634):840-847. doi: 10.1126/science.add0488. Epub 2023 Feb 23.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antlers* / cytology
  • Antlers* / physiology
  • Deer* / physiology
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / physiology
  • Regeneration*
  • Single-Cell Analysis

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins