Epithelial regeneration and association of Innexin-11 and mtMMP-A in Planarian (Dugesia japonica), under temperature stress

Planarians, members of the phylum Platyhelminthes, exhibit remarkable regenerative capabilities, making them an ideal model for studying wound healing and tissue regeneration.Unlike mammalian models, which rely on scar tissue formation for wound repair, planarians regenerate lost body parts through the activity of abundant adult stem cells known as neoblasts.However, the underlying mechanisms of epithelial wound healing and their potential application to mammalian systems remain unclear.In this study, we used Dugesia japonica, a freshwater planarian species, to investigate the effects of temperature stress on regenerative potential, behavioral changes, and genomic expression of key candidate genes.We exposed 7-day starved planarians to high (31C) and low (4C) temperatures and analyzed their mortality rates, regeneration efficiency, and gene expression profiles.Our findings indicate a significant role of Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase A (mt-MMP-A) and Innexin-11 (Inx-11) in epithelial wound healing, with stress-induced reductions in Inx-11 expression correlating with delayed regeneration and increased degeneration.Additionally, we observed an inverse relationship between Inx-11 and mt-MMP-A expression under stress, highlighting their regulatory role in epithelial tissue maintenance.Lamin-B expression, a marker of epithelial integrity, confirmed the detrimental effects of temperature stress on planarian tissue homeostasis.Moreover, extreme temperatures (3C and 32C) resulted in high mortality, emphasizing planarian thermal tolerance limits.This study enhances our understanding of regenerative biology under environmental stress, providing insights into climate change effects on animal health and potential translational applications for improving mammalian wound healing and regenerative medicine.