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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.08.06.743241

Blastema cells exhibit intrinsic migratory capacity but fail to induce osteoblast off-bone migration during Zebrafish fin regeneration

Sehring, I. M.·Weidinger, G.
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Abstract

Zebrafish bone regeneration is a highly efficient process, enabling the complete restoration of an amputated fin within few weeks. The hallmark of this epimorphic regeneration is the formation of a blastema atop of a bony fin ray. Osteoblasts near the injury site dedifferentiate and migrate off the bone to contribute to the developing blastema. We show that an injury or a blastema alone is not sufficient to trigger off-bone migration of osteoblasts. Surprisingly, we found that blastema cells themselves possess intrinsic migratory properties. Moreover, when multiple injury sites are present, a preferential distal migration could be observed. We conclude that multiple injuries are hierarchical organized, and that injuries with the highest regenerative potential take priority.

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Sehring, I. M., Weidinger, G.. 2026-08-07. Blastema cells exhibit intrinsic migratory capacity but fail to induce osteoblast off-bone migration during Zebrafish fin regeneration. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.06.743241

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