https://www.tuebingen.mpg.de/280592/news_publication_26212730_transferred
paper: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw8526
Its an interesting HIF 1 alpha thing, but sadly behind a paywall.
Short overview
- Oxygen acts as a switch for regeneration: Low oxygen levels trigger the early phase of limb regeneration in mammals by stabilizing the protein HIF1A. This promotes rapid wound healing and primes the activation of genes required for regeneration. At normal atmospheric oxygen levels, HIF1A is destabilized, quickly shutting down this regenerative response.
- Mammals have hidden regenerative potential: When oxygen levels are lowered or HIF1A is stabilized, mouse embryos rapidly heal wounds and start showing early signs of rebuilding limbs. This suggests that mammals may not be permanently incapable of limb regeneration, but instead require specific environmental conditions to unlock this potential.
- The key difference is how cells sense oxygen: Regeneration-competent animals such as frog tadpoles maintain stable HIF1A activity and remain in a regenerative state even in high oxygen environments. In contrast, mammalian tissues, including humans, respond strongly to oxygen. By manipulating oxygen sensing, this regenerative program can be reactivated, opening the door to testing whether limb regeneration could one day be possible in mammals