Immunolocalization of Nestin in the lizard Podarcis muralis indicates up-regulation during the process of tail regeneration and epidermal differentiation

In order to study some of the proteins involved in tissue remodeling and regeneration, the stem cell marker and dynamic cytoskeletal protein nestin have been detected using immunocytochemistry in normal and regenerating tail of lizard. In tissues of the normal tail, nestin is only present in the alpha-layer of scales and in sparse cells of connective tissues. However, during tail regeneration, nestin is more commonly detected in various tissues, especially in the epidermis and regenerating scales, muscles, nerves and in the growing spinal cord. Sporadic nestin immunopositive cells are seen in the regenerating blastema and derived connective tissues. In the epidermis, nestin is expressed in the main sites of cell proliferation located in the apical alpha-keratinocytes of the forming scales, but disappears in beta-cells. In the regenerating muscles, nestin is seen in myoblasts and elongating myotubes, but disappears in mature muscles. Nestin appears in the growing nerves and in a few neurons of the regenerating spinal cord. It is present in the apical ependymal cells and in peripheral nerves and Schwann cells. The dynamic cytoskeletal protein nestin appears to be activated in the main sites of cell proliferation and cytoskeletal remodeling needed for re-epithelization and the differentiation of new scales, muscles and nervous tissue.