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

Zebrafish can fully regenerate amputated fins within weeks, driven by formation of a blastema at the ray tip. Osteoblasts near the injury dedifferentiate and migrate off the bone into the blastema, but the signals controlling this migration are unclear. The researchers found that neither injury alone nor a blastema alone induced off-bone osteoblast migration, indicating additional or combinatorial cues are required. Blastema cells themselves proved capable of migration in culture, suggesting they possess intrinsic motility yet depend on external triggers in vivo. This work refines the understanding of blastema–osteoblast crosstalk and may inform future regenerative medicine approaches. Further studies are needed to identify the specific molecular signals that license osteoblast migration during regeneration.