Teleost Caudal Fin Development and Regeneration: Mechanisms, Models, and Therapeutic Potential

The caudal fin of teleost fish, a fundamental locomotive structure, has received considerable attention due to its extraordinary capacity for regeneration. Teleosts' ability to regenerate their caudal fins involves complex interactions between various signaling pathways, growth factors, and transcription factors that organize wound healing, cell proliferation, and tissue redevelopment. Key pathways implicated in these processes include Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, FGF, and Notch signaling, which not only regulate the proliferation and differentiation of resident stem cells but also ensure the spatial and temporal coordination necessary for tissue architecture restoration. Moreover, on the practical challenges or limitations of translating these findings to human regenerative medicine would provide more balance. Looking forward, future research could benefit from advanced genomic and proteomic techniques to unravel the finer aspects of cellular dynamics and molecular diversity within the regenerative process of the caudal fin.