New Discovery Revolutionizes Understanding of Skin Healing in Atlantic Salmon

University of Stirling scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the skin of Atlantic salmon, revealing crucial insights into wound healing, tissue regeneration, and cellular transitions that contribute to long-term skin health.

Understanding Cellular Healing Mechanisms

By utilizing advanced cell profiling technologies—including single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics—the research team meticulously analyzed skin cells throughout various stages of wound healing.

Dr. Rose Ruiz Daniels noted:

“We found mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) present at both the wound site and in healthy skin. This suggests that these adult stem cells are a vital and functional component of salmon skin, likely playing a critical role in maintaining its barrier and structural properties.”

Implications for Regenerative Capacity

The research revealed that MSC-like cells become notably more active during the remodeling stage of healing, differentiating into multiple tissue types such as bone and fat. This finding implies that the regenerative capabilities of fish skin are broader than previously understood, suggesting potential parallels with repair processes in deeper tissues like muscle, scales, and connective tissue.

Interestingly, while MSC-like cells are well-documented in mammals, this study indicates that in teleost fish like salmon, these cells may exhibit greater pluripotency, or “stemness,” allowing them to assume a wider variety of regenerative roles. This could indicate that the cellular pathways involved in fish skin regeneration are more adaptable than those found in terrestrial vertebrates.

Future Directions and Practical Applications

Furthermore, the study maps the spatial niches of different MSC subclusters, providing a foundation for future research aimed at manipulating these cells to enhance tissue repair, resilience, and overall fish health.

Dr. Ruiz Daniels emphasized the potential impact of these findings:

“These findings could significantly influence aquaculture practices. Health issues related to barrier tissues, especially skin and gills, present major challenges in Atlantic salmon farming and are a primary cause of mortality in sea cages.”

She added that there is an urgent need for innovative biotechnological solutions to enhance fish health, especially in the face of climate change challenges, such as increased disease risks and thermal uncertainty.

“By understanding the mechanisms behind skin cell remodeling and healing, we aspire to develop new strategies that bolster tissue integrity and reduce the occurrence of non-healing wounds,” Dr. Ruiz Daniels concluded.

Collaborative Research Effort

This groundbreaking study is the result of collaboration among esteemed institutions, including the University of Stirling, the Roslin Institute, Nofima, and the University of Prince Edward Island.

Co-authors of the study include Dr. Sarah Salisbury, Dr. Diego Robledo, Dr. Lene Sveen, Dr. Paula Rodriguez Villamayor, and numerous other prominent researchers.

Image: Dr. Rose Ruiz Daniels