{
  "abstract": "Adult mammalian wounds typically restore tissue integrity through fibrotic repair rather than regeneration of the original architecture. Here, we compared small non-regenerative and large regenerative skin wounds to investigate how fibroblasts acquire regenerative competence and enter alternative cell-fate programs. Integrated single-cell RNA sequencing identified a transient signaling and extracellular-matrix-remodeling niche enriched in large wounds, together with NCAM1-associated competent fibroblast states. Time-resolved analysis positioned these states within a root-like fibroblast manifold connected to hair dermal-condensate, endothelial, pericyte and glial-associated fate-entry programs. Inferred cell-cell communication networks revealed shared matrix and adhesion signals, superimposed with branch-associated inputs, including VEGF signaling toward NCAM1-positive endothelial-transition cells. Lineage tracing showed that PDGFRA- and NCAM1-expressing lineages contributed to vascular- and nerve/glial-associated regenerative compartments. Functionally, partial NCAM1 perturbation reduced vascular organization while increasing hair follicle neogenesis, whereas stronger inhibition impaired both outcomes. These findings identify NCAM1 as a regulator of regenerative competence and fate specification within a regenerative competence field rather than a marker of a single terminal lineage. We propose that regenerative wounds activate an NCAM1-associated fibroblast competence field whose quantitative modulation biases competent fibroblasts toward alternative outcomes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "C.-H. Huang"
    },
    {
      "name": "C.-K. Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Y. Kam"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. Van Handel"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Sarkar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y.-C. Ho"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Evseenko"
    },
    {
      "name": "C.-M. Chuong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "H. I.-C. Harn"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dk4hsqg4njy0c.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.01.756129",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.756129v1.full",
  "id": "dk4hsqg4njy0c",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.756129v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "cell biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2742|Wound Healing and Treatments"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220425831",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.756129v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dk4hsqg4njy0c.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:05Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.01.756129",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.756129v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:cell biology",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A regenerative fibroblast competence field supports multiple cell fates in adult skin regeneration",
  "title_text": "A regenerative fibroblast competence field supports multiple cell fates in adult skin regeneration",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:05Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dk4hsqg4njy0c",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}