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Seaver AW, Weaver NS, Iovine MK. Retinoic Acid Influences connexin43 Expression During Joint Formation in the Regenerating Zebrafish Fin. Bioelectricity 2023; 5:173-180. [PMID: 37746310 PMCID: PMC10516236 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2023.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The regenerating zebrafish fin skeleton is comprised of multiple bony fin rays, each made of alternating bony segments and fin ray joints. This pattern is regulated by the gap junction protein Connexin43 (Cx43), which provides instructional cues to skeletal precursor cells (SPCs). Elevated Cx43 favors osteoblast differentiation and disfavors joint forming cell differentiation. The goal of this article is to test if retinoic acid (RA) contributes to the regulation of cx43 expression. Materials and Methods Functional studies inhibiting the RA-synthesizing enzyme Adh1a2 were evaluated using in situ hybridization to monitor gene expression and with measurements of the length of fin ray segments to monitor impacts on SPC differentiation and joint formation. Results Aldh1a2-knockdown leads to reduced expression of cx43 and increased expression of evx1, a gene required for joint formation. Additionally, inhibition of Aldh1a2 function leads to short fin ray segments. We also find evidence for synergy between aldh1a2 and cx43, suggesting that these genes function in a common molecular pathway to regulate joint formation. Conclusions The role of RA is to promote cx43 expression in the regenerating fin to regulate joint formation and the length of bony fin ray segments. We suggest that RA signaling must coordinate with additional pathways that also regulate cx43 transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander W. Seaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Noah S. Weaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - M. Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
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Bhattacharya S, Hyland C, Falk MM, Iovine MK. Connexin 43 gap junctional intercellular communication inhibits evx1 expression and joint formation in regenerating fins. Development 2020; 147:dev.190512. [PMID: 32541014 DOI: 10.1242/dev.190512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The gap junction protein Connexin 43 (Cx43) contributes to cell fate decisions that determine the location of fin ray joints during regeneration. Here, we provide insights into how Cx43, expressed medially, influences changes in gene expression in lateral skeletal precursor cells. Using the Gap27 peptide inhibitor specific to Cx43, we show that Cx43-gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) influences Cx43-dependent skeletal phenotypes, including segment length. We also demonstrate that Cx43-GJIC influences the expression of the Smp/β-catenin pathway in the lateral skeletal precursor cells, and does not influence the Sema3d pathway. Moreover, we show that the cx43lh10 allele, which has increased Cx43 protein levels, exhibits increased regenerate length and segment length. These phenotypes are rescued by Gap27, suggesting that increased Cx43 is responsible for the observed Cx43 phenotypes. Finally, our findings suggest that inhibition of Cx43 hemichannel activity does not influence Cx43-dependent skeletal phenotypes. These data provide evidence that Cx43-GJIC is responsible for regulating cell fate decisions associated with appropriate joint formation in the regenerating fin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin Hyland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18020, USA
| | - Matthias M Falk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18020, USA
| | - M Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18020, USA
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Zhao Y, Louie KW, Tingle CF, Sha C, Heisel CJ, Unsworth SP, Kish PE, Kahana A. Twist3 is required for dedifferentiation during extraocular muscle regeneration in adult zebrafish. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231963. [PMID: 32320444 PMCID: PMC7176127 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Severely damaged adult zebrafish extraocular muscles (EOMs) regenerate through dedifferentiation of residual myocytes involving a muscle-to-mesenchyme transition. Members of the Twist family of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and are also involved in craniofacial development in humans and animal models. During zebrafish embryogenesis, twist family members (twist1a, twist1b, twist2, and twist3) function to regulate craniofacial skeletal development. Because of their roles as master regulators of stem cell biology, we hypothesized that twist TFs regulate adult EOM repair and regeneration. In this study, utilizing an adult zebrafish EOM regeneration model, we demonstrate that inhibiting twist3 function using translation-blocking morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) impairs muscle regeneration by reducing myocyte dedifferentiation and proliferation in the regenerating muscle. This supports our hypothesis that twist TFs are involved in the early steps of dedifferentiation and highlights the importance of twist3 during EOM regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ke’ale W. Louie
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Christina F. Tingle
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Cuilee Sha
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Curtis J. Heisel
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Shelby P. Unsworth
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Phillip E. Kish
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Alon Kahana
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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Wang Z, Lin L, Chen W, Zheng X, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Yang D. Neutrophil plays critical role during Edwardsiella piscicida immersion infection in zebrafish larvae. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 87:565-572. [PMID: 30742890 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Edwardsiella piscicida is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes hemorrhagic septicemia and haemolytic ascites disease in aquaculture fish. During bacterial infection, macrophages and neutrophils are the first line of host innate immune system. However, the role of neutrophils in response to E. piscicida infection in vivo remains poorly understood. Here, through developing an immersion infection model in the 5 day-post fertilization (dpf) zebrafish larvae, we found that E. piscicida was mainly colonized in intestine, and resulted into significant pathological changes in paraffin sections. Moreover, a dynamic up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, GCSFb, CXCL8 and MMP9) was detected in zebrafish larvae during E. piscicida infection. Furthermore, a significant recruitment of neutrophils was observed during the E. piscicida infection in Tg(mpx:eGFP) zebrafish larvae. Thus, we utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate the neutrophil-knockdown (gcsfr-/- crispants) larvae, and found a comparative higher mortality and bacterial colonization in gcsfr-/- crispants, which reveals the critical role of fish neutrophils in bacterial clearance. Taken together, our results developed an effective E. piscicida immersion challenge model in zebrafish larvae to clarify the dynamic of bacterial infection in vivo, which would provide a better understanding of the action about innate immune cells during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Lingyun Lin
- Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Weijie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Marine Cultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Marine Cultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Dahai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Marine Cultured Animal Vaccines, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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Bhattacharya S, Gargiulo D, Iovine MK. Simplet-dependent regulation of β-catenin signaling influences skeletal patterning downstream of Cx43. Development 2018; 145:dev.166975. [PMID: 30377172 DOI: 10.1242/dev.166975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The correct positioning of joints in the vertebrate skeleton is not well understood. Mutations in connexin43 (cx43) cause the short segment phenotype of the zebrafish short fin (sofb123 ) mutant. We have shown that Cx43 suppresses evx1 expression, a transcription factor required for joint formation. Here, we provide novel insights into how Cx43 influences evx1 transcription. First, we find that Simplet (Smp) knockdown recapitulates the sofb123 phenotypes of reduced regenerate length and reduced segment length, and we find evidence for synergy between cx43 and smp Moreover, knockdown of Smp increases the evx1 expression, similar to cx43 knockdown. Previous studies have shown that Smp is required for the nuclear localization of β-catenin. Indeed, β-catenin activity is required for segment length, and is reduced in both sofb123 mutants and following Smp knockdown in regenerating fins. We further show that blocking canonical Wnt signaling results in a synergistic reduction in segment length in sofb123 /+ heterozygotes. Together, our findings suggest that both Smp and β-catenin function in a common molecular pathway with cx43 to influence both evx1 expression and joint location.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Domenic Gargiulo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - M Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
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