1
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Aragona M, Mhalhel K, Pansera L, Montalbano G, Guerrera MC, Levanti M, Laurà R, Abbate F, Vega JA, Germanà A. Localization of Piezo 1 and Piezo 2 in Lateral Line System and Inner Ear of Zebrafish ( Danio rerio). Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9204. [PMID: 39273152 PMCID: PMC11395407 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Piezo proteins have been identified as mechanosensitive ion channels involved in mechanotransduction. Several ion channel dysfunctions may be associated with diseases (including deafness and pain); thus, studying them is critical to understand their role in mechanosensitive disorders and to establish new therapeutic strategies. The current study investigated for the first time the expression patterns of Piezo proteins in zebrafish octavolateralis mechanosensory organs. Piezo 1 and 2 were immunoreactive in the sensory epithelia of the lateral line system and the inner ear. Piezo 1 (28.7 ± 1.55 cells) and Piezo 2 (28.8 ± 3.31 cells) immunopositive neuromast cells were identified based on their ultrastructural features, and their overlapping immunoreactivity to the s100p specific marker (28.6 ± 1.62 cells), as sensory cells. These findings are in favor of Piezo proteins' potential role in sensory cell activation, while their expression on mantle cells reflects their implication in the maintenance and regeneration of the neuromast during cell turnover. In the inner ear, Piezo proteins' colocalization with BDNF introduces their potential implication in neuronal plasticity and regenerative events, typical of zebrafish mechanosensory epithelia. Assessing these proteins in zebrafish could open up new scenarios for the roles of these important ionic membrane channels, for example in treating impairments of sensory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Aragona
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Kamel Mhalhel
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Lidia Pansera
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Montalbano
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Guerrera
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Levanti
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosaria Laurà
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Abbate
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - José A Vega
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 7500912, Chile
| | - Antonino Germanà
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
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2
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Chang J, Huang R, Zhang Z, Pan Y, Ma Z, Wan B, Wang H. A ubiquitous tire rubber additive induced serious eye injury in zebrafish (Danio rerio). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134461. [PMID: 38696959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that tire wear particles (TWPs) leachate exposure induced serious eye injury in fish through inhibiting the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme activity. However, the main TPO inhibitors in the leachate were still unknown. In this study, we identified 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) as the potential TPO inhibitor in the TWPs leachate through references search, model prediction based on Danish QSAR and ToxCast database, molecular docking, and in vivo assay. We further explored the toxic mechanism of MBT under environmentally relevant concentrations. The decreased eye size of zebrafish larvae was mainly caused by the decreased lens diameter and cell density in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) of the retina. Transcriptomics analysis demonstrated that the eye phototransduction function was significantly suppressed by inhibiting the photoreceptor cell proliferation process after MBT exposure. The altered opsin gene expression and decreased opsin protein levels were induced by weakening thyroid hormone signaling after MBT treatment. These results were comparable to those obtained from a known TPO inhibitor, methimazole. This study has identified MBT as the primary TPO inhibitor responsible for inducing eye impairment in zebrafish larvae exposed to TWPs leachate. It is crucial for reducing the toxicity of TWPs leachate in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan RD 19 a, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhaoguang Zhang
- North China Electric Power University, Beinong RD 2, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yunrui Pan
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan RD 19 a, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zheng Ma
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan RD 19 a, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Wan
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Huili Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China.
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Chang J, Jiao M, Zhang Z, Liu W, Li W, Xu P, Wan B. Mechanistic insight into the adverse outcome of tire wear and road particle leachate exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108053. [PMID: 37356306 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Tire wear particles (TWP) have become the major microplastic pollution in China. Road runoff containing TWP leachate can decrease the eye size and even induced mortality in the aquatic organisms. However, the toxic mechanism of TWP and road particles (RP) leachate on aquatic organisms is still unclear. In this study, the zebrafish embryos were exposed to TWP or RP leachate for 5 days at both environmental relevant and high concentrations. The adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) were screened from individual to molecular levels. The morphological and behavioral analysis demonstrated that the leachate exposure mainly impaired the eye development of zebrafish larvae and inhibited the larval swim behavior and phototactic response, which are the adverse outcomes. The phototransduction modulated by zebrafish retina was significantly down-regulated through transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis. The eye histopathological analysis showed that the decreased thickness of the retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL) and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) after leachate exposure were caused by the decreased photoreceptor cells. Moreover, the expression of NR2E3 and TPO genes showed concentration-dependent down-regulation after leachate exposure. The inhibition of photoreceptor cell proliferation was identified as the main reason for photoreceptor cell decrease in zebrafish larval eye. This study, for the first time, uncovered the underlying toxic mechanism of TWP and RP on zebrafish larval eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Meng Jiao
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan RD 19 a, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhaoguang Zhang
- Tongzhou Asphalt Factory, Beijing Municipal Road and Bridge Building Material Group Co. LTD, Beijing 101108, China
| | - Wentao Liu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan RD 19 a, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Li
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Bin Wan
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing RD 18, Beijing 100085, China.
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4
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Zebrafish and inherited photoreceptor disease: Models and insights. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101096. [PMID: 35811244 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Photoreceptor dysfunctions and degenerative diseases are significant causes of vision loss in patients, with few effective treatments available. Targeted interventions to prevent or reverse photoreceptor-related vision loss are not possible without a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanism leading to disease, which is exceedingly difficult to accomplish in the human system. Cone diseases are particularly challenging to model, as some popular genetically modifiable model animals are nocturnal with a rod-dominant visual system and cones that have dissimilarities to human cones. As a result, cone diseases, which affect visual acuity, colour perception, and central vision in patients, are generally poorly understood in terms of pathology and mechanism. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) provide the opportunity to model photoreceptor diseases in a diurnal vertebrate with a cone-rich retina which develops many macular degeneration-like pathologies. Zebrafish undergo external development, allowing early-onset retinal diseases to be detected and studied, and many ophthalmic tools are available for zebrafish visual assessment during development and adulthood. There are numerous zebrafish models of photoreceptor disease, spanning the various types of photoreceptor disease (developmental, rod, cone, and mixed photoreceptor diseases) and genetic/molecular cause. In this review, we explore the features of zebrafish that make them uniquely poised to model cone diseases, summarize the established zebrafish models of inherited photoreceptor disease, and discuss how disease in these models compares to the human presentation, where applicable. Further, we highlight the contributions of these zebrafish models to our understanding of photoreceptor biology and disease, and discuss future directions for utilising and investigating these diverse models.
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Magner E, Sandoval-Sanchez P, Kramer AC, Thummel R, Hitchcock PF, Taylor SM. Disruption of miR-18a Alters Proliferation, Photoreceptor Replacement Kinetics, Inflammatory Signaling, and Microglia/Macrophage Numbers During Retinal Regeneration in Zebrafish. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2910-2931. [PMID: 35246819 PMCID: PMC9018604 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02783-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, photoreceptor loss causes permanent blindness, but in zebrafish (Danio rerio), photoreceptor loss reprograms Müller glia to function as stem cells, producing progenitors that regenerate photoreceptors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate CNS neurogenesis, but the roles of miRNAs in injury-induced neuronal regeneration are largely unknown. In the embryonic zebrafish retina, miR-18a regulates photoreceptor differentiation. The purpose of the current study was to determine, in zebrafish, the function of miR-18a during injury-induced photoreceptor regeneration. RT-qPCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry showed that miR-18a expression increases throughout the retina between 1 and 5 days post-injury (dpi). To test miR-18a function during photoreceptor regeneration, we used homozygous miR-18a mutants (miR-18ami5012), and knocked down miR-18a with morpholino oligonucleotides. During photoreceptor regeneration, miR-18ami5012 retinas have fewer mature photoreceptors than WT at 7 and 10 dpi, but there is no difference at 14 dpi, indicating that photoreceptor regeneration is delayed. Labeling dividing cells with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) showed that at 7 and 10 dpi, there are excess dividing progenitors in both mutants and morphants, indicating that miR-18a negatively regulates injury-induced proliferation. Tracing 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and BrdU-labeled cells showed that in miR-18ami5012 retinas excess progenitors migrate to other retinal layers in addition to the photoreceptor layer. Inflammation is critical for photoreceptor regeneration, and RT-qPCR showed that in miR-18ami5012 retinas, inflammatory gene expression and microglia activation are prolonged. Suppressing inflammation with dexamethasone rescues the miR-18ami5012 phenotype. Together, these data show that in the injured zebrafish retina, disruption of miR-18a alters proliferation, inflammation, the microglia/macrophage response, and the timing of photoreceptor regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evin Magner
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Pamela Sandoval-Sanchez
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL, 32514, USA
| | - Ashley C Kramer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Ryan Thummel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Peter F Hitchcock
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Scott M Taylor
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL, 32514, USA.
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6
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Aragona M, Porcino C, Guerrera MC, Montalbano G, Laurà R, Cometa M, Levanti M, Abbate F, Cobo T, Capitelli G, Vega JA, Germanà A. The BDNF/TrkB Neurotrophin System in the Sensory Organs of Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052621. [PMID: 35269763 PMCID: PMC8910639 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was discovered in the last century, and identified as a member of the neurotrophin family. BDNF shares approximately 50% of its amino acid with other neurotrophins such as NGF, NT-3 and NT-4/5, and its linear amino acid sequences in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and human are 91% identical. BDNF functions can be mediated by two categories of receptors: p75NTR and Trk. Intriguingly, BDNF receptors were highly conserved in the process of evolution, as were the other NTs’ receptors. In this review, we update current knowledge about the distribution and functions of the BDNF-TrkB system in the sensory organs of zebrafish. In fish, particularly in zebrafish, the distribution and functions of BDNF and TrkB in the brain have been widely studied. Both components of the system, associated or segregated, are also present outside the central nervous system, especially in sensory organs including the inner ear, lateral line system, retina, taste buds and olfactory epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Aragona
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Caterina Porcino
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Maria Cristina Guerrera
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Montalbano
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Rosaria Laurà
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Marzio Cometa
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Maria Levanti
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Francesco Abbate
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
| | - Teresa Cobo
- Departamento de Cirugía y Especialidades Médico-Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - Gabriel Capitelli
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Viamonte 1053, CABA, Buenos Aires 1056, Argentina;
| | - José A. Vega
- Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain;
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 7500912, Chile
| | - Antonino Germanà
- Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (M.A.); (C.P.); (M.C.G.); (G.M.); (R.L.); (M.C.); (M.L.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Wang C, Liu S, Tang KFJ, Zhang Q. Natural infection of covert mortality nodavirus affects Zebrafish (Danio rerio). JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2021; 44:1315-1324. [PMID: 34101847 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Covert mortality nodavirus (CMNV), a novel aquatic pathogen, causes viral covert mortality disease (VCMD) in shrimps and also known to infect farmed marine fish. To date, there has no report regarding the ability of this virus to infect freshwater fish. In this study, we screened and discovered CMNV-positive freshwater zebrafish individuals by reverse transcription-nested PCR (RT-nPCR). The sequence of CMNV amplicons from zebrafish was found to share 99% identity with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of the original CMNV isolate. Histopathological examination of the CMNV-positive zebrafish samples revealed extensive vacuolation and karyopyknosis lesions in the retina of the eye and the midbrain mesencephalon. CMNV-like virus particles were visualized in these tissues under transmission electron microscope. Different degrees of pathological damages were also found in muscle, gills, thymus and ovarian tissues. Strong positive signals of CMNV probe were observed in these infected tissues by in situ hybridization. Overall, all results indicated that zebrafish, an acknowledged model organism, could be infected naturally by CMNV. Thus, it is needed to pay close attention to the possible interference of CMNV whether in assessment of toxic substances, or in studying the developmental characterization and the nerval function, when zebrafish was used as model animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Wang
- Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Kathy F J Tang
- Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingli Zhang
- Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
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8
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Ganzen L, Ko MJ, Zhang M, Xie R, Chen Y, Zhang L, James R, Mumm J, van Rijn RM, Zhong W, Pang CP, Zhang M, Tsujikawa M, Leung YF. Drug screening with zebrafish visual behavior identifies carvedilol as a potential treatment for an autosomal dominant form of retinitis pigmentosa. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11432. [PMID: 34075074 PMCID: PMC8169685 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a mostly incurable inherited retinal degeneration affecting approximately 1 in 4000 individuals globally. The goal of this work was to identify drugs that can help patients suffering from the disease. To accomplish this, we screened drugs on a zebrafish autosomal dominant RP model. This model expresses a truncated human rhodopsin transgene (Q344X) causing significant rod degeneration by 7 days post-fertilization (dpf). Consequently, the larvae displayed a deficit in visual motor response (VMR) under scotopic condition. The diminished VMR was leveraged to screen an ENZO SCREEN-WELL REDOX library since oxidative stress is postulated to play a role in RP progression. Our screening identified a beta-blocker, carvedilol, that ameliorated the deficient VMR of the RP larvae and increased their rod number. Carvedilol may directly on rods as it affected the adrenergic pathway in the photoreceptor-like human Y79 cell line. Since carvedilol is an FDA-approved drug, our findings suggest that carvedilol can potentially be repurposed to treat autosomal dominant RP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Ganzen
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Mee Jung Ko
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Mengrui Zhang
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Rui Xie
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816 USA
| | - Yongkai Chen
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Liyun Zhang
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Rebecca James
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Jeff Mumm
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Richard M. van Rijn
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Wenxuan Zhong
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ,grid.263451.70000 0000 9927 110XJoint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- grid.263451.70000 0000 9927 110XJoint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Motokazu Tsujikawa
- grid.136593.b0000 0004 0373 3971Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan ,grid.136593.b0000 0004 0373 3971Department of Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.257413.60000 0001 2287 3919Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
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9
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Janecke AR, Liu X, Adam R, Punuru S, Viestenz A, Strauß V, Laass M, Sanchez E, Adachi R, Schatz MP, Saboo US, Mittal N, Rohrschneider K, Escher J, Ganesh A, Al Zuhaibi S, Al Murshedi F, AlSaleem B, Alfadhel M, Al Sinani S, Alkuraya FS, Huber LA, Müller T, Heidelberger R, Janz R. Pathogenic STX3 variants affecting the retinal and intestinal transcripts cause an early-onset severe retinal dystrophy in microvillus inclusion disease subjects. Hum Genet 2021; 140:1143-1156. [PMID: 33974130 PMCID: PMC8263458 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02284-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Biallelic STX3 variants were previously reported in five individuals with the severe congenital enteropathy, microvillus inclusion disease (MVID). Here, we provide a significant extension of the phenotypic spectrum caused by STX3 variants. We report ten individuals of diverse geographic origin with biallelic STX3 loss-of-function variants, identified through exome sequencing, single-nucleotide polymorphism array-based homozygosity mapping, and international collaboration. The evaluated individuals all presented with MVID. Eight individuals also displayed early-onset severe retinal dystrophy, i.e., syndromic-intestinal and retinal-disease. These individuals harbored STX3 variants that affected both the retinal and intestinal STX3 transcripts, whereas STX3 variants affected only the intestinal transcript in individuals with solitary MVID. That STX3 is essential for retinal photoreceptor survival was confirmed by the creation of a rod photoreceptor-specific STX3 knockout mouse model which revealed a time-dependent reduction in the number of rod photoreceptors, thinning of the outer nuclear layer, and the eventual loss of both rod and cone photoreceptors. Together, our results provide a link between STX3 loss-of-function variants and a human retinal dystrophy. Depending on the genomic site of a human loss-of-function STX3 variant, it can cause MVID, the novel intestinal-retinal syndrome reported here or, hypothetically, an isolated retinal dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas R Janecke
- Department of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
- Division of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Xiaoqin Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, MSB 7.046, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas HSC (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rüdiger Adam
- University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sumanth Punuru
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, MSB 7.046, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas HSC (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Arne Viestenz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Halle, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Valeria Strauß
- Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - Martin Laass
- Klinik und Poliklinik f. Kinder- u. Jugendmedizin, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Sanchez
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Roberto Adachi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martha P Schatz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ujwala S Saboo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Naveen Mittal
- Department of Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | - Johanna Escher
- Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anuradha Ganesh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Sana Al Zuhaibi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Fathiya Al Murshedi
- Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Badr AlSaleem
- King Fahad Medical City, Children's Specialized Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majid Alfadhel
- Genetics Division and Medical Genomic Research Lab, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Siham Al Sinani
- Department of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lukas A Huber
- Division of Cell Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Müller
- Department of Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ruth Heidelberger
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, MSB 7.046, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas HSC (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Roger Janz
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, MSB 7.046, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas HSC (UTHealth), 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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10
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Santhanam A, Shihabeddin E, Atkinson JA, Nguyen D, Lin YP, O’Brien J. A Zebrafish Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa Shows Continuous Degeneration and Regeneration of Rod Photoreceptors. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102242. [PMID: 33036185 PMCID: PMC7599532 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 1.5 million people suffer from Retinitis Pigmentosa, with many experiencing partial to complete vision loss. Regenerative therapies offer some hope, but their development is challenged by the limited regenerative capacity of mammalian model systems. As a step toward investigating regenerative therapies, we developed a zebrafish model of Retinitis Pigmentosa that displays ongoing regeneration. We used Tol2 transgenesis to express mouse rhodopsin carrying the P23H mutation and an epitope tag in zebrafish rod photoreceptors. Adult and juvenile fish were examined by immunofluorescence, TUNEL and BrdU incorporation assays. P23H transgenic fish expressed the transgene in rods from 3 days post fertilization onward. Rods expressing the mutant rhodopsin formed very small or no outer segments and the mutant protein was delocalized over the entire cell. Adult fish displayed thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and loss of rod outer segments, but retained a single, sparse row of rods. Adult fish displayed ongoing apoptotic cell death in the ONL and an abundance of proliferating cells, predominantly in the ONL. There was a modest remodeling of bipolar and Müller glial cells. This transgenic fish will provide a useful model system to study rod photoreceptor regeneration and integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abirami Santhanam
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (E.S.); (J.A.A.); (D.N.); (Y.-P.L.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (J.O.); Tel.: +1-713-500-5995 (A.S.); +1-713-500-5983 (J.O.)
| | - Eyad Shihabeddin
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (E.S.); (J.A.A.); (D.N.); (Y.-P.L.)
- The MD Anderson Cancer Center/UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joshua A. Atkinson
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (E.S.); (J.A.A.); (D.N.); (Y.-P.L.)
| | - Duc Nguyen
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (E.S.); (J.A.A.); (D.N.); (Y.-P.L.)
| | - Ya-Ping Lin
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (E.S.); (J.A.A.); (D.N.); (Y.-P.L.)
| | - John O’Brien
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (E.S.); (J.A.A.); (D.N.); (Y.-P.L.)
- The MD Anderson Cancer Center/UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (J.O.); Tel.: +1-713-500-5995 (A.S.); +1-713-500-5983 (J.O.)
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11
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Solanki AK, Kondkar AA, Fogerty J, Su Y, Kim SH, Lipschutz JH, Nihalani D, Perkins BD, Lobo GP. A Functional Binding Domain in the Rbpr2 Receptor Is Required for Vitamin A Transport, Ocular Retinoid Homeostasis, and Photoreceptor Cell Survival in Zebrafish. Cells 2020; 9:E1099. [PMID: 32365517 PMCID: PMC7290320 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary vitamin A/all-trans retinol/ROL plays a critical role in human vision. ROL circulates bound to the plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP4) as RBP4-ROL. In the eye, the STRA6 membrane receptor binds to circulatory RBP4 and internalizes ROL. STRA6 is, however, not expressed in systemic tissues, where there is high affinity RBP4 binding and ROL uptake. We tested the hypothesis that the second retinol binding protein 4 receptor 2 (Rbpr2), which is highly expressed in systemic tissues of zebrafish and mouse, contains a functional RBP4 binding domain, critical for ROL transport. As for STRA6, modeling and docking studies confirmed three conserved RBP4 binding residues in zebrafish Rbpr2. In cell culture studies, disruption of the RBP4 binding residues on Rbpr2 almost completely abolished uptake of exogenous vitamin A. CRISPR-generated rbpr2-RBP4 domain zebrafish mutants showed microphthalmia, shorter photoreceptor outer segments, and decreased opsins, which were attributed to impaired ocular retinoid content. Injection of WT-Rbpr2 mRNA into rbpr2 mutant or all-trans retinoic acid treatment rescued the mutant eye phenotypes. In conclusion, zebrafish Rbpr2 contains a putative extracellular RBP4-ROL ligand-binding domain, critical for yolk vitamin A transport to the eye for ocular retinoid production and homeostasis, for photoreceptor cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish K. Solanki
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Altaf A. Kondkar
- Glaucoma Research Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Joseph Fogerty
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (J.F.); (B.D.P.)
| | - Yanhui Su
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Seok-Hyung Kim
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Joshua H. Lipschutz
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Division of Research, Charleston, SC 29420, USA
| | - Deepak Nihalani
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Brian D. Perkins
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (J.F.); (B.D.P.)
| | - Glenn P. Lobo
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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12
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Genomic non-redundancy of the mir-183/96/182 cluster and its requirement for hair cell maintenance. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10302. [PMID: 31311951 PMCID: PMC6635406 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46593-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNAs are important regulators of gene expression. In the retina, the mir-183/96/182 cluster is of particular interest due to its robust expression and studies in which loss of the cluster caused photoreceptor degeneration. However, it is unclear which of the three miRNAs in the cluster are ultimately required in photoreceptors, whether each may have independent, contributory roles, or whether a single miRNA from the cluster compensates for the loss of another. These are important questions that will not only help us to understand the role of these particular miRNAs in the retina, but will deepen our understanding of how clustered microRNAs evolve and operate. To that end, we have developed a complete panel of single, double, and triple mir-183/96/182 mutant zebrafish. While the retinas of all mutant animals were normal, the triple mutants exhibited acute hair cell degeneration which corresponded with impaired swimming and death at a young age. By measuring the penetrance of this phenotype in each mutant line, we determine which of the three miRNAs in the cluster are necessary and/or sufficient to ensure normal hair cell development and function.
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13
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Facchin F, Alviano F, Canaider S, Bianconi E, Rossi M, Bonsi L, Casadei R, Biava PM, Ventura C. Early Developmental Zebrafish Embryo Extract to Modulate Senescence in Multisource Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20112646. [PMID: 31146388 PMCID: PMC6600478 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells undergo senescence both in vivo, contributing to the progressive decline in self-healing mechanisms, and in vitro during prolonged expansion. Here, we show that an early developmental zebrafish embryo extract (ZF1) could act as a modulator of senescence in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) isolated from both adult tissues, including adipose tissue (hASCs), bone marrow (hBM-MSCs), dental pulp (hDP-MSCs), and a perinatal tissue such as the Wharton’s Jelly (hWJ-MSCs). In all the investigated hMSCs, ZF1 decreased senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA β-gal) activity and enhanced the transcription of TERT, encoding the catalytic telomerase core. In addition, it was associated, only in hASCs, with a transcriptional induction of BMI1, a pleiotropic repressor of senescence. In hBM-MSCs, hDP-MSCs, and hWJ-MSCs, TERT over-expression was concomitant with a down-regulation of two repressors of TERT, TP53 (p53), and CDKN1A (p21). Furthermore, ZF1 increased the natural ability of hASCs to perform adipogenesis. These results indicate the chance of using ZF1 to modulate stem cell senescence in a source-related manner, to be potentially used as a tool to affect stem cell senescence in vitro. In addition, its anti-senescence action could also set the basis for future in vivo approaches promoting tissue rejuvenation bypassing stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Facchin
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
- National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Bioengineering of the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (NIBB)-Eldor Lab, at the Innovation Accelerator, CNR, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Francesco Alviano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Silvia Canaider
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
- National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Bioengineering of the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (NIBB)-Eldor Lab, at the Innovation Accelerator, CNR, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Eva Bianconi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
- National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Bioengineering of the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (NIBB)-Eldor Lab, at the Innovation Accelerator, CNR, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Martina Rossi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Laura Bonsi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Raffaella Casadei
- Department for Life Quality Studies (QuVi), University of Bologna, Corso D'Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy.
| | - Pier Mario Biava
- Scientific Institute of Research and Care Multimedica, Via Milanese 300, 20099 Sesto San Giovanni (Milano), Italy.
| | - Carlo Ventura
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
- National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Bioengineering of the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (NIBB)-Eldor Lab, at the Innovation Accelerator, CNR, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.
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14
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DuVal MG, Allison WT. Photoreceptor Progenitors Depend Upon Coordination of gdf6a, thrβ, and tbx2b to Generate Precise Populations of Cone Photoreceptor Subtypes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:6089-6101. [PMID: 30592497 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-24461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Replacing cone photoreceptors, the units of the retina necessary for daytime vision, depends upon the successful production of a full variety of new cones from, for example, stem cells. Using genetic experiments in a model organism with high cone diversity, zebrafish, we map the intersecting effects of cone development factors gdf6a, tbx2b, and thrβ. Methods We investigated these genes of interest by using genetic combinations of mutants, gene knockdown, and dominant negative gene expression, and then quantified cone subtype outcomes (which normally develop in tightly regulated ratios). Results Gdf6a mutants have reduced blue cones and, discovered here, reduced red cones. In combined gdf6a/tbx2b disruption, the loss of gdf6a in heterozygous tbx2b mutants reduced UV cones. Intriguingly, when we disrupted thrβ in gdf6a mutants by using a thrβ morpholino, their combined early disruption revealed a lamination phenotype. Disrupting thrβ activity via expression of a dominant negative thrβ (dnthrβ) at either early or late retinal development had differential outcomes on red cones (reduced abundance), versus UV and blue cones (increased abundance). By using dnthrβ in gdf6a mutants, we revealed that disrupting thrβ activity did not change gdf6a mutant cone phenotypes. Conclusions Gdf6a loss directly affects blue and red cones and indirectly affects UV cones by increasing sensitivity to additional disruption, such as reduced tbx2b, resulting in fewer UV cones. The effects of thrβ change through photoreceptor development, first promoting red cones and restricting UV cones, and later restricting UV and blue cones. The effects of gdf6a on UV, blue, and red cone development overlap with, but likely supersede, those of thrβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle G DuVal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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15
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Meier A, Nelson R, Connaughton VP. Color Processing in Zebrafish Retina. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:327. [PMID: 30337857 PMCID: PMC6178926 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a model organism for vertebrate developmental processes and, through a variety of mutant and transgenic lines, various diseases and their complications. Some of these diseases relate to proper function of the visual system. In the US, the National Eye Institute indicates >140 million people over the age of 40 have some form of visual impairment. The causes of the impairments range from refractive error to cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, plus heritable diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and color vision deficits. Most impairments directly affect the retina, the nervous tissue at the back of the eye. Zebrafish with long or short-wavelength color blindness, altered retinal anatomy due to hyperglycemia, high intraocular pressure, and reduced pigment epithelium are all used, and directly applicable, to study how these symptoms affect visual function. However, many published reports describe only molecular/anatomical/structural changes or behavioral deficits. Recent work in zebrafish has documented physiological responses of the different cell types to colored (spectral) light stimuli, indicating a complex level of information processing and color vision in this species. The purpose of this review article is to consolidate published morphological and physiological data from different cells to describe how zebrafish retina is capable of complex visual processing. This information is compared to findings in other vertebrates and relevance to disorders affecting color processing is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- April Meier
- Zebrafish Ecotoxicology, Neuropharmacology, and Vision Lab, Department of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ralph Nelson
- Neural Circuits Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Victoria P Connaughton
- Zebrafish Ecotoxicology, Neuropharmacology, and Vision Lab, Department of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, United States
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16
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Angueyra JM, Kindt KS. Leveraging Zebrafish to Study Retinal Degenerations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:110. [PMID: 30283779 PMCID: PMC6156122 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerations are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by death of photoreceptors and progressive loss of vision. Retinal degenerations are a major cause of blindness in developed countries (Bourne et al., 2017; De Bode, 2017) and currently have no cure. In this review, we will briefly review the latest advances in therapies for retinal degenerations, highlighting the current barriers to study and develop therapies that promote photoreceptor regeneration in mammals. In light of these barriers, we present zebrafish as a powerful model to study photoreceptor regeneration and their integration into retinal circuits after regeneration. We outline why zebrafish is well suited for these analyses and summarize the powerful tools available in zebrafish that could be used to further uncover the mechanisms underlying photoreceptor regeneration and rewiring. In particular, we highlight that it is critical to understand how rewiring occurs after regeneration and how it differs from development. Insights derived from photoreceptor regeneration and rewiring in zebrafish may provide leverage to develop therapeutic targets to treat retinal degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M. Angueyra
- Retinal Neurophysiology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Katie S. Kindt
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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17
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Campbell LJ, West MC, Jensen AM. A high content, small molecule screen identifies candidate molecular pathways that regulate rod photoreceptor outer segment renewal. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14017. [PMID: 30228302 PMCID: PMC6143611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32336-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The outer segment of the vertebrate rod photoreceptor is a highly modified cilium composed of many discrete membranous discs that are filled with the protein machinery necessary for phototransduction. The unique outer segment structure is renewed daily with growth at the base of the outer segment where new discs are formed and shedding at the distal end where old discs are phagocytized by the retinal pigment epithelium. In order to understand how outer segment renewal is regulated to maintain outer segment length and function, we used a small molecule screening approach with the transgenic (hsp70:HA-mCherryTM) zebrafish, which expresses a genetically-encoded marker of outer segment renewal. We identified compounds with known bioactivity that affect five content areas: outer segment growth, outer segment shedding, clearance of shed outer segment tips, Rhodopsin mislocalization, and differentiation at the ciliary marginal zone. Signaling pathways that are targeted by the identified compounds include cyclooxygenase in outer segment growth, γ-Secretase in outer segment shedding, and mTor in RPE phagocytosis. The data generated by this screen provides a foundation for further investigation of the signaling pathways that regulate photoreceptor outer segment renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah J Campbell
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Megan C West
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Abbie M Jensen
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA. .,Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
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18
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Unal Eroglu A, Mulligan TS, Zhang L, White DT, Sengupta S, Nie C, Lu NY, Qian J, Xu L, Pei W, Burgess SM, Saxena MT, Mumm JS. Multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 Targeting of Genes Implicated in Retinal Regeneration and Degeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:88. [PMID: 30186835 PMCID: PMC6111214 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Thousands of genes have been implicated in retinal regeneration, but only a few have been shown to impact the regenerative capacity of Müller glia—an adult retinal stem cell with untapped therapeutic potential. Similarly, among nearly 300 genetic loci associated with human retinal disease, the majority remain untested in animal models. To address the large-scale nature of these problems, we are applying CRISPR/Cas9-based genome modification strategies in zebrafish to target over 300 genes implicated in retinal regeneration or degeneration. Our intent is to enable large-scale reverse genetic screens by applying a multiplexed gene disruption strategy that markedly increases the efficiency of the screening process. To facilitate large-scale phenotyping, we incorporate an automated reporter quantification-based assay to identify cellular degeneration and regeneration-deficient phenotypes in transgenic fish. Multiplexed gene targeting strategies can address mismatches in scale between “big data” bioinformatics and wet lab experimental capacities, a critical shortfall limiting comprehensive functional analyses of factors implicated in ever-expanding multiomics datasets. This report details the progress we have made to date with a multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9-based gene targeting strategy and discusses how the methodologies applied can further our understanding of the genes that predispose to retinal degenerative disease and which control the regenerative capacity of retinal Müller glia cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arife Unal Eroglu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Timothy S Mulligan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Liyun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - David T White
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sumitra Sengupta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Cathy Nie
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Noela Y Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lisha Xu
- Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Wuhong Pei
- Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Shawn M Burgess
- Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Meera T Saxena
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jeff S Mumm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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19
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Tissue Regeneration without Stem Cell Transplantation: Self-Healing Potential from Ancestral Chemistry and Physical Energies. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:7412035. [PMID: 30057626 PMCID: PMC6051063 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7412035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The human body constantly regenerates after damage due to the self-renewing and differentiating properties of its resident stem cells. To recover the damaged tissues and regenerate functional organs, scientific research in the field of regenerative medicine is firmly trying to understand the molecular mechanisms through which the regenerative potential of stem cells may be unfolded into a clinical application. The finding that some organisms are capable of regenerative processes and the study of conserved evolutionary patterns in tissue regeneration may lead to the identification of natural molecules of ancestral species capable to extend their regenerative potential to human tissues. Such a possibility has also been strongly suggested as a result of the use of physical energies, such as electromagnetic fields and mechanical vibrations in human adult stem cells. Results from scientific studies on stem cell modulation confirm the possibility to afford a chemical manipulation of stem cell fate in vitro and pave the way to the use of natural molecules, as well as electromagnetic fields and mechanical vibrations to target human stem cells in their niche inside the body, enhancing human natural ability for self-healing.
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20
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Azizzadeh Pormehr L, Daftarian N, Ahmadian S, Rezaei Kanavi M, Ahmadieh H, Shafiezadeh M. Human organotypic retinal flat-mount culture (HORFC) as a model for retinitis pigmentosa11. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:6775-6783. [PMID: 29744916 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The splicing factor PRPF31 is the most commonly mutated general splicing factor in the retinitis pigmentosa. We used a rapid, convenient and cost effective transfection method with an efficient PRPF31 knockdown in HORFC in order to study the effect of PRPF31 downregulation on retinal gene expressions in an ex vivo model. Modified calcium phosphate method was used to transfect HORFC by PRPF31 siRNA. Different times and doses of siRNA for transfection were assayed and optimum condition was obtained. PRPF31 mRNA and protein downregulation were assessed by qRTPCR and Western blot. The tissue viability of HORFC was measured using the MTT. ImageJ analysis on stained retinal sections by immunohistochemistry was used for thickness measurement of outer nuclear photoreceptor layer. The PRPF31 gene downregulation effects on retinal specific gene expression were analyzed by qRTPCR. A total of 50 nM of PRPF31 siRNA transfection after 63 h in HORFC, showed the optimum reduction in the level of PRPF31 mRNA and protein as shown by qRTPCR and Western blot (over 90% and 50% respectively). The PRPF31 mRNA silencing with calcium phosphate had no effect on cell viability in the period of the experiment. Thickness measurement of outer nuclear photoreceptor layer with IHC showed the significant reduction after 63 h of study (P value = 0.02). siRNA induced PRPF31 knockdown, led to reduction of retinal specific mRNA gene expression involved in phototransduction (RHO, GNAT1, RP1), photoreceptor structure (ROM1, FSCN2, CA4, SEMA4) and transcription factor (CRX) (fold change >5), after 63 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Azizzadeh Pormehr
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narsis Daftarian
- Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Ahmadian
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mozhgan Rezaei Kanavi
- Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Ahmadieh
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahshid Shafiezadeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Meyers
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Colgate University; Hamilton New York
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22
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Campbell LJ, Hyde DR. Opportunities for CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing in Retinal Regeneration Research. Front Cell Dev Biol 2017; 5:99. [PMID: 29218308 PMCID: PMC5703712 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
While retinal degeneration and disease results in permanent damage and vision loss in humans, the severely damaged zebrafish retina has a high capacity to regenerate lost neurons and restore visual behaviors. Advancements in understanding the molecular and cellular basis of this regeneration response give hope that strategies and therapeutics may be developed to restore sight to blind and visually-impaired individuals. Our current understanding has been facilitated by the amenability of zebrafish to molecular tools, imaging techniques, and forward and reverse genetic approaches. Accordingly, the zebrafish research community has developed a diverse array of research tools for use in developing and adult animals, including toolkits for facilitating the generation of transgenic animals, systems for inducible, cell-specific transgene expression, and the creation of knockout alleles for nearly every protein coding gene. As CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has begun to revolutionize molecular biology research, the zebrafish community has responded in stride by developing CRISPR/Cas9 techniques for the zebrafish as well as incorporating CRISPR/Cas9 into available toolsets. The application of CRISPR/Cas9 to retinal regeneration research will undoubtedly bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying retinal repair and vision restoration in the zebrafish, as well as developing therapeutic approaches that will restore vision to blind and visually-impaired individuals. This review focuses on how CRISPR/Cas9 has been integrated into zebrafish research toolsets and how this new tool will revolutionize the field of retinal regeneration research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah J Campbell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Zebrafish Research and Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - David R Hyde
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Zebrafish Research and Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
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23
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Gu D, Wang S, Zhang S, Zhang P, Zhou G. Directed transdifferentiation of Müller glial cells to photoreceptors using the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway agonist purmorphamine. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:7993-8002. [PMID: 28983586 PMCID: PMC5779882 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Specification of distinct cell types from Müller glial cells is key to the potential application of endogenous repair in retinal regeneration. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) has been established as a potent mitogen for rat Müller glial cells, which also induces Müller glial cells to dedifferentiate and adopt the phenotype of rod photoreceptors. The present study investigated the effects of purmorphamine, a small molecule that activates the SHH‑pathway, in the proliferation, dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation of Müller glial cells, as determined by several methods including immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. It was demonstrated that it may be able to replace SHH for the regeneration of retinal neurons. Purmorphamine was revealed to stimulate the proliferation of Müller glial cells by increasing the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin D3. In addition, purmorphamine‑treated Müller glial cells were induced to dedifferentiate by inducing the expression of progenitor‑specific markers; subsequently differentiating into rod‑like photoreceptors. Intraocular injection of purmorphamine promoted the activation of Müller glial cells, and in turn, the production of rod‑like photoreceptors in acute damaged retina. These results suggested that the endogenous neurogenic capacity of retinal Müller glial cells may be enhanced by this small molecular agonist of the SHH signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Gu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Songtao Wang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Guomin Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
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24
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Thorn RJ, Clift DE, Ojo O, Colwill RM, Creton R. The loss and recovery of vertebrate vision examined in microplates. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183414. [PMID: 28817700 PMCID: PMC5560659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Regenerative medicine offers potentially ground-breaking treatments of blindness and low vision. However, as new methodologies are developed, a critical question will need to be addressed: how do we monitor in vivo for functional success? In the present study, we developed novel behavioral assays to examine vision in a vertebrate model system. In the assays, zebrafish larvae are imaged in multiwell or multilane plates while various red, green, blue, yellow or cyan objects are presented to the larvae on a computer screen. The assays were used to examine a loss of vision at 4 or 5 days post-fertilization and a gradual recovery of vision in subsequent days. The developed assays are the first to measure the loss and recovery of vertebrate vision in microplates and provide an efficient platform to evaluate novel treatments of visual impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Thorn
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Danielle E. Clift
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Oladele Ojo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Ruth M. Colwill
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Robbert Creton
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
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25
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Utilizing Zebrafish Visual Behaviors in Drug Screening for Retinal Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18061185. [PMID: 28574477 PMCID: PMC5486008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18061185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are a popular vertebrate model in drug discovery. They produce a large number of small and rapidly-developing embryos. These embryos display rich visual-behaviors that can be used to screen drugs for treating retinal degeneration (RD). RD comprises blinding diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, which affects 1 in 4000 people. This disease has no definitive cure, emphasizing an urgency to identify new drugs. In this review, we will discuss advantages, challenges, and research developments in using zebrafish behaviors to screen drugs in vivo. We will specifically discuss a visual-motor response that can potentially expedite discovery of new RD drugs.
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26
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Tappeiner C, Maurer E, Sallin P, Bise T, Enzmann V, Tschopp M. Inhibition of the TGFβ Pathway Enhances Retinal Regeneration in Adult Zebrafish. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167073. [PMID: 27880821 PMCID: PMC5120850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to the mammalian retina, the zebrafish retina exhibits the potential for lifelong retinal neurogenesis and regeneration even after severe damage. Previous studies have shown that the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway is activated during the regeneration of different tissues in the zebrafish and is needed for regeneration in the heart and the fin. In this study, we have investigated the role of the TGFβ pathway in the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced chemical model of rod photoreceptor de- and regeneration in adult zebrafish. Immunohistochemical staining for phosphorylated Smad3 was elevated during retinal regeneration, and phosphorylated Smad3 co-localized with proliferating cell nuclear antigen and glutamine synthetase, indicating TGFβ pathway activation in proliferating Müller glia. Inhibiting the TGFβ signaling pathway using a small molecule inhibitor (SB431542) resulted in accelerated recovery from retinal degeneration. Accordingly, we observed increased cell proliferation in the outer nuclear layer at days 3 to 8 after MNU treatment. In contrast to the observations in the heart and the fin, the inhibition of the TGFβ signaling pathway resulted in increased proliferation after the induction of retinal degeneration. A better understanding of the underlying pathways with the possibility to boost retinal regeneration in adult zebrafish may potentially help to stimulate such proliferation also in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Tappeiner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ellinor Maurer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pauline Sallin
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Bise
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Volker Enzmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Markus Tschopp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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27
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Hamon A, Roger JE, Yang XJ, Perron M. Müller glial cell-dependent regeneration of the neural retina: An overview across vertebrate model systems. Dev Dyn 2016; 245:727-38. [PMID: 26661417 PMCID: PMC4900950 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal dystrophies are a major cause of blindness for which there are currently no curative treatments. Transplantation of stem cell‐derived neuronal progenitors to replace lost cells has been widely investigated as a therapeutic option. Another promising strategy would be to trigger self‐repair mechanisms in patients, through the recruitment of endogenous cells with stemness properties. Accumulating evidence in the past 15 year0s has revealed that several retinal cell types possess neurogenic potential, thus opening new avenues for regenerative medicine. Among them, Müller glial cells have been shown to be able to undergo a reprogramming process to re‐acquire a stem/progenitor state, allowing them to proliferate and generate new neurons for repair following retinal damages. Although Müller cell–dependent spontaneous regeneration is remarkable in some species such as the fish, it is extremely limited and ineffective in mammals. Understanding the cellular events and molecular mechanisms underlying Müller cell activities in species endowed with regenerative capacities could provide knowledge to unlock the restricted potential of their mammalian counterparts. In this context, the present review provides an overview of Müller cell responses to injury across vertebrate model systems and summarizes recent advances in this rapidly evolving field. Developmental Dynamics 245:727–738, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Developmental Dynamics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The present review provides an overview of Müller cell responses to injury across vertebrate model systems and summarizes recent advances in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annaïg Hamon
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS, Univ Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.,Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Thérapeutique en Ophtalmologie, Retina France, Orsay, France
| | - Jérôme E Roger
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS, Univ Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.,Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Thérapeutique en Ophtalmologie, Retina France, Orsay, France
| | - Xian-Jie Yang
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Muriel Perron
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS, Univ Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.,Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Thérapeutique en Ophtalmologie, Retina France, Orsay, France.,Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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28
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The Difference between Anxiolytic and Anxiogenic Effects Induced by Acute and Chronic Alcohol Exposure and Changes in Associative Learning and Memory Based on Color Preference and the Cause of Parkinson-Like Behaviors in Zebrafish. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141134. [PMID: 26558894 PMCID: PMC4641683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe an interdisciplinary comparison of the effects of acute and chronic alcohol exposure in terms of their disturbance of light, dark and color preferences and the occurrence of Parkinson-like behavior in zebrafish through computer visual tracking, data mining, and behavioral and physiological analyses. We found that zebrafish in anxiolytic and anxious states, which are induced by acute and chronic repeated alcohol exposure, respectively, display distinct emotional reactions in light/dark preference tests as well as distinct learning and memory abilities in color-enhanced conditional place preference (CPP) tests. Additionally, compared with the chronic alcohol (1.0%) treatment, acute alcohol exposure had a significant, dose-dependent effect on anxiety, learning and memory (color preference) as well as locomotive activities. Acute exposure doses (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) generated an “inverted V” dose-dependent pattern in all of the behavioral parameters, with 1.0% having the greatest effect, while the chronic treatment had a moderate effect. Furthermore, by measuring locomotive activity, learning and memory performance, the number of dopaminergic neurons, tyrosine hydroxylase expression, and the change in the photoreceptors in the retina, we found that acute and chronic alcohol exposure induced varying degrees of Parkinson-like symptoms in zebrafish. Taken together, these results illuminated the behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying the changes associated with learning and memory and the cause of potential Parkinson-like behaviors in zebrafish due to acute and chronic alcohol exposure.
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29
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Taylor SM, Alvarez-Delfin K, Saade CJ, Thomas JL, Thummel R, Fadool JM, Hitchcock PF. The bHLH Transcription Factor NeuroD Governs Photoreceptor Genesis and Regeneration Through Delta-Notch Signaling. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2015; 56:7496-515. [PMID: 26580854 PMCID: PMC4654396 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.15-17616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Photoreceptor genesis in the retina requires precise regulation of progenitor cell competence, cell cycle exit, and differentiation, although information around the mechanisms that govern these events currently is lacking. In zebrafish, the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor NeuroD governs photoreceptor genesis, but the signaling pathways through which NeuroD functions are unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify these pathways, and during photoreceptor genesis, Notch signaling was investigated as the putative mediator of NeuroD function. METHODS In embryos, genetic mosaic analysis was used to determine if NeuroD functions is cell- or non-cell-autonomous. Morpholino-induced NeuroD knockdown, CRISPR/Cas9 mutation, and pharmacologic and transgenic approaches were used, followed by in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry, and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), to identify mechanisms through which NeuroD functions. In adults, following photoreceptor ablation and NeuroD knockdown, similar methods as above were used to identify NeuroD function during photoreceptor regeneration. RESULTS In embryos, NeuroD function is non-cell-autonomous, NeuroD knockdown increases Notch pathway gene expression, Notch inhibition rescues the NeuroD knockdown-induced deficiency in cell cycle exit but not photoreceptor maturation, and Notch activation and CRISPR/Cas9 mutation of neurod recapitulate NeuroD knockdown. In adults, NeuroD knockdown prevents cell cycle exit and photoreceptor regeneration and increases Notch pathway gene expression, and Notch inhibition rescues this phenotype. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that during embryonic development, NeuroD governs photoreceptor genesis via non-cell-autonomous mechanisms and that, during photoreceptor development and regeneration, Notch signaling is a mechanistic link between NeuroD and cell cycle exit. In contrast, during embryonic development, NeuroD governs photoreceptor maturation via mechanisms that are independent of Notch signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M. Taylor
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Michigan, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Karen Alvarez-Delfin
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
| | - Carole J. Saade
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
| | - Jennifer L. Thomas
- Departments of Anatomy/Cell Biology and Ophthalmology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Ryan Thummel
- Departments of Anatomy/Cell Biology and Ophthalmology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - James M. Fadool
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
| | - Peter F. Hitchcock
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Michigan, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
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30
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Mrejen S, Pang CE, Sarraf D, Goldberg NR, Gallego-Pinazo R, Klancnik JM, Sorenson JA, Yannuzzi LA, Freund KB. Adaptive optics imaging of cone mosaic abnormalities in acute macular neuroretinopathy. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2015; 45:562-9. [PMID: 25423637 DOI: 10.3928/23258160-20141118-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To assess the cone photoreceptor mosaic in acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) using adaptive optics (AO) imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four patients with AMN were evaluated retrospectively by near-infrared reflectance (IR) confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and a flood-illuminated retinal AO camera. Microperimetry was performed in one patient. RESULTS The cone photoreceptor density was decreased at the level of the AMN lesions. The cone mosaic disruption appeared heterogeneous and more widespread than the lesion detected in the IR-SLO and SD-OCT images. The areas of cone loss correlated with SD-OCT and microperimetry. After resolution of the AMN lesion on IR-SLO, there was incomplete recovery of the cone photoreceptor mosaic. CONCLUSION Cone photoreceptor damage and reconstitution were documented in vivo at the cellular level in AMN using AO imaging. AO imaging appeared more sensitive than combined IR-SLO and SD-OCT to detect and follow photoreceptor damage in patients with AMN.
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31
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Shi W, Fang Z, Li L, Luo L. Using zebrafish as the model organism to understand organ regeneration. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2015; 58:343-51. [PMID: 25862658 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-015-4838-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The limited regenerative capacity of several organs, such as central nervous system (CNS), heart and limb in mammals makes related major diseases quite difficult to recover. Therefore, dissection of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying organ regeneration is of great scientific and clinical interests. Tremendous progression has already been made after extensive investigations using several model organisms for decades. Unfortunately, distance to the final achievement of the goal still remains. Recently, zebrafish became a popular model organism for the deep understanding of regeneration based on its powerful regenerative capacity, in particular the organs that are limitedly regenerated in mammals. Additionally, zebrafish are endowed with other advantages good for the study of organ regeneration. This review summarizes the recent progress in the study of zebrafish organ regeneration, in particular regeneration of fin, heart, CNS, and liver as the representatives. We also discuss reasons of the reduced regenerative capacity in higher vertebrate, the roles of inflammation during regeneration, and the difference between organogenesis and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- WenChao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
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32
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Hollbach N, Tappeiner C, Jazwinska A, Enzmann V, Tschopp M. Photopic and scotopic spatiotemporal tuning of adult zebrafish vision. Front Syst Neurosci 2015; 9:20. [PMID: 25788878 PMCID: PMC4349083 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2015.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensitivity to spatial and temporal patterns is a fundamental aspect of vision. Herein, we investigated this sensitivity in adult zebrafish for a wide range of spatial (0.014 to 0.511 cycles/degree [c/d]) and temporal frequencies (0.025 to 6 cycles/s) to better understand their visual system. Measurements were performed at photopic (1.8 log cd m(-2)) and scotopic (-4.5 log cd m(-2)) light levels to assess the optokinetic response (OKR). The resulting spatiotemporal contrast sensitivity (CS) functions revealed that the OKR of zebrafish is tuned to spatial frequency and speed but not to temporal frequencies. Thereby, optimal test parameters for CS measurements were identified. At photopic light levels, a spatial frequency of 0.116 ± 0.01 c/d (mean ± SD) and a grating speed of 8.42 ± 2.15 degrees/second (d/s) was ideal; at scotopic light levels, these values were 0.110 ± 0.02 c/d and 5.45 ± 1.31 d/s, respectively. This study allows to better characterize zebrafish mutants with altered vision and to distinguish between defects of rod and cone photoreceptors as measurements were performed under different light conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Hollbach
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland ; Department of Ophthalmology, Basel University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Tappeiner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anna Jazwinska
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Volker Enzmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland
| | - Markus Tschopp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland ; Department of Ophthalmology, Basel University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
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Jian Q, Li Y, Yin ZQ. Rat BMSCs initiate retinal endogenous repair through NGF/TrkA signaling. Exp Eye Res 2015; 132:34-47. [PMID: 25584870 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Revised: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Müller cells can completely repair retinal injury by acting as endogenous stem/progenitor cells in lower-order vertebrates. However, a safe and effective approach to activate progenitor potential of retinal Müller cells in higher-order vertebrates, which rarely re-enter the cell cycle, is a bottleneck problem. In the present study, Royal College of Surgeon's (RCS) rats were subjected to rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) subretinal space transplantation. Electroretinography (ERG) recordings showed that the b-wave amplitudes and ONL thicknesses statistically increased after transplantation. The number of Müller cells expressing proliferative, stem/progenitor and neuronal markers significantly increased after rBMSCs transplantation in vivo or after co-culturing with rBMSCs in vitro. The cultured rBMSCs could secrete nerve growth factor (NGF). In addition, we confirmed that NGF or NGF-neutralizing antibody could activate or depress Müller cells dedifferentiation, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, Müller cells expressing high levels of the NGF receptor neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 (TrkA) were observed in the retinas of rats transplanted with rBMSCs. Moreover, the protein expression of downstream elements of NGF/TrkA signaling, such as p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-CREB, increased in Müller cells in the retinas of rBMSCs-treated rats in vivo or in Müller cells co-cultured with rBMSCs in vitro. Blocking TrkA with K-252a reduced the number of dedifferentiated Müller cells and the expression of NGF/TrkA signaling in vitro. Thus, rBMSCs might initiate endogenous regenerative mechanisms, which may constitute a new therapeutic strategy for retinal dystrophic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Jian
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yaochen Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Zheng Qin Yin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
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Keightley MC, Wang CH, Pazhakh V, Lieschke GJ. Delineating the roles of neutrophils and macrophages in zebrafish regeneration models. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 56:92-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Maurer E, Tschopp M, Tappeiner C, Sallin P, Jazwinska A, Enzmann V. Methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration and regeneration in the zebrafish: histological and functional characteristics. J Vis Exp 2014:e51909. [PMID: 25350292 DOI: 10.3791/51909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases, e.g. retinitis pigmentosa, with resulting photoreceptor damage account for the majority of vision loss in the industrial world. Animal models are of pivotal importance to study such diseases. In this regard the photoreceptor-specific toxin N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) has been widely used in rodents to pharmacologically induce retinal degeneration. Previously, we have established a MNU-induced retinal degeneration model in the zebrafish, another popular model system in visual research. A fascinating difference to mammals is the persistent neurogenesis in the adult zebrafish retina and its regeneration after damage. To quantify this observation we have employed visual acuity measurements in the adult zebrafish. Thereby, the optokinetic reflex was used to follow functional changes in non-anesthetized fish. This was supplemented with histology as well as immunohistochemical staining for apoptosis (TUNEL) and proliferation (PCNA) to correlate the developing morphological changes. In summary, apoptosis of photoreceptors occurs three days after MNU treatment, which is followed by a marked reduction of cells in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). Thereafter, proliferation of cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and ONL is observed. Herein, we reveal that not only a complete histological but also a functional regeneration occurs over a time course of 30 days. Now we illustrate the methods to quantify and follow up zebrafish retinal de- and regeneration using MNU in a video-format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellinor Maurer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern
| | - Markus Tschopp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern; Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Basel
| | | | | | | | - Volker Enzmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern;
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Sun L, Li P, Carr AL, Gorsuch R, Yarka C, Li J, Bartlett M, Pfister D, Hyde DR, Li L. Transcription of the SCL/TAL1 interrupting Locus (Stil) is required for cell proliferation in adult Zebrafish Retinas. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:6934-6940. [PMID: 24469449 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.506295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The human oncogene SCL/TAL1 interrupting locus (Stil) is highly conserved in vertebrate species. Previously, we identified a homolog of the Stil gene in zebrafish mutant (night blindness b, nbb), which showed neural defects in the retina (e.g. dopaminergic cell degeneration and/or lack of regeneration). In this research, we examined the roles of Stil in cell proliferation after degeneration in adult zebrafish retinas. We demonstrated that knockdown of Stil gene expression or inhibition of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling transduction decreases the rate of cell proliferation. In contrast, activation of Shh signal transduction promotes cell proliferation. In nbb(+/-) retinas, inhibition of SUFU (a repressor in the Shh pathway) rescues the defects in cell proliferation due to down-regulation of Stil gene expression. The latter data suggest that Stil play a role in cell proliferation through the Shh signal transduction pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556; Department of Physiology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China 370001
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Aprell L Carr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556; Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Ryne Gorsuch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556; Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Clare Yarka
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Jingling Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556; Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Michael Bartlett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Delaney Pfister
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - David R Hyde
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556; Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556; Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.
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SiO2 nanoparticles change colour preference and cause Parkinson's-like behaviour in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2014; 4:3810. [PMID: 24448416 PMCID: PMC3898208 DOI: 10.1038/srep03810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
With advances in the development of various disciplines, there is a need to decipher bio-behavioural mechanisms via interdisciplinary means. Here, we present an interdisciplinary study of the role of silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) in disturbing the neural behaviours of zebrafish and a possible physiological mechanism for this phenomenon. We used adult zebrafish as an animal model to evaluate the roles of size (15-nm and 50-nm) and concentration (300 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL) in SiO2-NP neurotoxicity via behavioural and physiological analyses. With the aid of video tracking and data mining, we detected changes in behavioural phenotypes. We found that compared with 50-nm nanosilica, 15-nm SiO2-NPs produced greater significant changes in advanced cognitive neurobehavioural patterns (colour preference) and caused potentially Parkinson's disease-like behaviour. Analyses at the tissue, cell and molecular levels corroborated the behavioural results, demonstrating that nanosilica acted on the retina and dopaminergic (DA) neurons to change colour preference and to cause potentially Parkinson's disease-like behaviour.
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Lenkowski JR, Raymond PA. Müller glia: Stem cells for generation and regeneration of retinal neurons in teleost fish. Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 40:94-123. [PMID: 24412518 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2013.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Revised: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Adult zebrafish generate new neurons in the brain and retina throughout life. Growth-related neurogenesis allows a vigorous regenerative response to damage, and fish can regenerate retinal neurons, including photoreceptors, and restore functional vision following photic, chemical, or mechanical destruction of the retina. Müller glial cells in fish function as radial-glial-like neural stem cells. During adult growth, Müller glial nuclei undergo sporadic, asymmetric, self-renewing mitotic divisions in the inner nuclear layer to generate a rod progenitor that migrates along the radial fiber of the Müller glia into the outer nuclear layer, proliferates, and differentiates exclusively into rod photoreceptors. When retinal neurons are destroyed, Müller glia in the immediate vicinity of the damage partially and transiently dedifferentiate, re-express retinal progenitor and stem cell markers, re-enter the cell cycle, undergo interkinetic nuclear migration (characteristic of neuroepithelial cells), and divide once in an asymmetric, self-renewing division to generate a retinal progenitor. This daughter cell proliferates rapidly to form a compact neurogenic cluster surrounding the Müller glia; these multipotent retinal progenitors then migrate along the radial fiber to the appropriate lamina to replace missing retinal neurons. Some aspects of the injury-response in fish Müller glia resemble gliosis as observed in mammals, and mammalian Müller glia exhibit some neurogenic properties, indicative of a latent ability to regenerate retinal neurons. Understanding the specific properties of fish Müller glia that facilitate their robust capacity to generate retinal neurons will inform and inspire new clinical approaches for treating blindness and visual loss with regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny R Lenkowski
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Pamela A Raymond
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Characterization of light lesion paradigms and optical coherence tomography as tools to study adult retina regeneration in zebrafish. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80483. [PMID: 24303018 PMCID: PMC3841302 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Light-induced lesions are a powerful tool to study the amazing ability of photoreceptors to regenerate in the adult zebrafish retina. However, the specificity of the lesion towards photoreceptors or regional differences within the retina are still incompletely understood. We therefore characterized the process of degeneration and regeneration in an established paradigm, using intense white light from a fluorescence lamp on swimming fish (diffuse light lesion). We also designed a new light lesion paradigm where light is focused through a microscope onto the retina of an immobilized fish (focused light lesion). Focused light lesion has the advantage of creating a locally restricted area of damage, with the additional benefit of an untreated control eye in the same animal. In both paradigms, cell death is observed as an immediate early response, and proliferation is initiated around 2 days post lesion (dpl), peaking at 3 dpl. We furthermore find that two photoreceptor subtypes (UV and blue sensitive cones) are more susceptible towards intense white light than red/green double cones and rods. We also observed specific differences within light lesioned areas with respect to the process of photoreceptor degeneration: UV cone debris is removed later than any other type of photoreceptor in light lesions. Unspecific damage to retinal neurons occurs at the center of a focused light lesion territory, but not in the diffuse light lesion areas. We simulated the fish eye optical properties using software simulation, and show that the optical properties may explain the light lesion patterns that we observe. Furthermore, as a new tool to study retinal degeneration and regeneration in individual fish in vivo, we use spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Collectively, the light lesion and imaging assays described here represent powerful tools for studying degeneration and regeneration processes in the adult zebrafish retina.
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Tappeiner C, Balmer J, Iglicki M, Schuerch K, Jazwinska A, Enzmann V, Tschopp M. Characteristics of rod regeneration in a novel zebrafish retinal degeneration model using N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). PLoS One 2013; 8:e71064. [PMID: 23951079 PMCID: PMC3741320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary loss of photoreceptors caused by diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa is one of the main causes of blindness worldwide. To study such diseases, rodent models of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration are widely used. As zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a popular model system for visual research that offers persistent retinal neurogenesis throughout the lifetime and retinal regeneration after severe damage, we have established a novel MNU-induced model in this species. Histology with staining for apoptosis (TUNEL), proliferation (PCNA), activated Müller glial cells (GFAP), rods (rhodopsin) and cones (zpr-1) were performed. A characteristic sequence of retinal changes was found. First, apoptosis of rod photoreceptors occurred 3 days after MNU treatment and resulted in a loss of rod cells. Consequently, proliferation started in the inner nuclear layer (INL) with a maximum at day 8, whereas in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) a maximum was observed at day 15. The proliferation in the ONL persisted to the end of the follow-up (3 months), interestingly, without ongoing rod cell death. We demonstrate that rod degeneration is a sufficient trigger for the induction of Müller glial cell activation, even if only a minimal number of rod cells undergo cell death. In conclusion, the use of MNU is a simple and feasible model for rod photoreceptor degeneration in the zebrafish that offers new insights into rod regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Tappeiner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jasmin Balmer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matias Iglicki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kaspar Schuerch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anna Jazwinska
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Volker Enzmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Markus Tschopp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is produced by dying retinal neurons and is required for Muller glia proliferation during zebrafish retinal regeneration. J Neurosci 2013; 33:6524-39. [PMID: 23575850 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3838-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intense light exposure causes photoreceptor apoptosis in dark-adapted adult albino zebrafish (Danio rerio). Subsequently, Müller glia increase expression of the Achaete-scute complex-like 1a (Ascl1a) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) transcription factors and re-enter the cell cycle to yield undifferentiated neuronal progenitors that continue to proliferate, migrate to the outer nuclear layer, and differentiate into photoreceptors. A proteomic analysis of light-damaged retinal homogenates, which induced Müller glia proliferation when injected into an undamaged eye, revealed increased expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) signaling proteins relative to undamaged retinal homogenates. TNFα expression initially increased in apoptotic photoreceptors and later in Müller glia. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of TNFα expression before light damage diminished the expression of both Ascl1a and Stat3 in Müller glia and significantly reduced the number of proliferating Müller glia without affecting photoreceptor cell death. Knockdown of TNFα expression in the Müller glia resulted in fewer proliferating Müller glia, suggesting that Müller glial-derived TNFα recruited additional Müller glia to re-enter the cell cycle. While TNFα is required for increased Ascl1a and Stat3 expression, Ascl1a and Stat3 are both necessary for TNFα expression in Müller glia. Apoptotic inner retinal neurons, resulting from intravitreal injection of ouabain, also exhibited increased TNFα expression that was required for Müller glia proliferation. Thus, TNFα is the first molecule identified that is produced by dying retinal neurons and is necessary to induce Müller glia to proliferate in the zebrafish retinal regeneration response.
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Riera M, Burguera D, Garcia-Fernàndez J, Gonzàlez-Duarte R. CERKL knockdown causes retinal degeneration in zebrafish. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64048. [PMID: 23671706 PMCID: PMC3650063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human CERKL gene is responsible for common and severe forms of retinal dystrophies. Despite intense in vitro studies at the molecular and cellular level and in vivo analyses of the retina of murine knockout models, CERKL function remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to approach the developmental and functional features of cerkl in Danio rerio within an Evo-Devo framework. We show that gene expression increases from early developmental stages until the formation of the retina in the optic cup. Unlike the high mRNA-CERKL isoform multiplicity shown in mammals, the moderate transcriptional complexity in fish facilitates phenotypic studies derived from gene silencing. Moreover, of relevance to pathogenicity, teleost CERKL shares the two main human protein isoforms. Morpholino injection has been used to generate a cerkl knockdown zebrafish model. The morphant phenotype results in abnormal eye development with lamination defects, failure to develop photoreceptor outer segments, increased apoptosis of retinal cells and small eyes. Our data support that zebrafish Cerkl does not interfere with proliferation and neural differentiation during early developmental stages but is relevant for survival and protection of the retinal tissue. Overall, we propose that this zebrafish model is a powerful tool to unveil CERKL contribution to human retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Riera
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Demian Burguera
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Garcia-Fernàndez
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Gonzàlez-Duarte
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Franco C, Soares R, Pires E, Koci K, Almeida AM, Santos R, Coelho AV. Understanding regeneration through proteomics. Proteomics 2013; 13:686-709. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201200397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 10/31/2012] [Accepted: 11/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Franco
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica; Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Oeiras Portugal
| | - Renata Soares
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica; Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Oeiras Portugal
| | - Elisabete Pires
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica; Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Oeiras Portugal
| | - Kamila Koci
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica; Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Oeiras Portugal
| | - André M. Almeida
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica; Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Oeiras Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical; Lisboa Portugal
| | - Romana Santos
- Unidade de Investigação em Ciências Orais e Biomédicas, Faculdade de Medicina Dentária; Universidade de Lisboa; Portugal
| | - Ana Varela Coelho
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica; Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Oeiras Portugal
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Abstract
Comparative studies of lens and retina regeneration have been conducted within a wide variety of animals over the last 100 years. Although amphibians, fish, birds and mammals have all been noted to possess lens- or retina-regenerative properties at specific developmental stages, lens or retina regeneration in adult animals is limited to lower vertebrates. The present review covers the newest perspectives on lens and retina regeneration from these different model organisms with a focus on future trends in regeneration research.
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Zhang L, Chong L, Cho J, Liao PC, Shen F, Leung YF. Drug Screening to Treat Early-Onset Eye Diseases: Can Zebrafish Expedite the Discovery? ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY (PHILADELPHIA, PA.) 2012; 1:374-83. [PMID: 26107731 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0b013e31827a9969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The molecular basis of many early-onset eye diseases has been uncovered, but the number of available drug treatments for improving deteriorated vision is still scarce. Consequently, there is a high demand for new drugs to treat these diseases. This review first provides a brief synopsis of the use of zebrafish model for screening drugs with vision benefits. In particular, visual-motor response, the activity response of larvae to a change in light stimuli, is proposed to serve as a simple and efficient tool for screening drugs that may improve vision in various zebrafish visual mutants. The second part of the review discusses the identification of novel drug candidates, with particular emphasis on naturally derived chemicals including traditional Chinese medicines and nutritional therapies on retinal degenerative diseases. Many of these chemicals have been used in neuroprotection and/or have been consumed by many populations for good health and vision; thus, the screening of these chemicals with various zebrafish visual mutants would expedite the development of novel drugs for treating early-onset eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyun Zhang
- From the *Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University; and †Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN
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46
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Gestri G, Link BA, Neuhauss SCF. The visual system of zebrafish and its use to model human ocular diseases. Dev Neurobiol 2012; 72:302-27. [PMID: 21595048 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Free swimming zebrafish larvae depend mainly on their sense of vision to evade predation and to catch prey. Hence, there is strong selective pressure on the fast maturation of visual function and indeed the visual system already supports a number of visually driven behaviors in the newly hatched larvae.The ability to exploit the genetic and embryonic accessibility of the zebrafish in combination with a behavioral assessment of visual system function has made the zebrafish a popular model to study vision and its diseases.Here, we review the anatomy, physiology, and development of the zebrafish eye as the basis to relate the contributions of the zebrafish to our understanding of human ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Gestri
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College, London,UK.
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47
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Meyers JR, Hu L, Moses A, Kaboli K, Papandrea A, Raymond PA. β-catenin/Wnt signaling controls progenitor fate in the developing and regenerating zebrafish retina. Neural Dev 2012; 7:30. [PMID: 22920725 PMCID: PMC3549768 DOI: 10.1186/1749-8104-7-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The zebrafish retina maintains two populations of stem cells: first, the germinal zone or ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) contains multipotent retinal progenitors that add cells to the retinal periphery as the fish continue to grow; second, radial glia (Müller cells) occasionally divide asymmetrically to generate committed progenitors that differentiate into rod photoreceptors, which are added interstitially throughout the retina with growth. Retinal injury stimulates Müller glia to dedifferentiate, re-enter the cell cycle, and generate multipotent retinal progenitors similar to those in the CMZ to replace missing neurons. The specific signals that maintain these two distinct populations of endogenous retinal stem cells are not understood. Results We used genetic and pharmacological manipulation of the β-catenin/Wnt signaling pathway to show that it is required to maintain proliferation in the CMZ and that hyperstimulation of β-catenin/Wnt signaling inhibits normal retinal differentiation and expands the population of proliferative retinal progenitors. To test whether similar effects occur during regeneration, we developed a method for making rapid, selective photoreceptor ablations in larval zebrafish with intense light. We found that dephosphorylated β-catenin accumulates in Müller glia as they re-enter the cell cycle following injury, but not in Müller glia that remain quiescent. Activation of Wnt signaling is required for regenerative proliferation, and hyperstimulation results in loss of Müller glia from the INL as all proliferative cells move into the ONL. Conclusions β-catenin/Wnt signaling is thus required for the maintenance of retinal progenitors during both initial development and lesion-induced regeneration, and is sufficient to prevent differentiation of those progenitors and maintain them in a proliferative state. This suggests that the β-catenin/Wnt cascade is part of the shared molecular circuitry that maintains retinal stem cells for both homeostatic growth and epimorphic regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Meyers
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA.
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Bailey TJ, Davis DH, Vance JE, Hyde DR. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography as a noninvasive method to assess damaged and regenerating adult zebrafish retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2012; 53:3126-38. [PMID: 22499984 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.11-8895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE These experiments assessed the ability of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to accurately represent the structural organization of the adult zebrafish retina and reveal the dynamic morphologic changes during either light-induced damage and regeneration of photoreceptors or ouabain-induced inner retinal damage. METHODS Retinas of control dark-adapted adult albino zebrafish were compared with retinas subjected to 24 hours of constant intense light and recovered for up to 8 weeks or ouabain-damaged retinas that recovered for up to 3 weeks. Images were captured and the measurements of retinal morphology were made by SD-OCT, and then compared with those obtained by histology of the same eyes. RESULTS Measurements between SD-OCT and histology were very similar for the undamaged, damaged, and regenerating retinas. Axial measurements of SD-OCT also revealed vitreal morphology that was not readily visualized by histology. CONCLUSIONS SD-OCT accurately represented retinal lamination and photoreceptor loss and recovery during light-induced damage and subsequent regeneration. SD-OCT was less accurate at detecting the inner nuclear layer in ouabain-damaged retinas, but accurately detected the undamaged outer nuclear layer. Thus, SD-OCT provides a noninvasive and quantitative method to assess the morphology and the extent of damage and repair in the zebrafish retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis J Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Strähle U, Bally-Cuif L, Kelsh R, Beis D, Mione M, Panula P, Figueras A, Gothilf Y, Brösamle C, Geisler R, Knedlitschek G. EuFishBioMed (COST Action BM0804): a European network to promote the use of small fishes in biomedical research. Zebrafish 2012; 9:90-3. [PMID: 22537014 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2012.0742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Small fresh water fishes such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become important model organisms for biomedical research. They currently represent the best vertebrate embryo models in which it is possible to derive quantitative data on gene expression, signaling events, and cell behavior in real time in the living animal. Relevant phenotypes in fish mutants are similar to those of other vertebrate models and human diseases. They can be analyzed in great detail and much faster than in mammals. In recent years, approximately 2500 genetically distinct fish lines have been generated by European research groups alone. Their potential, including their possible use by industry, is far from being exploited. To promote zebrafish research in Europe, EuFishBioMed was founded and won support by the EU COST programme ( http://www.cost.esf.org/ ). The main objective of EuFishBioMed is to establish a platform of knowledge exchange for research on small fish models with a strong focus on widening its biomedical applications and an integration of European research efforts and resources. EuFishBioMed currently lists more than 300 member laboratories in Europe, offers funding for short-term laboratory visits, organizes and co-sponsors meetings and workshops, and has successfully lobbied for the establishment of a European Zebrafish Resource Centre. To maintain this network in the future, beyond the funding period of the COST Action, we are currently establishing the European Society for Fish Models in Biology and Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Strähle
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
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