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Miao KZ, Kim GY, Meara GK, Qin X, Feng H. Tipping the Scales With Zebrafish to Understand Adaptive Tumor Immunity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:660969. [PMID: 34095125 PMCID: PMC8173129 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.660969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The future of improved immunotherapy against cancer depends on an in-depth understanding of the dynamic interactions between the immune system and tumors. Over the past two decades, the zebrafish has served as a valuable model system to provide fresh insights into both the development of the immune system and the etiologies of many different cancers. This well-established foundation of knowledge combined with the imaging and genetic capacities of the zebrafish provides a new frontier in cancer immunology research. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of the zebrafish immune system along with a side-by-side comparison of its human counterpart. We then introduce components of the adaptive immune system with a focus on their roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of teleosts. In addition, we summarize zebrafish models developed for the study of cancer and adaptive immunity along with other available tools and technology afforded by this experimental system. Finally, we discuss some recent research conducted using the zebrafish to investigate adaptive immune cell-tumor interactions. Without a doubt, the zebrafish will arise as one of the driving forces to help expand the knowledge of tumor immunity and facilitate the development of improved anti-cancer immunotherapy in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Z Miao
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Grace Y Kim
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Grace K Meara
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xiaodan Qin
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hui Feng
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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Ganz J. Gut feelings: Studying enteric nervous system development, function, and disease in the zebrafish model system. Dev Dyn 2018; 247:268-278. [PMID: 28975691 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the largest part of the peripheral nervous system and is entirely neural crest-derived. It provides the intrinsic innervation of the gut, controlling different aspects of gut function, such as motility. In this review, we will discuss key points of Zebrafish ENS development, genes, and signaling pathways regulating ENS development, as well as contributions of the Zebrafish model system to better understand ENS disorders. During their migration, enteric progenitor cells (EPCs) display a gradient of developmental states based on their proliferative and migratory characteristics, and show spatiotemporal heterogeneity based on gene expression patterns. Many genes and signaling pathways that regulate the migration and proliferation of EPCs have been identified, but later stages of ENS development, especially steps of neuronal and glial differentiation, remain poorly understood. In recent years, Zebrafish have become increasingly important to test candidate genes for ENS disorders (e.g., from genome-wide association studies), to identify environmental influences on ENS development (e.g., through large-scale drug screens), and to investigate the role the gut microbiota play in ENS development and disease. With its unique advantages as a model organism, Zebrafish will continue to contribute to a better understanding of ENS development, function, and disease. Developmental Dynamics 247:268-278, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ganz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
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White DT, Eroglu AU, Wang G, Zhang L, Sengupta S, Ding D, Rajpurohit SK, Walker SL, Ji H, Qian J, Mumm JS. ARQiv-HTS, a versatile whole-organism screening platform enabling in vivo drug discovery at high-throughput rates. Nat Protoc 2016; 11:2432-2453. [PMID: 27831568 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2016.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish has emerged as an important model for whole-organism small-molecule screening. However, most zebrafish-based chemical screens have achieved only mid-throughput rates. Here we describe a versatile whole-organism drug discovery platform that can achieve true high-throughput screening (HTS) capacities. This system combines our automated reporter quantification in vivo (ARQiv) system with customized robotics, and is termed 'ARQiv-HTS'. We detail the process of establishing and implementing ARQiv-HTS: (i) assay design and optimization, (ii) calculation of sample size and hit criteria, (iii) large-scale egg production, (iv) automated compound titration, (v) dispensing of embryos into microtiter plates, and (vi) reporter quantification. We also outline what we see as best practice strategies for leveraging the power of ARQiv-HTS for zebrafish-based drug discovery, and address technical challenges of applying zebrafish to large-scale chemical screens. Finally, we provide a detailed protocol for a recently completed inaugural ARQiv-HTS effort, which involved the identification of compounds that elevate insulin reporter activity. Compounds that increased the number of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells represent potential new therapeutics for diabetic patients. For this effort, individual screening sessions took 1 week to conclude, and sessions were performed iteratively approximately every other day to increase throughput. At the conclusion of the screen, more than a half million drug-treated larvae had been evaluated. Beyond this initial example, however, the ARQiv-HTS platform is adaptable to almost any reporter-based assay designed to evaluate the effects of chemical compounds in living small-animal models. ARQiv-HTS thus enables large-scale whole-organism drug discovery for a variety of model species and from numerous disease-oriented perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T White
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Arife Unal Eroglu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Guohua Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Liyun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sumitra Sengupta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ding Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Surendra K Rajpurohit
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Steven L Walker
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeff S Mumm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
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Abstract
Phenotypic small molecule screens in zebrafish have gained popularity as an unbiased approach to probe biological processes. In this chapter we outline basic methods for performing chemical screens with larval zebrafish including breeding large numbers of embryos, plating larval fish into multi-well dishes, and adding small molecules to these wells. We also highlight important considerations when designing and interpreting the results of a phenotypic screen and possible follow-up approaches, including popular methods used to identify the mechanism of action of a chemical compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen A Brady
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.,Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Andrew J Rennekamp
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.,Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Randall T Peterson
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA. .,Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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Wang G, Rajpurohit SK, Delaspre F, Walker SL, White DT, Ceasrine A, Kuruvilla R, Li RJ, Shim JS, Liu JO, Parsons MJ, Mumm JS. First quantitative high-throughput screen in zebrafish identifies novel pathways for increasing pancreatic β-cell mass. eLife 2015; 4:e08261. [PMID: 26218223 PMCID: PMC4534842 DOI: 10.7554/elife.08261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-organism chemical screening can circumvent bottlenecks that impede drug discovery. However, in vivo screens have not attained throughput capacities possible with in vitro assays. We therefore developed a method enabling in vivo high-throughput screening (HTS) in zebrafish, termed automated reporter quantification in vivo (ARQiv). In this study, ARQiv was combined with robotics to fully actualize whole-organism HTS (ARQiv-HTS). In a primary screen, this platform quantified cell-specific fluorescent reporters in >500,000 transgenic zebrafish larvae to identify FDA-approved (Federal Drug Administration) drugs that increased the number of insulin-producing β cells in the pancreas. 24 drugs were confirmed as inducers of endocrine differentiation and/or stimulators of β-cell proliferation. Further, we discovered novel roles for NF-κB signaling in regulating endocrine differentiation and for serotonergic signaling in selectively stimulating β-cell proliferation. These studies demonstrate the power of ARQiv-HTS for drug discovery and provide unique insights into signaling pathways controlling β-cell mass, potential therapeutic targets for treating diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangliang Wang
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Surendra K Rajpurohit
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, United States
| | - Fabien Delaspre
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Steven L Walker
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, United States
| | - David T White
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, United States
| | - Alexis Ceasrine
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Rejji Kuruvilla
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Ruo-jing Li
- Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Joong S Shim
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Jun O Liu
- Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Michael J Parsons
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jeff S Mumm
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, United States
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