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Singh DJ, Tuscano KM, Ortega AL, Dimri M, Tae K, Lee W, Muslim MA, Rivera Paz IM, Liu JL, Pierce LX, McClendon A, Gibson I, Livesay J, Sakaguchi TF. Forward genetics combined with unsupervised classifications identified zebrafish mutants affecting biliary system formation. Dev Biol 2024; 512:44-56. [PMID: 38729406 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.05.005] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Impaired formation of the biliary network can lead to congenital cholestatic liver diseases; however, the genes responsible for proper biliary system formation and maintenance have not been fully identified. Combining computational network structure analysis algorithms with a zebrafish forward genetic screen, we identified 24 new zebrafish mutants that display impaired intrahepatic biliary network formation. Complementation tests suggested these 24 mutations affect 24 different genes. We applied unsupervised clustering algorithms to unbiasedly classify the recovered mutants into three classes. Further computational analysis revealed that each of the recovered mutations in these three classes has a unique phenotype on node-subtype composition and distribution within the intrahepatic biliary network. In addition, we found most of the recovered mutations are viable. In those mutant fish, which are already good animal models to study chronic cholestatic liver diseases, the biliary network phenotypes persist into adulthood. Altogether, this study provides unique genetic and computational toolsets that advance our understanding of the molecular pathways leading to biliary system malformation and cholestatic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Jyoti Singh
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Kathryn M Tuscano
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Amrhen L Ortega
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Manali Dimri
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Kevin Tae
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - William Lee
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Muslim A Muslim
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Isabela M Rivera Paz
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jay L Liu
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Lain X Pierce
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Allyson McClendon
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Isabel Gibson
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jodi Livesay
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Takuya F Sakaguchi
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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2
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Shimizu N, Shiraishi H, Hanada T. Zebrafish as a Useful Model System for Human Liver Disease. Cells 2023; 12:2246. [PMID: 37759472 PMCID: PMC10526867 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases represent a significant global health challenge, thereby necessitating extensive research to understand their intricate complexities and to develop effective treatments. In this context, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a valuable model organism for studying various aspects of liver disease. The zebrafish liver has striking similarities to the human liver in terms of structure, function, and regenerative capacity. Researchers have successfully induced liver damage in zebrafish using chemical toxins, genetic manipulation, and other methods, thereby allowing the study of disease mechanisms and the progression of liver disease. Zebrafish embryos or larvae, with their transparency and rapid development, provide a unique opportunity for high-throughput drug screening and the identification of potential therapeutics. This review highlights how research on zebrafish has provided valuable insights into the pathological mechanisms of human liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Shimizu
- Department of Cell Biology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu 879-5593, Oita, Japan;
| | | | - Toshikatsu Hanada
- Department of Cell Biology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu 879-5593, Oita, Japan;
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3
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Frost FG, Morimoto M, Sharma P, Ruaud L, Belnap N, Calame DG, Uchiyama Y, Matsumoto N, Oud MM, Ferreira EA, Narayanan V, Rangasamy S, Huentelman M, Emrick LT, Sato-Shirai I, Kumada S, Wolf NI, Steinbach PJ, Huang Y, Pusey BN, Passemard S, Levy J, Drunat S, Vincent M, Guet A, Agolini E, Novelli A, Digilio MC, Rosenfeld JA, Murphy JL, Lupski JR, Vezina G, Macnamara EF, Adams DR, Acosta MT, Tifft CJ, Gahl WA, Malicdan MCV. Bi-allelic SNAPC4 variants dysregulate global alternative splicing and lead to neuroregression and progressive spastic paraparesis. Am J Hum Genet 2023; 110:663-680. [PMID: 36965478 PMCID: PMC10119142 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of human genes encode multiple isoforms through alternative splicing, and the temporal and spatial regulation of those isoforms is critical for organismal development and function. The spliceosome, which regulates and executes splicing reactions, is primarily composed of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) that consist of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and protein subunits. snRNA gene transcription is initiated by the snRNA-activating protein complex (SNAPc). Here, we report ten individuals, from eight families, with bi-allelic, deleterious SNAPC4 variants. SNAPC4 encoded one of the five SNAPc subunits that is critical for DNA binding. Most affected individuals presented with delayed motor development and developmental regression after the first year of life, followed by progressive spasticity that led to gait alterations, paraparesis, and oromotor dysfunction. Most individuals had cerebral, cerebellar, or basal ganglia volume loss by brain MRI. In the available cells from affected individuals, SNAPC4 abundance was decreased compared to unaffected controls, suggesting that the bi-allelic variants affect SNAPC4 accumulation. The depletion of SNAPC4 levels in HeLa cell lines via genomic editing led to decreased snRNA expression and global dysregulation of alternative splicing. Analysis of available fibroblasts from affected individuals showed decreased snRNA expression and global dysregulation of alternative splicing compared to unaffected cells. Altogether, these data suggest that these bi-allelic SNAPC4 variants result in loss of function and underlie the neuroregression and progressive spasticity in these affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Graeme Frost
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marie Morimoto
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Prashant Sharma
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lyse Ruaud
- APHP.Nord, Robert Debré University Hospital, Department of Genetics, Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, Inserm UMR 1141, NeuroDiderot, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Newell Belnap
- Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel G Calame
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuri Uchiyama
- Department of Rare Disease Genomics, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Machteld M Oud
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Elise A Ferreira
- Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; United for Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vinodh Narayanan
- Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Sampath Rangasamy
- Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Matt Huentelman
- Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Lisa T Emrick
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ikuko Sato-Shirai
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Shimada Ryoiku Medical Center Hachioji for Challenged Children, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoko Kumada
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nicole I Wolf
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Department of Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, and Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter J Steinbach
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yan Huang
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Barbara N Pusey
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sandrine Passemard
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm UMR 1141, NeuroDiderot, 75019 Paris, France; Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, DMU INOV-RDB, APHP, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France
| | - Jonathan Levy
- Department of Genetics, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France; Laboratoire de biologie médicale multisites Seqoia - FMG2025, Paris, France
| | - Séverine Drunat
- Department of Genetics, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France; Laboratoire de biologie médicale multisites Seqoia - FMG2025, Paris, France; INSERM UMR1141, Neurodiderot, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marie Vincent
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France; Inserm, CNRS, University Nantes, l'institut du thorax, Nantes, France
| | - Agnès Guet
- APHP.Nord, Louis Mourier Hospital, Pediatrics Department, Paris, France
| | - Emanuele Agolini
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Translational Cytogenomics Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Novelli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Translational Cytogenomics Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer L Murphy
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James R Lupski
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gilbert Vezina
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ellen F Macnamara
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David R Adams
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Office of the Clinical Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maria T Acosta
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cynthia J Tifft
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Office of the Clinical Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - William A Gahl
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Human Biochemical Genetics Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - May Christine V Malicdan
- National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Human Biochemical Genetics Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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4
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Altamimi E, Rabab'h O, Aburizeg D, Akasheh L, Dardas Z, Srour L, Awad H, Azab B. Investigating the genetic profile of familial atypical cystic fibrosis patients (DeltaF508-CFTR) with neonatal biliary atresia. J Appl Genet 2023; 64:71-80. [PMID: 36205856 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-022-00729-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive inflammatory process of the biliary tree resulting in biliary obstruction. No single known genetic or environmental factor has been established to cause BA. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare cause of neonatal cholestasis, and it has never been described in familial BA cases. Here, we investigate two siblings of first-degree consanguineous parents presenting with neonatal BA. Shortly after the Kasai operation, the proband developed severe respiratory symptoms attributable to a missed CF diagnosis. This was discovered after re-investigating the family history, which revealed a first-degree cousin with CF who did not manifest BA. Afterwards, we identified a pathogenic variant (DeltaF508) in CFTR in both BA-affected siblings along with their cousin. This intrigued us to study the molecular etiology behind the familial BA presentations, which exclusively contributed to BA-pathogenesis in BA-CF-affected siblings and not in their CF-only affected cousin. We applied a multistep approach to investigate the variant profile of both siblings' and their cousin's exomes. We curated the genes whose variants were shared by the BA-CF siblings but absent or heterozygous in their CF-only-affected cousin. Consequently, we identified three candidate genes (SNAPC4, UCK1, and ZHX2) besides CFTR. We propose that these genes act cumulatively or individually in inducing BA-pathogenesis-either by aggravating the biliary damage in the context of CF or increasing the susceptibility of BA as a separate CF-comorbidity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of DeltaF508 in CFTR with familial neonatal BA cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyad Altamimi
- Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan.
| | - Omar Rabab'h
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, New York, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Dunia Aburizeg
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Lynn Akasheh
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Zain Dardas
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Luma Srour
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Heyam Awad
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Bilal Azab
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. .,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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5
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Wei YL, Lei YQ, Ye ZJ, Zhuang XD, Zhu LP, Wang XR, Cao H. Effects of bepridil on early cardiac development of zebrafish. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 391:375-391. [PMID: 36422735 PMCID: PMC9686465 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03706-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Bepridil is a commonly used medication for arrhythmia and heart failure. It primarily exerts hemodynamic effects by inhibiting Na+/K+ movement and regulating the Na+/Ca2+ exchange. In comparison to other Ca2+ inhibitors, bepridil has a long half-life and a complex pharmacology. Additionally, it is widely used in antiviral research and the treatment of various diseases. However, the toxicity of this compound and its other possible effects on embryonic development are unknown. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of bepridil on rat myocardial H9c2 cells. After treatment with bepridil, the cells became overloaded with Ca2+ and entered a state of cytoplasmic vacuolization and nuclear abnormality. Bepridil treatment resulted in several morphological abnormalities in zebrafish embryo models, including pericardium enlargement, yolk sac swelling, and growth stunting. The hemodynamic effects on fetal development resulted in abnormal cardiovascular circulation and myocardial weakness. After inhibiting the Ca2+ transmembrane, the liver of zebrafish larvae also displayed an ectopic and deficient spatial location. Additionally, the results of the RNA-seq analysis revealed the detailed gene expression profiles and metabolic responses to bepridil treatment in zebrafish embryonic development. Taken together, our study provides an important evaluation of antiarrhythmic agents for clinical use in prenatal heart patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Lan Wei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Yu-Qing Lei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China
| | - Zhou-Jie Ye
- NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Xu-Dong Zhuang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Li-Ping Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China
| | - Xin-Rui Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China.
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China.
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.
| | - Hua Cao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-Human Primate, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350013, China.
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China.
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.
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6
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Lam WY, Tang CSM, So MT, Yue H, Hsu JS, Chung PHY, Nicholls JM, Yeung F, Lee CWD, Ngo DN, Nguyen PAH, Mitchison HM, Jenkins D, O'Callaghan C, Garcia-Barceló MM, Lee SL, Sham PC, Lui VCH, Tam PKH. Identification of a wide spectrum of ciliary gene mutations in nonsyndromic biliary atresia patients implicates ciliary dysfunction as a novel disease mechanism. EBioMedicine 2021; 71:103530. [PMID: 34455394 PMCID: PMC8403738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common obstructive cholangiopathy in neonates, often progressing to end-stage cirrhosis. BA pathogenesis is believed to be multifactorial, but the genetic contribution, especially for nonsyndromic BA (common form: > 85%) remains poorly defined. Methods We conducted whole exome sequencing on 89 nonsyndromic BA trios to identify rare variants contributing to BA etiology. Functional evaluation using patients’ liver biopsies, human cell and zebrafish models were performed. Clinical impact on respiratory system was assessed with clinical evaluation, nasal nitric oxide (nNO), high speed video analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Findings We detected rare, deleterious de novo or biallelic variants in liver-expressed ciliary genes in 31.5% (28/89) of the BA patients. Burden test revealed 2.6-fold (odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence intervals (CI)]= 2.58 [1.15–6.07], adjusted p = 0.034) over-representation of rare, deleterious mutations in liver-expressed ciliary gene set in patients compared to controls. Functional analyses further demonstrated absence of cilia in the BA livers with KIF3B and TTC17 mutations, and knockdown of PCNT, KIF3B and TTC17 in human control fibroblasts and cholangiocytes resulted in reduced number of cilia. Additionally, CRISPR/Cas9-engineered zebrafish knockouts of KIF3B, PCNT and TTC17 displayed reduced biliary flow. Abnormally low level of nNO was detected in 80% (8/10) of BA patients carrying deleterious ciliary mutations, implicating the intrinsic ciliary defects. Interpretation Our findings support strong genetic susceptibility for nonsyndromic BA. Ciliary gene mutations leading to cholangiocyte cilia malformation and dysfunction could be a key biological mechanism in BA pathogenesis. Funding The study is supported by General Research Fund, HMRF Commissioned Paediatric Research at HKCH and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine Enhanced New Staff Start-up Fund.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai-Yee Lam
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China; Dr Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Clara Sze-Man Tang
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China; Dr Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Man-Ting So
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Haibing Yue
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jacob Shujui Hsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick Ho-Yu Chung
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - John M Nicholls
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Fanny Yeung
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun-Wai Davy Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | | | - Hannah M Mitchison
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dagan Jenkins
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher O'Callaghan
- Respiratory, Critical Care & Anaesthesia Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria-Mercè Garcia-Barceló
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - So-Lun Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pak-Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vincent Chi-Hang Lui
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China; Dr Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Paul Kwong-Hang Tam
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, China; Dr Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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7
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Ghaffari K, Pierce LX, Roufaeil M, Gibson I, Tae K, Sahoo S, Cantrell JR, Andersson O, Lau J, Sakaguchi TF. NCK-associated protein 1 like (nckap1l) minor splice variant regulates intrahepatic biliary network morphogenesis. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009402. [PMID: 33739979 PMCID: PMC8032155 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired formation of the intrahepatic biliary network leads to cholestatic liver diseases, which are frequently associated with autoimmune disorders. Using a chemical mutagenesis strategy in zebrafish combined with computational network analysis, we screened for novel genes involved in intrahepatic biliary network formation. We positionally cloned a mutation in the nckap1l gene, which encodes a cytoplasmic adaptor protein for the WAVE regulatory complex. The mutation is located in the last exon after the stop codon of the primary splice isoform, only disrupting a previously unannotated minor splice isoform, which indicates that the minor splice isoform is responsible for the intrahepatic biliary network phenotype. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated nckap1l deletion, which disrupts both the primary and minor isoforms, showed the same defects. In the liver of nckap1l mutant larvae, WAVE regulatory complex component proteins are degraded specifically in biliary epithelial cells, which line the intrahepatic biliary network, thus disrupting the actin organization of these cells. We further show that nckap1l genetically interacts with the Cdk5 pathway in biliary epithelial cells. These data together indicate that although nckap1l was previously considered to be a hematopoietic cell lineage-specific protein, its minor splice isoform acts in biliary epithelial cells to regulate intrahepatic biliary network formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Ghaffari
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Lain X. Pierce
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Maria Roufaeil
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Isabel Gibson
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kevin Tae
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Saswat Sahoo
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - James R. Cantrell
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Olov Andersson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jasmine Lau
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Takuya F. Sakaguchi
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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8
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Cheung Y, Wu Z, Garcia-Barcelo MM, Tam PKH, Ma ACH, Lui VCH. Deletion of interleukin enhancer binding factor 2 (ILF2) resulted in defective biliary development and bile flow blockage. J Pediatr Surg 2021; 56:352-359. [PMID: 32709532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating obstructive bile duct disease of newborns. BA has the highest incidence in Asians (1/5000), and its pathogenesis is unclear. We identified BA-private rare copy number variants (CNVs; 22 duplications and 6 deletions). ILF2 gene locates in the chromosome region (Chr1:153410347-153,634,058) which was deleted in a nonsyndromic BA patient. However, it is still not known whether ILF2 plays a role in hepatobiliary development and its deletion impacts on the bile duct development. METHODS To investigate if ILF2 is required for biliary development, we knock-out the zebrafish homologs of ILF2 by CRISPR/Cas9 approach, and discover that deletion of ILF2 causes a defective biliary development and a lack of bile flow from the liver to the gall bladder in zebrafish, which is a resemblance of phenotypes of BA. RESULTS Our data indicate that ILF2 gene is required for biliary development; deletion of ILF2 impairs bile duct development and could contribute to BA pathogenesis. This will be the first study to functionally evaluate the genes interfered by BA-private CNVs in hepatobiliary development and in BA pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Such functional study may reveal the potential value of these BA-private CNVs in the disease pathogenesis for BA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A (animal and laboratory study).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhongluan Wu
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Maria-Mercedes Garcia-Barcelo
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong-Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, 5/F The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, The University of Hong Kong 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Kwong Hang Tam
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong-Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, 5/F The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, The University of Hong Kong 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, 1, Haiyuan 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R.C
| | - Alvin Chung Hang Ma
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 9/F, Lee Shau Kee Building, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Vincent Chi Hang Lui
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong-Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, 5/F The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, The University of Hong Kong 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, 1, Haiyuan 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R.C..
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9
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Dimri M, Bilogan C, Pierce LX, Naegele G, Vasanji A, Gibson I, McClendon A, Tae K, Sakaguchi TF. Three-dimensional structural analysis reveals a Cdk5-mediated kinase cascade regulating hepatic biliary network branching in zebrafish. Development 2017; 144:2595-2605. [PMID: 28720653 DOI: 10.1242/dev.147397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The intrahepatic biliary network is a highly branched three-dimensional network lined by biliary epithelial cells, but how its branching patterns are precisely established is not clear. We designed a new computer-based algorithm that quantitatively computes the structural differences of the three-dimensional networks. Utilizing the algorithm, we showed that inhibition of Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) led to reduced branching in the intrahepatic biliary network in zebrafish. Further, we identified a previously unappreciated downstream kinase cascade regulated by Cdk5. Pharmacological manipulations of this downstream kinase cascade produced a crowded branching defect in the intrahepatic biliary network and influenced actin dynamics in biliary epithelial cells. We generated larvae carrying a mutation in cdk5 regulatory subunit 1a (cdk5r1a), an essential activator of Cdk5. cdk5r1a mutant larvae show similar branching defects as those observed in Cdk5 inhibitor-treated larvae. A small-molecule compound that interferes with the downstream kinase cascade rescued the mutant phenotype. These results provide new insights into branching morphogenesis of the intrahepatic biliary network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manali Dimri
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Cassandra Bilogan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Lain X Pierce
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Gregory Naegele
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | | | - Isabel Gibson
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Allyson McClendon
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kevin Tae
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Takuya F Sakaguchi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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10
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Gut P, Reischauer S, Stainier DYR, Arnaout R. LITTLE FISH, BIG DATA: ZEBRAFISH AS A MODEL FOR CARDIOVASCULAR AND METABOLIC DISEASE. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:889-938. [PMID: 28468832 PMCID: PMC5817164 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00038.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases worldwide is staggering. The emergence of systems approaches in biology promises new therapies, faster and cheaper diagnostics, and personalized medicine. However, a profound understanding of pathogenic mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels remains a fundamental requirement for discovery and therapeutics. Animal models of human disease are cornerstones of drug discovery as they allow identification of novel pharmacological targets by linking gene function with pathogenesis. The zebrafish model has been used for decades to study development and pathophysiology. More than ever, the specific strengths of the zebrafish model make it a prime partner in an age of discovery transformed by big-data approaches to genomics and disease. Zebrafish share a largely conserved physiology and anatomy with mammals. They allow a wide range of genetic manipulations, including the latest genome engineering approaches. They can be bred and studied with remarkable speed, enabling a range of large-scale phenotypic screens. Finally, zebrafish demonstrate an impressive regenerative capacity scientists hope to unlock in humans. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide on applications of zebrafish to investigate cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We delineate advantages and limitations of zebrafish models of human disease and summarize their most significant contributions to understanding disease progression to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Gut
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sven Reischauer
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Rima Arnaout
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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11
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Wang S, Miller SR, Ober EA, Sadler KC. Making It New Again: Insight Into Liver Development, Regeneration, and Disease From Zebrafish Research. Curr Top Dev Biol 2017; 124:161-195. [PMID: 28335859 PMCID: PMC6450094 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The adult liver of most vertebrates is predominantly comprised of hepatocytes. However, these cells must work in concert with biliary, stellate, vascular, and immune cells to accomplish the vast array of hepatic functions required for physiological homeostasis. Our understanding of liver development was accelerated as zebrafish emerged as an ideal vertebrate system to study embryogenesis. Through work in zebrafish and other models, it is now clear that the cells in the liver develop in a coordinated fashion during embryogenesis through a complex yet incompletely understood set of molecular guidelines. Zebrafish research has uncovered many key players that govern the acquisition of hepatic potential, cell fate, and plasticity. Although rare, some hepatobiliary diseases-especially biliary atresia-are caused by developmental defects; we discuss how research using zebrafish to study liver development has informed our understanding of and approaches to liver disease. The liver can be injured in response to an array of stressors including viral, mechanical/surgical, toxin-induced, immune-mediated, or inborn defects in metabolism. The liver has thus evolved the capacity to efficiently repair and regenerate. We discuss the emerging field of using zebrafish to study liver regeneration and highlight recent advances where zebrafish genetics and imaging approaches have provided novel insights into how cell plasticity contributes to liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wang
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sophie R Miller
- Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Elke A Ober
- Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kirsten C Sadler
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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12
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Goessling W, Sadler KC. Zebrafish: an important tool for liver disease research. Gastroenterology 2015; 149:1361-77. [PMID: 26319012 PMCID: PMC4762709 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
As the incidence of hepatobiliary diseases increases, we must improve our understanding of the molecular, cellular, and physiological factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of liver disease. Animal models help us identify disease mechanisms that might be targeted therapeutically. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have traditionally been used to study embryonic development but are also important to the study of liver disease. Zebrafish embryos develop rapidly; all of their digestive organs are mature in larvae by 5 days of age. At this stage, they can develop hepatobiliary diseases caused by developmental defects or toxin- or ethanol-induced injury and manifest premalignant changes within weeks. Zebrafish are similar to humans in hepatic cellular composition, function, signaling, and response to injury as well as the cellular processes that mediate liver diseases. Genes are highly conserved between humans and zebrafish, making them a useful system to study the basic mechanisms of liver disease. We can perform genetic screens to identify novel genes involved in specific disease processes and chemical screens to identify pathways and compounds that act on specific processes. We review how studies of zebrafish have advanced our understanding of inherited and acquired liver diseases as well as liver cancer and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Goessling
- Divisions of Genetics and Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kirsten C Sadler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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13
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Cox AG, Goessling W. The lure of zebrafish in liver research: regulation of hepatic growth in development and regeneration. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2015; 32:153-61. [PMID: 25863341 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The liver is an essential organ that plays a pivotal role in metabolism, digestion and nutrient storage. Major efforts have been made to develop zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system to study the pathways regulating hepatic growth during liver development and regeneration. Zebrafish offer unique advantages over other vertebrates including in vivo imaging at cellular resolution and the capacity for large-scale chemical and genetic screens. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate hepatic growth during liver development in zebrafish. We also highlight emerging evidence that developmental pathways are reactivated following liver injury to facilitate regeneration. Finally, we discuss how zebrafish have transformed drug discovery efforts and enabled the identification of drugs that stimulate hepatic growth and provide hepatoprotection in pre-clinical models of liver injury, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic approaches to treat liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Cox
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Wolfram Goessling
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States.
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14
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He J, Lu H, Zou Q, Luo L. Regeneration of liver after extreme hepatocyte loss occurs mainly via biliary transdifferentiation in zebrafish. Gastroenterology 2014; 146:789-800.e8. [PMID: 24315993 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The liver has high regenerative capacity, but it is not clear whether most biliary cells (particularly larger cholangiocytes) transdifferentiate into hepatocytes in regenerating liver. We investigated how this process might contribute to liver regeneration in zebrafish. METHODS Zebrafish transgenic lines were generated using the standard I-SceI meganuclease transgenesis technique. Hepatocytes of the Tg(lfabp:mCherry-NTR)(cq2) animals were ablated by the administration of metronidazole. We investigated transdifferentiation of biliary cells to hepatocytes and expression of markers using whole mount antibody staining, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and Cre/loxP-based genetic lineage tracing analyses. The role of biliary cells in hepatocyte regeneration was explored using zebrafish larvae with defects in biliary cell development. RESULTS After extreme loss of hepatocytes, nearly all the biliary cells steadily lost their tubular morphology, proliferated, and expressed hepatocyte-specific markers. Cre/loxP-based inducible lineage tracing showed that new hepatocytes mainly arose from transdifferentiation of biliary cells; this process required Notch signaling and, in turn, activation of Sox9b in cholangiocytes. Activation of early endoderm and hepatoblast markers in most of the cholangiocytes indicated that biliary transdifferentiation includes a step of dedifferentiation into a bipotential intermediate. Defects in development of biliary cells impaired hepatocyte regeneration. CONCLUSIONS Using our zebrafish liver regeneration model, we found that biliary cells can transdifferentiate into hepatocytes and are the major contributors to hepatocyte regeneration after extreme hepatocyte loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo He
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, China
| | - Huiqiang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingliang Zou
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingfei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, China.
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15
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Abstract
The liver performs a large number of essential synthetic and regulatory functions that are acquired during fetal development and persist throughout life. Their disruption underlies a diverse group of heritable and acquired diseases that affect both pediatric and adult patients. Although experimental analyses used to study liver development and disease are typically performed in cell culture models or rodents, the zebrafish is increasingly used to complement discoveries made in these systems. Forward and reverse genetic analyses over the past two decades have shown that the molecular program for liver development is largely conserved between zebrafish and mammals, and that the zebrafish can be used to model heritable human liver disorders. Recent work has demonstrated that zebrafish can also be used to study the mechanistic basis of acquired liver diseases. Here, we provide a comprehensive summary of how the zebrafish has contributed to our understanding of human liver development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Wilkins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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16
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Nussbaum JM, Liu LJ, Hasan SA, Schaub M, McClendon A, Stainier DY, Sakaguchi TF. Homeostatic generation of reactive oxygen species protects the zebrafish liver from steatosis. Hepatology 2013; 58:1326-38. [PMID: 23744565 PMCID: PMC3791216 DOI: 10.1002/hep.26551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease in both adults and children. The earliest stage of this disease is hepatic steatosis, in which triglycerides are deposited as cytoplasmic lipid droplets in hepatocytes. Through a forward genetic approach in zebrafish, we found that guanosine monophosphate (GMP) synthetase mutant larvae develop hepatic steatosis. We further demonstrate that activity of the small GTPase Rac1 and Rac1-mediated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are down-regulated in GMP synthetase mutant larvae. Inhibition of Rac1 activity or ROS production in wild-type larvae by small molecule inhibitors was sufficient to induce hepatic steatosis. More conclusively, treating larvae with hydrogen peroxide, a diffusible ROS that has been implicated as a signaling molecule, alleviated hepatic steatosis in both GMP synthetase mutant and Rac1 inhibitor-treated larvae, indicating that homeostatic production of ROS is required to prevent hepatic steatosis. We further found that ROS positively regulate the expression of the triglyceride hydrolase gene, which is responsible for the mobilization of stored triglycerides in hepatocytes. Consistently, inhibition of triglyceride hydrolase activity in wild-type larvae by a small molecule inhibitor was sufficient to induce hepatic steatosis. CONCLUSION De novo GMP synthesis influences the activation of the small GTPase Rac1, which controls hepatic lipid dynamics through ROS-mediated regulation of triglyceride hydrolase expression in hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M. Nussbaum
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Liuhong J. Liu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Syeda A. Hasan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Madeline Schaub
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Allyson McClendon
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Didier Y.R. Stainier
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Programs in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Genetics, and Human Genetics, and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Takuya F. Sakaguchi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Programs in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Genetics, and Human Genetics, and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158,Author for correspondence: ()
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