nkx2.2a promotes specification and differentiation of a myelinating subset of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in zebrafish

The sclerotome is the source of the dorsal and anal fin skeleton and its expansion is required for median fin development

Paired locomotion appendages are hypothesized to have redeployed the developmental program of median appendages, such as the dorsal and anal fins. Compared with paired fins, and limbs, median appendages remain surprisingly understudied. Here, we report that a dominant zebrafish mutant, smoothback (smb), fails to develop a dorsal fin. Moreover, the anal fin is reduced along the antero-posterior axis, and spine defects develop. Mechanistically, the smb mutation is caused by an insertion of a sox10:Gal4VP16 transgenic construct into a non-coding region. The first step in fin, and limb, induction is aggregation of undifferentiated mesenchyme at the appendage development site. In smb, this dorsal fin mesenchyme is absent. Lineage tracing demonstrates the previously unknown developmental origin of the mesenchyme, the sclerotome, which also gives rise to the spine. Strikingly, we find that there is significantly less sclerotome in smb than in wild type. Our results give insight into the origin and modularity of understudied median fins, which have changed position, number, size, and even disappeared, across evolutionary time.

In Vivo Monitoring of Fabp7 Expression in Transgenic Zebrafish

In zebrafish, like in mammals, radial glial cells (RGCs) can act as neural progenitors during development and regeneration in adults. However, the heterogeneity of glia subpopulations entails the need for different specific markers of zebrafish glia. Currently, fluorescent protein expression mediated by a regulatory element from the glial fibrillary acidic protein (gfap) gene is used as a prominent glia reporter. We now expand this tool by demonstrating that a regulatory element from the mouse Fatty acid binding protein 7 (Fabp7) gene drives reliable expression in fabp7-expressing zebrafish glial cells. By using three different Fabp7 regulatory element-mediated fluorescent protein reporter strains, we reveal in double transgenic zebrafish that progenitor cells expressing fluorescent proteins driven by the Fabp7 regulatory element give rise to radial glia, oligodendrocyte progenitors, and some neuronal precursors. Furthermore, Bergmann glia represent the almost only glial population of the zebrafish cerebellum (besides a few oligodendrocytes), and the radial glia also remain in the mature cerebellum. Fabp7 regulatory element-mediated reporter protein expression in Bergmann glia progenitors suggests their origin from the ventral cerebellar proliferation zone, the ventricular zone, but not from the dorsally positioned upper rhombic lip. These new Fabp7 reporters will be valuable for functional studies during development and regeneration.

Progress in leukodystrophies with zebrafish

Inherited leukodystrophies are genetic disorders characterized by abnormal white matter in the central nervous system. Although individually rare, there are more than 400 distinct types of leukodystrophies with a cumulative incidence of 1 in 4500 live births. The pathophysiology of most leukodystrophies is poorly understood, there are treatments for only a few, and there is significant morbidity and mortality, suggesting a critical need for improvements in this field. A variety of animal, cell, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models have been developed for leukodystrophies, but with significant limitations in all models. Many leukodystrophies lack animal models, and extant models often show no or mixed recapitulation of key phenotypes. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become increasingly used as disease models for studying leukodystrophies due to their early onset of disease phenotypes and conservation of molecular and neurobiological mechanisms. Here, we focus on reviewing new zebrafish disease models for leukodystrophy or models with recent progress. This includes discussion of leukodystrophy with vanishing white matter disease, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, Zellweger spectrum disorders and peroxisomal disorders, PSAP deficiency, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Krabbe disease, hypomyelinating leukodystrophy-8/4H leukodystrophy, Aicardi-Goutières syndrome, RNASET2-deficient cystic leukoencephalopathy, hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids-1 (CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy), and ultra-rare leukodystrophies. Zebrafish models offer important potentials for the leukodystrophy field, including testing of new variants in known genes; establishing causation of newly discovered genes; and early lead compound identification for therapies. There are also unrealized opportunities to use humanized zebrafish models which have been sparsely explored.

Mutations in cdon and boc affect trunk neural crest cell migration and slow-twitch muscle development in zebrafish

The transmembrane proteins cdon and boc are implicated in regulating hedgehog signaling during vertebrate development. Recent work showing roles for these genes in axon guidance and neural crest cell migration suggest that cdon and boc may play additional functions in regulating directed cell movements. We use newly generated and existing mutants to investigate a role for cdon and boc in zebrafish neural crest cell migration. We find that single mutant embryos exhibit normal neural crest phenotypes, but that neural crest migration is strikingly disrupted in double cdon;boc mutant embryos. We further show that this migration phenotype is associated with defects in the differentiation of slow-twitch muscle cells, and the loss of a Col1a1a-containing extracellular matrix, suggesting that neural crest defects may be a secondary consequence to defects in mesoderm development. Combined, our data add to a growing literature showing that cdon and boc act synergistically to promote hedgehog signaling during vertebrate development, and suggest that the zebrafish can be used to study the function of hedgehog receptor paralogs.

Developmental exposure to domoic acid targets reticulospinal neurons and leads to aberrant myelination in the spinal cord

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) produce neurotoxins that affect human health. Developmental exposure of zebrafish embryos to the HAB toxin domoic acid (DomA) causes myelin defects, loss of reticulospinal neurons, and behavioral deficits. However, it is unclear whether DomA primarily targets myelin sheaths, leading to the loss of reticulospinal neurons, or reticulospinal neurons, causing myelin defects. Here, we show that while exposure to DomA at 2 dpf did not reduce the number of oligodendrocyte precursors prior to myelination, it led to fewer myelinating oligodendrocytes that produced shorter myelin sheaths and aberrantly wrapped neuron cell bodies. DomA-exposed larvae lacked Mauthner neurons prior to the onset of myelination, suggesting that axonal loss is not secondary to myelin defects. The loss of the axonal targets may have led oligodendrocytes to inappropriately myelinate neuronal cell bodies. Consistent with this, GANT61, a GLI1/2 inhibitor that reduces oligodendrocyte number, caused a reduction in aberrantly myelinated neuron cell bodies in DomA-exposed fish. Together, these results suggest that DomA initially alters reticulospinal neurons and the loss of axons causes aberrant myelination of nearby cell bodies. The identification of initial targets and perturbed cellular processes provides a mechanistic understanding of how DomA alters neurodevelopment, leading to structural and behavioral phenotypes.

Development of myelinating glia: An overview

Myelin is essential to nervous system function, playing roles in saltatory conduction and trophic support. Oligodendrocytes (OLs) and Schwann cells (SCs) form myelin in the central and peripheral nervous systems respectively and follow different developmental paths. OLs are neural stem-cell derived and follow an intrinsic developmental program resulting in a largely irreversible differentiation state. During embryonic development, OL precursor cells (OPCs) are produced in distinct waves originating from different locations in the central nervous system, with a subset developing into myelinating OLs. OPCs remain evenly distributed throughout life, providing a population of responsive, multifunctional cells with the capacity to remyelinate after injury. SCs derive from the neural crest, are highly dependent on extrinsic signals, and have plastic differentiation states. SC precursors (SCPs) are produced in early embryonic nerve structures and differentiate into multipotent immature SCs (iSCs), which initiate radial sorting and differentiate into myelinating and non-myelinating SCs. Differentiated SCs retain the capacity to radically change phenotypes in response to external signals, including becoming repair SCs, which drive peripheral regeneration. While several transcription factors and myelin components are common between OLs and SCs, their differentiation mechanisms are highly distinct, owing to their unique lineages and their respective environments. In addition, both OLs and SCs respond to neuronal activity and regulate nervous system output in reciprocal manners, possibly through different pathways. Here, we outline their basic developmental programs, mechanisms regulating their differentiation, and recent advances in the field.

Zebrafish Model of Stickler Syndrome Suggests a Role for Col2a1a in the Neural Crest during Early Eye Development

Most cases of Stickler syndrome are due to autosomal-dominant COL2A1 gene mutations leading to abnormal type II collagen. Ocular findings include axial eye lengthening with vitreal degeneration and early-onset glaucoma, which can result in vision loss. Although COL2A1 is a major player in cartilage and bone formation, its specific role in eye development remains elusive. We investigated the role of Col2a1a in neural crest migration and differentiation during early zebrafish eye development. In situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, live imaging, exogenous treatments [10 μM diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB), 100 nM all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and 1-3% ethanol (ETOH)] and morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) injections were used to analyze wildtype Casper (roy-/-;nacre-/-), TgBAC(col2a1a::EGFP), Tg(sox10::EGFP) and Tg(foxd3::EGFP) embryos. Col2a1a colocalized with Foxd3- and Sox10-positive cells in the anterior segment and neural crest-derived jaw. Col2a1a expression was regulated by RA and inhibited by 3% ETOH. Furthermore, MO knockdown of Col2a1a delayed jaw formation and disrupted the ocular anterior segment neural crest migration of Sox10-positive cells. Interestingly, human COL2A1 protein rescued the MO effects. Altogether, these results suggest that Col2a1a is a downstream target of RA in the cranial neural crest and is required for both craniofacial and eye development.

Transforming growth factor-beta signaling modulates perineurial glial bridging following peripheral spinal motor nerve injury in zebrafish

Spinal motor nerves are necessary for organismal locomotion and survival. In zebrafish and most vertebrates, these peripheral nervous system structures are composed of bundles of axons that naturally regenerate following injury. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate this process are still only partially understood. Perineurial glia, which form a component of the blood-nerve barrier, are necessary for the earliest regenerative steps by establishing a glial bridge across the injury site as well as phagocytosing debris. Without perineurial glial bridging, regeneration is impaired. In addition to perineurial glia, Schwann cells, the cells that ensheath and myelinate axons within the nerve, are essential for debris clearance and axon guidance. In the absence of Schwann cells, perineurial glia exhibit perturbed bridging, demonstrating that these two cell types communicate during the injury response. While the presence and importance of perineurial glial bridging is known, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this process remain a mystery. Understanding the cellular and molecular interactions that drive perineurial glial bridging is crucial to unlocking the mechanisms underlying successful motor nerve regeneration. Using laser axotomy and in vivo imaging in zebrafish, we show that transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) signaling modulates perineurial glial bridging. Further, we identify connective tissue growth factor-a (ctgfa) as a downstream effector of TGF-β signaling that works in a positive feedback loop to mediate perineurial glial bridging. Together, these studies present a new signaling pathway involved in the perineurial glial injury response and further characterize the dynamics of the perineurial glial bridge.

Humanized zebrafish as a tractable tool for in vivo evaluation of pro-myelinating drugs

Therapies that promote neuroprotection and axonal survival by enhancing myelin regeneration are an unmet need to prevent disability progression in multiple sclerosis. Numerous potentially beneficial compounds have originated from phenotypic screenings but failed in clinical trials. It is apparent that current cell- and animal-based disease models are poor predictors of positive treatment options, arguing for novel experimental approaches. Here we explore the experimental power of humanized zebrafish to foster the identification of pro-remyelination compounds via specific inhibition of GPR17. Using biochemical and imaging techniques, we visualize the expression of zebrafish (zf)-gpr17 during the distinct stages of oligodendrocyte development, thereby demonstrating species-conserved expression between zebrafish and mammals. We also demonstrate species-conserved function of zf-Gpr17 using genetic loss-of-function and rescue techniques. Finally, using GPR17-humanized zebrafish, we provide proof of principle for in vivo analysis of compounds acting via targeted inhibition of human GPR17. We anticipate that GPR17-humanized zebrafish will markedly improve the search for effective pro-myelinating pharmacotherapies.

Developmental Cues and Molecular Drivers in Myelinogenesis: Revisiting Early Life to Re-Evaluate the Integrity of CNS Myelin

The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) coordinates its communication through saltatory conduction, facilitated by myelin-forming oligodendrocytes (OLs). Despite the fact that neurogenesis from stem cell niches has caught the majority of attention in recent years, oligodendrogenesis and, more specifically, the molecular underpinnings behind OL-dependent myelinogenesis, remain largely unknown. In this comprehensive review, we determine the developmental cues and molecular drivers which regulate normal myelination both at the prenatal and postnatal periods. We have indexed the individual stages of myelinogenesis sequentially; from the initiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, including migration and proliferation, to first contact with the axon that enlists positive and negative regulators for myelination, until the ultimate maintenance of the axon ensheathment and myelin growth. Here, we highlight multiple developmental pathways that are key to successful myelin formation and define the molecular pathways that can potentially be targets for pharmacological interventions in a variety of neurological disorders that exhibit demyelination.

Insights Into Central Nervous System Glial Cell Formation and Function From Zebrafish

The term glia describes a heterogenous collection of distinct cell types that make up a large proportion of our nervous system. Although once considered the glue of the nervous system, the study of glial cells has evolved significantly in recent years, with a large body of literature now highlighting their complex and diverse roles in development and throughout life. This progress is due, in part, to advances in animal models in which the molecular and cellular mechanisms of glial cell development and function as well as neuron-glial cell interactions can be directly studied in vivo in real time, in intact neural circuits. In this review we highlight the instrumental role that zebrafish have played as a vertebrate model system for the study of glial cells, and discuss how the experimental advantages of the zebrafish lend themselves to investigate glial cell interactions and diversity. We focus in particular on recent studies that have provided insight into the formation and function of the major glial cell types in the central nervous system in zebrafish.

Temporal single-cell transcriptomes of zebrafish spinal cord pMN progenitors reveal distinct neuronal and glial progenitor populations

Ventral spinal cord progenitor cells, which express the basic helix loop helix transcription factor Olig2, sequentially produce motor neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Following specification some OPCs differentiate as myelinating oligodendrocytes while others persist as OPCs. Though a considerable amount of work has described the molecular profiles that define motor neurons, OPCs, and oligodendrocytes, less is known about the progenitors that produce them. To identify the developmental origins and transcriptional profiles of motor neurons and OPCs, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on isolated pMN cells from embryonic zebrafish trunk tissue at stages that encompassed motor neurogenesis, OPC specification, and initiation of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Downstream analyses revealed two distinct pMN progenitor populations: one that appears to produce neurons and one that appears to produce OPCs. This latter population, called Pre-OPCs, is marked by expression of GS Homeobox 2 (gsx2), a gene that encodes a homeobox transcription factor. Using fluorescent in situ hybridizations, we identified gsx2-expressing Pre-OPCs in the spinal cord prior to expression of canonical OPC marker genes. Our data therefore reveal heterogeneous gene expression profiles among pMN progenitors, supporting prior fate mapping evidence.

Glutamate Signaling via the AMPAR Subunit GluR4 Regulates Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Migration in the Developing Spinal Cord

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are specified from discrete precursor populations during gliogenesis and migrate extensively from their origins, ultimately distributing throughout the brain and spinal cord during early development. Subsequently, a subset of OPCs differentiates into mature oligodendrocytes, which myelinate axons. This process is necessary for efficient neuronal signaling and organism survival. Previous studies have identified several factors that influence OPC development, including excitatory glutamatergic synapses that form between neurons and OPCs during myelination. However, little is known about how glutamate signaling affects OPC migration before myelination. In this study, we use in vivo, time-lapse imaging in zebrafish in conjunction with genetic and pharmacological perturbation to investigate OPC migration and myelination when the GluR4A ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit is disrupted. In our studies, we observed that gria4a mutant embryos and larvae displayed abnormal OPC migration and altered dorsoventral distribution in the spinal cord. Genetic mosaic analysis confirmed that these effects were cell-autonomous, and we identified that voltage-gated calcium channels were downstream of glutamate receptor signaling in OPCs and could rescue the migration and myelination defects we observed when glutamate signaling was perturbed. These results offer new insights into the complex system of neuron-OPC interactions and reveal a cell-autonomous role for glutamatergic signaling in OPCs during neural development.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The migration of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) is an essential process during development that leads to uniform oligodendrocyte distribution and sufficient myelination for central nervous system function. Here, we demonstrate that the AMPA receptor (AMPAR) subunit GluR4A is an important driver of OPC migration and myelination in vivo and that activated voltage-gated calcium channels are downstream of glutamate receptor signaling in mediating this migration.

Spinal cord precursors utilize neural crest cell mechanisms to generate hybrid peripheral myelinating glia

During development, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells myelinate central and peripheral nervous system axons, respectively, while motor exit point (MEP) glia are neural tube-derived, peripheral glia that myelinate axonal territory between these populations at MEP transition zones. From which specific neural tube precursors MEP glia are specified, and how they exit the neural tube to migrate onto peripheral motor axons, remain largely unknown. Here, using zebrafish, we found that MEP glia arise from lateral floor plate precursors and require foxd3 to delaminate and exit the spinal cord. Additionally, we show that similar to Schwann cells, MEP glial development depends on axonally derived neuregulin1. Finally, our data demonstrate that overexpressing axonal cues is sufficient to generate additional MEP glia in the spinal cord. Overall, these studies provide new insight into how a novel population of hybrid, peripheral myelinating glia are generated from neural tube precursors and migrate into the periphery.

Sulf2a controls Shh-dependent neural fate specification in the developing spinal cord

Sulf2a belongs to the Sulf family of extracellular sulfatases which selectively remove 6-O-sulfate groups from heparan sulfates, a critical regulation level for their role in modulating the activity of signalling molecules. Data presented here define Sulf2a as a novel player in the control of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)-mediated cell type specification during spinal cord development. We show that Sulf2a depletion in zebrafish results in overproduction of V3 interneurons at the expense of motor neurons and also impedes generation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), three cell types that depend on Shh for their generation. We provide evidence that Sulf2a, expressed in a spatially restricted progenitor domain, acts by maintaining the correct patterning and specification of ventral progenitors. More specifically, Sulf2a prevents Olig2 progenitors to activate high-threshold Shh response and, thereby, to adopt a V3 interneuron fate, thus ensuring proper production of motor neurons and OPCs. We propose a model in which Sulf2a reduces Shh signalling levels in responding cells by decreasing their sensitivity to the morphogen factor. More generally, our work, revealing that, in contrast to its paralog Sulf1, Sulf2a regulates neural fate specification in Shh target cells, provides direct evidence of non-redundant functions of Sulfs in the developing spinal cord.

Developmental Neurotoxicity of the Harmful Algal Bloom Toxin Domoic Acid: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Altered Behavior in the Zebrafish Model

BACKGROUND

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) produce potent neurotoxins that threaten human health, but current regulations may not be protective of sensitive populations. Early life exposure to low levels of the HAB toxin domoic acid (DomA) produces long-lasting behavioral deficits in rodent and primate models; however, the mechanisms involved are unknown. The zebrafish is a powerful in vivo vertebrate model system for exploring cellular processes during development and thus may help to elucidate mechanisms of DomA developmental neurotoxicity.

OBJECTIVES

We used the zebrafish model to investigate how low doses of DomA affect the developing nervous system, including windows of susceptibility to DomA exposure, structural and molecular changes in the nervous system, and the link to behavioral alterations.

METHODS

To identify potential windows of susceptibility, DomA (0.09-0.18 ng) was delivered to zebrafish through caudal vein microinjection during distinct periods in early neurodevelopment. Following exposure, structural and molecular targets were identified using live imaging of transgenic fish and RNA sequencing. To assess the functional consequences of exposures, we quantified startle behavior in response to acoustic/vibrational stimuli.

RESULTS

Larvae exposed to DomA at 2 d postfertilization (dpf), but not at 1 or 4 dpf, showed consistent deficits in startle behavior at 7 dpf, including lower responsiveness and altered kinematics. Similarly, myelination in the spinal cord was disorganized after exposure at 2 dpf but not 1 or 4 dpf. Time-lapse imaging revealed disruption of the initial stages of myelination. DomA exposure at 2 dpf down-regulated genes required for maintaining myelin structure and the axonal cytoskeleton.

DISCUSSION

These results in zebrafish reveal a developmental window of susceptibility to DomA-induced behavioral deficits and identify altered gene expression and disrupted myelin structure as possible mechanisms. The results establish a zebrafish model for investigating the mechanisms of developmental DomA toxicity, including effects with potential relevance to exposed sensitive human populations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6652.

An adhesion code ensures robust pattern formation during tissue morphogenesis

Animal development entails the organization of specific cell types in space and time, and spatial patterns must form in a robust manner. In the zebrafish spinal cord, neural progenitors form stereotypic patterns despite noisy morphogen signaling and large-scale cellular rearrangements during morphogenesis and growth. By directly measuring adhesion forces and preferences for three types of endogenous neural progenitors, we provide evidence for the differential adhesion model in which differences in intercellular adhesion mediate cell sorting. Cell type-specific combinatorial expression of different classes of cadherins (N-cadherin, cadherin 11, and protocadherin 19) results in homotypic preference ex vivo and patterning robustness in vivo. Furthermore, the differential adhesion code is regulated by the sonic hedgehog morphogen gradient. We propose that robust patterning during tissue morphogenesis results from interplay between adhesion-based self-organization and morphogen-directed patterning.

Prdm8 regulates pMN progenitor specification for motor neuron and oligodendrocyte fates by modulating the Shh signaling response

Spinal cord pMN progenitors sequentially produce motor neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Some OPCs differentiate rapidly as myelinating oligodendrocytes, whereas others remain into adulthood. How pMN progenitors switch from producing motor neurons to OPCs with distinct fates is poorly understood. pMN progenitors express prdm8, which encodes a transcriptional repressor, during motor neuron and OPC formation. To determine whether prdm8 controls pMN cell fate specification, we used zebrafish as a model system to investigate prdm8 function. Our analysis revealed that prdm8 mutant embryos have fewer motor neurons resulting from a premature switch from motor neuron to OPC production. Additionally, prdm8 mutant larvae have excess oligodendrocytes and a concomitant deficit of OPCs. Notably, pMN cells of mutant embryos have elevated Shh signaling, coincident with the motor neuron to OPC switch. Inhibition of Shh signaling restored the number of motor neurons to normal but did not rescue the proportion of oligodendrocytes. These data suggest that Prdm8 regulates the motor neuron-OPC switch by controlling the level of Shh activity in pMN progenitors, and also regulates the allocation of oligodendrocyte lineage cell fates.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.

yippee like 3 (ypel3) is a novel gene required for myelinating and perineurial glia development

Hypomyelination, a neurological condition characterized by decreased production of myelin sheets by glial cells, often has no known etiology. Elucidating the genetic causes of hypomyelination provides a better understanding of myelination, as well as means to diagnose, council, and treat patients. Here, we present evidence that YIPPEE LIKE 3 (YPEL3), a gene whose developmental role was previously unknown, is required for central and peripheral glial cell development. We identified a child with a constellation of clinical features including cerebral hypomyelination, abnormal peripheral nerve conduction, hypotonia, areflexia, and hypertrophic peripheral nerves. Exome and genome sequencing revealed a de novo mutation that creates a frameshift in the open reading frame of YPEL3, leading to an early stop codon. We used zebrafish as a model system to validate that YPEL3 mutations are causative of neuropathy. We found that ypel3 is expressed in the zebrafish central and peripheral nervous system. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we created zebrafish mutants carrying a genomic lesion similar to that of the patient. Our analysis revealed that Ypel3 is required for development of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, timely exit of the perineurial glial precursors from the central nervous system (CNS), formation of the perineurium, and Schwann cell maturation. Consistent with these observations, zebrafish ypel3 mutants have metabolomic signatures characteristic of oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell differentiation defects, show decreased levels of Myelin basic protein in the central and peripheral nervous system, and develop defasciculated peripheral nerves. Locomotion defects were observed in adult zebrafish ypel3 mutants. These studies demonstrate that Ypel3 is a novel gene required for perineurial cell development and glial myelination.

Migratory Neural Crest Cells Phagocytose Dead Cells in the Developing Nervous System

During neural tube closure and spinal cord development, many cells die in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS, respectively). However, myeloid-derived professional phagocytes have not yet colonized the trunk region during early neurogenesis. How apoptotic cells are removed from this region during these stages remains largely unknown. Using live imaging in zebrafish, we demonstrate that neural crest cells (NCCs) respond rapidly to dying cells and phagocytose cellular debris around the neural tube. Additionally, NCCs have the ability to enter the CNS through motor exit point transition zones and clear debris in the spinal cord. Surprisingly, NCCs phagocytosis mechanistically resembles macrophage phagocytosis and their recruitment toward cellular debris is mediated by interleukin-1β. Taken together, our results reveal a role for NCCs in phagocytosis of debris in the developing nervous system before the presence of professional phagocytes.

Truncating Mutations in UBAP1 Cause Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

The diagnostic gap for rare neurodegenerative diseases is still considerable, despite continuous advances in gene identification. Many novel Mendelian genes have only been identified in a few families worldwide. Here we report the identification of an autosomal-dominant gene for hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) in 10 families that are of diverse geographic origin and whose affected members all carry unique truncating changes in a circumscript region of UBAP1 (ubiquitin-associated protein 1). HSP is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive lower-limb spasticity and weakness, as well as frequent bladder dysfunction. At least 40% of affected persons are currently undiagnosed after exome sequencing. We identified pathological truncating variants in UBAP1 in affected persons from Iran, USA, Germany, Canada, Spain, and Bulgarian Roma. The genetic support ranges from linkage in the largest family (LOD = 8.3) to three confirmed de novo mutations. We show that mRNA in the fibroblasts of affected individuals escapes nonsense-mediated decay and thus leads to the expression of truncated proteins; in addition, concentrations of the full-length protein are reduced in comparison to those in controls. This suggests either a dominant-negative effect or haploinsufficiency. UBAP1 links endosomal trafficking to the ubiquitination machinery pathways that have been previously implicated in HSPs, and UBAP1 provides a bridge toward a more unified pathophysiology.

The Neuromodulator Adenosine Regulates Oligodendrocyte Migration at Motor Exit Point Transition Zones

During development, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) migrate extensively throughout the spinal cord. However, their migration is restricted at transition zones (TZs). At these specialized locations, unique glial cells in both zebrafish and mice play a role in preventing peripheral OPC migration, but the mechanisms of this regulation are not understood. To elucidate the mechanisms that mediate OPC segregation at motor exit point (MEP) TZs, we performed an unbiased small-molecule screen. Using chemical screening and in vivo imaging, we discovered that inhibition of A2a adenosine receptors (ARs) causes ectopic OPC migration out of the spinal cord. We provide in vivo evidence that neuromodulation, partially mediated by adenosine, influences OPC migration specifically at the MEP TZ. This work opens exciting possibilities for understanding how OPCs reach their final destinations during development and identifies mechanisms that could promote their migration in disease.

A novel myelin protein zero transgenic zebrafish designed for rapid readout of in vivo myelination

Demyelination occurs following many neurological insults, most notably in multiple sclerosis (MS). Therapeutics that promote remyelination could slow the neurological decline associated with chronic demyelination; however, in vivo testing of candidate small molecule drugs and signaling cascades known to impact myelination is expensive and labor intensive. Here, we describe the development of a novel zebrafish line which uses the putative promoter of Myelin Protein Zero (mpz), a major structural protein in myelin, to drive expression of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (mEGFP) specifically in the processes and nascent internodes of myelinating glia. We observe that changes in fluorescence intensity in Tg(mpz:mEGFP) larvae are a reliable surrogate for changes in myelin membrane production per se in live larvae following bath application of drugs. These changes in fluorescence are strongly predictive of changes in myelin-specific mRNAs [mpz, 36K and myelin basic protein (mbp)] and protein production (Mbp). Finally, we observe that certain drugs alter nascent internode number and length, impacting the overall amount of myelin membrane synthesized and a number of axons myelinated without significantly changing the number of myelinating oligodendrocytes. These studies demonstrate that the Tg(mpz:mEGFP) reporter line responds effectively to positive and negative small molecule regulators of myelination, and could be useful for identifying candidate drugs that specifically target myelin membrane production in vivo. Combined with high throughput cell-based screening of large chemical libraries and automated imaging systems, this transgenic line is useful for rapid large scale whole animal screening to identify novel myelinating small molecule compounds in vivo.

Sequential specification of oligodendrocyte lineage cells by distinct levels of Hedgehog and Notch signaling

During development of the central nervous system oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) give rise to both myelinating oligodendrocytes and NG2 glia, which are the most proliferative cells in the adult mammalian brain. NG2 glia retain characteristics of OPCs, and some NG2 glia produce oligodendrocytes, but many others persist throughout adulthood. Why some OPCs differentiate as oligodendrocytes during development whereas others persist as OPCs and acquire characteristics of NG2 glia is not known. Using zebrafish spinal cord as a model, we found that OPCs that differentiate rapidly as oligodendrocytes and others that remain as OPCs arise in sequential waves from distinct neural progenitors. Additionally, oligodendrocyte and persistent OPC fates are specified during a defined critical period by small differences in Shh signaling and Notch activity, which modulates Shh signaling response. Thus, our data indicate that OPCs fated to produce oligodendrocytes or remain as OPCs during development are specified as distinct cell types, raising the possibility that the myelinating potential of OPCs is set by graded Shh signaling activity.

Development of an Embryonic Zebrafish Oligodendrocyte-Neuron Mixed Coculture System

During vertebrate neural development, oligodendrocytes insulate nerve axons with myelin sheaths. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a useful model organism for studying oligodendrocyte development. However, the absence of an in vitro culture system necessitates in vivo manipulations and analyses, which, in some instances, limits the questions that can be addressed. To fill this gap we developed a mixed coculture system for embryonic zebrafish neurons and oligodendrocyte-lineage cells. Cultures harvested from embryos ≥30 hours postfertilization (hpf) yielded oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) positive for olig2 and sox10 transgenic reporters. Cultured OPCs exhibited dynamic, exploratory membrane processes, and cell morphologies resembled those established in vivo. Cells harvested from advanced stage embryos possessed more arborized processes than those from early stage embryos. Advanced stage (>60 hpf) embryo culture produced differentiated, mbp⁺ oligodendrocytes. Genetically tractable neuron subtypes extended neurites when harvested from embryos ≥19 hpf. Coculture produced juxtaposed oligodendrocytes and neurons, demonstrating the practical usefulness of this technique for future studies examining axon-oligodendrocyte interactions under defined conditions. We expect that zebrafish oligodendrocyte culture will complement existing in vivo strengths and may facilitate future studies elucidating the mechanisms of oligodendrocyte specification, proliferation, differentiation, motility, and axon-oligodendrocyte interactions that shape adult myelination patterns.

Tracking neural crest cell cycle progression in vivo

Analysis of cell cycle entry/exit and progression can provide fundamental insights into stem cell propagation, maintenance, and differentiation. The neural crest is a unique stem cell population in vertebrate embryos that undergoes long-distance collective migration and differentiation into a wide variety of derivatives. Using traditional techniques such as immunohistochemistry to track cell cycle changes in such a dynamic population is challenging, as static time points provide an incomplete spatiotemporal picture. In contrast, the fluorescent, ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator (Fucci) system provides in vivo readouts of cell cycle progression and has been previously adapted for use in zebrafish. The most commonly used Fucci systems are ubiquitously expressed, making tracking of a specific cell population challenging. Therefore, we generated a transgenic zebrafish line, Tg(-4.9sox10:mAG-gmnn(1/100)-2A-mCherry-cdt1(1/190)), in which the Fucci system is specifically expressed in delaminating and migrating neural crest cells. Here, we demonstrate validation of this new tool and its use in live high-resolution tracking of cell cycle progression in the neural crest and derivative populations.

FGF signaling controls Shh-dependent oligodendroglial fate specification in the ventral spinal cord

Background

Most oligodendrocytes of the spinal cord originate from ventral progenitor cells of the pMN domain, characterized by expression of the transcription factor Olig2. A minority of oligodendrocytes is also recognized to emerge from dorsal progenitors during fetal development. The prevailing view is that generation of ventral oligodendrocytes depends on Sonic hedgehog (Shh) while dorsal oligodendrocytes develop under the influence of Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs).

Results

Using the well-established model of the chicken embryo, we show that ventral spinal progenitor cells activate FGF signaling at the onset of oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) generation. Inhibition of FGF receptors at that time appears sufficient to prevent generation of ventral OPCs, highlighting that, in addition to Shh, FGF signaling is required also for generation of ventral OPCs. We further reveal an unsuspected interplay between Shh and FGF signaling by showing that FGFs serve dual essential functions in ventral OPC specification. FGFs are responsible for timely induction of a secondary Shh signaling center, the lateral floor plate, a crucial step to create the burst of Shh required for OPC specification. At the same time, FGFs prevent down-regulation of Olig2 in pMN progenitor cells as these cells receive higher threshold of the Shh signal. Finally, we bring arguments favoring a key role of newly differentiated neurons acting as providers of the FGF signal required to trigger OPC generation in the ventral spinal cord.

Conclusion

Altogether our data reveal that the FGF signaling pathway is activated and required for OPC commitment in the ventral spinal cord. More generally, our data may prove important in defining strategies to produce large populations of determined oligodendrocyte precursor cells from undetermined neural progenitors, including stem cells. In the long run, these new data could be useful in attempts to stimulate the oligodendrocyte fate in residing neural stem cells.

Cholesterol Biosynthesis Supports Myelin Gene Expression and Axon Ensheathment through Modulation of P13K/Akt/mTor Signaling

Myelin, which ensheaths and insulates axons, is a specialized membrane highly enriched with cholesterol. During myelin formation, cholesterol influences membrane fluidity, associates with myelin proteins such as myelin proteolipid protein, and assembles lipid-rich microdomains within membranes. Surprisingly, cholesterol also is required by oligodendrocytes, glial cells that make myelin, to express myelin genes and wrap axons. How cholesterol mediates these distinct features of oligodendrocyte development is not known. One possibility is that cholesterol promotes myelination by facilitating signal transduction within the cell, because lipid-rich microdomains function as assembly points for signaling molecules. Signaling cascades that localize to cholesterol-rich regions of the plasma membrane include the PI3K/Akt pathway, which acts upstream of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a major driver of myelination. Through manipulation of cholesterol levels and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in zebrafish, we discovered that mTOR kinase activity in oligodendrocytes requires cholesterol. Drawing on a combination of pharmacological and rescue experiments, we provide evidence that mTOR kinase activity is required for cholesterol-mediated myelin gene expression. On the other hand, cholesterol-dependent axon ensheathment is mediated by Akt signaling, independent of mTOR kinase activity. Our data reveal that cholesterol-dependent myelin gene expression and axon ensheathment are facilitated by distinct signaling cascades downstream of Akt. Because mTOR promotes cholesterol synthesis, our data raise the possibility that cholesterol synthesis and mTOR signaling engage in positive feedback to promote the formation of myelin membrane.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The speed of electrical impulse movement through axons is increased by myelin, a specialized, cholesterol-rich glial cell membrane that tightly wraps axons. During development, myelin membrane grows dramatically, suggesting a significant demand on mechanisms that produce and assemble myelin components, while it spirally wraps axons. Our studies indicate that cholesterol is necessary for both myelin growth and axon wrapping. Specifically, we found that cholesterol facilitates signaling mediated by the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, a powerful driver of myelination. Because mTOR promotes the expression of genes necessary for cholesterol synthesis, cholesterol formation and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling might function as a feedforward mechanism to produce the large amounts of myelin membrane necessary for axon ensheathment.

Perineurial Glial Plasticity and the Role of TGF-β in the Development of the Blood-Nerve Barrier

Precisely orchestrated interactions between spinal motor axons and their ensheathing glia are vital for forming and maintaining functional spinal motor nerves. Following perturbations to peripheral myelinating glial cells, centrally derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) ectopically exit the spinal cord and myelinate peripheral nerves in myelin with CNS characteristics. However, whether remaining peripheral ensheathing glia, such as perineurial glia, properly encase the motor nerve despite this change in glial cell and myelin composition, remains unknown. Using zebrafish mutants in which OPCs migrate out of the spinal cord and myelinate peripheral motor axons, we assayed perineurial glial development, maturation, and response to injury. Surprisingly, in the presence of OPCs, perineurial glia exited the CNS normally. However, aspects of their development, response to injury, and function were altered compared with wildtype larvae. In an effort to better understand the plasticity of perineurial glia in response to myelin perturbations, we identified transforming growth factor-β1 as a partial mediator of perineurial glial development. Together, these results demonstrate the incredible plasticity of perineurial glia in the presence of myelin perturbations.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Peripheral neuropathies can result from damage or dysregulation of the insulating myelin sheath surrounding spinal motor axons, causing pain, inefficient nerve conduction, and the ectopic migration of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), the resident myelinating glial cell of the CNS, into the periphery. How perineurial glia, the ensheathing cells that form the protective blood-nerve barrier, are impacted by this myelin composition change is unknown. Here, we report that certain aspects of perineurial glial development and injury responses are mostly unaffected in the presence of ectopic OPCs. However, perineurial glial function is disrupted along nerves containing centrally derived myelin, demonstrating that, although perineurial glial cells display plasticity despite myelin perturbations, the blood-nerve barrier is compromised in the presence of ectopic OPCs.

Imaging Myelination In Vivo Using Transparent Animal Models

Myelination by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system is essential for nervous system function and health. Despite its importance, we have a relatively poor understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate myelination in the living animal, particularly in the CNS. This is partly due to the fact that myelination commences around birth in mammals, by which time the CNS is complex and largely inaccessible, and thus very difficult to image live in its intact form. As a consequence, in recent years much effort has been invested in the use of smaller, simpler, transparent model organisms to investigate mechanisms of myelination in vivo. Although the majority of such studies have employed zebrafish, the Xenopus tadpole also represents an important complementary system with advantages for investigating myelin biology in vivo. Here we review how the natural features of zebrafish embryos and larvae and Xenopus tadpoles make them ideal systems for experimentally interrogating myelination by live imaging. We outline common transgenic technologies used to generate zebrafish and Xenopus that express fluorescent reporters, which can be used to image myelination. We also provide an extensive overview of the imaging modalities most commonly employed to date to image the nervous system in these transparent systems, and also emerging technologies that we anticipate will become widely used in studies of zebrafish and Xenopus myelination in the near future.

Cryptic Amyloidogenic Elements in the 3' UTRs of Neurofilament Genes Trigger Axonal Neuropathy

Abnormal protein aggregation is observed in an expanding number of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we describe a mechanism for intracellular toxic protein aggregation induced by an unusual mutation event in families affected by axonal neuropathy. These families carry distinct frameshift variants in NEFH (neurofilament heavy), leading to a loss of the terminating codon and translation of the 3' UTR into an extra 40 amino acids. In silico aggregation prediction suggested the terminal 20 residues of the altered NEFH to be amyloidogenic, which we confirmed experimentally by serial deletion analysis. The presence of this amyloidogenic motif fused to NEFH caused prominent and toxic protein aggregates in transfected cells and disrupted motor neurons in zebrafish. We identified a similar aggregation-inducing mechanism in NEFL (neurofilament light) and FUS (fused in sarcoma), in which mutations are known to cause aggregation in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, respectively. In summary, we present a protein-aggregation-triggering mechanism that should be taken into consideration during the evaluation of stop-loss variants.

Oligodendrocyte differentiation

In the nervous system, axons transmit information in the form of electrical impulses over long distances. The speed of impulse conduction is enhanced by myelin, a lipid-rich membrane that wraps around axons. Myelin also is required for the long-term health of axons by providing metabolic support. Accordingly, myelin deficiencies are implicated in a wide range of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, intellectual disabilities, and neurodegenerative conditions. Central nervous system myelin is formed by glial cells called oligodendrocytes. During development, oligodendrocyte precursor cells migrate from their origins to their target axons, extend long membrane processes that wrap axons, and produce the proteins and lipids that provide myelin membrane with its unique characteristics. Myelination is a dynamic process that involves intricate interactions between multiple cell types. Therefore, an in vivo myelination model, such as the zebrafish, which allows for live observation of cell dynamics and cell-to-cell interactions, is well suited for investigating oligodendrocyte development. Zebrafish offer several advantages to investigating myelination, including the use of transgenic reporter lines, live imaging, forward genetic screens, chemical screens, and reverse genetic approaches. This chapter will describe how these tools and approaches have provided new insights into the regulatory mechanisms that guide myelination.

The Autotaxin-Lysophosphatidic Acid Axis Modulates Histone Acetylation and Gene Expression during Oligodendrocyte Differentiation

During development, oligodendrocytes (OLGs), the myelinating cells of the CNS, undergo a stepwise progression during which OLG progenitors, specified from neural stem/progenitor cells, differentiate into fully mature myelinating OLGs. This progression along the OLG lineage is characterized by well synchronized changes in morphology and gene expression patterns. The latter have been found to be particularly critical during the early stages of the lineage, and they have been well described to be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, especially by the activity of the histone deacetylases HDAC1 and HDAC2. The data presented here identify the extracellular factor autotaxin (ATX) as a novel upstream signal modulating HDAC1/2 activity and gene expression in cells of the OLG lineage. Using the zebrafish as an in vivo model system as well as rodent primary OLG cultures, this functional property of ATX was found to be mediated by its lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity, which has been well characterized to generate the lipid signaling molecule lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). More specifically, the lysoPLD activity of ATX was found to modulate HDAC1/2 regulated gene expression during a time window coinciding with the transition from OLG progenitor to early differentiating OLG. In contrast, HDAC1/2 regulated gene expression during the transition from neural stem/progenitor to OLG progenitor appeared unaffected by ATX and its lysoPLD activity. Thus, together, our data suggest that an ATX-LPA-HDAC1/2 axis regulates OLG differentiation specifically during the transition from OLG progenitor to early differentiating OLG and via a molecular mechanism that is evolutionarily conserved from at least zebrafish to rodent.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The formation of the axon insulating and supporting myelin sheath by differentiating oligodendrocytes (OLGs) in the CNS is considered an essential step during vertebrate development. In addition, loss and/or dysfunction of the myelin sheath has been associated with a variety of neurologic diseases in which repair is limited, despite the presence of progenitor cells with the potential to differentiate into myelinating OLGs. This study characterizes the autotaxin-lysophosphatidic acid signaling axis as a modulator of OLG differentiation in vivo in the developing zebrafish and in vitro in rodent OLGs in culture. These findings provide novel insight into the regulation of developmental myelination, and they are likely to lead to advancing studies related to the stimulation of myelin repair under pathologic conditions.

The scales and tales of myelination: using zebrafish and mouse to study myelinating glia

Myelin, the lipid-rich sheath that insulates axons to facilitate rapid conduction of action potentials, is an evolutionary innovation of the jawed-vertebrate lineage. Research efforts aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms governing myelination have primarily focused on rodent models; however, with the advent of the zebrafish model system in the late twentieth century, the use of this genetically tractable, yet simpler vertebrate for studying myelination has steadily increased. In this review, we compare myelinating glial cell biology during development and regeneration in zebrafish and mouse and enumerate the advantages and disadvantages of using each model to study myelination. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Myelin Evolution.

Knock-down of pantothenate kinase 2 severely affects the development of the nervous and vascular system in zebrafish, providing new insights into PKAN disease

Pantothenate Kinase Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN) is an autosomal recessive disorder with mutations in the pantothenate kinase 2 gene (PANK2), encoding an essential enzyme for Coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis. The molecular connection between defects in this enzyme and the neurodegenerative phenotype observed in PKAN patients is still poorly understood. We exploited the zebrafish model to study the role played by the pank2 gene during embryonic development and get new insight into PKAN pathogenesis. The zebrafish orthologue of hPANK2 lies on chromosome 13, is a maternal gene expressed in all development stages and, in adult animals, is highly abundant in CNS, dorsal aorta and caudal vein. The injection of a splice-inhibiting morpholino induced a clear phenotype with perturbed brain morphology and hydrocephalus; edema was present in the heart region and caudal plexus, where hemorrhages with reduction of blood circulation velocity were detected. We characterized the CNS phenotype by studying the expression pattern of wnt1 and neurog1 neural markers and by use of the Tg(neurod:EGFP/sox10:dsRed) transgenic line. The results evidenced that downregulation of pank2 severely impairs neuronal development, particularly in the anterior part of CNS (telencephalon). Whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis of the endothelial markers cadherin-5 and fli1a, and use of Tg(fli1a:EGFP/gata1a:dsRed) transgenic line, confirmed the essential role of pank2 in the formation of the vascular system. The specificity of the morpholino-induced phenotype was proved by the restoration of a normal development in a high percentage of embryos co-injected with pank2 mRNA. Also, addition of pantethine or CoA, but not of vitamin B5, to pank2 morpholino-injected embryos rescued the phenotype with high efficiency. The zebrafish model indicates the relevance of pank2 activity and CoA homeostasis for normal neuronal development and functioning and provides evidence of an unsuspected role for this enzyme and its product in vascular development.

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Zebrafish pank2 gene is highly expressed in the CNS and the main vascular structures.

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Pank2 down-regulation severely affects the development of the forebrain.

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Pank2 down-regulation affects the dorsal aorta, caudal vein and inter-somitic vessels.

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Pantethine and Coenzyme A restore the normal development in the absence of pank2 expression.

Insights into mechanisms of central nervous system myelination using zebrafish

Myelin is the multi-layered membrane that surrounds most axons and is produced by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). In addition to its important role in enabling rapid nerve conduction, it has become clear in recent years that myelin plays additional vital roles in CNS function. Myelinating oligodendrocytes provide metabolic support to axons and active myelination is even involved in regulating forms of learning and memory formation. However, there are still large gaps in our understanding of how myelination by oligodendrocytes is regulated. The small tropical zebrafish has become an increasingly popular model organism to investigate many aspects of nervous system formation, function, and regeneration. This is mainly due to two approaches for which the zebrafish is an ideally suited vertebrate model--(1) in vivo live cell imaging using vital dyes and genetically encoded reporters, and (2) gene and target discovery using unbiased screens. This review summarizes how the use of zebrafish has helped understand mechanisms of oligodendrocyte behavior and myelination in vivo and discusses the potential use of zebrafish to shed light on important future questions relating to myelination in the context of CNS development, function and repair.

Mutations in SLC25A46, encoding a UGO1-like protein, cause an optic atrophy spectrum disorder

Dominant optic atrophy (DOA)^1,2 and axonal peripheral neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 2 or CMT2)³ are hereditary neurodegenerative disorders most commonly caused by mutations in the canonical mitochondrial fusion genes OPA1 and MFN2, respectively⁴. In yeast, homologs of OPA1(Mgm1) and MFN2(Fzo1) work in concert with Ugo1^5,6, which has no human equivalent to date⁷. By whole exome sequencing patients with optic atrophy and CMT2, we identified four families with recessive mutations in SLC25A46. We demonstrate that SLC25A46, like Ugo1, is a modified carrier protein that has been recruited to the outer mitochondrial membrane and interacts with the inner membrane remodeling protein, mitofilin(Fcj1). Loss-of-function in cultured cells and in zebrafish unexpectedly leads to increased mitochondrial connectivity, while severely affecting the development and maintenance of neurons in the fish. The discovery of SLC25A46 strengthens the genetic overlap between optic atrophy and CMT2, while exemplifying a novel class of modified solute transporters linked to mitochondrial dynamics.

Zebrafish as a systems toxicology model for developmental neurotoxicity testing

The developing brain is extremely sensitive to many chemicals. Exposure to neurotoxicants during development has been implicated in various neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Although rodents have been widely used for developmental neurotoxicity testing, experiments using large numbers of rodents are time-consuming, expensive, and raise ethical concerns. Using alternative non-mammalian animal models may relieve some of these pressures by allowing testing of large numbers of subjects while reducing expenses and minimizing the use of mammalian subjects. In this review, we discuss some of the advantages of using zebrafish in developmental neurotoxicity testing, focusing on central nervous system development, neurobehavior, toxicokinetics, and toxicodynamics in this species. We also describe some important examples of developmental neurotoxicity testing using zebrafish combined with gene expression profiling, neuroimaging, or neurobehavioral assessment. Zebrafish may be a systems toxicology model that has the potential to reveal the pathways of developmental neurotoxicity and to provide a sound basis for human risk assessments.

The adhesion GPCR Gpr56 regulates oligodendrocyte development via interactions with Gα12/13 and RhoA

In the vertebrate central nervous system, myelinating oligodendrocytes are postmitotic and derive from proliferative oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). The molecular mechanisms that govern oligodendrocyte development are incompletely understood, but recent studies implicate the adhesion class of G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) as important regulators of myelination. Here, we use zebrafish and mouse models to dissect the function of the aGPCR Gpr56 in oligodendrocyte development. We show that gpr56 is expressed during early stages of oligodendrocyte development. In addition, we observe a significant reduction of mature oligodendrocyte number and myelinated axons in gpr56 zebrafish mutants. This reduction results from decreased OPC proliferation, rather than increased cell death or altered neural precursor differentiation potential. Finally, we show that these functions are mediated by Gα12/13 proteins and Rho activation. Together, our data establish Gpr56 as a regulator of oligodendrocyte development.

Comparative analysis of genes regulated by Dzip1/iguana and hedgehog in zebrafish

BACKGROUND

The zebrafish genetic mutant iguana (igu) has defects in the ciliary basal body protein Dzip1, causing improper cilia formation. Dzip1 also interacts with the downstream transcriptional activators of Hedgehog (Hh), the Gli proteins, and Hh signaling is disrupted in igu mutants. Hh governs a wide range of developmental processes, including stabilizing developing blood vessels to prevent hemorrhage. Using igu mutant embryos and embryos treated with the Hh pathway antagonist cyclopamine, we conducted a microarray to determine genes involved in Hh signaling mediating vascular stability.

RESULTS

We identified 40 genes with significantly altered expression in both igu mutants and cyclopamine-treated embryos. For a subset of these, we used in situ hybridization to determine localization during embryonic development and confirm the expression changes seen on the array.

CONCLUSIONS

Through comparing gene expression changes in a genetic model of vascular instability with a chemical inhibition of Hh signaling, we identified a set of 40 differentially expressed genes with potential roles in vascular stabilization.

Contact-mediated inhibition between oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and motor exit point glia establishes the spinal cord transition zone

In vivo experiments in zebrafish determine that CNS-derived glial cells contribute to the myelinating population of cells in the PNS and ensure that CNS and PNS glia remain segregated.

Rapid conduction of action potentials along motor axons requires that oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells myelinate distinct central and peripheral nervous system (CNS and PNS) domains along the same axon. Despite the importance of this arrangement for nervous system function, the mechanisms that establish and maintain this precise glial segregation at the motor exit point (MEP) transition zone are unknown. Using in vivo time-lapse imaging in zebrafish, we observed that prior to myelination, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) extend processes into the periphery via the MEP and immediately upon contact with spinal motor root glia retract back into the spinal cord. Characterization of the peripheral cell responsible for repelling OPC processes revealed that it was a novel, CNS-derived population of glia we propose calling MEP glia. Ablation of MEP glia resulted in the absence of myelinating glia along spinal motor root axons and an immediate breach of the MEP by OPCs. Taken together, our results identify a novel population of CNS-derived peripheral glia located at the MEP that selectively restrict the migration of OPCs into the periphery via contact-mediated inhibition.

The nervous system is often thought as two distinct halves: the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes the nerves that control movement and sense the environment. The cells within these two halves, however, do not commonly mix. To address how cells are segregated within these two compartments of the nervous system, we used live, transgenic zebrafish embryos to watch nerve development. Our study shows that CNS-residing myelinating glia (nonneuronal cells that wrap around nerves to ensure nerve impulse conduction) are restricted from entering the PNS by a cell we call motor exit point (MEP) glia. MEP glia originate from within the CNS, and then migrate into the PNS, divide, and produce cells that ensheath and myelinate spinal motor root axons. Ablation of MEP glia causes CNS glia to migrate inappropriately into the PNS, disrupting the normal boundary that is present between the CNS and PNS. Overall, the identification and characterization of MEP glia identifies an aspect of peripheral nerve composition that may be pertinent in human health and disease.

Zebrafish regenerate full thickness optic nerve myelin after demyelination, but this fails with increasing age

INTRODUCTION

In the human demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disease multiple sclerosis, remyelination promotes recovery and limits neurodegeneration, but this is inefficient and always ultimately fails. Furthermore, these regenerated myelin sheaths are thinner and shorter than the original, leaving the underlying axons potentially vulnerable. In rodent models, CNS remyelination is more efficient, so that in young animals (but not old) the number of myelinated axons is efficiently restored to normal, but in both young and old rodents, regenerated myelin sheaths are still short and thin. The reasons for these differences in remyelination efficiency, the thinner remyelinated myelin sheaths compared to developmental myelin and the subsequent effect on the underlying axon are unclear. We studied CNS remyelination in the highly regenerative adult zebrafish (Danio rerio), to better understand mechanisms of what we hypothesised would be highly efficient remyelination, and to identify differences to mammalian CNS remyelination, as larval zebrafish are increasingly used for high throughput screens to identify potential drug targets to improve myelination and remyelination.

RESULTS

We developed a novel method to induce a focal demyelinating lesion in adult zebrafish optic nerve with no discernible axonal damage, and describe the cellular changes over time. Remyelination is indeed efficient in both young and old adult zebrafish optic nerves, and at 4 weeks after demyelination, the number of myelinated axons is restored to normal, but internode lengths are short. However, unlike in rodents or in humans, in young zebrafish these regenerated myelin sheaths were of normal thickness, whereas in aged zebrafish, they were thin, and remained so even 3 months later. This inability to restore normal myelin thickness in remyelination with age was associated with a reduced macrophage/microglial response.

CONCLUSION

Zebrafish are able to efficiently restore normal thickness myelin around optic nerve axons after demyelination, unlike in mammals. However, this fails with age, when only thin myelin is achieved. This gives us a novel model to try and dissect the mechanism for restoring myelin thickness in CNS remyelination.

Dynamics of sonic hedgehog signaling in the ventral spinal cord are controlled by intrinsic changes in source cells requiring sulfatase 1

In the ventral spinal cord, generation of neuronal and glial cell subtypes is controlled by Sonic hedgehog (Shh). This morphogen contributes to cell diversity by regulating spatial and temporal sequences of gene expression during development. Here, we report that establishing Shh source cells is not sufficient to induce the high-threshold response required to specify sequential generation of ventral interneurons and oligodendroglial cells at the right time and place in zebrafish. Instead, we show that Shh-producing cells must repeatedly upregulate the secreted enzyme Sulfatase1 (Sulf1) at two critical time points of development to reach their full inductive capacity. We provide evidence that Sulf1 triggers Shh signaling activity to establish and, later on, modify the spatial arrangement of gene expression in ventral neural progenitors. We further present arguments in favor of Sulf1 controlling Shh temporal activity by stimulating production of active forms of Shh from its source. Our work, by pointing out the key role of Sulf1 in regulating Shh-dependent neural cell diversity, highlights a novel level of regulation, which involves temporal evolution of Shh source properties.

Claudin k is specifically expressed in cells that form myelin during development of the nervous system and regeneration of the optic nerve in adult zebrafish

The zebrafish has become an important model organism to study myelination during development and after a lesion of the adult central nervous system (CNS). Here, we identify Claudin k as a myelin-associated protein in zebrafish and determine its localization during development and adult optic nerve regeneration. We find Claudin k in subcellular compartments consistent with location in autotypic tight junctions of oligodendrocytes and myelinating Schwann cells. Expression starts in the hindbrain at 2 days (mRNA) and 3 days (protein) postfertilization and is maintained in adults. A newly generated claudin k:green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter line allowed us to characterize oligodendrocytes in the adult retina that express Claudin k and olig2, but not P0 and uniquely only form loose wraps of membrane around axons. After a crush of the adult optic nerve, Claudin k protein levels were first reduced and then recovered within 4 weeks postlesion, concomitant with optic nerve myelin de- and regeneration. During optic nerve regeneration, oligodendrocytes, many of which were newly generated, repopulated the lesion site and exhibited increasing morphological complexity over time. Thus, Claudin k is a novel myelin-associated protein expressed by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells from early stages of wrapping and myelin formation in zebrafish development and adult regeneration, suggesting important functions of the gene for myelin formation and maintenance. Our Claudin k antibodies and claudin k:GFP reporter line represent excellent ways to visualize oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell differentiation in vivo.

A new monoclonal antibody, 4F2, specific for the oligodendroglial cell lineage, recognizes ATP-dependent RNA helicase Ddx54: possible association with myelin basic protein

Recent research in neural development has highlighted the importance of markers to discriminate phenotypic alterations of neural cells at various developmental stages. We isolated a new monoclonal antibody, 4F2, which was shown to be specific for an oligodendrocyte lineage. In primary cultures of oligodendroglial and mixed neural cells, the 4F2 antibody labeled a large proportion of Sox2(+) , Sox10(+) , A2B5(+) , NG2(+) , Olig2(+) , O4(+) , and myelin basic protein (MBP)(+) cells but did not label any GFAP(+) or NeuN(+) cells. In immunohistochemisty of rat embryos, the 4F2 antibody labeled a portion of neuroepithelial cells of the neural tube at embryonic day 9. The 4F2-positive cells were located initially in the ventricular zone as Musashi1(+) Tuj1(-) populations and distributed throughout the striatum; thereafter, they populated the whole brain and spinal cord. These cells showed ramified processes during embryonal development. The 4F2 antigen was associated with all four isoforms of MBP in coimmunoprecipitation experiments using brain homogenates or cell lysates of cultured oligodendrocytes. Immunoscreening of a brain cDNA library identified the antigen as DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 54 (Ddx54), a member of the DEAD box family of RNA helicases involved in RNA metabolism, transcription, and translation. Cotransfection of the Ddx54 gene with MBP isoform genes increased the nuclear localization of the 21.5-kDa MBP isoform, which has been reported to function as a nuclear signal transduction molecule. These data indicate that Ddx54 might be not only a useful marker for investigating the ontogeny of oligodendrocytes but also an important factor in oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination.

Dissecting mechanisms of myelinated axon formation using zebrafish

The myelin sheath is an essential component of the vertebrate nervous system, and its disruption causes numerous diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), and neurodegeneration. Although we understand a great deal about the early development of the glial cells that make myelin (Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system), we know much less about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the later stages of differentiation that orchestrate myelin formation. Over the past decade, the zebrafish has been employed as a model with which to dissect the development of myelinated axons. Forward genetic screens have revealed new genes essential for myelination, as well as new roles for genes previously implicated in myelinated axon formation in other systems. High-resolution in vivo imaging in zebrafish has also begun to illuminate novel cell behaviors during myelinating glial cell development. Here we review the contribution of zebrafish research to our understanding of myelinated axon formation to date. We also describe and discuss many of the methodologies used in these studies and preview future endeavors that will ensure that the zebrafish remains at the cutting edge of this important area of research.

Sox10 is necessary for oligodendrocyte survival following axon wrapping

Cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage, which form the myelinating glia of the vertebrate central nervous system, undergo a stepwise developmental progression entailing specification from neuroepithelial precursors, proliferation, migration to expand and distribute the population, and differentiation to ensheath axons with myelin. Understanding the genetic mechanisms that regulate each of these steps during development is important, because this might lead to therapies to promote remyelination following neural injury or disease. Genetic studies in mice indicated that the Sox10 transcription factor is required during the differentiation stage to promote myelin gene expression. However, whether Sox10 also promotes other features of oligodendroctye differentiation remained unknown. In this study, we used time-lapse imaging to investigate the behavior and fates of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in zebrafish embryos and larvae that lacked Sox10 function. This revealed that the myelinating subset of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) migrates, divides, and wraps axons normally, but then dies. Nonmyelinating oligodendrocyte progenitors divided more frequently, maintaining a normal population size. New oligodendrocytes produced by these progenitors wrapped axons and survived, but did not express myelin genes at high levels. We conclude that, in addition to promoting myelin gene expression, Sox10 function is necessary for the survival of myelinating oligodedrocytes subsequent to axon wrapping but is not required for the survival of nonmyelinating OPCs.