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Fox SC, Waskiewicz AJ. Transforming growth factor beta signaling and craniofacial development: modeling human diseases in zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1338070. [PMID: 38385025 PMCID: PMC10879340 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1338070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Humans and other jawed vertebrates rely heavily on their craniofacial skeleton for eating, breathing, and communicating. As such, it is vital that the elements of the craniofacial skeleton develop properly during embryogenesis to ensure a high quality of life and evolutionary fitness. Indeed, craniofacial abnormalities, including cleft palate and craniosynostosis, represent some of the most common congenital abnormalities in newborns. Like many other organ systems, the development of the craniofacial skeleton is complex, relying on specification and migration of the neural crest, patterning of the pharyngeal arches, and morphogenesis of each skeletal element into its final form. These processes must be carefully coordinated and integrated. One way this is achieved is through the spatial and temporal deployment of cell signaling pathways. Recent studies conducted using the zebrafish model underscore the importance of the Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) pathways in craniofacial development. Although both pathways contain similar components, each pathway results in unique outcomes on a cellular level. In this review, we will cover studies conducted using zebrafish that show the necessity of these pathways in each stage of craniofacial development, starting with the induction of the neural crest, and ending with the morphogenesis of craniofacial elements. We will also cover human skeletal and craniofacial diseases and malformations caused by mutations in the components of these pathways (e.g., cleft palate, craniosynostosis, etc.) and the potential utility of zebrafish in studying the etiology of these diseases. We will also briefly cover the utility of the zebrafish model in joint development and biology and discuss the role of TGF-β/BMP signaling in these processes and the diseases that result from aberrancies in these pathways, including osteoarthritis and multiple synostoses syndrome. Overall, this review will demonstrate the critical roles of TGF-β/BMP signaling in craniofacial development and show the utility of the zebrafish model in development and disease.
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2
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Godivier J, Lawrence EA, Wang M, Hammond CL, Nowlan NC. Compressive stress gradients direct mechanoregulation of anisotropic growth in the zebrafish jaw joint. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1010940. [PMID: 38330044 PMCID: PMC10880962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli arising from fetal movements are critical factors underlying joint growth. Abnormal fetal movements negatively affect joint shape features with important implications for joint health, but the mechanisms by which mechanical forces from fetal movements influence joint growth are still unclear. In this research, we quantify zebrafish jaw joint growth in 3D in free-to-move and immobilised fish larvae between four and five days post fertilisation. We found that the main changes in size and shape in normally moving fish were in the ventrodorsal axis, while growth anisotropy was lost in the immobilised larvae. We next sought to determine the cell level activities underlying mechanoregulated growth anisotropy by tracking individual cells in the presence or absence of jaw movements, finding that the most dramatic changes in growth rates due to jaw immobility were in the ventrodorsal axis. Finally, we implemented mechanobiological simulations of joint growth with which we tested hypotheses relating specific mechanical stimuli to mechanoregulated growth anisotropy. Different types of mechanical stimulation were incorporated into the simulation to provide the mechanoregulated component of growth, in addition to the baseline (non-mechanoregulated) growth which occurs in the immobilised animals. We found that when average tissue stress over the opening and closing cycle of the joint was used as the stimulus for mechanoregulated growth, joint morphogenesis was not accurately predicted. Predictions were improved when using the stress gradients along the rudiment axes (i.e., the variation in magnitude of compression to magnitude of tension between local regions). However, the most accurate predictions were obtained when using the compressive stress gradients (i.e., the variation in compressive stress magnitude) along the rudiment axes. We conclude therefore that the dominant biophysical stimulus contributing to growth anisotropy during early joint development is the gradient of compressive stress experienced along the growth axes under cyclical loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josepha Godivier
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elizabeth A. Lawrence
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Mengdi Wang
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Chrissy L. Hammond
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Niamh C. Nowlan
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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3
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Yu EPY, Saxena V, Perin S, Ekker M. Loss of dlx5a/ dlx6a Locus Alters Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling and Meckel's Cartilage Morphology. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1347. [PMID: 37759750 PMCID: PMC10526740 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091347] [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: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The dlx genes encode transcription factors that establish a proximal-distal polarity within neural crest cells to bestow a regional identity during craniofacial development. The expression regions of dlx paralogs are overlapping yet distinct within the zebrafish pharyngeal arches and may also be involved in progressive morphologic changes and organization of chondrocytes of the face. However, how each dlx paralog of dlx1a, dlx2a, dlx5a and dlx6a affects craniofacial development is still largely unknown. We report here that the average lengths of the Meckel's, palatoquadrate and ceratohyal cartilages in different dlx mutants were altered. Mutants for dlx5a-/- and dlx5i6-/-, where the entire dlx5a/dlx6a locus was deleted, have the shortest lengths for all three structures at 5 days post fertilization (dpf). This phenotype was also observed in 14 dpf larvae. Loss of dlx5i6 also resulted in increased proliferation of neural crest cells and expression of chondrogenic markers. Additionally, altered expression and function of non-canonical Wnt signaling were observed in these mutants suggesting a novel interaction between dlx5i6 locus and non-canonical Wnt pathway regulating ventral cartilage morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marc Ekker
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 94A, Canada (S.P.)
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4
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Maili L, Tandon B, Yuan Q, Menezes S, Chiu F, Hashmi SS, Letra A, Eisenhoffer GT, Hecht JT. Disruption of fos causes craniofacial anomalies in developing zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1141893. [PMID: 37664458 PMCID: PMC10469461 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1141893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Craniofacial development is a complex and tightly regulated process and disruptions can lead to structural birth defects, the most common being nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCLP). Previously, we identified FOS as a candidate regulator of NSCLP through family-based association studies, yet its specific contributions to oral and palatal formation are poorly understood. This study investigated the role of fos during zebrafish craniofacial development through genetic disruption and knockdown approaches. Fos was expressed in the periderm, olfactory epithelium and other cell populations in the head. Genetic perturbation of fos produced an abnormal craniofacial phenotype with a hypoplastic oral cavity that showed significant changes in midface dimensions by quantitative facial morphometric analysis. Loss and knockdown of fos caused increased cell apoptosis in the head, followed by a significant reduction in cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) populating the upper and lower jaws. These changes resulted in abnormalities of cartilage, bone and pharyngeal teeth formation. Periderm cells surrounding the oral cavity showed altered morphology and a subset of cells in the upper and lower lip showed disrupted Wnt/β-catenin activation, consistent with modified inductive interactions between mesenchymal and epithelial cells. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that perturbation of fos has detrimental effects on oral epithelial and CNCC-derived tissues suggesting that it plays a critical role in zebrafish craniofacial development and a potential role in NSCLP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Maili
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Genetics and Epigenetics Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bhavna Tandon
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qiuping Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Simone Menezes
- Center for Craniofacial Research, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Frankie Chiu
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - S. Shahrukh Hashmi
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ariadne Letra
- Center for Craniofacial Research, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - George T. Eisenhoffer
- Genetics and Epigenetics Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jacqueline T. Hecht
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Genetics and Epigenetics Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Craniofacial Research, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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Packard M, Gilbert MC, Tetrault E, Albertson RC. Zebrafish crocc2 mutants exhibit divergent craniofacial shape, misregulated variability, and aberrant cartilage morphogenesis. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:1026-1045. [PMID: 37032317 PMCID: PMC10524572 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenotypic variation is of paramount importance in development, evolution, and human health; however, the molecular mechanisms that influence organ shape and shape variability are not well understood. During craniofacial development, the behavior of skeletal precursors is regulated by both biochemical and environmental inputs, and the primary cilia play critical roles in transducing both types of signals. Here, we examine a gene that encodes a key constituent of the ciliary rootlets, crocc2, and its role in cartilage morphogenesis in larval zebrafish. RESULTS Geometric morphometric analysis of crocc2 mutants revealed altered craniofacial shapes and expanded variation. At the cellular level, we observed altered chondrocyte shapes and planar cell polarity across multiple stages in crocc2 mutants. Notably, cellular defects were specific to areas that experience direct mechanical input. Cartilage cell number, apoptosis, and bone patterning were not affected in crocc2 mutants. CONCLUSIONS Whereas "regulatory" genes are widely implicated in patterning the craniofacial skeleton, genes that encode "structural" aspects of the cell are increasingly implicated in shaping the face. Our results add crocc2 to this list, and demonstrate that it affects craniofacial geometry and canalizes phenotypic variation. We propose that it does so via mechanosensing, possibly through the ciliary rootlet. If true, this would implicate a new organelle in skeletal development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Packard
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, U.S.A
| | - Michelle C. Gilbert
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, U.S.A
- Current address, Department of Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, U.S.A
| | - Emily Tetrault
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, U.S.A
| | - R. Craig Albertson
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, U.S.A
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Kim J, Kim BY, Lee JS, Jeong YM, Cho HJ, Park E, Kim D, Kim SS, Kim BT, Choi YJ, Won YY, Jin HS, Chung YS, Jeong SY. UBAP2 plays a role in bone homeostasis through the regulation of osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3668. [PMID: 37339951 PMCID: PMC10281941 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39448-8] [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: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced bone strength, leading to an increased risk of fractures. Here, to identify novel risk variants for susceptibility to osteoporosis-related traits, an exome-wide association study is performed with 6,485 exonic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2,666 women of two Korean study cohorts. The rs2781 SNP in UBAP2 gene is suggestively associated with osteoporosis and BMD with p-values of 6.1 × 10-7 (odds ratio = 1.72) and 1.1 × 10-7 in the case-control and quantitative analyzes, respectively. Knockdown of Ubap2 in mouse cells decreases osteoblastogenesis and increases osteoclastogenesis, and knockdown of ubap2 in zebrafish reveals abnormal bone formation. Ubap2 expression is associated with E-cadherin (Cdh1) and Fra1 (Fosl1) expression in the osteclastogenesis-induced monocytes. UBAP2 mRNA levels are significantly reduced in bone marrow, but increased in peripheral blood, from women with osteoporosis compared to controls. UBAP2 protein level is correlated with the blood plasma level of the representative osteoporosis biomarker osteocalcin. These results suggest that UBAP2 has a critical role in bone homeostasis through the regulation of bone remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghyun Kim
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Young Kim
- Division of Intractable Disease, Center for Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Soo Lee
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Mi Jeong
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ju Cho
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunkuk Park
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dowan Kim
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Soo Kim
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Life and Health Sciences, Hoseo University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Bom-Taeck Kim
- Department of Family Practice and Community Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Jun Choi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye-Yeon Won
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Seok Jin
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Life and Health Sciences, Hoseo University, Asan, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yoon-Sok Chung
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seon-Yong Jeong
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Liao WN, You MS, Ulhaq ZS, Li JP, Jiang YJ, Chen JK, Tse WKF. Micro-CT analysis reveals the changes in bone mineral density in zebrafish craniofacial skeleton with age. J Anat 2023; 242:544-551. [PMID: 36256534 PMCID: PMC9919479 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone has multiple functions in animals, such as supporting the body for mobility. The zebrafish skeleton is composed of craniofacial and axial skeletons. It shares a physiological curvature and consists of a similar number of vertebrae as humans. Bone degeneration and malformations have been widely studied in zebrafish as human disease models. High-resolution imaging and different bone properties such as density and volume can be obtained using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). This study aimed to understand the possible changes in the structure and bone mineral density (BMD) of the vertebrae and craniofacial skeleton with age (4, 12 and 24 months post fertilisation [mpf]) in zebrafish. Our data showed that the BMD in the vertebrae and specific craniofacial skeleton (mandibular arch, ceratohyal and ethmoid plate) of 12 and 24 mpf fish were higher than that of the 4 mpf fish. In addition, we found the age-dependent increase in BMD was not ubiquitously observed in facial bones, and such differences were not correlated with bone type. In summary, such additional information on the craniofacial skeleton could help in understanding bone development throughout the lifespan of zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Neng Liao
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - May-Su You
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Zulvikar Syambani Ulhaq
- Laboratory of Developmental Disorders and Toxicology, Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.,Department of Biochemistry, Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Jui-Ping Li
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Jin Jiang
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan.,Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Kun Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan.,Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, Taiwan.,Graduated Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - William Ka Fai Tse
- Laboratory of Developmental Disorders and Toxicology, Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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8
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Ritter DJ, Choudhary D, Unlu G, Knapik EW. Rgp1 contributes to craniofacial cartilage development and Rab8a-mediated collagen II secretion. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1120420. [PMID: 36843607 PMCID: PMC9947155 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1120420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Rgp1 was previously identified as a component of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) complex to activate Rab6a-mediated trafficking events in and around the Golgi. While the role of Rgp1 in protein trafficking has been examined in vitro and in yeast, the role of Rgp1 during vertebrate embryogenesis and protein trafficking in vivo is unknown. Using genetic, CRISPR-induced zebrafish mutants for Rgp1 loss-of-function, we found that Rgp1 is required for craniofacial cartilage development. Within live rgp1-/- craniofacial chondrocytes, we observed altered movements of Rab6a+ vesicular compartments, consistent with a conserved mechanism described in vitro. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence analyses, we show that Rgp1 plays a role in the secretion of collagen II, the most abundant protein in cartilage. Our overexpression experiments revealed that Rab8a is a part of the post-Golgi collagen II trafficking pathway. Following loss of Rgp1, chondrocytes activate an Arf4b-mediated stress response and subsequently respond with nuclear DNA fragmentation and cell death. We propose that an Rgp1-regulated Rab6a-Rab8a pathway directs secretion of ECM cargoes such as collagen II, a pathway that may also be utilized in other tissues where coordinated trafficking and secretion of collagens and other large cargoes is required for normal development and tissue function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan J. Ritter
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Dharmendra Choudhary
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Gokhan Unlu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Ela W. Knapik
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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9
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Reeck JC, Oxford JT. The Shape of the Jaw-Zebrafish Col11a1a Regulates Meckel's Cartilage Morphogenesis and Mineralization. J Dev Biol 2022; 10:jdb10040040. [PMID: 36278545 PMCID: PMC9590009 DOI: 10.3390/jdb10040040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of the col11a1a gene is essential for normal skeletal development, affecting both cartilage and bone. Loss of function mutations have been shown to cause abnormalities in the growth plate of long bones, as well as in craniofacial development. However, the specific effects on Meckel's cartilage have not been well studied. To further understand the effect of col11a1a gene function, we analyzed the developing jaw in zebrafish using gene knockdown by the injection of an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide using transgenic Tg(sp7:EGFP) and Tg(Fli1a:EGFP) EGFP reporter fish, as well as wildtype AB zebrafish. Our results demonstrate that zebrafish col11a1a knockdown impairs the cellular organization of Meckel's cartilage in the developing jaw and alters the bone formation that occurs adjacent to the Meckel's cartilage. These results suggest roles for Col11a1a protein in cartilage intermediates of bone development, the subsequent mineralization of the bony collar of long bones, and that which occurs adjacent to Meckel's cartilage in the developing jaw.
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10
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Tonelotto V, Consorti C, Facchinello N, Trapani V, Sabatelli P, Giraudo C, Spizzotin M, Cescon M, Bertolucci C, Bonaldo P. Collagen VI ablation in zebrafish causes neuromuscular defects during developmental and adult stages. Matrix Biol 2022; 112:39-61. [PMID: 35961424 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Collagen VI (COL6) is an extracellular matrix protein exerting multiple functions in different tissues. In humans, mutations of COL6 genes cause rare inherited congenital disorders, primarily affecting skeletal muscles and collectively known as COL6-related myopathies, for which no cure is available yet. In order to get insights into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying COL6-related diseases, diverse animal models were produced. However, the roles exerted by COL6 during embryogenesis remain largely unknown. Here, we generated the first zebrafish COL6 knockout line through CRISPR/Cas9 site-specific mutagenesis of the col6a1 gene. Phenotypic characterization during embryonic and larval development revealed that lack of COL6 leads to neuromuscular defects and motor dysfunctions, together with distinctive alterations in the three-dimensional architecture of craniofacial cartilages. These phenotypic features were maintained in adult col6a1 null fish, which displayed defective muscle organization and impaired swimming capabilities. Moreover, col6a1 null fish showed autophagy defects and organelle abnormalities at both embryonic and adult stages, thus recapitulating the main features of patients affected by COL6-related myopathies. Mechanistically, lack of COL6 led to increased BMP signaling, and direct inhibition of BMP activity ameliorated the locomotor col6a1 null embryos. Finally performance of, treatment with salbutamol, a β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, elicited a significant amelioration of the neuromuscular and motility defects of col6a1 null fish embryos. Altogether, these findings indicate that this newly generated zebrafish col6a1 null line is a valuable in vivo tool to model COL6-related myopathies and suitable for drug screenings aimed at addressing the quest for effective therapeutic strategies for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Consorti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nicola Facchinello
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Valeria Trapani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Patrizia Sabatelli
- CNR - Institute of Molecular Genetics "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Unit of Bologna, 40136, Bologna, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Giraudo
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Advanced Clinical and Translational Imaging, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Marianna Spizzotin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Matilde Cescon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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11
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Godivier J, Lawrence EA, Wang M, Hammond CL, Nowlan NC. Growth orientations, rather than heterogeneous growth rates, dominate jaw joint morphogenesis in the larval zebrafish. J Anat 2022; 241:358-371. [PMID: 35510779 PMCID: PMC9296026 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In early limb embryogenesis, synovial joints acquire specific shapes which determine joint motion and function. The process by which the opposing cartilaginous joint surfaces are moulded into reciprocal and interlocking shapes, called joint morphogenesis, is one of the least understood aspects of joint formation and the cell-level dynamics underlying it are yet to be unravelled. In this research, we quantified key cellular dynamics involved in growth and morphogenesis of the zebrafish jaw joint and synthesised them in a predictive computational simulation of joint development. Cells in larval zebrafish jaw joints labelled with cartilage markers were tracked over a 48-h time window using confocal imaging. Changes in distance and angle between adjacent cell centroids resulting from cell rearrangement, volume expansion and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were measured and used to calculate the rate and direction of local tissue deformations. We observed spatially and temporally heterogeneous growth patterns with marked anisotropy over the developmental period assessed. There was notably elevated growth at the level of the retroarticular process of the Meckel's cartilage, a feature known to undergo pronounced shape changes during zebrafish development. Analysis of cell dynamics indicated a dominant role for cell volume expansion in growth, with minor influences from ECM volume increases and cell intercalation. Cell proliferation in the joint was minimal over the timeframe of interest. Synthesising the dynamic cell data into a finite element model of jaw joint development resulted in accurate shape predictions. Our biofidelic computational simulation demonstrated that zebrafish jaw joint growth can be reasonably approximated based on cell positional information over time, where cell positional information derives mainly from cell orientation and cell volume expansion. By modifying the input parameters of the simulation, we were able to assess the relative contributions of heterogeneous growth rates and of growth orientation. The use of uniform rather than heterogeneous growth rates only minorly impacted the shape predictions, whereas isotropic growth fields resulted in altered shape predictions. The simulation results suggest that growth anisotropy is the dominant influence on joint growth and morphogenesis. This study addresses the gap of the cellular processes underlying joint morphogenesis, with implications for understanding the aetiology of developmental joint disorders such as developmental dysplasia of the hip and arthrogryposis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Niamh C. Nowlan
- Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom,University College DublinDublinIreland
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12
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Nguyen SV, Lanni D, Xu Y, Michaelson JS, McMenamin SK. Dynamics of the Zebrafish Skeleton in Three Dimensions During Juvenile and Adult Development. Front Physiol 2022; 13:875866. [PMID: 35721557 PMCID: PMC9204358 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.875866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are a valuable model for normal vertebrate skeletogenesis and the study of myriad bone disorders. Bones grow, ossify and change shape throughout the zebrafish lifetime, and 3D technologies allow us to examine skeletogenic processes in detail through late developmental stages. To facilitate analysis of shape, orientation and tissue density of skeletal elements throughout ontogeny and adulthood, we generated a high-resolution skeletal reference dataset of wild-type zebrafish development. Using microCT technology, we produced 3D models of the skeletons of individuals ranging from 12 to 25 mm standard length (SL). We analyzed the dynamics of skeletal density and volume as they increase during juvenile and adult growth. Our resource allows anatomical comparisons between meristic units within an individual-e.g., we show that the vertebral canal width increases posteriorly along the spine. Further, structures may be compared between individuals at different body sizes: we highlight the shape changes that the lower jaw undergoes as fish mature from juvenile to adult. We show that even reproductively mature adult zebrafish (17-25 mm SL) continue to undergo substantial changes in skeletal morphology and composition with continued adult growth. We provide a segmented model of the adult skull and a series of interactive 3D PDFs at a range of key stages. These resources allow changes in the skeleton to be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively through late stages of development, and can serve as anatomical references for both research and education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy V Nguyen
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Dominic Lanni
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States
| | - Yongqi Xu
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - James S Michaelson
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarah K McMenamin
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
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13
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Paudel S, Gjorcheska S, Bump P, Barske L. Patterning of cartilaginous condensations in the developing facial skeleton. Dev Biol 2022; 486:44-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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14
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Miao KZ, Cozzone A, Caetano-Lopes J, Harris MP, Fisher S. Osteoclast activity sculpts craniofacial form to permit sensorineural patterning in the zebrafish skull. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:969481. [PMID: 36387889 PMCID: PMC9664155 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.969481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to understand the morphogenesis of complex craniofacial structures have largely focused on the role of chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Along with these bone-creating cells, bone-resorbing osteoclasts are critical in homeostasis of adult skeletal structures, but there is currently limited information on their role in the complex morphogenetic events of craniofacial development. Fundamental aspects of skull formation and general skeletal development are conserved from zebrafish to mammals. Using a cathepsinK reporter, we documented osteoclast location in the developing zebrafish skull over several weeks, from 5.18 mm to 9.6 mm standard length (approximately 15 to 34 days post fertilization). While broad distribution of osteoclasts is consistent across individuals, they are sparse and the exact locations vary among fish and across developmental time points. Interestingly, we observed osteoclasts concentrating at areas associated with neuromasts and their associated nerves, in particular the hyomandibular foramina and around the supraorbital lateral line. These are areas of active remodeling. In contrast, other areas of rapid bone growth, such as the osteogenic fronts of the frontal and parietal bones, show no particular concentration of osteoclasts, suggesting that they play a special role in shaping bone near neuromasts and nerves. In csf1ra mutants lacking functional osteoclasts, the morphology of the cranial bone was disrupted in both areas. The hyomandibular foramen is present in the initial cartilage template, but after the initiation of ossification, the diameter of the canal is significantly smaller in the absence of osteoclasts. The diameter of the supraorbital lateral line canals was also reduced in the mutants, as was the number of pores associated with neuromasts, which allow for the passage of associated nerves through the bone. Our findings define important and previously unappreciated roles for osteoclast activity in shaping craniofacial skeletal structures with a particular role in bone modeling around peripheral cranial nerves, providing a scaffold for wiring the sensioneural system during craniofacial development. This has important implications for the formation of the evolutionarily diverse lateral line system, as well understanding the mechanism of neurologic sequelae of congenital osteoclast dysfunction in human craniofacial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Z. Miao
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Austin Cozzone
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joana Caetano-Lopes
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew P. Harris
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shannon Fisher
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Shannon Fisher,
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15
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Stenzel A, Mumme-Monheit A, Sucharov J, Walker M, Mitchell JM, Appel B, Nichols JT. Distinct and redundant roles for zebrafish her genes during mineralization and craniofacial patterning. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1033843. [PMID: 36578958 PMCID: PMC9791542 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1033843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch pathway is a cell-cell communication system which is critical for many developmental processes, including craniofacial development. Notch receptor activation induces expression of several well-known canonical targets including those encoded by the hes and her genes in mammals and zebrafish, respectively. The function of these genes, individually and in combination, during craniofacial development is not well understood. Here, we used zebrafish genetics to investigate her9 and her6 gene function during craniofacial development. We found that her9 is required for osteoblasts to efficiently mineralize bone, while cartilage is largely unaffected. Strikingly, gene expression studies in her9 mutants indicate that although progenitor cells differentiate into osteoblasts at the appropriate time and place, they fail to efficiently lay down mineralized matrix. This mineralization role of her9 is likely independent of Notch activation. In contrast, her9 also functions redundantly with her6 downstream of Jagged1b-induced Notch activation during dorsoventral craniofacial patterning. These studies disentangle distinct and redundant her gene functions during craniofacial development, including an unexpected, Notch independent, requirement during bone mineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Stenzel
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Abigail Mumme-Monheit
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Juliana Sucharov
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Macie Walker
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Jennyfer M. Mitchell
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Bruce Appel
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - James T. Nichols
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- *Correspondence: James T. Nichols,
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16
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Choe CP, Choi SY, Kee Y, Kim MJ, Kim SH, Lee Y, Park HC, Ro H. Transgenic fluorescent zebrafish lines that have revolutionized biomedical research. Lab Anim Res 2021; 37:26. [PMID: 34496973 PMCID: PMC8424172 DOI: 10.1186/s42826-021-00103-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its debut in the biomedical research fields in 1981, zebrafish have been used as a vertebrate model organism in more than 40,000 biomedical research studies. Especially useful are zebrafish lines expressing fluorescent proteins in a molecule, intracellular organelle, cell or tissue specific manner because they allow the visualization and tracking of molecules, intracellular organelles, cells or tissues of interest in real time and in vivo. In this review, we summarize representative transgenic fluorescent zebrafish lines that have revolutionized biomedical research on signal transduction, the craniofacial skeletal system, the hematopoietic system, the nervous system, the urogenital system, the digestive system and intracellular organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Pyo Choe
- Division of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea.,Division of Applied Life Science, Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Yong Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Kee
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Hyung Kim
- Department of Marine Life Sciences and Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonsung Lee
- Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Chul Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan, 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunju Ro
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
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17
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Ashique AM, Atake OJ, Ovens K, Guo R, Pratt IV, Detrich HW, Cooper DML, Desvignes T, Postlethwait JH, Eames BF. Bone microstructure and bone mineral density are not systemically different in Antarctic icefishes and related Antarctic notothenioids. J Anat 2021; 240:34-49. [PMID: 34423431 PMCID: PMC8655173 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancestors of the Antarctic icefishes (family Channichthyidae) were benthic and had no swim bladder, making it energetically expensive to rise from the ocean floor. To exploit the water column, benthopelagic icefishes were hypothesized to have evolved a skeleton with “reduced bone,” which gross anatomical data supported. Here, we tested the hypothesis that changes to icefish bones also occurred below the level of gross anatomy. Histology and micro‐CT imaging of representative craniofacial bones (i.e., ceratohyal, frontal, dentary, and articular) of extant Antarctic fish species specifically evaluated two features that might cause the appearance of “reduced bone”: bone microstructure (e.g., bone volume fraction and structure linear density) and bone mineral density (BMD, or mass of mineral per volume of bone). Measures of bone microstructure were not consistently different in bones from the icefishes Chaenocephalus aceratus and Champsocephalus gunnari, compared to the related benthic notothenioids Notothenia coriiceps and Gobionotothen gibberifrons. Some quantitative measures, such as bone volume fraction and structure linear density, were significantly increased in some icefish bones compared to homologous bones of non‐icefish. However, such differences were rare, and no microstructural measures were consistently different in icefishes across all bones and species analyzed. Furthermore, BMD was similar among homologous bones of icefish and non‐icefish Antarctic notothenioids. In summary, “reduced bone” in icefishes was not due to systemic changes in bone microstructure or BMD, raising the prospect that “reduced bone” in icefish occurs only at the gross anatomic level (i.e., smaller or fewer bones). Given that icefishes exhibit delayed skeletal development compared to non‐icefish Antarctic fishes, combining these phenotypic data with genomic data might clarify genetic changes driving skeletal heterochrony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir M Ashique
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Oghenevwogaga J Atake
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Katie Ovens
- Augmented Intelligence & Precision Health Laboratory (AIPHL), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ruiyi Guo
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Isaac V Pratt
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - H William Detrich
- Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David M L Cooper
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Thomas Desvignes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | | | - B Frank Eames
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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18
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Mitchell JM, Sucharov J, Pulvino AT, Brooks EP, Gillen AE, Nichols JT. The alx3 gene shapes the zebrafish neurocranium by regulating frontonasal neural crest cell differentiation timing. Development 2021; 148:dev197483. [PMID: 33741714 PMCID: PMC8077506 DOI: 10.1242/dev.197483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
During craniofacial development, different populations of cartilage- and bone-forming cells develop in precise locations in the head. Most of these cells are derived from pluripotent cranial neural crest cells and differentiate with distinct developmental timing and cellular morphologies. The mechanisms that divide neural crest cells into discrete populations are not fully understood. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to transcriptomically define different populations of cranial neural crest cells. We discovered that the gene family encoding the Alx transcription factors is enriched in the frontonasal population of neural crest cells. Genetic mutant analyses indicate that alx3 functions to regulate the distinct differentiation timing and cellular morphologies among frontonasal neural crest cell subpopulations. This study furthers our understanding of how genes controlling developmental timing shape craniofacial skeletal elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennyfer M. Mitchell
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Juliana Sucharov
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Anthony T. Pulvino
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Elliott P. Brooks
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Austin E. Gillen
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - James T. Nichols
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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19
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Dietrich K, Fiedler IA, Kurzyukova A, López-Delgado AC, McGowan LM, Geurtzen K, Hammond CL, Busse B, Knopf F. Skeletal Biology and Disease Modeling in Zebrafish. J Bone Miner Res 2021; 36:436-458. [PMID: 33484578 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish are teleosts (bony fish) that share with mammals a common ancestor belonging to the phylum Osteichthyes, from which their endoskeletal systems have been inherited. Indeed, teleosts and mammals have numerous genetically conserved features in terms of skeletal elements, ossification mechanisms, and bone matrix components in common. Yet differences related to bone morphology and function need to be considered when investigating zebrafish in skeletal research. In this review, we focus on zebrafish skeletal architecture with emphasis on the morphology of the vertebral column and associated anatomical structures. We provide an overview of the different ossification types and osseous cells in zebrafish and describe bone matrix composition at the microscopic tissue level with a focus on assessing mineralization. Processes of bone formation also strongly depend on loading in zebrafish, as we elaborate here. Furthermore, we illustrate the high regenerative capacity of zebrafish bones and present some of the technological advantages of using zebrafish as a model. We highlight zebrafish axial and fin skeleton patterning mechanisms, metabolic bone disease such as after immunosuppressive glucocorticoid treatment, as well as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and osteopetrosis research in zebrafish. We conclude with a view of why larval zebrafish xenografts are a powerful tool to study bone metastasis. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Dietrich
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Center for Healthy Aging TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Imke Ak Fiedler
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anastasia Kurzyukova
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Center for Healthy Aging TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alejandra C López-Delgado
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Center for Healthy Aging TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lucy M McGowan
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Karina Geurtzen
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Center for Healthy Aging TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Chrissy L Hammond
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Björn Busse
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Competence Center for Interface Research (ICCIR), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Knopf
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Center for Healthy Aging TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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20
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Pharmacological Manipulation of Early Zebrafish Skeletal Development Shows an Important Role for Smad9 in Control of Skeletal Progenitor Populations. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020277. [PMID: 33668680 PMCID: PMC7918065 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoporosis and other conditions associated with low bone density or quality are highly prevalent, are increasing as the population ages and with increased glucocorticoid use to treat conditions with elevated inflammation. There is an unmet need for therapeutics which can target skeletal precursors to induce osteoblast differentiation and osteogenesis. Genes associated with high bone mass represent interesting targets for manipulation, as they could offer ways to increase bone density. A damaging mutation in SMAD9 has recently been associated with high bone mass. Here we show that Smad9 labels groups of osteochondral precursor cells, which are not labelled by the other Regulatory Smads: Smad1 or Smad5. We show that Smad9+ cells are proliferative, and that the Smad9+ pocket expands following osteoblast ablation which induced osteoblast regeneration. We further show that treatment with retinoic acid, prednisolone, and dorsomorphin all alter Smad9 expression, consistent with the effects of these drugs on the skeletal system. Taken together these results demonstrate that Smad9+ cells represent an undifferentiated osteochondral precursor population, which can be manipulated by commonly used skeletal drugs. We conclude that Smad9 represents a target for future osteoanabolic therapies.
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21
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Raterman ST, Metz JR, Wagener FADTG, Von den Hoff JW. Zebrafish Models of Craniofacial Malformations: Interactions of Environmental Factors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:600926. [PMID: 33304906 PMCID: PMC7701217 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.600926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is an appealing model organism for investigating the genetic (G) and environmental (E) factors, as well as their interactions (GxE), which contribute to craniofacial malformations. Here, we review zebrafish studies on environmental factors involved in the etiology of craniofacial malformations in humans including maternal smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition and drug use. As an example, we focus on the (cleft) palate, for which the zebrafish ethmoid plate is a good model. This review highlights the importance of investigating ExE interactions and discusses the variable effects of exposure to environmental factors on craniofacial development depending on dosage, exposure time and developmental stage. Zebrafish also promise to be a good tool to study novel craniofacial teratogens and toxin mixtures. Lastly, we discuss the handful of studies on gene–alcohol interactions using mutant sensitivity screens and reverse genetic techniques. We expect that studies addressing complex interactions (ExE and GxE) in craniofacial malformations will increase in the coming years. These are likely to uncover currently unknown mechanisms with implications for the prevention of craniofacial malformations. The zebrafish appears to be an excellent complementary model with high translational value to study these complex interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Raterman
- Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Dentistry-Orthodontics and Craniofacial Biology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - J R Metz
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Frank A D T G Wagener
- Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Dentistry-Orthodontics and Craniofacial Biology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Johannes W Von den Hoff
- Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Dentistry-Orthodontics and Craniofacial Biology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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22
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Swartz ME, Lovely CB, McCarthy N, Kuka T, Eberhart JK. Novel Ethanol-Sensitive Mutants Identified in an F3 Forward Genetic Screen. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 44:56-65. [PMID: 31742718 PMCID: PMC6980918 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Background Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) collectively refer to all deleterious outcomes due to prenatal alcohol exposures. Alterations to the face are common phenotypes in FASD. While alcohol exposure is the underlying cause of FASD, many variables modify the outcomes of such exposures. Genetic risk is one such variable, yet we still have a limited understanding of the nature of the genetic loci mediating susceptibility to FASD. Methods We employed ENU‐based random mutagenesis in zebrafish to identify mutations that enhanced the teratogenicity of ethanol (EtOH). F3 embryos obtained from 126 inbred F2 families were exposed to 1% EtOH in the medium (approximately 41 mM tissue levels). Zebrafish stained with Alcian Blue and Alizarin Red were screened for qualitative alterations to the craniofacial skeleton between 4 and 7 days postfertilization (dpf). Results In all, we recovered 6 EtOH‐sensitive mutants, 5 from the genetic screen itself and one as a background mutation in one of our wild‐type lines. Each mutant has a unique EtOH‐induced phenotype relative to the other mutant lines. All but 1 mutation appears to be recessive in nature, and only 1 mutant, au29, has apparent craniofacial defects in the absence of EtOH. To validate the genetic screen, we genetically mapped au29 and found that it carries a mutation in a previously uncharacterized gene, si:dkey‐88l16.3. Conclusions The phenotypes of these EtOH‐sensitive mutants differ from those in previous characterizations of gene–EtOH interactions. Thus, each mutant is likely to provide novel insights into EtOH teratogenesis. Given that most of these mutants only have craniofacial defects in the presence of EtOH and our mapping of au29, it is also likely that many of the mutants will be previously uncharacterized. Collectively, our findings point to the importance of unbiased genetic screens in the identification, and eventual characterization, of risk alleles for FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Swartz
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Austin, Texas
| | - Charles Ben Lovely
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Austin, Texas
| | - Neil McCarthy
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Austin, Texas
| | - Tim Kuka
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Austin, Texas
| | - Johann K Eberhart
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Austin, Texas
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Zebrafish Models of Human Skeletal Disorders: Embryo and Adult Swimming Together. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:1253710. [PMID: 31828085 PMCID: PMC6886339 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1253710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Danio rerio (zebrafish) is an elective model organism for the study of vertebrate development because of its high degree of homology with human genes and organs, including bone. Zebrafish embryos, because of the optical clarity, small size, and fast development, can be easily used in large-scale mutagenesis experiments to isolate mutants with developmental skeletal defects and in high-throughput screenings to find new chemical compounds for the ability to revert the pathological phenotype. On the other hand, the adult zebrafish represents another powerful resource for pathogenic and therapeutic studies about adult human bone diseases. In fish, some characteristics such as bone turnover, reparation, and remodeling of the adult bone tissue cannot be found at the embryonic stage. Several pathological models have been established in adult zebrafish such as bone injury models, osteoporosis, and genetic diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta. Given the growing interest for metabolic diseases and their complications, adult zebrafish models of type 2 diabetes and obesity have been recently generated and analyzed for bone complications using scales as model system. Interestingly, an osteoporosis-like phenotype has been found to be associated with metabolic alterations suggesting that bone complications share the same mechanisms in humans and fish. Embryo and adult represent powerful resources in rapid development to study bone physiology and pathology from different points of view.
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Zare Mirakabad H, Farsi M, Malekzadeh Shafaroudi S, Bagheri A, Iranshahi M, Moshtaghi N. Comparison the Effect of Ferutinin and 17β-Estradiol on Bone Mineralization of Developing Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Larvae. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061507. [PMID: 30917511 PMCID: PMC6470982 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop novel drugs for osteoporosis which occurs due to estrogen deficiency. Phytoestrogens derived from medicinal plants would be the best alternative to chemical drugs with harmful side effects. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of ferutinin compared to 17β-estradiol (E2) on bone mineralization of zebrafish larvae. Regarding the lack of publications, the histology analysis was performed after exposure to E2 to find effective treatment on bone mineralization of developing zebrafish larvae. Then, the larvae were exposed to four concentrations of ferutinin at three time points to assess the mortality, the expression of some related genes and histology of the ceratohyal and hyomandibular of treated larvae. The RT-PCR result of the treatment groups demonstrated the similar expression pattern in the larvae which were exposed to 1.25 μg/mL of ferutinin and 2 µM of E2 at 2 dpf, which confirmed the result of histology analysis. In addition, RT-qPCR of high concentration of ferutinin and E2 demonstrated that bmp2a/b and esr1 were downregulated and upregulated when the larvae were exposed to 5 μg/mL of ferutinin and 10 µM of E2, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Zare Mirakabad
- Department of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 91775-1163, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Farsi
- Department of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 91775-1163, Iran.
| | | | - Abdolreza Bagheri
- Department of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 91775-1163, Iran.
| | - Mehrdad Iranshahi
- Department of Pharmacognosy; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 91886-17871, Iran.
| | - Nasrin Moshtaghi
- Department of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 91775-1163, Iran.
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Seda M, Geerlings M, Lim P, Jeyabalan-Srikaran J, Cichon AC, Scambler PJ, Beales PL, Hernandez-Hernandez V, Stoker AW, Jenkins D. An FDA-Approved Drug Screen for Compounds Influencing Craniofacial Skeletal Development and Craniosynostosis. Mol Syndromol 2019; 10:98-114. [PMID: 30976283 PMCID: PMC6422125 DOI: 10.1159/000491567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural crest stem/progenitor cells (NCSCs) populate a variety of tissues, and their dysregulation is implicated in several human diseases including craniosynostosis and neuroblastoma. We hypothesised that small molecules that inhibit NCSC induction or differentiation may represent potential therapeutically relevant drugs in these disorders. We screened 640 FDA-approved compounds currently in clinical use for other conditions to identify those which disrupt development of NCSC-derived skeletal elements that form the zebrafish jaw. In the primary screen, we used heterozygous transgenic sox10:gfp zebrafish to directly visualise NCSC-derived jaw cartilage. We noted partial toxicity of this transgene in relation to jaw patterning, suggesting that our primary screen was sensitised for NCSC defects, and we confirmed 10 novel, 4 previously reported, and 2 functional analogue drug hits in wild-type embryos. Of these drugs, 9/14 and 7/14, respectively, are known to target pathways implicated in osteoarthritis pathogenesis or to cause reduced bone mineral density/increased fracture risk as side effects in patients treated for other conditions, suggesting that our screen enriched for pathways targeting skeletal tissue homeostasis. We selected one drug that inhibited NCSC induction and one drug that inhibits bone mineralisation for further detailed analyses which reflect our initial hypotheses. These drugs were leflunomide and cyclosporin A, respectively, and their functional analogues, teriflunomide and FK506 (tacrolimus). We identified their critical developmental windows of activity, showing that the severity of defects observed related to the timing, duration, and dose of treatment. While leflunomide has previously been shown to inhibit NCSC induction, we demonstrate additional later roles in cartilage remodelling. Both drugs altered expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases. As proof-of-concept, we also tested drug treatment of disease-relevant mammalian cells. While leflunomide treatment inhibited the viability of several human NCSC-derived neuroblastoma cell lines coincident with altered expression of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis and transcription, FK506 enhanced murine calvarial osteoblast differentiation and prevented fusion of the coronal suture in calvarial explants taken from Crouzon syndrome mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Seda
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Maartje Geerlings
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Peggy Lim
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | | | - Ann-Christin Cichon
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programmes, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Peter J. Scambler
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programmes, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Philip L. Beales
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | | | - Andrew W. Stoker
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programmes, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Dagan Jenkins
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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26
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DeLaurier A, Alvarez CL, Wiggins KJ. hdac4 mediates perichondral ossification and pharyngeal skeleton development in the zebrafish. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6167. [PMID: 30643696 PMCID: PMC6329341 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic factors that function to repress gene transcription by removing acetyl groups from the N-terminal of histone lysines. Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), a class IIa HDAC, has previously been shown to regulate the process of endochondral ossification in mice via repression of Myocyte enhancer factor 2c (MEF2C), a transcriptional activator of Runx2, which in turn promotes chondrocyte maturation and production of bone by osteoblasts. Methods & Materials In this study, we generated two zebrafish lines with mutations in hdac4 using CRISPR/Cas9 and analyzed mutants for skeletal phenotypes and expression of genes known to be affected by Hdac4 expression. Results Lines have insertions causing a frameshift in a proximal exon of hdac4 and a premature stop codon. Mutations are predicted to result in aberrant protein sequence and a truncated protein, eliminating the Mef2c binding domain and Hdac domain. Zygotic mutants from two separate lines show a significant increase in ossification of pharyngeal ceratohyal cartilages at 7 days post fertilization (dpf) (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). At 4 dpf, mutant larvae have a significant increase of expression of runx2a and runx2b in the ceratohyal cartilage (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). A subset of maternal-zygotic (mz) mutant and heterozygote larvae (40%) have dramatically increased ossification at 7 dpf compared to zygotic mutants, including formation of a premature anguloarticular bone and mineralization of the first and second ceratobranchial cartilages and symplectic cartilages, which normally does not occur until fish are approximately 10 or 12 dpf. Some maternal-zygotic mutants and heterozygotes show loss of pharyngeal first arch elements (25.9% and 10.2%, respectively) and neurocranium defects (30.8% and 15.2%, respectively). Analysis of RNA-seq mRNA transcript levels and in situ hybridizations from zygotic stages to 75–90% epiboly indicates that hdac4 is highly expressed in early embryos, but diminishes by late epiboly, becoming expressed again in larval stages. Discussion Loss of function of hdac4 in zebrafish is associated with increased expression of runx2a and runx2b targets indicating that a role for hdac4 in zebrafish is to repress activation of ossification of cartilage. These findings are consistent with observations of precocious cartilage ossification in Hdac4 mutant mice, demonstrating that the function of Hdac4 in skeletal development is conserved among vertebrates. Expression of hdac4 mRNA in embryos younger than 256–512 cells indicates that there is a maternal contribution of hdac4 to the early embryo. The increase in ossification and profound loss of first pharyngeal arch elements and anterior neurocranium in a subset of maternal-zygotic mutant and heterozygote larvae suggests that maternal hdac4 functions in cartilage ossification and development of cranial neural crest-derived structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- April DeLaurier
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of South Carolina-Aiken, Aiken, SC, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Lizzet Alvarez
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of South Carolina-Aiken, Aiken, SC, United States of America
| | - Kali J Wiggins
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of South Carolina-Aiken, Aiken, SC, United States of America
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27
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Fuentes R, Letelier J, Tajer B, Valdivia LE, Mullins MC. Fishing forward and reverse: Advances in zebrafish phenomics. Mech Dev 2018; 154:296-308. [PMID: 30130581 PMCID: PMC6289646 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how the genome instructs the phenotypic characteristics of an organism is one of the major scientific endeavors of our time. Advances in genetics have progressively deciphered the inheritance, identity and biological relevance of genetically encoded information, contributing to the rise of several, complementary omic disciplines. One of them is phenomics, an emergent area of biology dedicated to the systematic multi-scale analysis of phenotypic traits. This discipline provides valuable gene function information to the rapidly evolving field of genetics. Current molecular tools enable genome-wide analyses that link gene sequence to function in multi-cellular organisms, illuminating the genome-phenome relationship. Among vertebrates, zebrafish has emerged as an outstanding model organism for high-throughput phenotyping and modeling of human disorders. Advances in both systematic mutagenesis and phenotypic analyses of embryonic and post-embryonic stages in zebrafish have revealed the function of a valuable collection of genes and the general structure of several complex traits. In this review, we summarize multiple large-scale genetic efforts addressing parental, embryonic, and adult phenotyping in the zebrafish. The genetic and quantitative tools available in the zebrafish model, coupled with the broad spectrum of phenotypes that can be assayed, make it a powerful model for phenomics, well suited for the dissection of genotype-phenotype associations in development, physiology, health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Fuentes
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joaquín Letelier
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CSIC/UPO/JA), Seville, Spain; Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Benjamin Tajer
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leonardo E Valdivia
- Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Mary C Mullins
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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28
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DeLaurier A. Evolution and development of the fish jaw skeleton. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2018; 8:e337. [PMID: 30378758 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of the jaw represents a key innovation in driving the diversification of vertebrate body plans and behavior. The pharyngeal apparatus originated as gill bars separated by slits in chordate ancestors to vertebrates. Later, with the acquisition of neural crest, pharyngeal arches gave rise to branchial basket cartilages in jawless vertebrates (agnathans), and later bone and cartilage of the jaw, jaw support, and gills of jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes). Major events in the evolution of jaw structure from agnathans to gnathostomes include axial regionalization of pharyngeal elements and formation of a jaw joint. Hox genes specify the anterior-posterior identity of arches, and edn1, dlx, hand2, Jag1b-Notch2 signaling, and Nr2f factors specify dorsal-ventral identity. The formation of a jaw joint, an important step in the transition from an un-jointed pharynx in agnathans to a hinged jaw in gnathostomes involves interaction between nkx3.2, hand2, and barx1 factors. Major events in jaw patterning between fishes and reptiles include changes to elements of the second pharyngeal arch, including a loss of opercular and branchiostegal ray bones and transformation of the hyomandibula into the stapes. Further changes occurred between reptiles and mammals, including the transformation of the articular and quadrate elements of the jaw joint into the malleus and incus of the middle ear. Fossils of transitional jaw phenotypes can be analyzed from a developmental perspective, and there exists potential to use genetic manipulation techniques in extant taxa to test hypotheses about the evolution of jaw patterning in ancient vertebrates. This article is categorized under: Comparative Development and Evolution > Evolutionary Novelties Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan Comparative Development and Evolution > Body Plan Evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- April DeLaurier
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, South Carolina
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29
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Lawrence EA, Kague E, Aggleton JA, Harniman RL, Roddy KA, Hammond CL. The mechanical impact of col11a2 loss on joints; col11a2 mutant zebrafish show changes to joint development and function, which leads to early-onset osteoarthritis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:rstb.2017.0335. [PMID: 30249781 PMCID: PMC6158203 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Collagen is the major structural component of cartilage, and mutations in the genes encoding type XI collagen are associated with severe skeletal dysplasias (fibrochondrogenesis and Stickler syndrome) and early-onset osteoarthritis (OA). The impact of the lack of type XI collagen on cell behaviour and mechanical performance during skeleton development is unknown. We studied a zebrafish mutant for col11a2 and evaluated cartilage, bone development and mechanical properties to address this. We show that in col11a2 mutants, type II collagen is made but is prematurely degraded in maturing cartilage and ectopically expressed in the joint. These changes are correlated with increased stiffness of both bone and cartilage; quantified using atomic force microscopy. In the mutants, the skeletal rudiment terminal region in the jaw joint is broader and the interzone smaller. These differences in shape and material properties impact on joint function and mechanical performance, which we modelled using finite element analyses. Finally, we show that col11a2 heterozygous carriers reach adulthood but show signs of severe early-onset OA. Taken together, our data demonstrate a key role for type XI collagen in maintaining the properties of cartilage matrix; which when lost leads to alterations to cell behaviour that give rise to joint pathologies.This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Mechanics of development'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Lawrence
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Erika Kague
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jessye A Aggleton
- School of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UU, UK
| | | | - Karen A Roddy
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Chrissy L Hammond
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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30
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Naert T, Vleminckx K. CRISPR/Cas9 disease models in zebrafish and Xenopus: The genetic renaissance of fish and frogs. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2018; 28:41-52. [PMID: 30205880 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The speed by which clinical genomics is currently identifying novel potentially pathogenic variants is outperforming the speed by which these can be functionally (genotype-phenotype) annotated in animal disease models. However, over the past few years the emergence of CRISPR/Cas9 as a straight-forward genome editing technology has revolutionized disease modeling in vertebrate non-mammalian model organisms such as zebrafish, medaka and Xenopus. It is now finally possible, by CRISPR/Cas9, to rapidly establish clinically relevant disease models in these organisms. Interestingly, these can provide both cost-effective genotype-phenotype correlations for gene-(variants) and genomic rearrangements obtained from clinical practice, as well as be exploited to perform translational research to improve prospects of disease afflicted patients. In this review, we show an extensive overview of these new CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disease models and provide future prospects that will allow increasingly accurate modeling of human disease in zebrafish, medaka and Xenopus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Naert
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Vleminckx
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Belgium; Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium.
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31
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth M. Weinberg
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United Staes of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Robert Cornell
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States America
| | - Elizabeth J. Leslie
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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32
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Martinez C, Feas D, Siri M, Igartúa D, Chiaramoni N, del V. Alonso S, Prieto M. In vivo study of teratogenic and anticonvulsant effects of antiepileptics drugs in zebrafish embryo and larvae. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2018; 66:17-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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33
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Roberto VP, Gavaia P, Nunes MJ, Rodrigues E, Cancela ML, Tiago DM. Evidences for a New Role of miR-214 in Chondrogenesis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3704. [PMID: 29487295 PMCID: PMC5829070 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21735-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
miR-214 is known to play a role in mammalian skeletal development through inhibition of osteogenesis and stimulation of osteoclastogenesis, but data regarding other vertebrates, as well as a possible role in chondrogenesis, remain unknown. Here, we show that miR-214 expression is detected in bone and cartilage of zebrafish skeleton, and is downregulated during murine ATDC5 chondrocyte differentiation. Additionally, we observed a conservation of the transcriptional regulation of miR-214 primary transcript Dnm3os in vertebrates, being regulated by Ets1 in ATDC5 chondrogenic cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-214 in vitro and in vivo mitigated chondrocyte differentiation probably by targeting activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4). Indeed, miR-214 overexpression in vivo hampered cranial cartilage formation of zebrafish and coincided with downregulation of atf4 and of the key chondrogenic players sox9 and col2a1. We show that miR-214 overexpression exerts a negative role in chondrogenesis by impacting on chondrocyte differentiation possibly through conserved mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vânia Palma Roberto
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR-LA), University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.,PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences, DCBM, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.,Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Paulo Gavaia
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR-LA), University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Maria João Nunes
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elsa Rodrigues
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Leonor Cancela
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR-LA), University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal. .,Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
| | - Daniel Martins Tiago
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR-LA), University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
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34
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Fernández I, Gavaia PJ, Laizé V, Cancela ML. Fish as a model to assess chemical toxicity in bone. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 194:208-226. [PMID: 29202272 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Environmental toxicology has been expanding as growing concerns on the impact of produced and released chemical compounds over the environment and human health are being demonstrated. Among the toxic effects observed in organisms exposed to pollutants, those affecting skeletal tissues (osteotoxicity) have been somehow overlooked in comparison to hepato-, immune-, neuro- and/or reproductive toxicities. Nevertheless, sub-lethal effects of toxicants on skeletal development and/or bone maintenance may result in impaired growth, reduced survival rate, increased disease susceptibility and diminished welfare. Osteotoxicity may occur by acute or chronic exposure to different environmental insults. Because of biologically and technically advantagous features - easy to breed and inexpensive to maintain, external and rapid rate of development, translucent larvae and the availability of molecular and genetic tools - the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged in the last decade as a vertebrate model system of choice to evaluate osteotoxicity. Different experimental approaches in fish species and analytical tools have been applied, from in vitro to in vivo systems, from specific to high throughput methodologies. Current knowledge on osteotoxicity and underlying mechanisms gained using fish, with a special emphasis on zebrafish systems, is reviewed here. Osteotoxicants have been classified into four categories according to the pathway involved in the transduction of the osteotoxic effects: activation/inhibition of membrane and/or nuclear receptors, alteration of redox condition, mimicking of bone constituents and unknown pathways. Knowledge on these pathways is also reported here as it may provide critical insights into the development, production and release of future chemical compounds with none or low osteotoxicity, thus promoting the green/environmental friendly chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Fernández
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal.
| | - Paulo J Gavaia
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Vincent Laizé
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - M Leonor Cancela
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal; Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
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35
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Zebrafish skeleton development: High resolution micro-CT and FIB-SEM block surface serial imaging for phenotype identification. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177731. [PMID: 29220379 PMCID: PMC5722281 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although bone is one of the most studied living materials, many questions about the manner in which bones form remain unresolved, including fine details of the skeletal structure during development. In this study, we monitored skeleton development of zebrafish larvae, using calcein fluorescence, high-resolution micro-CT 3D images and FIB-SEM in the block surface serial imaging mode. We compared calcein staining of the skeletons of the wild type and nacre mutants, which are transparent zebrafish, with micro-CT for the first 30 days post fertilization embryos, and identified significant differences. We quantified the bone volumes and mineral contents of bones, including otoliths, during development, and showed that such developmental differences, including otolith development, could be helpful in identifying phenotypes. In addition, high-resolution imaging revealed the presence of mineralized aggregates in the notochord, before the formation of the first bone in the axial skeleton. These structures might play a role in the storage of the mineral. Our results highlight the potential of these high-resolution 3D approaches to characterize the zebrafish skeleton, which in turn could prove invaluable information for better understanding the development and the characterization of skeletal phenotypes.
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36
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Brooks EP, Nichols JT. Shifting Zebrafish Lethal Skeletal Mutant Penetrance by Progeny Testing. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28892034 DOI: 10.3791/56200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish mutant phenotypes are often incompletely penetrant, only manifesting in some mutants. Interesting phenotypes that inconsistently appear can be difficult to study, and can lead to confounding results. The protocol described here is a straightforward breeding paradigm to increase and decrease penetrance in lethal zebrafish skeletal mutants. Because lethal mutants cannot be selectively bred directly, the classic selective breeding strategy of progeny testing is employed. This method also includes protocols for Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping zebrafish and staining larval zebrafish cartilage and bone. Applying the husbandry strategy described here can increase the penetrance of an interesting skeletal phenotype enabling more reproducible results in downstream applications. In addition, decreasing the mutant penetrance through this selective breeding strategy can reveal the developmental processes that most crucially require the function of the mutated gene. While the skeleton is specifically considered here, we propose that this methodology will be useful for all zebrafish mutant lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott P Brooks
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - James T Nichols
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus;
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37
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Machado RG, Eames BF. Using Zebrafish to Test the Genetic Basis of Human Craniofacial Diseases. J Dent Res 2017; 96:1192-1199. [DOI: 10.1177/0022034517722776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) opened an innovative and productive avenue to investigate the molecular basis of human craniofacial disease. However, GWASs identify candidate genes only; they do not prove that any particular one is the functional villain underlying disease or just an unlucky genomic bystander. Genetic manipulation of animal models is the best approach to reveal which genetic loci identified from human GWASs are functionally related to specific diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the potential of zebrafish to resolve which candidate genetic loci are mechanistic drivers of craniofacial diseases. Many anatomic, embryonic, and genetic features of craniofacial development are conserved among zebrafish and mammals, making zebrafish a good model of craniofacial diseases. Also, the ability to manipulate gene function in zebrafish was greatly expanded over the past 20 y, enabling systems such as Gateway Tol2 and CRISPR-Cas9 to test gain- and loss-of-function alleles identified from human GWASs in coding and noncoding regions of DNA. With the optimization of genetic editing methods, large numbers of candidate genes can be efficiently interrogated. Finding the functional villains that underlie diseases will permit new treatments and prevention strategies and will increase understanding of how gene pathways operate during normal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Grecco Machado
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - B. Frank Eames
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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38
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Peng Z, Han X, Li S, Al-Youbi AO, Bashammakh AS, El-Shahawi MS, Leblanc RM. Carbon dots: Biomacromolecule interaction, bioimaging and nanomedicine. Coord Chem Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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39
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Chow RWY, Vermot J. The rise of photoresponsive protein technologies applications in vivo: a spotlight on zebrafish developmental and cell biology. F1000Res 2017; 6. [PMID: 28413613 PMCID: PMC5389412 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.10617.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish ( Danio rerio) is a powerful vertebrate model to study cellular and developmental processes in vivo. The optical clarity and their amenability to genetic manipulation make zebrafish a model of choice when it comes to applying optical techniques involving genetically encoded photoresponsive protein technologies. In recent years, a number of fluorescent protein and optogenetic technologies have emerged that allow new ways to visualize, quantify, and perturb developmental dynamics. Here, we explain the principles of these new tools and describe some of their representative applications in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee Wei-Yan Chow
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Julien Vermot
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
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40
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Understanding Idiopathic Scoliosis: A New Zebrafish School of Thought. Trends Genet 2017; 33:183-196. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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41
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Nichols JT, Blanco-Sánchez B, Brooks EP, Parthasarathy R, Dowd J, Subramanian A, Nachtrab G, Poss KD, Schilling TF, Kimmel CB. Ligament versus bone cell identity in the zebrafish hyoid skeleton is regulated by mef2ca. Development 2016; 143:4430-4440. [PMID: 27789622 PMCID: PMC5201047 DOI: 10.1242/dev.141036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Heightened phenotypic variation among mutant animals is a well-known, but poorly understood phenomenon. One hypothetical mechanism accounting for mutant phenotypic variation is progenitor cells variably choosing between two alternative fates during development. Zebrafish mef2cab1086 mutants develop tremendously variable ectopic bone in their hyoid craniofacial skeleton. Here, we report evidence that a key component of this phenotype is variable fate switching from ligament to bone. We discover that a 'track' of tissue prone to become bone cells is a previously undescribed ligament. Fate-switch variability is heritable, and comparing mutant strains selectively bred to high and low penetrance revealed differential mef2ca mutant transcript expression between high and low penetrance strains. Consistent with this, experimental manipulation of mef2ca mutant transcripts modifies the penetrance of the fate switch. Furthermore, we discovered a transposable element that resides immediately upstream of the mef2ca locus and is differentially DNA methylated in the two strains, correlating with differential mef2ca expression. We propose that variable transposon epigenetic silencing underlies the variable mef2ca mutant bone phenotype, and could be a widespread mechanism of phenotypic variability in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Nichols
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | | | - Elliott P Brooks
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | | | - John Dowd
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Arul Subramanian
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Gregory Nachtrab
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kenneth D Poss
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Thomas F Schilling
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Charles B Kimmel
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
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42
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Ling IT, Rochard L, Liao EC. Distinct requirements of wls, wnt9a, wnt5b and gpc4 in regulating chondrocyte maturation and timing of endochondral ossification. Dev Biol 2016; 421:219-232. [PMID: 27908786 PMCID: PMC5266562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Formation of the mandible requires progressive morphologic change, proliferation, differentiation and organization of chondrocytes preceding osteogenesis. The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in regulating bone development and maintenance. Chondrocytes that are fated to become bone require Wnt to polarize and orientate appropriately to initiate the endochondral ossification program. Although the canonical Wnt signaling has been well studied in the context of bone development, the effects of non-canonical Wnt signaling in regulating the timing of cartilage maturation and subsequent bone formation in shaping ventral craniofacial structure is not fully understood.. Here we examined the role of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway (wls, gpc4, wnt5b and wnt9a) in regulating zebrafish Meckel's cartilage maturation to the onset of osteogenic differentiation. We found that disruption of wls resulted in a significant loss of craniofacial bone, whereas lack of gpc4, wnt5b and wnt9a resulted in severely delayed endochondral ossification. This study demonstrates the importance of the non-canonical Wnt pathway in regulating coordinated ventral cartilage morphogenesis and ossification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irving Tc Ling
- Center for Regenerative Medic ine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; School of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow University, UK
| | - Lucie Rochard
- Center for Regenerative Medic ine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Eric C Liao
- Center for Regenerative Medic ine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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43
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Li S, Skromne I, Peng Z, Dallman J, Al-Youbi AO, Bashammakh AS, El-Shahawi MS, Leblanc RM. "Dark" carbon dots specifically "light-up" calcified zebrafish bones. J Mater Chem B 2016; 4:7398-7405. [PMID: 32263740 DOI: 10.1039/c6tb02241c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Because accidents, disease and aging compromise the structural and physiological functions of bones, the development of an in vivo bone imaging test is critical to identify, detect and diagnose bone related development and dysfunctions. Recent advances in fluorescence instrumentation offer a new alternative for traditional bone imaging methods. However, the development of new in vivo bone imaging fluorescence materials has significantly lagged behind. Here we show that carbon dot nanoparticles (C-dots) with low quantum yield ("dark") bind to calcified bone structures of live zebrafish larvae with high affinity and selectivity. Binding resulted in a strong enhancement of luminescence that was not observed in other tissues, including non-calcified endochondral elements. Retention of C-dots by bones was very stable, long lasting, and with no detectable toxicity. Furthermore, we found C-dots to be a suitable carrier to deliver fluorescein to bones. These observations support a novel and revolutionary use of C-dots as highly specific bioagents for bone imaging and diagnosis, and as bone-specific drug delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanghao Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, USA.
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Talbot JC, Nichols JT, Yan YL, Leonard IF, BreMiller RA, Amacher SL, Postlethwait JH, Kimmel CB. Pharyngeal morphogenesis requires fras1-itga8-dependent epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. Dev Biol 2016; 416:136-148. [PMID: 27265864 PMCID: PMC4967372 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Both Fras1 and Itga8 connect mesenchymal cells to epithelia by way of an extracellular 'Fraser protein complex' that functions in signaling and adhesion; these proteins are vital to the development of several vertebrate organs. We previously found that zebrafish fras1 mutants have craniofacial defects, specifically, shortened symplectic cartilages and cartilage fusions that spare joint elements. During a forward mutagenesis screen, we identified a new zebrafish mutation, b1161, that we show here disrupts itga8, as confirmed using CRISPR-generated itga8 alleles. fras1 and itga8 single mutants and double mutants have similar craniofacial phenotypes, a result expected if loss of either gene disrupts function of the Fraser protein complex. Unlike fras1 mutants or other Fraser-related mutants, itga8 mutants do not show blistered tail fins. Thus, the function of the Fraser complex differs in the craniofacial skeleton and the tail fin. Focusing on the face, we find that itga8 mutants consistently show defective outpocketing of a late-forming portion of the first pharyngeal pouch, and variably express skeletal defects, matching previously characterized fras1 mutant phenotypes. In itga8 and fras1 mutants, skeletal severity varies markedly between sides, indicating that both mutants have increased developmental instability. Whereas fras1 is expressed in epithelia, we show that itga8 is expressed complementarily in facial mesenchyme. Paired with the observed phenotypic similarity, this expression indicates that the genes function in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Similar interactions between Fras1 and Itga8 have previously been found in mouse kidney, where these genes both regulate Nephronectin (Npnt) protein abundance. We find that zebrafish facial tissues express both npnt and the Fraser gene fibrillin2b (fbn2b), but their transcript levels do not depend on fras1 or itga8 function. Using a revertible fras1 allele, we find that the critical window for fras1 function in the craniofacial skeleton is between 1.5 and 3 days post fertilization, which coincides with the onset of fras1-dependent and itga8-dependent morphogenesis. We propose a model wherein Fras1 and Itga8 interact during late pharyngeal pouch morphogenesis to sculpt pharyngeal arches through epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, thereby stabilizing the developing craniofacial skeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Coffin Talbot
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Departments of Molecular Genetics and Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - James T Nichols
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Yi-Lin Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Isaac F Leonard
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Ruth A BreMiller
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Sharon L Amacher
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | | | - Charles B Kimmel
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
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Planchart A, Mattingly CJ, Allen D, Ceger P, Casey W, Hinton D, Kanungo J, Kullman SW, Tal T, Bondesson M, Burgess SM, Sullivan C, Kim C, Behl M, Padilla S, Reif DM, Tanguay RL, Hamm J. Advancing toxicology research using in vivo high throughput toxicology with small fish models. ALTEX 2016; 33:435-452. [PMID: 27328013 PMCID: PMC5270630 DOI: 10.14573/altex.1601281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Small freshwater fish models, especially zebrafish, offer advantages over traditional rodent models, including low maintenance and husbandry costs, high fecundity, genetic diversity, physiology similar to that of traditional biomedical models, and reduced animal welfare concerns. The Collaborative Workshop on Aquatic Models and 21st Century Toxicology was held at North Carolina State University on May 5-6, 2014, in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Participants discussed the ways in which small fish are being used as models to screen toxicants and understand mechanisms of toxicity. Workshop participants agreed that the lack of standardized protocols is an impediment to broader acceptance of these models, whereas development of standardized protocols, validation, and subsequent regulatory acceptance would facilitate greater usage. Given the advantages and increasing application of small fish models, there was widespread interest in follow-up workshops to review and discuss developments in their use. In this article, we summarize the recommendations formulated by workshop participants to enhance the utility of small fish species in toxicology studies, as well as many of the advances in the field of toxicology that resulted from using small fish species, including advances in developmental toxicology, cardiovascular toxicology, neurotoxicology, and immunotoxicology. We alsoreview many emerging issues that will benefit from using small fish species, especially zebrafish, and new technologies that will enable using these organisms to yield results unprecedented in their information content to better understand how toxicants affect development and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Planchart
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Carolyn J. Mattingly
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - David Allen
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Patricia Ceger
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Warren Casey
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - David Hinton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Seth W. Kullman
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Tamara Tal
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Maria Bondesson
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Con Sullivan
- Department of Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Carol Kim
- Department of Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Mamta Behl
- Division of National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie Padilla
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - David M. Reif
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Robert L. Tanguay
- Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jon Hamm
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Clarkson MD. Representation of anatomy in online atlases and databases: a survey and collection of patterns for interface design. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2016; 16:18. [PMID: 27206491 PMCID: PMC4875762 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-016-0116-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A large number of online atlases and databases have been developed to mange the rapidly growing amount of data describing embryogenesis. As these community resources continue to evolve, it is important to understand how representations of anatomy can facilitate the sharing and integration of data. In addition, attention to the design of the interfaces is critical to make online resources useful and usable. RESULTS I first present a survey of online atlases and gene expression resources for model organisms, with a focus on methods of semantic and spatial representation of anatomy. A total of 14 anatomical atlases and 21 gene expression resources are included. This survey demonstrates how choices in semantic representation, in the form of ontologies, can enhance interface search functions and provide links between relevant information. This survey also reviews methods for spatially representing anatomy in online resources. I then provide a collection of patterns for interface design based on the atlases and databases surveyed. These patterns include methods for displaying graphics, integrating semantic and spatial representations, organizing information, and querying databases to find genes expressed in anatomical structures. CONCLUSIONS This collection of patterns for interface design will assist biologists and software developers in planning the interfaces of new atlases and databases or enhancing existing ones. They also show the benefits of standardizing semantic and spatial representations of anatomy by demonstrating how interfaces can use standardization to provide enhanced functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa D Clarkson
- Department of Biological Structure, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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47
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Hackett MJ, George GN, Pickering IJ, Eames BF. Chemical Biology in the Embryo: In Situ Imaging of Sulfur Biochemistry in Normal and Proteoglycan-Deficient Cartilage Matrix. Biochemistry 2016; 55:2441-51. [PMID: 26985789 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b01136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Proteoglycans (PGs) are heavily glycosylated proteins that play major structural and biological roles in many tissues. Proteoglycans are abundant in cartilage extracellular matrix; their loss is a main feature of the joint disease osteoarthritis. Proteoglycan function is regulated by sulfation-sulfate ester formation with specific sugar residues. Visualization of sulfation within cartilage matrix would yield vital insights into its biological roles. We present synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence imaging of developing zebrafish cartilage, providing the first in situ maps of sulfate ester distribution. Levels of both sulfur and sulfate esters decrease as cartilage develops through late phase differentiation (maturation or hypertrophy), suggesting a functional link between cartilage matrix sulfur content and chondrocyte differentiation. Genetic experiments confirm that sulfate ester levels were due to cartilage proteoglycans and support the hypothesis that sulfate ester levels regulate chondrocyte differentiation. Surprisingly, in the PG synthesis mutant, the total level of sulfur was not significantly reduced, suggesting sulfur is distributed in an alternative chemical form during lowered cartilage proteoglycan production. Fourier transform infrared imaging indicated increased levels of protein in the mutant fish, suggesting that this alternative sulfur form might be ascribed to an increased level of protein synthesis in the mutant fish, as part of a compensatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Hackett
- Molecular and Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Graham N George
- Molecular and Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, Canada.,Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Ingrid J Pickering
- Molecular and Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, Canada.,Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - B Frank Eames
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada
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48
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Brown DS, Eames BF. Emerging tools to study proteoglycan function during skeletal development. Methods Cell Biol 2016; 134:485-530. [PMID: 27312503 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the past 20years, appreciation for the varied roles of proteoglycans (PGs), which are specific types of sugar-coated proteins, has increased dramatically. PGs in the extracellular matrix were long known to impart structural functions to many tissues, especially articular cartilage, which cushions bones and allows mobility at skeletal joints. Indeed, osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease associated with loss of PGs in articular cartilage. Today, however, PGs have a demonstrated role in cell biological processes, such as growth factor signalling, prompting new perspectives on the etiology of PG-associated diseases. Here, we review diseases associated with defects in PG synthesis and sulfation, also highlighting current understanding of the underlying genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology. Since most research has analyzed a class of PGs called heparan sulfate PGs, more attention is paid here to studies of chondroitin sulfate PGs (CSPGs), which are abundant in cartilage. Interestingly, CSPG synthesis is tightly linked to the cell biological processes of secretion and lysosomal degradation, suggesting that these systems may be linked genetically. Animal models of loss of CSPG function have revealed CSPGs to impact skeletal development. Specifically, our work from a mutagenesis screen in zebrafish led to the hypothesis that cartilage PGs normally delay the timing of endochondral ossification. Finally, we outline emerging approaches in zebrafish that may revolutionize the study of cartilage PG function, including transgenic methods and novel imaging techniques. Our recent work with X-ray fluorescent imaging, for example, enables direct correlation of PG function with PG-dependent biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Brown
- University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - B F Eames
- University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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49
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Abstract
As the processes of embryogenesis become increasingly well understood, there is growing interest in the development that occurs at later, postembryonic stages. Postembryonic development holds tremendous potential for discoveries of both fundamental and translational importance. Zebrafish, which are small, rapidly and externally developing, and which boast a wealth of genetic resources, are an outstanding model of vertebrate postembryonic development. Nonetheless, there are specific challenges posed by working with zebrafish at these stages, and this chapter is meant to serve as a primer for those working with larval and juvenile zebrafish. Since accurate staging is critical for high-quality results and experimental reproducibility, we outline best practices for reporting postembryonic developmental progress. Emphasizing the importance of accurate staging, we present new data showing that rates of growth and size-stage relationships can differ even between wild-type strains. Finally, since rapid and uniform development is particularly critical when working at postembryonic stages, we briefly describe methods that we use to achieve high rates of growth and developmental uniformity through postembryonic stages in both wild-type and growth-compromised zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K McMenamin
- University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, United States; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - M N Chandless
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - D M Parichy
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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50
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Van Otterloo E, Williams T, Artinger KB. The old and new face of craniofacial research: How animal models inform human craniofacial genetic and clinical data. Dev Biol 2016; 415:171-187. [PMID: 26808208 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The craniofacial skeletal structures that comprise the human head develop from multiple tissues that converge to form the bones and cartilage of the face. Because of their complex development and morphogenesis, many human birth defects arise due to disruptions in these cellular populations. Thus, determining how these structures normally develop is vital if we are to gain a deeper understanding of craniofacial birth defects and devise treatment and prevention options. In this review, we will focus on how animal model systems have been used historically and in an ongoing context to enhance our understanding of human craniofacial development. We do this by first highlighting "animal to man" approaches; that is, how animal models are being utilized to understand fundamental mechanisms of craniofacial development. We discuss emerging technologies, including high throughput sequencing and genome editing, and new animal repository resources, and how their application can revolutionize the future of animal models in craniofacial research. Secondly, we highlight "man to animal" approaches, including the current use of animal models to test the function of candidate human disease variants. Specifically, we outline a common workflow deployed after discovery of a potentially disease causing variant based on a select set of recent examples in which human mutations are investigated in vivo using animal models. Collectively, these topics will provide a pipeline for the use of animal models in understanding human craniofacial development and disease for clinical geneticist and basic researchers alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Van Otterloo
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Trevor Williams
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kristin Bruk Artinger
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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