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Doostdar P, Hawley J, Chopra K, Marinopoulou E, Lea R, Arashvand K, Biga V, Papalopulu N, Soto X. Cell coupling compensates for changes in single-cell Her6 dynamics and provides phenotypic robustness. Development 2024; 151:dev202640. [PMID: 38682303 PMCID: PMC11190438 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202640] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of altering the protein expression dynamics of the bHLH transcription factor Her6 at the single-cell level in the embryonic zebrafish telencephalon. Using a homozygote endogenous Her6:Venus reporter and 4D single-cell tracking, we show that Her6 oscillates in neural telencephalic progenitors and that the fusion of protein destabilisation (PEST) domain alters its expression dynamics, causing most cells to downregulate Her6 prematurely. However, counterintuitively, oscillatory cells increase, with some expressing Her6 at high levels, resulting in increased heterogeneity of Her6 expression in the population. These tissue-level changes appear to be an emergent property of coupling between single-cells, as revealed by experimentally disrupting Notch signalling and by computationally modelling alterations in Her6 protein stability. Despite the profound differences in the single-cell Her6 dynamics, the size of the telencephalon is only transiently altered and differentiation markers do not exhibit significant differences early on; however, a small increase is observed at later developmental stages. Our study suggests that cell coupling provides a compensation strategy, whereby an almost normal phenotype is maintained even though single-cell gene expression dynamics are abnormal, granting phenotypic robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parnian Doostdar
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Joshua Hawley
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Kunal Chopra
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Elli Marinopoulou
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Robert Lea
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Kiana Arashvand
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Veronica Biga
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Nancy Papalopulu
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Ximena Soto
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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2
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von Hellfeld R, Gade C, Baumann L, Leist M, Braunbeck T. The sensitivity of the zebrafish embryo coiling assay for the detection of neurotoxicity by compounds with diverse modes of action. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27662-2. [PMID: 37213015 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27662-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In the aim to determine neurotoxicity, new methods are being validated, including tests and test batteries comprising in vitro and in vivo approaches. Alternative test models such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo have received increasing attention, with minor modifications of the fish embryo toxicity test (FET; OECD TG 236) as a tool to assess behavioral endpoints related to neurotoxicity during early developmental stages. The spontaneous tail movement assay, also known as coiling assay, assesses the development of random movement into complex behavioral patterns and has proven sensitive to acetylcholine esterase inhibitors at sublethal concentrations. The present study explored the sensitivity of the assay to neurotoxicants with other modes of action (MoAs). Here, five compounds with diverse MoAs were tested at sublethal concentrations: acrylamide, carbaryl, hexachlorophene, ibuprofen, and rotenone. While carbaryl, hexachlorophene, and rotenone consistently induced severe behavioral alterations by ~ 30 h post fertilization (hpf), acrylamide and ibuprofen expressed time- and/or concentration-dependent effects. At 37-38 hpf, additional observations revealed behavioral changes during dark phases with a strict concentration-dependency. The study documented the applicability of the coiling assay to MoA-dependent behavioral alterations at sublethal concentrations, underlining its potential as a component of a neurotoxicity test battery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca von Hellfeld
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UK, UK.
- National Decommissioning Centre, Main Street, Ellon, AB41 6AA, UK.
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Christoph Gade
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UK, UK
- National Decommissioning Centre, Main Street, Ellon, AB41 6AA, UK
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lisa Baumann
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Science, Environmental Health & Toxicology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amersterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marcel Leist
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated By the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
| | - Thomas Braunbeck
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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3
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Wang X, Zhang JB, He KJ, Wang F, Liu CF. Advances of Zebrafish in Neurodegenerative Disease: From Models to Drug Discovery. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:713963. [PMID: 34335276 PMCID: PMC8317260 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.713963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease (NDD), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons which leads to the decline of motor and/or cognitive function. Currently, the prevalence of NDD is rapidly increasing in the aging population. However, valid drugs or treatment for NDD are still lacking. The clinical heterogeneity and complex pathogenesis of NDD pose a great challenge for the development of disease-modifying therapies. Numerous animal models have been generated to mimic the pathological conditions of these diseases for drug discovery. Among them, zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are progressively emerging and becoming a powerful tool for in vivo study of NDD. Extensive use of zebrafish in pharmacology research or drug screening is due to the high conserved evolution and 87% homology to humans. In this review, we summarize the zebrafish models used in NDD studies, and highlight the recent findings on pharmacological targets for NDD treatment. As high-throughput platforms in zebrafish research have rapidly developed in recent years, we also discuss the application prospects of these new technologies in future NDD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jin-Bao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kai-Jie He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fen Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chun-Feng Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Neurology, Suqian First Hospital, Suqian, China
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4
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Hsu CH, Jiang YJ. Does Nicastrin Inadequacy Cause Melanocytotoxicity in Human Skin as in the Fish Counterpart? J Invest Dermatol 2020; 141:1334-1338. [PMID: 33058861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hao Hsu
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Jin Jiang
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan; Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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5
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Haerlingen B, Opitz R, Vandernoot I, Trubiroha A, Gillotay P, Giusti N, Costagliola S. Small-Molecule Screening in Zebrafish Embryos Identifies Signaling Pathways Regulating Early Thyroid Development. Thyroid 2019; 29:1683-1703. [PMID: 31507237 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2019.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background: Defects in embryonic development of the thyroid gland are a major cause for congenital hypothyroidism in human newborns, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Organ development relies on a tightly regulated interplay between extrinsic signaling cues and cell intrinsic factors. At present, however, there is limited knowledge about the specific extrinsic signaling cues that regulate foregut endoderm patterning, thyroid cell specification, and subsequent morphogenetic processes in thyroid development. Methods: To begin to address this problem in a systematic way, we used zebrafish embryos to perform a series of in vivo phenotype-driven chemical genetic screens to identify signaling cues regulating early thyroid development. For this purpose, we treated zebrafish embryos during different developmental periods with a panel of small-molecule compounds known to manipulate the activity of major signaling pathways and scored phenotypic deviations in thyroid, endoderm, and cardiovascular development using whole-mount in situ hybridization and transgenic fluorescent reporter models. Results: Systematic assessment of drugged embryos recovered a range of thyroid phenotypes including expansion, reduction or lack of the early thyroid anlage, defective thyroid budding, as well as hypoplastic, enlarged, or overtly disorganized presentation of the thyroid primordium after budding. Our pharmacological screening identified bone morphogenetic protein and fibroblast growth factor signaling as key factors for thyroid specification and early thyroid organogenesis, highlighted the importance of low Wnt activities during early development for thyroid specification, and implicated drug-induced cardiac and vascular anomalies as likely indirect mechanisms causing various forms of thyroid dysgenesis. Conclusions: By integrating the outcome of our screening efforts with previously available information from other model organisms including Xenopus, chicken, and mouse, we conclude that signaling cues regulating thyroid development appear broadly conserved across vertebrates. We therefore expect that observations made in zebrafish can inform mammalian models of thyroid organogenesis to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of congenital thyroid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Haerlingen
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Opitz
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabelle Vandernoot
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Achim Trubiroha
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Gillotay
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicoletta Giusti
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sabine Costagliola
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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6
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Serrano MDLA, Demarest BL, Tone-Pah-Hote T, Tristani-Firouzi M, Yost HJ. Inhibition of Notch signaling rescues cardiovascular development in Kabuki Syndrome. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000087. [PMID: 31479440 PMCID: PMC6743796 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Kabuki Syndrome patients have a spectrum of congenital disorders, including congenital heart defects, the primary determinant of mortality. Seventy percent of Kabuki Syndrome patients have mutations in the histone methyl-transferase KMT2D. However, the underlying mechanisms that drive these congenital disorders are unknown. Here, we generated and characterized zebrafish kmt2d null mutants that recapitulate the cardinal phenotypic features of Kabuki Syndrome, including microcephaly, palate defects, abnormal ear development, and cardiac defects. The cardiac phenotype consists of a previously unknown vasculogenesis defect that affects endocardium patterning and, consequently, heart ventricle lumen formation. Additionally, zebrafish kmt2d null mutants have angiogenesis defects depicted by abnormal aortic arch development, hyperactive ectopic blood vessel sprouting, and aberrant patterning of the brain vascular plexus. We demonstrate that zebrafish kmt2d null mutants have robust Notch signaling hyperactivation in endocardial and endothelial cells, including increased protein levels of the Notch transcription factor Rbpj. Our zebrafish Kabuki Syndrome model reveals a regulatory link between the Notch pathway and Kmt2d during endothelium and endocardium patterning and shows that pharmacological inhibition of Notch signaling rebalances Rbpj protein levels and rescues the cardiovascular phenotype by enhancing endothelial and endocardial cell proliferation and stabilizing endocardial patterning. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that Kmt2d regulates vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, provide evidence for interactions between Kmt2d and Notch signaling in Kabuki Syndrome, and suggest future directions for clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria de los Angeles Serrano
- Molecular Medicine Program—Neurobiology and Anatomy Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Bradley L. Demarest
- Molecular Medicine Program—Neurobiology and Anatomy Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | | | - Martin Tristani-Firouzi
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute and Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - H. Joseph Yost
- Molecular Medicine Program—Neurobiology and Anatomy Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
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7
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Sun W, Netzer WJ, Sinha A, Gindinova K, Chang E, Sinha SC. Development of Gleevec Analogues for Reducing Production of β-Amyloid Peptides through Shifting β-Cleavage of Amyloid Precursor Proteins. J Med Chem 2019; 62:3122-3134. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b02007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Weilin Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - William J. Netzer
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Anjana Sinha
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Katherina Gindinova
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Emily Chang
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Subhash C. Sinha
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
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8
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γ-Secretase and its modulators: Twenty years and beyond. Neurosci Lett 2019; 701:162-169. [PMID: 30763650 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Twenty years ago, Wolfe, Xia, and Selkoe identified two aspartate residues in Alzheimer's presenilin protein that constitute the active site of the γ-secretase complex. Mutations in the genes encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP) or presenilin (PS) cause early onset familial Alzheimer's disease (AD), and sequential cleavages of the APP by β-secretase and γ-secretase/presenilin generate amyloid β protein (Aβ), the major component of pathological hallmark, neuritic plaques, in brains of AD patients. Therapeutic strategies centered on targeting γ-secretase/presenilin to reduce amyloid were implemented and led to several high profile clinical trials. This review article focuses on the studies of γ-secretase and its inhibitors/modulators since the discovery of presenilin as the γ-secretase. While a lack of complete understanding of presenilin biology renders failure of clinical trials, the lessons learned from some γ-secretase modulators, while premature for human testing, provide new directions to develop potential therapeutics. Imbalanced Aβ homeostasis is an upstream event of neurodegenerative processes. Exploration of γ-secretase modulators for their roles in these processes is highly significant, e.g., decreasing neuroinflammation and levels of phosphorylated tau, the component of the other AD pathological hallmark, neurofibrillary tangles. Agents with excellent human pharmacology hold great promise in suppressing neurodegeneration in pre-symptomatic or early stage AD patients.
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9
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Teixidó E, Kießling TR, Krupp E, Quevedo C, Muriana A, Scholz S. Automated Morphological Feature Assessment for Zebrafish Embryo Developmental Toxicity Screens. Toxicol Sci 2019; 167:438-449. [PMID: 30295906 PMCID: PMC6358258 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of developmental phenotypes in zebrafish embryos typically involves a visual assessment and scoring of morphological features by an individual researcher. Subjective scoring could impact results and be of particular concern when phenotypic effect patterns are also used as a diagnostic tool to classify compounds. Here we introduce a quantitative morphometric approach based on image analysis of zebrafish embryos. A software called FishInspector was developed to detect morphological features from images collected using an automated system to position zebrafish embryos. The analysis was verified and compared with visual assessments of 3 participating laboratories using 3 known developmental toxicants (methotrexate, dexamethasone, and topiramate) and 2 negative compounds (loratadine and glibenclamide). The quantitative approach exhibited higher sensitivity and made it possible to compare patterns of effects with the potential to establish a grouping and classification of developmental toxicants. Our approach improves the robustness of phenotype scoring and reliability of assay performance and, hence, is anticipated to improve the predictivity of developmental toxicity screening using the zebrafish embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Teixidó
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Stefan Scholz
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany
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10
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Adamson KI, Sheridan E, Grierson AJ. Use of zebrafish models to investigate rare human disease. J Med Genet 2018; 55:641-649. [PMID: 30065072 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2018-105358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Rare diseases are collectively common and often extremely debilitating. Following the emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, the variants underpinning rare genetic disorders are being unearthed at an accelerating rate. However, many rare conditions lack effective treatments due to their poorly understood pathophysiology. There is therefore a growing demand for the development of novel experimental models of rare genetic diseases, so that potentially causative variants can be validated, pathogenic mechanisms can be investigated and therapeutic targets can be identified. Animal models of rare diseases need to be genetically and physiologically similar to humans, and well-suited to large-scale experimental manipulation, considering the vast number of novel variants that are being identified through NGS. The zebrafish has emerged as a popular model system for investigating these variants, combining conserved vertebrate characteristics with a capacity for large-scale phenotypic and therapeutic screening. In this review, we aim to highlight the unique advantages of the zebrafish over other in vivo model systems for the large-scale study of rare genetic variants. We will also consider the generation of zebrafish disease models from a practical standpoint, by discussing how genome editing technologies, particularly the recently developed clustered regularly interspaced repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 system, can be used to model rare pathogenic variants in zebrafish. Finally, we will review examples in the literature where zebrafish models have played a pivotal role in confirming variant causality and revealing the underlying mechanisms of rare diseases, often with wider implications for our understanding of human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Isabel Adamson
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Andrew James Grierson
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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11
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Breitwieser H, Dickmeis T, Vogt M, Ferg M, Pylatiuk C. Fully Automated Pipetting Sorting System for Different Morphological Phenotypes of Zebrafish Embryos. SLAS Technol 2017; 23:128-133. [PMID: 29220613 DOI: 10.1177/2472630317745780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Systems biology methods, such as transcriptomics and metabolomics, require large numbers of small model organisms, such as zebrafish embryos. Manual separation of mutant embryos from wild-type embryos is a tedious and time-consuming task that is prone to errors, especially if there are variable phenotypes of a mutant. Here we describe a zebrafish embryo sorting system with two cameras and image processing based on template-matching algorithms. In order to evaluate the system, zebrafish rx3 mutants that lack eyes due to a patterning defect in brain development were separated from their wild-type siblings. These mutants show glucocorticoid deficiency due to pituitary defects and serve as a model for human secondary adrenal insufficiencies. We show that the variable phenotypes of the mutant embryos can be safely distinguished from phenotypic wild-type zebrafish embryos and sorted from one petri dish into another petri dish or into a 96-well microtiter plate. On average, classification of a zebrafish embryo takes approximately 1 s, with a sensitivity and specificity of 87% to 95%, respectively. Other morphological phenotypes may be classified and sorted using similar techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Breitwieser
- 1 Institute for Applied Computer Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Thomas Dickmeis
- 2 Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Marcel Vogt
- 1 Institute for Applied Computer Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Marco Ferg
- 2 Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christian Pylatiuk
- 1 Institute for Applied Computer Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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12
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Sharma N, Khurana N, Muthuraman A. Lower vertebrate and invertebrate models of Alzheimer's disease - A review. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 815:312-323. [PMID: 28943103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by the presence of beta- amyloid protein and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. Till now, various higher vertebrate models have been in use to study the pathophysiology of this disease. But, these models possess some limitations like ethical restrictions, high cost, difficult maintenance of large quantity and lesser reproducibility. Besides, various lower chordate animals like Danio rerio, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and Ciona intestinalis have been proved to be an important model for the in vivo determination of targets of drugs with least limitations. In this article, we reviewed different studies conducted on theses models for the better understanding of the pathophysiology of AD and their subsequent application as a potential tool in the preclinical evaluation of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Navneet Khurana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Arunachalam Muthuraman
- Department of Pharmacology, Akal College of Pharmacy and Technical Education, Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur, Punjab, India; Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysuru 570015, Karnataka, India.
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13
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ErbB2 regulates autophagic flux to modulate the proteostasis of APP-CTFs in Alzheimer's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E3129-E3138. [PMID: 28351972 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1618804114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) C-terminal fragments (CTFs) by γ-secretase underlies the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). An RNA interference screen using APP-CTF [99-residue CTF (C99)]- and Notch-specific γ-secretase interaction assays identified a unique ErbB2-centered signaling network that was predicted to preferentially govern the proteostasis of APP-C99. Consistently, significantly elevated levels of ErbB2 were confirmed in the hippocampus of human AD brains. We then found that ErbB2 effectively suppressed autophagic flux by physically dissociating Beclin-1 from the Vps34-Vps15 complex independent of its kinase activity. Down-regulation of ErbB2 by CL-387,785 decreased the levels of C99 and secreted amyloid-β in cellular, zebrafish, and mouse models of AD, through the activation of autophagy. Oral administration of an ErbB2-targeted CL-387,785 for 3 wk significantly improves the cognitive functions of APP/presenilin-1 (PS1) transgenic mice. This work unveils a noncanonical function of ErbB2 in modulating autophagy and establishes ErbB2 as a therapeutic target for AD.
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14
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Velaithan V, Okuda KS, Ng MF, Samat N, Leong SW, Faudzi SMM, Abas F, Shaari K, Cheong SC, Tan PJ, Patel V. Zebrafish phenotypic screen identifies novel Notch antagonists. Invest New Drugs 2017; 35:166-179. [PMID: 28058624 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-016-0423-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish represents a powerful in vivo model for phenotype-based drug discovery to identify clinically relevant small molecules. By utilizing this model, we evaluated natural product derived compounds that could potentially modulate Notch signaling that is important in both zebrafish embryogenesis and pathogenic in human cancers. A total of 234 compounds were screened using zebrafish embryos and 3 were identified to be conferring phenotypic alterations similar to embryos treated with known Notch inhibitors. Subsequent secondary screens using HEK293T cells overexpressing truncated Notch1 (HEK293TΔE) identified 2 compounds, EDD3 and 3H4MB, to be potential Notch antagonists. Both compounds reduced protein expression of NOTCH1, Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and hairy and enhancer of split-1 (HES1) in HEK293TΔE and downregulated Notch target genes. Importantly, EDD3 treatment of human oral cancer cell lines demonstrated reduction of Notch target proteins and genes. EDD3 also inhibited proliferation and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest of ORL-150 cells through inducing p27KIP1. Our data demonstrates the utility of the zebrafish phenotypic screen and identifying EDD3 as a promising Notch antagonist for further development as a novel therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vithya Velaithan
- Cancer Research Malaysia, 12A, Jalan TP5, Taman Perindustrian UEP, 47600, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Kazuhide Shaun Okuda
- Cancer Research Malaysia, 12A, Jalan TP5, Taman Perindustrian UEP, 47600, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Mei Fong Ng
- Cancer Research Malaysia, 12A, Jalan TP5, Taman Perindustrian UEP, 47600, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Norazwana Samat
- Cancer Research Malaysia, 12A, Jalan TP5, Taman Perindustrian UEP, 47600, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Sze Wei Leong
- Laboratory of Natural Products, Institute of Bioscience Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Munirah Mohd Faudzi
- Laboratory of Natural Products, Institute of Bioscience Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Faridah Abas
- Laboratory of Natural Products, Institute of Bioscience Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Khozirah Shaari
- Laboratory of Natural Products, Institute of Bioscience Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sok Ching Cheong
- Cancer Research Malaysia, 12A, Jalan TP5, Taman Perindustrian UEP, 47600, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Pei Jean Tan
- Cancer Research Malaysia, 12A, Jalan TP5, Taman Perindustrian UEP, 47600, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Vyomesh Patel
- Cancer Research Malaysia, 12A, Jalan TP5, Taman Perindustrian UEP, 47600, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.
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15
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Sun X, Chen WD, Wang YD. β-Amyloid: the key peptide in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:221. [PMID: 26483691 PMCID: PMC4588032 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is a critical initiator that triggers the progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) via accumulation and aggregation, of which the process may be caused by Aβ overproduction or perturbation clearance. Aβ is generated from amyloid precursor protein through sequential cleavage of β- and γ-secretases while Aβ removal is dependent on the proteolysis and lysosome degradation system. Here, we overviewed the biogenesis and toxicity of Aβ as well as the regulation of Aβ production and clearance. Moreover, we also summarized the animal models correlated with Aβ that are essential in AD research. In addition, we discussed current immunotherapeutic approaches targeting Aβ to give some clues for exploring the more potentially efficient drugs for treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Henan University Kaifeng, China
| | - Wei-Dong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Henan University Kaifeng, China
| | - Yan-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing, China
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16
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Jeanray N, Marée R, Pruvot B, Stern O, Geurts P, Wehenkel L, Muller M. Phenotype classification of zebrafish embryos by supervised learning. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116989. [PMID: 25574849 PMCID: PMC4289190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish is increasingly used to assess biological properties of chemical substances and thus is becoming a specific tool for toxicological and pharmacological studies. The effects of chemical substances on embryo survival and development are generally evaluated manually through microscopic observation by an expert and documented by several typical photographs. Here, we present a methodology to automatically classify brightfield images of wildtype zebrafish embryos according to their defects by using an image analysis approach based on supervised machine learning. We show that, compared to manual classification, automatic classification results in 90 to 100% agreement with consensus voting of biological experts in nine out of eleven considered defects in 3 days old zebrafish larvae. Automation of the analysis and classification of zebrafish embryo pictures reduces the workload and time required for the biological expert and increases the reproducibility and objectivity of this classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Jeanray
- GIGA-Development, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Organogenesis and Regeneration, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- GIGA-Systems Biology and Chemical Biology, Dept. EE & CS, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Marée
- GIGA Bioinformatics Core Facility, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Benoist Pruvot
- GIGA-Development, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Organogenesis and Regeneration, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Olivier Stern
- GIGA-Systems Biology and Chemical Biology, Dept. EE & CS, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Pierre Geurts
- GIGA-Systems Biology and Chemical Biology, Dept. EE & CS, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Louis Wehenkel
- GIGA-Systems Biology and Chemical Biology, Dept. EE & CS, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- GIGA Bioinformatics Core Facility, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marc Muller
- GIGA-Development, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Organogenesis and Regeneration, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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17
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Newman M, Ebrahimie E, Lardelli M. Using the zebrafish model for Alzheimer's disease research. Front Genet 2014; 5:189. [PMID: 25071820 PMCID: PMC4075077 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent models have been extensively used to investigate the cause and mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease. Despite many years of intensive research using these models we still lack a detailed understanding of the molecular events that lead to neurodegeneration. Although zebrafish lack the complexity of advanced cognitive behaviors evident in rodent models they have proven to be a very informative model for the study of human diseases. In this review we give an overview of how the zebrafish has been used to study Alzheimer’s disease. Zebrafish possess genes orthologous to those mutated in familial Alzheimer’s disease and research using zebrafish has revealed unique characteristics of these genes that have been difficult to observe in rodent models. The zebrafish is becoming an increasingly popular model for the investigation of Alzheimer’s disease and will complement studies using other models to help complete our understanding of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Newman
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide SA, Australia
| | - Esmaeil Ebrahimie
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide SA, Australia
| | - Michael Lardelli
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide SA, Australia
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18
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Polycystin-1 cleavage and the regulation of transcriptional pathways. Pediatr Nephrol 2014; 29:505-11. [PMID: 23824180 PMCID: PMC3844055 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-013-2548-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Revised: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic cause of end-stage renal disease, affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 people. The disease is characterized by the development of numerous large fluid-filled renal cysts over the course of decades. These cysts compress the surrounding renal parenchyma and impair its function. Mutations in two genes are responsible for ADPKD. The protein products of both of these genes, polycystin-1 and polycystin-2, localize to the primary cilium and participate in a wide variety of signaling pathways. Polycystin-1 undergoes several proteolytic cleavages that produce fragments which manifest biological activities. Recent results suggest that the production of polycystin-1 cleavage fragments is necessary and sufficient to account for at least some, although certainly not all, of the physiological functions of the parent protein.
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19
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Ali S, Aalders J, Richardson MK. Teratological effects of a panel of sixty water-soluble toxicants on zebrafish development. Zebrafish 2014; 11:129-41. [PMID: 24650241 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2013.0901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish larva is a promising whole-animal model for safety pharmacology, environmental risk assessment, and developmental toxicity. This model has been used for the high-throughput toxicity screening of various compounds. Our aim here is to identify possible phenotypic markers of teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos that could be used for the assaying compounds for reproductive toxicity. We have screened a panel of 60 water-soluble toxicants to examine their effects on zebrafish development. A total of 22,080 wild-type zebrafish larvae were raised in 250 μL defined buffer in 96-well plates at a plating density of one embryo per well. They were exposed for a 96-h period starting at 24 h post-fertilization. A logarithmic concentration series was used for range-finding, followed by a narrower geometric series for developmental toxicity assessment. A total of 9017 survivors were analyzed at 5 days post-fertilization for nine phenotypes, namely, (1) normal, (2) pericardial oedema, (3) yolk sac oedema, (4) melanophores dispersed, (5) bent tail tip, (6) bent body axis, (7) abnormal Meckel's cartilage, (8) abnormal branchial arches, and (9) uninflated swim bladder. For each toxicant, the EC50 (concentration required to produce one or more of these abnormalities in 50% of embryos) was also calculated. For the majority of toxicants (55/60) there was, at the population level, a statistically significant, concentration-dependent increase in the incidence of abnormal phenotypes among survivors. The commonest abnormalities were pericardial oedema, yolk sac oedema, dispersed melanophores, and uninflated swim bladder. It is possible therefore that these could prove to be general indicators of reproductive toxicity in the zebrafish embryo assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaukat Ali
- 1 Sylvius Laboratory, Institute of Biology, Leiden University , Leiden, The Netherlands
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20
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Xia S, Zhu Y, Xu X, Xia W. Computational techniques in zebrafish image processing and analysis. J Neurosci Methods 2012; 213:6-13. [PMID: 23219894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2012.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 11/10/2012] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been widely used as a vertebrate animal model in neurobiological. The zebrafish has several unique advantages that make it well suited for live microscopic imaging, including its fast development, large transparent embryos that develop outside the mother, and the availability of a large selection of mutant strains. As the genome of zebrafish has been fully sequenced it is comparatively easier to carry out large scale forward genetic screening in zebrafish to investigate relevant human diseases, from neurological disorders like epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease to other conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease and cancer. All of these factors contribute to an increasing number of microscopic images of zebrafish that require advanced image processing methods to objectively, quantitatively, and quickly analyze the image dataset. In this review, we discuss the development of image analysis and quantification techniques as applied to zebrafish images, with the emphasis on phenotype evaluation, neuronal structure quantification, vascular structure reconstruction, and behavioral monitoring. Zebrafish image analysis is continually developing, and new types of images generated from a wide variety of biological experiments provide the dataset and foundation for the future development of image processing algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunren Xia
- Key laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, of Ministry of Education Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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21
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Lu J, Wu T, Liu T, Chen C, Zhao C, Yang J. Automated quantification of zebrafish somites based on PDE method. J Microsc 2012; 248:156-62. [PMID: 22957990 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2012.03659.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
With the availability of high-throughput imaging machines and a large number of zebrafish embryos, zebrafish are clearly among the most cost-effective vertebrate systems for high-throughput or high-content screens with applications in drug discovery and biological pathway analysis. With the tremendous volume of images generated from large numbers of zebrafish screens, computerized image analysis for accurate and efficient data interpretation becomes essential. This paper presents an automated algorithm for a high-throughput screening pipeline for quantification of zebrafish somite. First, the main body is segmented using the level set method; then the head is removed; after that, the body is aligned and a coherence-enhancing filter is carried out so as to facilitate the somite detection. Finally, the somites can be easily extracted. Preliminary evaluation results are reported to demonstrate the good performance of the algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lu
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.
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22
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Van Dam D, De Deyn PP. Animal models in the drug discovery pipeline for Alzheimer's disease. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 164:1285-300. [PMID: 21371009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01299.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing feasibility of predicting conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia based on biomarker profiling, the urgent need for efficacious disease-modifying compounds has become even more critical. Despite intensive research, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain insufficiently documented for purposeful target discovery. Translational research based on valid animal models may aid in alleviating some of the unmet needs in the current Alzheimer's disease pharmaceutical market, which includes disease-modification, increased efficacy and safety, reduction of the number of treatment unresponsive patients and patient compliance. The development and phenotyping of animal models is indeed essential in Alzheimer's disease-related research as valid models enable the appraisal of early pathological processes - which are often not accessible in patients, and subsequent target discovery and evaluation. This review paper summarizes and critically evaluates currently available animal models, and discusses their value to the Alzheimer drug discovery pipeline. Models dealt with include spontaneous models in various species, including senescence-accelerated mice, chemical and lesion-induced rodent models, and genetically modified models developed in Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Danio rerio and rodents. Although highly valid animal models exist, none of the currently available models recapitulates all aspects of human Alzheimer's disease, and one should always be aware of the potential dangers of uncritical extrapolating from model organisms to a human condition that takes decades to develop and mainly involves higher cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debby Van Dam
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry & Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium.
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23
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Novoa B, Figueras A. Zebrafish: model for the study of inflammation and the innate immune response to infectious diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2012; 946:253-75. [PMID: 21948373 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0106-3_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been extensively used in biomedical research as a model to study vertebrate development and hematopoiesis and recently, it has been adopted into varied fields including immunology. After fertilization, larvae survive with only the innate immune responses because adaptive immune system is morphologically and functionally mature only after 4-6 weeks postfertilization. This temporal separation provides a suitable system to study the vertebrate innate immune response in vivo, independently from the adaptive immune response. The transparency of early life stages allows a useful real-time visualization. Adult zebrafish which have complete (innate and adaptative) immune systems offer also advantages over other vertebrate infection models: small size, relatively rapid life cycle, ease of breeding, and a growing list of molecular tools for the study of infectious diseases. In this review, we have tried to give some examples of the potential of zebrafish as a valuable model in innate immunity and inflammation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Novoa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain.
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24
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Merrick D, Chapin H, Baggs JE, Yu Z, Somlo S, Sun Z, Hogenesch JB, Caplan MJ. The γ-secretase cleavage product of polycystin-1 regulates TCF and CHOP-mediated transcriptional activation through a p300-dependent mechanism. Dev Cell 2011; 22:197-210. [PMID: 22178500 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2010] [Revised: 08/01/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in Pkd1, encoding polycystin-1 (PC1), cause autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We show that the carboxy-terminal tail (CTT) of PC1 is released by γ-secretase-mediated cleavage and regulates the Wnt and CHOP pathways by binding the transcription factors TCF and CHOP, disrupting their interaction with the common transcriptional coactivator p300. Loss of PC1 causes increased proliferation and apoptosis, while reintroducing PC1-CTT into cultured Pkd1 null cells reestablishes normal growth rate, suppresses apoptosis, and prevents cyst formation. Inhibition of γ-secretase activity impairs the ability of PC1 to suppress growth and apoptosis and leads to cyst formation in cultured renal epithelial cells. Expression of the PC1-CTT is sufficient to rescue the dorsal body curvature phenotype in zebrafish embryos resulting from either γ-secretase inhibition or suppression of Pkd1 expression. Thus, γ-secretase-dependent release of the PC1-CTT creates a protein fragment whose expression is sufficient to suppress ADPKD-related phenotypes in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Merrick
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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25
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Ali S, Champagne DL, Spaink HP, Richardson MK. Zebrafish embryos and larvae: a new generation of disease models and drug screens. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 93:115-33. [PMID: 21671352 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Technological innovation has helped the zebrafish embryo gain ground as a disease model and an assay system for drug screening. Here, we review the use of zebrafish embryos and early larvae in applied biomedical research, using selected cases. We look at the use of zebrafish embryos as disease models, taking fetal alcohol syndrome and tuberculosis as examples. We discuss advances in imaging, in culture techniques (including microfluidics), and in drug delivery (including new techniques for the robotic injection of compounds into the egg). The use of zebrafish embryos in early stages of drug safety-screening is discussed. So too are the new behavioral assays that are being adapted from rodent research for use in zebrafish embryos, and which may become relevant in validating the effects of neuroactive compounds such as anxiolytics and antidepressants. Readouts, such as morphological screening and cardiac function, are examined. There are several drawbacks in the zebrafish model. One is its very rapid development, which means that screening with zebrafish is analogous to "screening on a run-away train." Therefore, we argue that zebrafish embryos need to be precisely staged when used in acute assays, so as to ensure a consistent window of developmental exposure. We believe that zebrafish embryo screens can be used in the pre-regulatory phases of drug development, although more validation studies are needed to overcome industry scepticism. Finally, the zebrafish poses no challenge to the position of rodent models: it is complementary to them, especially in early stages of drug research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaukat Ali
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, The Netherlands
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26
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Chen S, Zhu Y, Xia W, Xia S, Xu X. Automated analysis of zebrafish images for phenotypic changes in drug discovery. J Neurosci Methods 2011; 200:229-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2011] [Revised: 05/09/2011] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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27
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Xu X, Xu X, Huang X, Xia W, Xia S. A high-throughput analysis method to detect regions of interest and quantify zebrafish embryo images. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 15:1152-9. [PMID: 20930217 DOI: 10.1177/1087057110379155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish is widely used to understand neural development and model various neurodegenerative diseases. Zebrafish embryos are optically transparent, have a short development period, and can be kept alive in microplates for days, making them amenable to high-throughput microscopic imaging. As a result of high-throughput experiments, a large number of images can be generated in a single experiment, posing a challenge to researchers to analyze them efficiently and quantitatively. In this work, we develop an image processing focused on detecting and quantifying pigments in zebrafish embryos. The algorithm automatically detects a region of interest (ROI) enclosing an area around the pigments and then segment the pigments for quantification. In this process, the algorithm identifies the head and torso at first, and then finds the boundaries corresponding to the back and abdomen by taking advantage of a priori information about the anatomy of zebrafish embryos. The method is robust in terms that it can detect and quantify pigments even when the embryos have different orientations and curvatures. We used real data to demonstrate the performance of the method to extract phenotypic information from zebrafish embryo images and compared its results with manual analysis for verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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28
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Characterization of behavioral and endocrine effects of LSD on zebrafish. Behav Brain Res 2010; 214:277-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2010] [Accepted: 05/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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29
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Strähle U, Grabher C. The zebrafish embryo as a model for assessing off-target drug effects. Dis Model Mech 2010; 3:689-92. [PMID: 20876356 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.006312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although first used experimentally for the genetic analysis of vertebrate development and neurobiology, the zebrafish has been adapted as a model for many human diseases. In recent years, the zebrafish embryo has increasingly attracted the attention of chemists and pharmacologists for its utility in identifying chemicals with pharmacological activity in a whole-animal context. Its experimental virtues make it an ideal system with which to identify new bioactive molecules, and to assess their toxicity and teratogenicity at medium-to-high throughput. More recently, the zebrafish embryo has been applied to identify off-target effects of drug candidates. Here, we discuss the value of the zebrafish embryo for detecting off-target effects, and propose that this model could be useful for improving the efficiency of the drug-development pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Strähle
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Campus North, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, PO Box 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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