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Safrina O, Vorontsova I, Donaldson PJ, Schilling TF. Zebrafish Optical Development Requires Regulated Water Permeability by Aquaporin 0. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:42. [PMID: 39330988 PMCID: PMC11437712 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.11.42] [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] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Optical development of the zebrafish eye relies on the movement of the highly refractive lens nucleus from an anterior to a central location in the optical axis during development. We have shown that this mechanism in turn depends on the function of Aquaporin 0a (Aqp0a), a multifunctional and extremely abundant protein in lens fiber cell membranes. Here, we probe the specific cellular functions necessary for rescuing lens nucleus centralization defects in aqp0a-/- null mutants by stable overexpression of an Aqp0 orthologue from a killifish, MIPfun. Methods We test in vivo requirements for lens transparency and nucleus centralization of MIPfun for auto-adhesion, water permeability (Pf), and Pf sensitivity to regulation by Ca2+ or pH by overexpression of MIPfun mutants previously shown to have defects in these functions in vitro or in silico. Results Water permeability of MIPfun is essential for rescuing lens transparency and nucleus centralization defects, whereas auto-adhesion is not. Furthermore, water permeability regulation by Ca2+ and pH appear residue-dependent, because some Ca2+-insensitive mutants fail to rescue, and pH-insensitive mutants only partially rescue defects. MIPfun lacking Pf sensitivity to both, Ca2+ and pH, also fails to rescue lens nucleus centralization. Conclusion This study shows that regulation of water permeability by Aqp0 plays a key role in the centralization of the zebrafish lens nucleus, providing the first direct evidence for water transport in this aspect of optical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Safrina
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Irene Vorontsova
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
- Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand National Eye Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul J Donaldson
- Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand National Eye Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thomas F Schilling
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States
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Ulhaq ZS, Ogino Y, Tse WKF. Transcriptome alterations in sf3b4-depleted zebrafish: Insights into cataract formation in retinitis pigmentosa model. Exp Eye Res 2024; 240:109819. [PMID: 38311285 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109819] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) frequently develops as a complication in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Despite numerous scientific investigations, the intricate pathomechanisms underlying cataract formation in individuals affected by RP remain elusive. Therefore, our study aims to elucidate the potential pathogenesis of cataracts in an RP model using splicing factor subunit 3b (sf3b4) mutant zebrafish. By analyzing our previously published transcriptome dataset, we identified that, in addition to RP, cataract was listed as the second condition in our transcriptomic analysis. Furthermore, we confirmed the presence of nucleus retention in the lens fiber cells, along with abnormal cytoskeleton expression in both the lens fiber cells and lens epithelial cells in sf3b4-depleted fish. Upon closer examination, we identified 20 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that played a role in cataract formation, with 95 % of them related to the downregulation of structural lens proteins. Additionally, we also identified that among all the DEGs, 13 % were associated with fibrotic processes. It seems that the significant upregulation of inflammatory mediators, in conjunction with TGF-β signaling, plays a central role in the cellular biology of PSC and posterior capsular opacification (PCO) in sf3b4 mutant fish. In summary, our study provides valuable insights into cataract formation in the RP model of sf3b4 mutants, highlighting its complexity driven by changes in structural lens proteins and increased cytokines/growth factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulvikar Syambani Ulhaq
- Laboratory of Developmental Disorders and Toxicology, Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; Research Center for Pre-clinical and Clinical Medicine, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, Cibinong, Indonesia.
| | - Yukiko Ogino
- Laboratory of Aquatic Molecular Developmental Biology, Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - 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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You Y, Bai C, Liu X, Lu Y, Jia T, Xia M, Yin Y, Wang W, Chen Y, Zhang C, Liu Y, Wang L, Pu T, Ma T, Liu Y, Zhou J, Niu L, Xu S, Ni Y, Hu X, Zhang Z. RNA-Seq analysis in giant pandas reveals the differential expression of multiple genes involved in cataract formation. BMC Genom Data 2021; 22:44. [PMID: 34706646 PMCID: PMC8555103 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-00996-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an endangered mammalian species native to China. Fewer than 2500 giant pandas are known to exist, many of which are bred in captivity as a means to preserve and repopulate the species. Like other captive mammals, giant pandas acquire age-related cataracts, reducing their quality of life. Recent comparative genome-wide methylation analysis revealed 110 differentially methylated genes associated with cataract formation including six also associated with the formation of age-related cataracts in humans. RESULTS To investigate the pathological pathway in greater detail, here we used RNA-Seq analysis to investigate the differential expression profiles of genes in three giant pandas with cataracts and three healthy controls. We identified more than 700 differentially expressed genes, 29 of which were selected for further analysis based on their low q-value. We found that many of the genes encoded regulatory and signaling proteins associated with the control of cell growth, migration, differentiation and apoptosis, supporting previous research indicating a key role for apoptosis in cataract formation. CONCLUSION The identification of genes involved in the formation of age-related cataracts could facilitate the development of predictive markers, preventative measures and even new therapies to improve the life of captive animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyan You
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China.
| | - Chao Bai
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yan Lu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | - Wei Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | - Yucun Chen
- Strait (Fuzhou) Giant Panda Research and Exchange Centers, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chenglin Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Tao Ma
- Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | - Suhui Xu
- Strait (Fuzhou) Giant Panda Research and Exchange Centers, Fuzhou, China
| | | | - Xin Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
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