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An OpenCV-Based Approach for Automated Cardiac Rhythm Measurement in Zebrafish from Video Datasets. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101476. [PMID: 34680109 PMCID: PMC8533103 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmia has been defined as one of the abnormal heart rhythm symptoms, which is a common problem dealt with by cardiologists. Zebrafish were established as a powerful animal model with a transparent body that enables optical observation to analyze cardiac morphology and cardiac rhythm regularity. Currently, research has observed heart-related parameters in zebrafish, which used different approaches, such as starting from the use of fluorescent transgenic zebrafish, different software, and different observation methods. In this study, we developed an innovative approach by using the OpenCV library to measure zebrafish larvae heart rate and rhythm. The program is designed in Python, with the feature of multiprocessing for simultaneous region-of-interest (ROI) detection, covering both the atrium and ventricle regions in the video, and was designed to be simple and user-friendly, having utility even for users who are unfamiliar with Python. Results were validated with our previously published method using ImageJ, which observes pixel changes. In summary, the results showed good consistency in heart rate-related parameters. In addition, the established method in this study also can be widely applied to other invertebrates (like Daphnia) for cardiac rhythm measurement.
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Skardal A, Aleman J, Forsythe S, Rajan S, Murphy S, Devarasetty M, Pourhabibi Zarandi N, Nzou G, Wicks R, Sadri-Ardekani H, Bishop C, Soker S, Hall A, Shupe T, Atala A. Drug compound screening in single and integrated multi-organoid body-on-a-chip systems. Biofabrication 2020; 12:025017. [PMID: 32101533 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ab6d36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Current practices in drug development have led to therapeutic compounds being approved for widespread use in humans, only to be later withdrawn due to unanticipated toxicity. These occurrences are largely the result of erroneous data generated by in vivo and in vitro preclinical models that do not accurately recapitulate human physiology. Herein, a human primary cell- and stem cell-derived 3D organoid technology is employed to screen a panel of drugs that were recalled from market by the FDA. The platform is comprised of multiple tissue organoid types that remain viable for at least 28 days, in vitro. For many of these compounds, the 3D organoid system was able to demonstrate toxicity. Furthermore, organoids exposed to non-toxic compounds remained viable at clinically relevant doses. Additional experiments were performed on integrated multi-organoid systems containing liver, cardiac, lung, vascular, testis, colon, and brain. These integrated systems proved to maintain viability and expressed functional biomarkers, long-term. Examples are provided that demonstrate how multi-organoid 'body-on-a-chip' systems may be used to model the interdependent metabolism and downstream effects of drugs across multiple tissues in a single platform. Such 3D in vitro systems represent a more physiologically relevant model for drug screening and will likely reduce the cost and failure rate associated with the approval of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Skardal
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States of America. Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 1080 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States of America
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Automated high-throughput heartbeat quantification in medaka and zebrafish embryos under physiological conditions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2046. [PMID: 32029752 PMCID: PMC7005164 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58563-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate quantification of heartbeats in fish models is an important readout to study cardiovascular biology, disease states and pharmacology. However, dependence on anaesthesia, laborious sample orientation or requirement for fluorescent reporters have hampered the use of high-throughput heartbeat analysis. To overcome these limitations, we established an efficient screening assay employing automated label-free heart rate determination of randomly oriented, non-anesthetized medaka (Oryzias latipes) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos in microtiter plates. Automatically acquired bright-field data feeds into an easy-to-use HeartBeat software with graphical user interface for automated quantification of heart rate and rhythm. Sensitivity of the assay was demonstrated by profiling heart rates during entire embryonic development. Our analysis revealed rapid adaption of heart rates to temperature changes, which has implications for standardization of experimental layout. The assay allows scoring of multiple embryos per well enabling a throughput of >500 embryos per 96-well plate. In a proof of principle screen for compound testing, we captured concentration-dependent effects of nifedipine and terfenadine over time. Our novel assay permits large-scale applications ranging from phenotypic screening, interrogation of gene functions to cardiovascular drug development.
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Tu WM, Huang XC, Chen YL, Luo YL, Liau I, Hsu HY. Longitudinal and quantitative assessment platform for concurrent analysis of anti-tumor efficacy and cardiotoxicity of nano-formulated medication in vivo. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1095:129-137. [PMID: 31864613 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Increasing nanomedicinal approaches have been developed to effectively inhibit tumor growth; however, critical questions such as whether a nanomedicinal approach can mitigate latent side effects are barely addressed. To this end, we established a zebrafish xenograft tumor model, combining pseudodynamic three-dimensional cardiac imaging and image analysis to enable simultaneous and quantitative determination of the change of tumor volume and cardiac function of zebrafish upon specific nanoformulation treatment. Doxorubicin (DOX), a well-known chemotherapeutic agent with cardiotoxicity, and a recently developed DOX-loaded nanocomposite were employed as two model drugs to demonstrate the effectiveness to utilize the proposed evaluation platform for rapid validation. The nanoformulation significantly mitigated DOX-associated cardiotoxicity, while retaining the efficacy of DOX in inhibiting tumor growth compared to administration of carrier-free DOX at the same dose. We anticipate that this platform possesses the potential as an efficient assessment system for nanoformulated cancer therapeutics with suspected toxicity and side effects to vital organs such as the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ming Tu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao-Tung University, No.1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Xin-Chun Huang
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao-Tung University, No.1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yen-Ling Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao-Tung University, No.1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yun-Ling Luo
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao-Tung University, No.1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ian Liau
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao-Tung University, No.1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan, ROC; Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
| | - Hsin-Yun Hsu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao-Tung University, No.1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan, ROC; Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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Gut P, Reischauer S, Stainier DYR, Arnaout R. LITTLE FISH, BIG DATA: ZEBRAFISH AS A MODEL FOR CARDIOVASCULAR AND METABOLIC DISEASE. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:889-938. [PMID: 28468832 PMCID: PMC5817164 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00038.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases worldwide is staggering. The emergence of systems approaches in biology promises new therapies, faster and cheaper diagnostics, and personalized medicine. However, a profound understanding of pathogenic mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels remains a fundamental requirement for discovery and therapeutics. Animal models of human disease are cornerstones of drug discovery as they allow identification of novel pharmacological targets by linking gene function with pathogenesis. The zebrafish model has been used for decades to study development and pathophysiology. More than ever, the specific strengths of the zebrafish model make it a prime partner in an age of discovery transformed by big-data approaches to genomics and disease. Zebrafish share a largely conserved physiology and anatomy with mammals. They allow a wide range of genetic manipulations, including the latest genome engineering approaches. They can be bred and studied with remarkable speed, enabling a range of large-scale phenotypic screens. Finally, zebrafish demonstrate an impressive regenerative capacity scientists hope to unlock in humans. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide on applications of zebrafish to investigate cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We delineate advantages and limitations of zebrafish models of human disease and summarize their most significant contributions to understanding disease progression to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Gut
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sven Reischauer
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Rima Arnaout
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Lee IJ, Yang YC, Hsu JW, Chang WT, Chuang YJ, Liau I. Zebrafish model of photochemical thrombosis for translational research and thrombolytic screening in vivo. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2017; 10:494-502. [PMID: 27174426 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201500287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Acute thromboembolic diseases remain the major global cause of death or disability. Although an array of thrombolytic and antithrombotic drugs has been approved to treat or prevent thromboembolic diseases, many more drugs that target specific clotting mechanisms are under development. Here a novel zebrafish model of photochemical thrombosis is reported and its prospective application for the screening and preclinical testing of thrombolytic agents in vivo is demonstrated. Through photochemical excitation, a thrombus was induced to form at a selected section of the dorsal aorta of larval zebrafish, which had been injected with photosensitizers. Such photochemical thrombosis can be consistently controlled to occlude partially or completely the targeted blood vessel. Detailed mechanistic tests indicate that the zebrafish model of photochemical thrombosis exhibits essential features of classical coagulation and a thrombolytic pathway. For demonstration, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a clinically feasible thrombolytic agent, was shown to effectively dissolve photochemically induced blood clots. In light of the numerous unique advantages of zebrafish as a model organism, our approach is expected to benefit not only the development of novel thrombolytic and antithrombotic strategies but also the fundamental or translational research targeting hereditary thrombotic or coagulation disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Ju Lee
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Cyun Yang
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Wen Hsu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Tien Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Jen Chuang
- Department of Medical Science and Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan
| | - Ian Liau
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan
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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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