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Chen F, Pu S, Tian L, Zhang H, Zhou H, Yan Y, Hu X, Wu Q, Chen X, Cheng SH, Xu S. Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata promoted zebrafish fin regeneration through aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent autophagy. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 331:118272. [PMID: 38710459 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
HEADINGS ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (RRP), a staple in traditional Chinese medicine, is derived from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and is renowned for its wound-healing properties. Despite its clinical prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying RRP's wound-healing effects have not been fully elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY This research endeavored to delineate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of RRP on wound healing, utilizing a zebrafish model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Zebrafish larvae at 3 days post-fertilization were amputated at the fin and subsequently treated with RRP. The pro-wound healing and regenerative effects of RRP were evaluated through morphological analysis, assessment of cell proliferation and apoptosis, Additionally, mechanistic insights were gained through a comprehensive approach encompassing network pharmacology analysis, cell tracing, RNA-sequencing, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, and pharmacological inhibition. RESULTS Our findings demonstrate that RRP significantly accelerates caudal fin regeneration in zebrafish following injury by suppressing cell apoptosis, promoting cell proliferation, and upregulating the expression of regenerative-related genes. Furthermore, RRP triggers autophagy signals during the regenerative process, which is attenuated by the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ). Notably, the administration of RRP enhances the expression of ahr1 and ahr2 in the regenerating fin. Genetic knockout of ahr1a, ahr1b, or ahr2 using CRISPR/Cas9, or pharmacological blockade of AHR signals with the antagonist CH-223191, diminishes the regenerative potential of RRP. Remarkably, zebrafish lacking ahr2 completely lose their fin regeneration ability. Additionally, inhibition of AHR signaling suppresses autophagy signaling during fin regeneration. CONCLUSIONS This study uncovers that RRP stimulates fin regeneration in zebrafish by inducing AHR signals and, at least partially, activating the autophagy process. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the wound-healing effects of RRP and may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyan Chen
- Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China
| | - Shiming Pu
- Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Huixian Zhou
- Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China
| | - Yijing Yan
- Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China
| | - Xiaolin Hu
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China
| | - Xueping Chen
- Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, Unit 516, 5/F. Biotech Centre 2, No. 11 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shuk Han Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shisan Xu
- Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biopharmaceutical Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, China.
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Saputra F, Hu SY, Kishida M. Exposure to nitrate and nitrite disrupts cardiovascular development through estrogen receptor in zebrafish embryos and larvae. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2024:10.1007/s10695-024-01381-y. [PMID: 39026114 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-024-01381-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Increasing nitrate concentration on surface and groundwater due to anthropogenic activities is an environmental concern. In this study, Tg(fli1: EGFP) zebrafish embryos were exposed to nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-), and their cardiovascular development were investigated. Exposure to 10 mg/L NO3-N and 1 and 10 mg/L NO2-N decreased heart rate at 48-96-h post-fertilization (hpf), ventricular volume, and red blood cell flow rate at 96 hpf. Similar concentrations increased the number of embryos and larvae with pericardial edema and missing intersegmental and parachordal vessels in the caudal region at 48-96 hpf. Addition of ICI 182,720 (ICI) reversed the effects of nitrate and nitrite, suggesting estrogen receptors (ER) are involved. 10 mg/L NO3-N and 1 mg/L NO2-N decreased cardiovascular-related genes, gata4,5,6, hand2, nkx2.5, nkx2.7, tbx2a, tbx2b, and fgf1a. Gene expressions of ovarian aromatase and brain aromatase (cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b, respectively) decreased in the exposed groups, whereas ERs (esr1, esr2a, and esr2b) and nitric oxide synthase 2a (nos2a) increased. The effects on gene expression were also reversed by addition of ICI. Taken together, nitrate and nitrite disrupt cardiovascular system through ER in developing zebrafish, implying that environmental nitrate and nitrite contamination may be harmful to aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Febriyansyah Saputra
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-Ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan
| | - Shao-Yang Hu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Mitsuyo Kishida
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-Ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan.
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Niksirat H, Siino V, Steinbach C, Levander F. The quantification of zebrafish ocular-associated proteins provides hints for sex-biased visual impairments and perception. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33057. [PMID: 38994070 PMCID: PMC11238053 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Biochemical differences between sexes can also be seen in non-sexual organs and may affect organ functions and susceptibility to diseases. It has been shown that there are sex-biased visual perceptions and impairments. Abundance differences of eye proteins could provide explanations for some of these. Exploration of the ocular proteome was performed to find sex-based protein abundance differences in zebrafish Danio rerio. A label-free protein quantification workflow using high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed to find proteins with significant differences between the sexes. In total, 3740 unique master proteins were identified and quantified, and 49 proteins showed significant abundance differences between the eyes of male and female zebrafish. Those proteins belong to lipoproteins, immune system, blood coagulation, antioxidants, iron and heme-binding proteins, ion channels, pumps and exchangers, neuronal and photoreceptor proteins, and the cytoskeleton. An extensive literature review provided clues for the possible links between the sex-biased level of proteins and visual perception and impairments. In conclusion, sexual dimorphism at the protein level was discovered for the first time in the eye of zebrafish and should be accounted for in ophthalmological studies. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD033338.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Niksirat
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, CENAKVA, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Valentina Siino
- Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christoph Steinbach
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, CENAKVA, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Fredrik Levander
- Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Science for Life Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Moses E, Atlan T, Sun X, Franek R, Siddiqui A, Marinov GK, Shifman S, Zucker DM, Oron-Gottesman A, Greenleaf WJ, Cohen E, Ram O, Harel I. The killifish germline regulates longevity and somatic repair in a sex-specific manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.18.572041. [PMID: 38187630 PMCID: PMC10769255 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.18.572041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Classical evolutionary theories propose tradeoffs between reproduction, damage repair, and lifespan. However, the specific role of the germline in shaping vertebrate aging remains largely unknown. Here, we use the turquoise killifish ( N. furzeri ) to genetically arrest germline development at discrete stages, and examine how different modes of infertility impact life-history. We first construct a comprehensive single-cell gonadal atlas, providing cell-type-specific markers for downstream phenotypic analysis. Next, we show that germline depletion - but not arresting germline differentiation - enhances damage repair in female killifish. Conversely, germline-depleted males instead showed an extension in lifespan and rejuvenated metabolic functions. Through further transcriptomic analysis, we highlight enrichment of pro-longevity pathways and genes in germline-depleted male killifish and demonstrate functional conservation of how these factors may regulate longevity in germline-depleted C. elegans . Our results therefore demonstrate that different germline manipulation paradigms can yield pronounced sexually dimorphic phenotypes, implying alternative responses to classical evolutionary tradeoffs.
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Ruan Y, Li X, Zhai G, Lou Q, Jin X, He J, Yin Z. Estrogen Signaling Inhibits the Expression of anti-Müllerian hormone ( amh) and gonadal-soma-derived factor ( gsdf) during the Critical Time of Sexual Fate Determination in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1740. [PMID: 38339020 PMCID: PMC10855942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031740] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of fish gonadal sex differentiation is complex and regulated by multiple factors. It has been widely known that proper steroidogenesis in Leydig cells and sex-related genes in Sertoli cells play important roles in gonadal sex differentiation. In teleosts, the precise interaction of these signals during the sexual fate determination remains elusive, especially their effect on the bi-potential gonad during the critical stage of sexual fate determination. Recently, all-testis phenotypes have been observed in the cyp17a1-deficient zebrafish and common carp, as well as in cyp19a1a-deficient zebrafish. By mating cyp17a1-deficient fish with transgenic zebrafish Tg(piwil1:EGFP-nanos3UTR), germ cells in the gonads were labelled with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We classified the cyp17a1-deficient zebrafish and their control siblings into primordial germ cell (PGC)-rich and -less groups according to the fluorescence area of the EGFP labelling. Intriguingly, the EGFP-labelled bi-potential gonads in cyp17a1+/+ fish from the PGC-rich group were significantly larger than those of the cyp17a1-/- fish at 23 days post-fertilization (dpf). Based on the transcriptome analysis, we observed that the cyp17a1-deficient fish of the PGC-rich group displayed a significantly upregulated expression of amh and gsdf compared to that of control fish. Likewise, the upregulated expressions of amh and gsdf were observed in cyp19a1a-deficient fish as examined at 23 dpf. This upregulation of amh and gsdf could be repressed by treatment with an exogenous supplement of estradiol. Moreover, tamoxifen, an effective antagonist of both estrogen receptor α and β (ERα and Erβ), upregulates the expression of amh and gsdf in wild-type (WT) fish. Using the cyp17a1- and cyp19a1a-deficient zebrafish, we provide evidence to show that the upregulated expression of amh and gsdf due to the compromised estrogen signaling probably determines their sexual fate towards testis differentiation. Collectively, our data suggest that estrogen signaling inhibits the expression of amh and gsdf during the critical time of sexual fate determination, which may broaden the scope of sex steroid hormones in regulating gonadal sex differentiation in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonglin Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuehui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gang Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiyong Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Xia Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Jiangyan He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Zhan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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6
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Galow AM, Brenmoehl J, Hoeflich A. Synergistic effects of hormones on structural and functional maturation of cardiomyocytes and implications for heart regeneration. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:240. [PMID: 37541969 PMCID: PMC10403476 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04894-6] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
The limited endogenous regenerative capacity of the human heart renders cardiovascular diseases a major health threat, thus motivating intense research on in vitro heart cell generation and cell replacement therapies. However, so far, in vitro-generated cardiomyocytes share a rather fetal phenotype, limiting their utility for drug testing and cell-based heart repair. Various strategies to foster cellular maturation provide some success, but fully matured cardiomyocytes are still to be achieved. Today, several hormones are recognized for their effects on cardiomyocyte proliferation, differentiation, and function. Here, we will discuss how the endocrine system impacts cardiomyocyte maturation. After detailing which features characterize a mature phenotype, we will contemplate hormones most promising to induce such a phenotype, the routes of their action, and experimental evidence for their significance in this process. Due to their pleiotropic effects, hormones might be not only valuable to improve in vitro heart cell generation but also beneficial for in vivo heart regeneration. Accordingly, we will also contemplate how the presented hormones might be exploited for hormone-based regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Galow
- Institute of Genome Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany.
| | - Julia Brenmoehl
- Institute of Genome Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Hoeflich
- Institute of Genome Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
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7
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Agarwal M, Sharma A, Kagoo R A, Bhargava A. Interactions between genes altered during cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity in zebrafish revealed using induced network modules analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6257. [PMID: 37069190 PMCID: PMC10110561 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33145-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
As the manufacturing and development of new synthetic compounds increase to keep pace with the expanding global demand, adverse health effects due to these compounds are emerging as critical public health concerns. Zebrafish have become a prominent model organism to study toxicology due to their genomic similarity to humans, optical clarity, well-defined developmental stages, short generation time, and cost-effective maintenance. It also provides a shorter time frame for in vivo toxicology evaluation compared to the mammalian experimental systems. Here, we used meta-analysis to examine the alteration in genes during cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity in zebrafish, caused by chemical exposure of any kind. First, we searched the literature comprehensively for genes that are altered during neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity followed by meta-analysis using ConsensusPathDB. Since constant communication between the heart and the brain is an important physiological phenomenon, we also analyzed interactions among genes altered simultaneously during cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity using induced network modules analysis in ConsensusPathDB. We observed inflammation and regeneration as the major pathways involved in cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. A large number of intermediate genes and input genes anchored in these pathways are molecular regulators of cell cycle progression and cell death and are implicated in tumor manifestation. We propose potential predictive biomarkers for neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity and the major pathways potentially implicated in the manifestation of a particular toxicity phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manusmriti Agarwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), Kandi, Telangana, 502284, India
| | - Ankush Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), Kandi, Telangana, 502284, India
| | - Andrea Kagoo R
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), Kandi, Telangana, 502284, India
| | - Anamika Bhargava
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), Kandi, Telangana, 502284, India.
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Filosa A, Sawamiphak S. Heart development and regeneration-a multi-organ effort. FEBS J 2023; 290:913-930. [PMID: 34894086 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Development of the heart, from early morphogenesis to functional maturation, as well as maintenance of its homeostasis are tasks requiring collaborative efforts of cardiac tissue and different extra-cardiac organ systems. The brain, lymphoid organs, and gut are among the interaction partners that can communicate with the heart through a wide array of paracrine signals acting at local or systemic level. Disturbance of cardiac homeostasis following ischemic injury also needs immediate response from these distant organs. Our hearts replace dead muscles with non-contractile fibrotic scars. We have learned from animal models capable of scarless repair that regenerative capability of the heart does not depend only on competency of the myocardium and cardiac-intrinsic factors but also on long-range molecular signals originating in other parts of the body. Here, we provide an overview of inter-organ signals that take part in development and regeneration of the heart. We highlight recent findings and remaining questions. Finally, we discuss the potential of inter-organ modulatory approaches for possible therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Filosa
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Suphansa Sawamiphak
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
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Sex/Gender- and Age-Related Differences in β-Adrenergic Receptor Signaling in Cardiovascular Diseases. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154280. [PMID: 35893368 PMCID: PMC9330499 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) are often recognized from experimental and clinical studies examining the prevalence, manifestations, and response to therapies. Compared to age-matched men, women tend to have reduced CV risk and a better prognosis in the premenopausal period. However, with menopause, this risk increases exponentially, surpassing that of men. Although several mechanisms have been provided, including sex hormones, an emerging role in these sex differences has been suggested for β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling. Importantly, β-ARs are the most important G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), expressed in almost all the cell types of the CV system, and involved in physiological and pathophysiological processes. Consistent with their role, for decades, βARs have been considered the first targets for rational drug design to fight CVDs. Of note, β-ARs are seemingly associated with different CV outcomes in females compared with males. In addition, even if there is a critical inverse correlation between β-AR responsiveness and aging, it has been reported that gender is crucially involved in this age-related effect. This review will discuss how β-ARs impact the CV risk and response to anti-CVD therapies, also concerning sex and age. Further, we will explore how estrogens impact β-AR signaling in women.
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Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Matter of Estrogens, Ceramides, and Sphingosine 1-Phosphate. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23074009. [PMID: 35409368 PMCID: PMC8999971 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The medical community recognizes sex-related differences in pathophysiology and cardiovascular disease outcomes (CVD), culminating with heart failure. In general, pre-menopausal women tend to have a better prognosis than men. Explaining why this occurs is not a simple matter. For decades, sex hormones like estrogens (Es) have been identified as one of the leading factors driving these sex differences. Indeed, Es seem protective in women as their decline, during and after menopause, coincides with an increased CV risk and HF development. However, clinical trials demonstrated that E replacement in post-menopause women results in adverse cardiac events and increased risk of breast cancer. Thus, a deeper understanding of E-related mechanisms is needed to provide a vital gateway toward better CVD prevention and treatment in women. Of note, sphingolipids (SLs) and their metabolism are strictly related to E activities. Among the SLs, ceramide and sphingosine 1-phosphate play essential roles in mammalian physiology, particularly in the CV system, and appear differently modulated in males and females. In keeping with this view, here we explore the most recent experimental and clinical observations about the role of E and SL metabolism, emphasizing how these factors impact the CV system.
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Sex-Related Effects on Cardiac Development and Disease. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2022; 9:jcdd9030090. [PMID: 35323638 PMCID: PMC8949052 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9030090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Interestingly, male and female patients with CVD exhibit distinct epidemiological and pathophysiological characteristics, implying a potentially important role for primary and secondary sex determination factors in heart development, aging, disease and therapeutic responses. Here, we provide a concise review of the field and discuss current gaps in knowledge as a step towards elucidating the “sex determination–heart axis”. We specifically focus on cardiovascular manifestations of abnormal sex determination in humans, such as in Turner and Klinefelter syndromes, as well as on the differences in cardiac regenerative potential between species with plastic and non-plastic sexual phenotypes. Sex-biased cardiac repair mechanisms are also discussed with a focus on the role of the steroid hormone 17β-estradiol. Understanding the “sex determination–heart axis” may offer new therapeutic possibilities for enhanced cardiac regeneration and/or repair post-injury.
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Vanhunsel S, Bergmans S, Beckers A, Etienne I, Van Bergen T, De Groef L, Moons L. The age factor in optic nerve regeneration: Intrinsic and extrinsic barriers hinder successful recovery in the short-living killifish. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13537. [PMID: 34927348 PMCID: PMC8761009 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As the mammalian central nervous system matures, its regenerative ability decreases, leading to incomplete or non-recovery from the neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system insults that we are increasingly facing in our aging world population. Current neuroregenerative research is largely directed toward identifying the molecular and cellular players that underlie central nervous system repair, yet it repeatedly ignores the aging context in which many of these diseases appear. Using an optic nerve crush model in a novel biogerontology model, that is, the short-living African turquoise killifish, the impact of aging on injury-induced optic nerve repair was investigated. This work reveals an age-related decline in axonal regeneration in female killifish, with different phases of the repair process being affected depending on the age. Interestingly, as in mammals, both a reduced intrinsic growth potential and a non-supportive cellular environment seem to lie at the basis of this impairment. Overall, we introduce the killifish visual system and its age-dependent regenerative ability as a model to identify new targets for neurorepair in non-regenerating individuals, thereby also considering the effects of aging on neurorepair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vanhunsel
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Steven Bergmans
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - An Beckers
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Leuven Brain InstituteLeuvenBelgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Leuven Brain InstituteLeuvenBelgium
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Wasserman AH, Huang AR, Lewis-Israeli YR, Dooley MD, Mitchell AL, Venkatesan M, Aguirre A. Oxytocin promotes epicardial cell activation and heart regeneration after cardiac injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:985298. [PMID: 36247002 PMCID: PMC9561106 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.985298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and frequently leads to massive heart injury and the loss of billions of cardiac muscle cells and associated vasculature. Critical work in the last 2 decades demonstrated that these lost cells can be partially regenerated by the epicardium, the outermost mesothelial layer of the heart, in a process that highly recapitulates its role in heart development. Upon cardiac injury, mature epicardial cells activate and undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to form epicardium-derived progenitor cells (EpiPCs), multipotent progenitors that can differentiate into several important cardiac lineages, including cardiomyocytes and vascular cells. In mammals, this process alone is insufficient for significant regeneration, but it might be possible to prime it by administering specific reprogramming factors, leading to enhanced EpiPC function. Here, we show that oxytocin (OXT), a hypothalamic neuroendocrine peptide, induces epicardial cell proliferation, EMT, and transcriptional activity in a model of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived epicardial cells. In addition, we demonstrate that OXT is produced after cardiac cryoinjury in zebrafish, and that it elicits significant epicardial activation promoting heart regeneration. Oxytocin signaling is also critical for proper epicardium development in zebrafish embryos. The above processes are significantly impaired when OXT signaling is inhibited chemically or genetically through RNA interference. RNA sequencing data suggests that the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway is the primary mediator of OXT-induced epicardial activation. Our research reveals for the first time an evolutionary conserved brain-controlled mechanism inducing cellular reprogramming and regeneration of the injured mammalian and zebrafish heart, a finding that could contribute to translational advances for the treatment of cardiac injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron H Wasserman
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Amanda R Huang
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Yonatan R Lewis-Israeli
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - McKenna D Dooley
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Allison L Mitchell
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Manigandan Venkatesan
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Aitor Aguirre
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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14
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Xu S, Zhang H, Li CZ, Lai PS, Wang G, Chan YS, Cheng SH, Chen X. Cannabidiol promotes fin regeneration and reduces apoptosis in zebrafish embryos. J Funct Foods 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2021.104694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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15
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Abstract
Heart regeneration is a remarkable process whereby regrowth of damaged cardiac tissue rehabilitates organ anatomy and function. Unfortunately, the human heart is highly resistant to regeneration, which creates a shortage of cardiomyocytes in the wake of ischemic injury, and explains, in part, why coronary artery disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Luckily, a detailed blueprint for achieving therapeutic heart regeneration already exists in nature because several lower vertebrate species successfully regenerate amputated or damaged heart muscle through robust cardiomyocyte proliferation. A growing number of species are being interrogated for cardiac regenerative potential, and several commonalities have emerged between those animals showing high or low innate capabilities. In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the field, discuss how regenerative potential is influenced by cardiomyocyte properties, mitogenic signals, and chromatin accessibility, and highlight unanswered questions under active investigation. Ultimately, delineating why heart regeneration occurs preferentially in some organisms, but not in others, will uncover novel therapeutic inroads for achieving cardiac restoration in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Min Yin
- Division of Basic and Translational Cardiovascular Research, Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - C Geoffrey Burns
- Division of Basic and Translational Cardiovascular Research, Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Caroline E Burns
- Division of Basic and Translational Cardiovascular Research, Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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16
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Bongiovanni C, Sacchi F, Da Pra S, Pantano E, Miano C, Morelli MB, D'Uva G. Reawakening the Intrinsic Cardiac Regenerative Potential: Molecular Strategies to Boost Dedifferentiation and Proliferation of Endogenous Cardiomyocytes. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:750604. [PMID: 34692797 PMCID: PMC8531484 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.750604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite considerable efforts carried out to develop stem/progenitor cell-based technologies aiming at replacing and restoring the cardiac tissue following severe damages, thus far no strategies based on adult stem cell transplantation have been demonstrated to efficiently generate new cardiac muscle cells. Intriguingly, dedifferentiation, and proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes and not stem cell differentiation represent the preponderant cellular mechanism by which lower vertebrates spontaneously regenerate the injured heart. Mammals can also regenerate their heart up to the early neonatal period, even in this case by activating the proliferation of endogenous cardiomyocytes. However, the mammalian cardiac regenerative potential is dramatically reduced soon after birth, when most cardiomyocytes exit from the cell cycle, undergo further maturation, and continue to grow in size. Although a slow rate of cardiomyocyte turnover has also been documented in adult mammals, both in mice and humans, this is not enough to sustain a robust regenerative process. Nevertheless, these remarkable findings opened the door to a branch of novel regenerative approaches aiming at reactivating the endogenous cardiac regenerative potential by triggering a partial dedifferentiation process and cell cycle re-entry in endogenous cardiomyocytes. Several adaptations from intrauterine to extrauterine life starting at birth and continuing in the immediate neonatal period concur to the loss of the mammalian cardiac regenerative ability. A wide range of systemic and microenvironmental factors or cell-intrinsic molecular players proved to regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and their manipulation has been explored as a therapeutic strategy to boost cardiac function after injuries. We here review the scientific knowledge gained thus far in this novel and flourishing field of research, elucidating the key biological and molecular mechanisms whose modulation may represent a viable approach for regenerating the human damaged myocardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bongiovanni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Sacchi
- National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Da Pra
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elvira Pantano
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Carmen Miano
- National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Bruno Morelli
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele D'Uva
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,National Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), Bologna, Italy
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17
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Metformin accelerates zebrafish heart regeneration by inducing autophagy. NPJ Regen Med 2021; 6:62. [PMID: 34625572 PMCID: PMC8501080 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-021-00172-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin is one of the most widely used drugs for type 2 diabetes and it also exhibits cardiovascular protective activity. However, the underlying mechanism of its action is not well understood. Here, we used an adult zebrafish model of heart cryoinjury, which mimics myocardial infarction in humans, and demonstrated that autophagy was significantly induced in the injured area. Through a systematic evaluation of the multiple cell types related to cardiac regeneration, we found that metformin enhanced the autophagic flux and improved epicardial, endocardial and vascular endothelial regeneration, accelerated transient collagen deposition and resolution, and induced cardiomyocyte proliferation. Whereas, when the autophagic flux was blocked, then all these processes were delayed. We also showed that metformin transiently enhanced the systolic function of the heart. Taken together, our results indicate that autophagy is positively involved in the metformin-induced acceleration of heart regeneration in zebrafish and suggest that this well-known diabetic drug has clinical value for the prevention and amelioration of myocardial infarction.
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18
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Reuveni M. Sex and Regeneration. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:937. [PMID: 34571814 PMCID: PMC8471910 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Regeneration is usually regarded as a unique plant or some animal species process. In reality, regeneration is a ubiquitous process in all multicellular organisms. It ranges from response to wounding by healing the wounded tissue to whole body neoforming (remaking of the new body). In a larger context, regeneration is one facet of two reproduction schemes that dominate the evolution of life. Multicellular organisms can propagate their genes asexually or sexually. Here I present the view that the ability to regenerate tissue or whole-body regeneration is also determined by the sexual state of the multicellular organisms (from simple animals such as hydra and planaria to plants and complex animals). The above idea is manifested here by showing evidence that many organisms, organs, or tissues show inhibited or diminished regeneration capacity when in reproductive status compared to organs or tissues in nonreproductive conditions or by exposure to sex hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Reuveni
- Plant Science Institute, ARO, Volcani Institute, 68 Hamakabim Rd., P.O. Box 15159, Rishon LeZion 7528808, Israel
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19
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Abstract
Mammalian cardiomyocytes mostly utilize oxidation of fatty acids to generate ATP. The fetal heart, in stark contrast, mostly uses anaerobic glycolysis. During perinatal development, thyroid hormone drives extensive metabolic remodeling in the heart for adaptation to extrauterine life. These changes coincide with critical functional maturation and exit of the cell cycle, making the heart a post-mitotic organ. Here, we review the current understanding on the perinatal shift in metabolism, hormonal status, and proliferative potential in cardiomyocytes. Thyroid hormone and glucocorticoids have roles in adult cardiac metabolism, and both pathways have been implicated as regulators of myocardial regeneration. We discuss the evidence that suggests these processes could be interrelated and how this can help explain variation in cardiac regeneration across ontogeny and phylogeny, and we note what breakthroughs are still to be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niall Graham
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Guo N Huang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Correspondence: Guo N Huang, Ph.D., University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Blvd South, Room 352V, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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20
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Meléndez-Fernández OH, Walton JC, DeVries AC, Nelson RJ. Clocks, Rhythms, Sex, and Hearts: How Disrupted Circadian Rhythms, Time-of-Day, and Sex Influence Cardiovascular Health. Biomolecules 2021; 11:883. [PMID: 34198706 PMCID: PMC8232105 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the top cause of mortality in the United States, and ischemic heart disease accounts for 16% of all deaths around the world. Modifiable risk factors such as diet and exercise have often been primary targets in addressing these conditions. However, mounting evidence suggests that environmental factors that disrupt physiological rhythms might contribute to the development of these diseases, as well as contribute to increasing other risk factors that are typically associated with cardiovascular disease. Exposure to light at night, transmeridian travel, and social jetlag disrupt endogenous circadian rhythms, which, in turn, alter carefully orchestrated bodily functioning, and elevate the risk of disease and injury. Research into how disrupted circadian rhythms affect physiology and behavior has begun to reveal the intricacies of how seemingly innocuous environmental and social factors have dramatic consequences on mammalian physiology and behavior. Despite the new focus on the importance of circadian rhythms, and how disrupted circadian rhythms contribute to cardiovascular diseases, many questions in this field remain unanswered. Further, neither time-of-day nor sex as a biological variable have been consistently and thoroughly taken into account in previous studies of circadian rhythm disruption and cardiovascular disease. In this review, we will first discuss biological rhythms and the master temporal regulator that controls these rhythms, focusing on the cardiovascular system, its rhythms, and the pathology associated with its disruption, while emphasizing the importance of the time-of-day as a variable that directly affects outcomes in controlled studies, and how temporal data will inform clinical practice and influence personalized medicine. Finally, we will discuss evidence supporting the existence of sex differences in cardiovascular function and outcomes following an injury, and highlight the need for consistent inclusion of both sexes in studies that aim to understand cardiovascular function and improve cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. Hecmarie Meléndez-Fernández
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (J.C.W.); (R.J.N.)
| | - James C. Walton
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (J.C.W.); (R.J.N.)
| | - A. Courtney DeVries
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology/Hematology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA;
- West Virginia University Cancer Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Randy J. Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (J.C.W.); (R.J.N.)
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21
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A cross-species analysis of systemic mediators of repair and complex tissue regeneration. NPJ Regen Med 2021; 6:21. [PMID: 33795702 PMCID: PMC8016993 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-021-00130-6] [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: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Regeneration is an elegant and complex process informed by both local and long-range signals. Many current studies on regeneration are largely limited to investigations of local modulators within a canonical cohort of model organisms. Enhanced genetic tools increasingly enable precise temporal and spatial perturbations within these model regenerators, and these have primarily been applied to cells within the local injury site. Meanwhile, many aspects of broader spatial regulators of regeneration have not yet been examined with the same level of scrutiny. Recent studies have shed important insight into the significant effects of environmental cues and circulating factors on the regenerative process. These observations highlight that consideration of more systemic and possibly more broadly acting cues will also be critical to fully understand complex tissue regeneration. In this review, we explore the ways in which systemic cues and circulating factors affect the initiation of regeneration, the regenerative process, and its outcome. As this is a broad topic, we conceptually divide the factors based on their initial input as either external cues (for example, starvation and light/dark cycle) or internal cues (for example, hormones); however, all of these inputs ultimately lead to internal responses. We consider studies performed in a diverse set of organisms, including vertebrates and invertebrates. Through analysis of systemic mediators of regeneration, we argue that increased investigation of these "systemic factors" could reveal novel insights that may pave the way for a diverse set of therapeutic avenues.
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22
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Mousavi SE, Purser GJ, Patil JG. Embryonic Onset of Sexually Dimorphic Heart Rates in the Viviparous Fish, Gambusia holbrooki. Biomedicines 2021; 9:165. [PMID: 33567532 PMCID: PMC7915484 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In fish, little is known about sex-specific differences in physiology and performance of the heart and whether these differences manifest during development. Here for the first time, the sex-specific heart rates during embryogenesis of Gambusia holbrooki, from the onset of the heart rates (HRs) to just prior to parturition, was investigated using light cardiogram. The genetic sex of the embryos was post-verified using a sex-specific genetic marker. Results reveal that heart rates and resting time significantly increase (p < 0.05) with progressive embryonic development. Furthermore, both ventricular and atrial frequencies of female embryos were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of their male sibs at the corresponding developmental stages and remained so at all later developmental stages (p < 0.05). In concurrence, the heart rate and ventricular size of the adult females were also significantly (p < 0.05) higher and larger respectively than those of males. Collectively, the results suggest that the cardiac sex-dimorphism manifests as early as late-organogenesis and persists through adulthood in this species. These findings suggest that the cardiac measurements can be employed to non-invasively sex the developing embryos, well in advance of when their phenotypic sex is discernible. In addition, G. holbrooki could serve as a better model to study comparative vertebrate cardiovascular development as well as to investigate anthropogenic and climatic impacts on heart physiology of this species, that may be sex influenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ehsan Mousavi
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia;
| | - G. John Purser
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia;
| | - Jawahar G. Patil
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia;
- Inland Fisheries Service, New Norfolk, TAS 7140, Australia
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23
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Faught E, Santos HB, Vijayan MM. Loss of the glucocorticoid receptor causes accelerated ovarian ageing in zebrafish. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20202190. [PMID: 33259761 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive decline in mid-adult females is an established phenotype of the ageing process. Stress and the rise in glucocorticoids (GCs) accelerate reproductive ageing, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. During stress, GCs activate the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a ubiquitously expressed, ligand-bound transcription factor, to elicit physiological changes for restoring homeostasis. Here, we tested the hypothesis that GC-GR signalling is essential for accelerating reproductive ageing. To test this, we used a ubiquitous GR knockout (GRKO) zebrafish, which is inherently hypercortisolemic, to delineate the role of high cortisol and GR signalling on reproductive ageing. The loss of GR led to premature ovarian ageing, including high frequency of typical and atypical follicular atresia in vitellogenic oocytes, yolk liquefaction and large inflammatory infiltrates. The reduction in oocyte quality was also associated with a decline in ovarian tert expression in the adult GRKO fish compared to the early adult GRKO and adult wild-type zebrafish. Accelerated ovarian ageing also impacted the progeny, including lower breeding success, fecundity, egg fertilization rate and delayed somitogenesis and embryo survival in the adult GRKO fish. We adduce that GR signalling is essential for prolonging the reproductive lifespan and improving the egg quality and embryo viability in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Faught
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
| | - Helio B Santos
- Laboratório de Processamento de Tecidos, Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Avenida Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, 400 - Chanadour, CEP: 35.501-296 - Divinópolis/MG, Brazil
| | - Mathilakath M Vijayan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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24
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Zhu Y, Do VD, Richards AM, Foo R. What we know about cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2020; 152:80-91. [PMID: 33275936 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes (CMs) lost during cardiac injury and heart failure (HF) cannot be replaced due to their limited proliferative capacity. Regenerating the failing heart by promoting CM cell-cycle re-entry is an ambitious solution, currently vigorously pursued. Some genes have been proven to promote endogenous CM proliferation, believed to be preceded by CM dedifferentiation, wherein terminally differentiated CMs are initially reversed back to the less mature state which precedes cell division. However, very little else is known about CM dedifferentiation which remains poorly defined. We lack robust molecular markers and proper understanding of the mechanisms driving dedifferentiation. Even the term dedifferentiation is debated because there is no objective evidence of pluripotency, and could rather reflect CM plasticity instead. Nonetheless, the significance of CM transition states on cardiac function, and whether they necessarily lead to CM proliferation, remains unclear. This review summarises the current state of knowledge of both natural and experimentally induced CM dedifferentiation in non-mammalian vertebrates (primarily the zebrafish) and mammals, as well as the phenotypes and molecular mechanisms involved. The significance and potential challenges of studying CM dedifferentiation are also discussed. In summary, CM dedifferentiation, essential for CM plasticity, may have an important role in heart regeneration, thereby contributing to the prevention and treatment of heart disease. More attention is needed in this field to overcome the technical limitations and knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yike Zhu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, National University Health Systems, Singapore; Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency of Science Research and Technology, Singapore
| | - Vinh Dang Do
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, National University Health Systems, Singapore; Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency of Science Research and Technology, Singapore
| | - A Mark Richards
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, National University Health Systems, Singapore
| | - Roger Foo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, National University Health Systems, Singapore; Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency of Science Research and Technology, Singapore.
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25
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Xu S, Zhang H, Pao PC, Lee A, Wang J, Suen Chan Y, Manno Iii FAM, Wan Chan S, Han Cheng S, Chen X. Exposure to phthalates impaired neurodevelopment through estrogenic effects and induced DNA damage in neurons. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 222:105469. [PMID: 32179334 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are commonly used in plastic products in daily life. The endocrine-disrupting effects of phthalates have been widely reported. Accumulating evidence from human cohorts and lab animals indicate exposure to phthalates might impair neurodevelopment. However, the direct causal relationship and mechanism between phthalates with neurodevelopment and neurotoxicity have not been firmly established. We found that phthalates (i.e. DBP, DINP, BBP) disrupted the expression of estrogen receptors (esr1, esr2a, esr2b), and impaired neurogenesis in the brain of zebrafish during embryonic development. Moreover, the abnormal expression of estrogen receptors, especially esr2a, was partly rescued in zebrafish which exposed to phthalates, with the estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen. Hence, impaired neurogenesis of zebrafish exposed to phthalates was partly reversed by tamoxifen treatment. Moreover, our results show that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived human neurons exposed to phthalates triggered double-strand DNA breaks in vitro. Overall, this study demonstrates that exposure to phthalates affects neurodevelopment in zebrafish embryos and induces neurotoxicity in human neurons partly through disrupting the expression of estrogen receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shisan Xu
- Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, Unit 516, 5/F. Biotech Centre 2, No. 11 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, Unit 516, 5/F. Biotech Centre 2, No. 11 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping-Chieh Pao
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 46 Room 4223 43, Vassar Street Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Audrey Lee
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 46 Room 4223 43, Vassar Street Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 46 Room 4223 43, Vassar Street Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yu Suen Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Francis A M Manno Iii
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shun Wan Chan
- Department of Food and Health Sciences, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuk Han Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xueping Chen
- Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, Unit 516, 5/F. Biotech Centre 2, No. 11 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
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