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Han S, Hu Y, Jia D, Lv Y, Liu M, Wang D, Chao J, Xia X, Wang Q, Liu P, Cai Y, Ren X. IFT27 regulates the long-term maintenance of photoreceptor outer segments in zebrafish. Gene 2024; 905:148237. [PMID: 38310983 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148237] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Approximately a quarter of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is caused by mutations in transport-related genes in cilia. IFT27 (Intraflagellar Transport 27), a core component of the ciliary intraflagellar transport (IFT) system, has been implicated as a significant pathogenic gene in RP. The pathogenic mechanisms and subsequent pathology related to IFT27 mutations in RP are largely obscure. Here, we utilized TALEN technology to create an ift27 knockout (ift27-/-) zebrafish model. Electroretinography (ERG) detection showed impaired vision in this model. Histopathological examinations disclosed that ift27 mutations cause progressive degeneration of photoreceptors in zebrafish, and this degeneration was late-onset. Immunofluorescence labeling of outer segments showed that rods degenerated before cones, aligning with the conventional characterization of RP. In cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells, we found that IFT27 was involved in maintaining ciliary morphology. Furthermore, decreased IFT27 expression resulted in the inhibition of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, including decreased expression of key factors in the Hh pathway and abnormal localization of the ciliary mediator Gli2. In summary, we generated an ift27-/- zebrafish line with retinal degeneration which mimicked the symptoms of RP patients, highlighting IFT27's integral role in the long-term maintenance of cilia via the Hh signaling pathway. This work may furnish new insights into the treatment or delay of RP caused by IFT27 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Han
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China.
| | - Yue Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China
| | - Danna Jia
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Yuexia Lv
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Mugen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Decheng Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China
| | - Jin Chao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China
| | - Xuan Xia
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China
| | - Pei Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China
| | - Yu Cai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China; College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, Hubei, China
| | - Xiang Ren
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Yang Z, Zhang L, Zhang W, Tian X, Lai W, Lin D, Feng Y, Jiang W, Zhang Z, Zhang Z. Identification of the principal neuropeptide MIP and its action pathway in larval settlement of the echiuran worm Urechis unicinctus. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:337. [PMID: 38641568 PMCID: PMC11027379 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10228-y] [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: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Larval settlement and metamorphosis represent critical events in the life history of marine benthic animals. Myoinhibitory peptide (MIP) plays a pivotal role in larval settlement of marine invertebrates. However, the molecular mechanisms of MIP involved in this process are not well understood. RESULTS In this study, we evaluated the effects of thirteen MIP mature peptides on triggering the larval settlement of Urechis unicinctus (Xenopneusta, Urechidae), and determined that MIP2 was the principal neuropeptide. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the MIP2-treated larvae and normal early-segmentation larvae. Both cAMP and calcium signaling pathways were enriched in the DEGs of the MIP2-treated larvae, and two neuropeptide receptor genes (Spr, Fmrfar) were up-regulated in the MIP2-treated larvae. The activation of the SPR-cAMP pathway by MIP2 was experimentally validated in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, fourteen cilia-related genes, including Tctex1d2, Cfap45, Ift43, Ift74, Ift22, Cav1 and Mns1, etc. exhibited down-regulated expression in the MIP2-treated larvae. Whole-mount in situ hybridization identified two selected ciliary genes, Tctex1d2 and Cfap45, were specially expressed in circumoral ciliary cells of the early-segmentation larvae. Knocking down Tctex1d2 mRNA levels by in vivo RNA interference significantly increased the larval settlement rate. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that MIP2 inhibits the function of the cilia-related genes, such as Tctex1d2, through the SPR-cAMP-PKA pathway, thereby inducing larval settlement in U. unicinctus. The study contributes important data to the understanding of neuropeptide regulation in larval settlement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Wenqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Xinhua Tian
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Wenyuan Lai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Dawei Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Yuxin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Wenwen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Zhengrui Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
| | - Zhifeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Ocean Institute, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
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Liu J, Xie H, Wu M, Hu Y, Kang Y. The role of cilia during organogenesis in zebrafish. Open Biol 2023; 13:230228. [PMID: 38086423 PMCID: PMC10715920 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cilia are hair-like organelles that protrude from the surface of eukaryotic cells and are present on the surface of nearly all human cells. Cilia play a crucial role in signal transduction, organ development and tissue homeostasis. Abnormalities in the structure and function of cilia can lead to a group of human diseases known as ciliopathies. Currently, zebrafish serves as an ideal model for studying ciliary function and ciliopathies due to its relatively conserved structure and function of cilia compared to humans. In this review, we will summarize the different types of cilia that present in embryonic and adult zebrafish, and provide an overview of the advantages of using zebrafish as a vertebrate model for cilia research. We will specifically focus on the roles of cilia during zebrafish organogenesis based on recent studies. Additionally, we will highlight future prospects for ciliary research in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Liu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Haibo Xie
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengfan Wu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Yidan Hu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunsi Kang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
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Zebrafish and inherited photoreceptor disease: Models and insights. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101096. [PMID: 35811244 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Photoreceptor dysfunctions and degenerative diseases are significant causes of vision loss in patients, with few effective treatments available. Targeted interventions to prevent or reverse photoreceptor-related vision loss are not possible without a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanism leading to disease, which is exceedingly difficult to accomplish in the human system. Cone diseases are particularly challenging to model, as some popular genetically modifiable model animals are nocturnal with a rod-dominant visual system and cones that have dissimilarities to human cones. As a result, cone diseases, which affect visual acuity, colour perception, and central vision in patients, are generally poorly understood in terms of pathology and mechanism. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) provide the opportunity to model photoreceptor diseases in a diurnal vertebrate with a cone-rich retina which develops many macular degeneration-like pathologies. Zebrafish undergo external development, allowing early-onset retinal diseases to be detected and studied, and many ophthalmic tools are available for zebrafish visual assessment during development and adulthood. There are numerous zebrafish models of photoreceptor disease, spanning the various types of photoreceptor disease (developmental, rod, cone, and mixed photoreceptor diseases) and genetic/molecular cause. In this review, we explore the features of zebrafish that make them uniquely poised to model cone diseases, summarize the established zebrafish models of inherited photoreceptor disease, and discuss how disease in these models compares to the human presentation, where applicable. Further, we highlight the contributions of these zebrafish models to our understanding of photoreceptor biology and disease, and discuss future directions for utilising and investigating these diverse models.
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