IDENTIFICATION OF SOURCES OF JOINT CELLS AND OSTEOBLASTS DURING FIN REGENERATION IN MEDAKA

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Lineage tracing of col10a1 cells identifies distinct progenitor populations for osteoblasts and joint cells in the regenerating fin of medaka (Oryzias latipes)

10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.07.012DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY455185-9

Elovl2 Is Required for Robust Visual Function in Zebrafish.

Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play critical roles in membrane stability and cell signaling within the retina. ELOVL2 (Elongation of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids-Like 2), an elongase involved in the synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), has recently been implicated in regulating aging in the mammalian retina. In this work, we characterize the expression and function of elovl2 in the retina development in embryonic zebrafish. Whole mount in situ hybridization shows elovl2 is expressed in the Muller glia in embryonic and adult zebrafish. Lipidomics analysis of elovl2 crispants whole embryos at day 2 and eyes at day 7 demonstrated significant changes in lipids composition, especially on the level of lipids containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Histological analysis of zebrafish lacking elovl2 revealed increased retinal thickness compared to controls at day 7 without gross disruptions of the retinal architecture. Finally, elovl2 crispants showed differences in the visual motor reflex light off (VMR-OFF) at day 7 compared to controls. In sum, inactivation of elovl2 in zebrafish embryos caused changes in lipid composition and in visual behavior, further confirming the important role of LC-PUFAs in healthy vision

Elovl2 Is Required for Robust Visual Function in Zebrafish

Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play critical roles in membrane stability and cell signaling within the retina. ELOVL2 (Elongation of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids-Like 2), an elongase involved in the synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), has recently been implicated in regulating aging in the mammalian retina. In this work, we characterize the expression and function of elovl2 in the retina development in embryonic zebrafish. Whole mount in situ hybridization shows elovl2 is expressed in the Muller glia in embryonic and adult zebrafish. Lipidomics analysis of elovl2 crispants whole embryos at day 2 and eyes at day 7 demonstrated significant changes in lipids composition, especially on the level of lipids containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Histological analysis of zebrafish lacking elovl2 revealed increased retinal thickness compared to controls at day 7 without gross disruptions of the retinal architecture. Finally, elovl2 crispants showed differences in the visual motor reflex light off (VMR-OFF) at day 7 compared to controls. In sum, inactivation of elovl2 in zebrafish embryos caused changes in lipid composition and in visual behavior, further confirming the important role of LC-PUFAs in healthy vision

The lipid elongation enzyme ELOVL2 is a molecular regulator of aging in the retina

Methylation of the regulatory region of the elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids-like 2 (ELOVL2) gene, an enzyme involved in elongation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, is one of the most robust biomarkers of human age, but the critical question of whether ELOVL2 plays a functional role in molecular aging has not been resolved. Here, we report that Elovl2 regulates age-associated functional and anatomical aging in vivo, focusing on mouse retina, with direct relevance to age-related eye diseases. We show that an age-related decrease in Elovl2 expression is associated with increased DNA methylation of its promoter. Reversal of Elovl2 promoter hypermethylation in vivo through intravitreal injection of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dc) leads to increased Elovl2 expression and rescue of age-related decline in visual function. Mice carrying a point mutation C234W that disrupts Elovl2-specific enzymatic activity show electrophysiological characteristics of premature visual decline, as well as early appearance of autofluorescent deposits, well-established markers of aging in the mouse retina. Finally, we find deposits underneath the retinal pigment epithelium in Elovl2 mutant mice, containing components found in human drusen, a pathologic hallmark of age related macular degeneration. These findings indicate that ELOVL2 activity regulates aging in mouse retina, provide a molecular link between polyunsaturated fatty acids elongation and visual function, and suggest novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of age-related eye diseases

SH2 domain protein E and ABL signaling regulate blood vessel size.

Blood vessels in different vascular beds vary in size, which is essential for their function and fluid flow along the vascular network. Molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of a vascular lumen of appropriate size, or tubulogenesis, are still only partially understood. Src homology 2 domain containing E (She) protein was previously identified in a screen for proteins that interact with Abelson (Abl)-kinase. However, its biological role has remained unknown. Here we demonstrate that She and Abl signaling regulate vessel size in zebrafish embryos and human endothelial cell culture. Zebrafish she mutants displayed increased endothelial cell number and enlarged lumen size of the dorsal aorta (DA) and defects in blood flow, eventually leading to the DA collapse. Vascular endothelial specific overexpression of she resulted in a reduced diameter of the DA, which correlated with the reduced arterial cell number and lower endothelial cell proliferation. Chemical inhibition of Abl signaling in zebrafish embryos caused a similar reduction in the DA diameter and alleviated the she mutant phenotype, suggesting that She acts as a negative regulator of Abl signaling. Enlargement of the DA size in she mutants correlated with an increased endothelial expression of claudin 5a (cldn5a), which encodes a protein enriched in tight junctions. Inhibition of cldn5a expression partially rescued the enlarged DA in she mutants, suggesting that She regulates DA size, in part, by promoting cldn5a expression. SHE knockdown in human endothelial umbilical vein cells resulted in a similar increase in the diameter of vascular tubes, and also increased phosphorylation of a known ABL downstream effector CRKL. These results argue that SHE functions as an evolutionarily conserved inhibitor of ABL signaling and regulates vessel and lumen size during vascular tubulogenesis

Expression of <i>abl1</i> and <i>abl2</i> in different cell types during zebrafish embryogenesis based on single-cell RNA seq expression atlas.

Data were generated by Daniocell atlas https://daniocell.nichd.nih.gov/ [31]. (TIF)</p

Blood flow does not affect <i>she</i> expression or <i>she</i> mutant phenotype.

(A,B) In situ hybridization analysis for she expression at 28 hpf in tnnt2 MO-injected embryos and uninjected controls. Trunk region is shown, anterior is to the left. Numbers in the lower right indicate embryos that showed normal expression pattern out of the total number of embryos in 3 replicate experiments. (C-H) DA size analysis at 28 hpf in wt (she+/+) and she-/- sibling embryos, injected with tnnt2 MO, compared to uninjected controls. Embryos were obtained from cross of she+/- parents in kdrl:GFP background and subsequently genotyped. Note that DA diameter is greatly reduced in tnnt2 MO-injected embryos compared to wild-type uninjected embryos, and increased in she mutants, injected with tnnt2 MO compared to wild-type embryos injected with tnnt2 MO. Data are combined from 3 replicate experiments, shown in different color. Mean±SD is shown. The number of embryos analyzed is shown at the bottom of each bar. The same wt+tnnt2 MO embryos were used for comparisons in (G) and (H). *p (TIF)</p

Inhibition of SHE in HUVECs results in enlarged tubulogenesis.

(A-F) HUVEC cells were transfected with either control or SHE siRNA and analyzed in 3D collagen matrix assay at 48 (A-C) or 72 h (D-F) after transfection. The values (± standard deviation) are derived from 6–7 representative fields from 3 replicate wells where total EC tube area was measured. *** pS11 Fig. (H) Relative intensity ratio in siSHE / siControl samples. Note increased intensity in pPAK4 and pCRKL samples compared to siControl (which equals to 1); *p<0.05, **p<0.01, Student’s t-test.</p

A proposed model for SHE and ABL signaling during vascular tubulogenesis.

Activated ABL promotes enlarged vascular lumen through a downstream effector P-CRKL which increases endothelial cell proliferation and increases Cldn5 expression, thus affecting tight junctions and cell adhesion. Activated ABL phosphorylates SHE, which then interacts with ABL to dampen its activity resulting in the lumen of appropriate size.</p