scholarly journals A mutant wfs1 zebrafish model of Wolfram syndrome manifesting visual dysfunction and developmental delay

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Cairns ◽  
F. Burté ◽  
R. Price ◽  
E. O’Connor ◽  
M. Toms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Wolfram Syndrome ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Visual Dysfunction ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
Optokinetic Response

AbstractWolfram syndrome (WS) is an ultra-rare progressive neurodegenerative disorder defined by early-onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. The majority of patients harbour recessive mutations in the WFS1 gene, which encodes for Wolframin, a transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum protein. There is limited availability of human ocular and brain tissues, and there are few animal models for WS that replicate the neuropathology and clinical phenotype seen in this disorder. We, therefore, characterised two wfs1 zebrafish knockout models harbouring nonsense wfs1a and wfs1b mutations. Both homozygous mutant wfs1a−/− and wfs1b−/− embryos showed significant morphological abnormalities in early development. The wfs1b−/− zebrafish exhibited a more pronounced neurodegenerative phenotype with delayed neuronal development, progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and clear evidence of visual dysfunction on functional testing. At 12 months of age, wfs1b−/− zebrafish had a significantly lower RGC density per 100 μm2 (mean ± standard deviation; 19 ± 1.7) compared with wild-type (WT) zebrafish (25 ± 2.3, p < 0.001). The optokinetic response for wfs1b−/− zebrafish was significantly reduced at 8 and 16 rpm testing speeds at both 4 and 12 months of age compared with WT zebrafish. An upregulation of the unfolded protein response was observed in mutant zebrafish indicative of increased endoplasmic reticulum stress. Mutant wfs1b−/− zebrafish exhibit some of the key features seen in patients with WS, providing a versatile and cost-effective in vivo model that can be used to further investigate the underlying pathophysiology of WS and potential therapeutic interventions.

scholarly journals Lignans from Bursera fagaroides Affect In Vivo Cell Behavior by Disturbing the Tubulin Cytoskeleton in Zebrafish Embryos

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayra Antúnez-Mojica ◽  
Andrés Rojas-Sepúlveda ◽  
Mario Mendieta-Serrano ◽  
Leticia Gonzalez-Maya ◽  
Silvia Marquina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Microtubule Cytoskeleton ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
Bioassay Guided Fractionation

By using a zebrafish embryo model to guide the chromatographic fractionation of antimitotic secondary metabolites, seven podophyllotoxin-type lignans were isolated from a hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the steam bark of Bursera fagaroides. The compounds were identified as podophyllotoxin (1), β-peltatin-A-methylether (2), 5′-desmethoxy-β-peltatin-A-methylether (3), desmethoxy-yatein (4), desoxypodophyllotoxin (5), burseranin (6), and acetyl podophyllotoxin (7). The biological effects on mitosis, cell migration, and microtubule cytoskeleton remodeling of lignans 1–7 were further evaluated in zebrafish embryos by whole-mount immunolocalization of the mitotic marker phospho-histone H3 and by a tubulin antibody. We found that lignans 1, 2, 4, and 7 induced mitotic arrest, delayed cell migration, and disrupted the microtubule cytoskeleton in zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, microtubule cytoskeleton destabilization was observed also in PC3 cells, except for 7. Therefore, these results demonstrate that the cytotoxic activity of 1, 2, and 4 is mediated by their microtubule-destabilizing activity. In general, the in vivo and in vitro models here used displayed equivalent mitotic effects, which allows us to conclude that the zebrafish model can be a fast and cheap in vivo model that can be used to identify antimitotic natural products through bioassay-guided fractionation.

scholarly journals Panton-Valentine Leucocidin Proves Direct Neuronal Targeting and Its Early Neuronal and Glial Impacts a Rabbit Retinal Explant Model

Toxins ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
XuanLi Liu ◽  
Michel J Roux ◽  
Serge Picaud ◽  
Daniel Keller ◽  
Arnaud Sauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Activation ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Glial Activation ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Retinal Explants ◽  
Glial Changes

: Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) retinal intoxication induces glial activation and inflammatory response via the interaction with retinal neurons. In this study, rabbit retinal explant was used as a model to study neuronal and glial consequences of PVL intoxication. Retinal explants were treated with different concentrations of PVL. PVL location and neuronal and glial changes were examined using immunohistochemistry. Some inflammatory factors were quantified using RT-qPCR at 4 and 8 h. These results were compared with those of control explants. PVL co-localized rapidly with retinal ganglion cells and with horizontal cells. PVL induced Müller and microglial cell activation. Retinal structure was altered and some amacrine and microglial cells underwent apoptosis. Glial activation and cell apoptosis increased in a PVL concentration- and time-dependent manner. IL-6 and IL-8 expression increased in PVL-treated explants but less than in control explants, which may indicate that other factors were responsible for glial activation and retinal apoptosis. On retinal explants, PVL co-localized with neuronal cells and induced glial activation together with microglial apoptosis, which confirms previous results observed in in vivo model. Rabbit retinal explant seems to be suitable model to further study the process of PVL leading to glial activation and retinal cells apoptosis.

scholarly journals Phenotypic assays in yeast and zebrafish reveal drugs that rescue ATP13A2 deficiency

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Heins-Marroquin ◽  
Paul P Jung ◽  
Maria Lorena Cordero-Maldonado ◽  
Alexander D Crawford ◽  
Carole L Linster
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Drug Testing ◽  
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis ◽  
Drug Repurposing ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Inherited Disorders ◽  
Zebrafish Model

Abstract Mutations in ATP13A2 (PARK9) are causally linked to the rare neurodegenerative disorders Kufor-Rakeb syndrome, hereditary spastic paraplegia and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. This suggests that ATP13A2, a lysosomal cation-transporting ATPase, plays a crucial role in neuronal cells. The heterogeneity of the clinical spectrum of ATP13A2-associated disorders is not yet well understood and currently, these diseases remain without effective treatment. Interestingly, ATP13A2 is widely conserved among eukaryotes, and the yeast model for ATP13A2 deficiency was the first to indicate a role in heavy metal homeostasis, which was later confirmed in human cells. In this study, we show that the deletion of YPK9 (the yeast orthologue of ATP13A2) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae leads to growth impairment in the presence of Zn2+, Mn2+, Co2+ and Ni2+, with the strongest phenotype being observed in the presence of zinc. Using the ypk9Δ mutant, we developed a high-throughput growth rescue screen based on the Zn2+ sensitivity phenotype. Screening of two libraries of Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs identified 11 compounds that rescued growth. Subsequently, we generated a zebrafish model for ATP13A2 deficiency and found that both partial and complete loss of atp13a2 function led to increased sensitivity to Mn2+. Based on this phenotype, we confirmed two of the drugs found in the yeast screen to also exert a rescue effect in zebrafish—N-acetylcysteine, a potent antioxidant, and furaltadone, a nitrofuran antibiotic. This study further supports that combining the high-throughput screening capacity of yeast with rapid in vivo drug testing in zebrafish can represent an efficient drug repurposing strategy in the context of rare inherited disorders involving conserved genes. This work also deepens the understanding of the role of ATP13A2 in heavy metal detoxification and provides a new in vivo model for investigating ATP13A2 deficiency.

scholarly journals GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide has a neuroprotective effect on an aged rat model of Wolfram syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadri Seppa ◽  
Maarja Toots ◽  
Riin Reimets ◽  
Toomas Jagomäe ◽  
Tuuliki Koppel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Optic Nerve ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Receptor Agonist ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Wolfram Syndrome ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Knock Out

Abstract Wolfram syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that is mainly characterized by diabetes mellitus, optic nerve atrophy, deafness, and progressive brainstem degeneration. Treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists has shown a promising anti-diabetic effect in WS treatment in both animal models and in human patients. Since previous research has tended to focus on investigation of the WS first symptom, diabetes mellitus, the aim of the present study was to examine liraglutide effect on WS-associated neurodegeneration. We took 9-month-old Wfs1 knock-out (KO) animals that already had developed glucose intolerance and treated them with liraglutide for 6 months. Our research results indicate that 6-month liraglutide treatment reduced neuroinflammation and ameliorated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the inferior olive of the aged WS rat model. Liraglutide treatment also protected retinal ganglion cells from cell death and optic nerve axons from degeneration. According to this, the results of the present study provide novel insight that GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide has a neuroprotective effect in the WS rat model.

A load-independent in vivo model for evaluating therapeutic interventions in injured myocardium

1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (5) ◽  
pp. H1834-H1844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleveland W. Lewis ◽  
B. Zane Atkins ◽  
Kelley A. Hutcheson ◽  
Christian T. Gillen ◽  
Mary C. Reedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Segment Length ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Myocardial Segment ◽  
Stroke Work ◽  
Injured Myocardium ◽  
Rabbit Myocardium ◽  
Models Of Injury

Although cardiomyocyte damage is normally irreversible, gene therapy and somatic cell transfer offer potential for improving function in damaged regions of the heart. However, in ischemic models of injury, variability in depth, size, and location of damage compromises statistical evaluation of in vivo function. We have adapted cryoablation to create a reproducible, posterior, transmural lesion within rabbit myocardium in which small changes in function are measurable in vivo. Before and at 2 and 6 wk postinjury, in vivo left ventricular intracavitary pressure and myocardial segment length were measured. Regional indexes of performance, segmental stroke work (SW), and percent systolic shortening (SS) were significantly decreased ( P < 0.001) postcryoinjury as was the slope ( M w) of the linear preload recruitable SW relationship between SW and end-diastolic segment length ( P = 0.0001). Decreased SW, SS, and M w correlated with wall thinning, loss of myocytes, presence of fibroblasts, and transmural scar formation. Reproducible changes in regional myocardial performance in vivo postcryoinjury suggest that this is a reasonable model for evaluating novel therapies for cardiovascular disease.

In silico docking of Novel Phytoalkaloid Camalexin in the Management of Benomyl Induced Parkinson's disease and its In vivo Evaluation by Zebrafish Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamilanban T ◽  
Manasa K ◽  
Chitra V
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
Standard Drug ◽  
In Silico Docking ◽  
Dehydrogenase Enzyme

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibits the extra pyramidal symptoms caused due to the dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra of the brain and depletion of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme. Objective: This study was designed to enlighten the importance of Aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme in protecting the dopamine levels in a living system. Camalexin, a potentially active compound has been evaluated for its dopamine enhancing and aldehyde dehydrogenase protecting role in pesticide induced Parkinson’s disease. Methods: AutoDock 4.2 software was employed to perform the docking simulations between the ligand camalexin and standard drugs Alda-1, Ropirinole with three proteins 4WJR, 3INL, 5AER. Consequently, the compound was evaluated for its in vivo neuroprotective role in zebrafish model by attaining Institutional Animal Ethical Committee permission. The behavioral assessments and catecholamine analysis in zebrafish were performed. Results: The Autodock result shows that the ligand camalexin has a lower binding energy (-3.84) that indicate higher affinity with the proteins when compared to the standard drug of proteins (-3.42). In zebrafish model, behavioral studies provided an evidence that camalexin helps in improvement of motor functions and cognition. The catecholamine assay has proved there is an enhancement in dopamine levels, as well as an improvement in aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme also. Conclusion: The novel compound, camalexin, hence offers a protective role in Parkinson’s disease model by its interaction with neurochemical proteins and also in alternative in vivo model.

scholarly journals A transgenic zebrafish model for monitoring xbp1 splicing and endoplasmic reticulum stress in vivo

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junling Li ◽  
Zhiliang Chen ◽  
Lian-Yong Gao ◽  
Angelo Colorni ◽  
Michal Ucko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ◽  
Transgenic Zebrafish ◽  
Zebrafish Model

scholarly journals Loss of the Mitochondrial Fission GTPase Drp1 Contributes to Neurodegeneration in a Drosophila Model of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 646
Author(s):  
Philippa C. Fowler ◽  
Dwayne J. Byrne ◽  
Craig Blackstone ◽  
Niamh C. O'Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Autophagic Flux ◽  
Spastic Paraplegia ◽  
Drosophila Model

Mitochondrial morphology, distribution and function are maintained by the opposing forces of mitochondrial fission and fusion, the perturbation of which gives rise to several neurodegenerative disorders. The large guanosine triphosphate (GTP)ase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is a critical regulator of mitochondrial fission by mediating membrane scission, often at points of mitochondrial constriction at endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial contacts. Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) subtype SPG61 is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the ER-shaping protein Arl6IP1. We have previously reported defects in both the ER and mitochondrial networks in a Drosophila model of SPG61. In this study, we report that knockdown of Arl6IP1 lowers Drp1 protein levels, resulting in reduced ER–mitochondrial contacts and impaired mitochondrial load at the distal ends of long motor neurons. Increasing mitochondrial fission, by overexpression of wild-type Drp1 but not a dominant negative Drp1, increases ER–mitochondrial contacts, restores mitochondrial load within axons and partially rescues locomotor deficits. Arl6IP1 knockdown Drosophila also demonstrate impaired autophagic flux and an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, which occur independent of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission defects. Together, these findings provide evidence that impaired mitochondrial fission contributes to neurodegeneration in this in vivo model of HSP.

scholarly journals Saquinavir-mediated inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in SCID mice implanted with human fetal thymus and liver tissue: an in vivo model for evaluating the effect of drug therapy on HIV infection in lymphoid tissues.

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 1880-1887 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Pettoello-Mantovani ◽  
T R Kollmann ◽  
C Raker ◽  
A Kim ◽  
S Yurasov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Scid Mice ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Lymphoid Tissues ◽  
Hiv Replication ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

Treatment with protease inhibitors alone or in combination with inhibitors of reverse transcriptase potently suppresses levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA in plasma and thereby may significantly delay the progression of HIV-mediated disease. To investigate the effect of treatment with the protease inhibitor saquinavir on HIV replication in the lymphoid tissues, we used a SCID-hu mouse model that we developed, in which human thymic and liver tissues (hu-thy/liv) were implanted under both kidney capsules in SCID mice (thy/liv-SCID-hu mice). These mice are populated in the periphery with large numbers of human T cells and develop disseminated HIV infection after intraimplant injection. thy/liv-SCID-hu mice with established HIV infection that were treated for 1 month with saquinavir had a significantly lower viral load present in the implanted hu-thy/liv and mouse spleen than did the untreated HIV-infected thy/liv-SCID-hu mice. To examine the capacity of acute treatment with saquinavir to prevent HIV infection, some thy/liv-SCID-hu mice were inoculated with HIV and then immediately started on saquinavir. Although treated mice had markedly lower viral loads in the thy/liv implants and spleens, HIV infection was not completely prevented. Thus, the effect of antiviral therapy on HIV infection in the major site of HIV replication, the lymphoid tissues, can be readily evaluated in our thy/liv-SCID-hu mice. These mice should prove to be a useful model for determining the in vivo effectiveness of different therapeutic interventions on acute and chronic HIV infection.

scholarly journals Generation of a Novel Transgenic Zebrafish for Studying Adipocyte Development and Metabolic Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3994
Author(s):  
Yousheng Mao ◽  
Kwang-Heum Hong ◽  
Weifang Liao ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Seong-Jin Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Transgenic Zebrafish ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
Adipose Tissues ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Zebrafish have become a popular animal model for studying various biological processes and human diseases. The metabolic pathways and players conserved among zebrafish and mammals facilitate the use of zebrafish to understand the pathological mechanisms underlying various metabolic disorders in humans. Adipocytes play an important role in metabolic homeostasis, and zebrafish adipocytes have been characterized. However, a versatile and reliable zebrafish model for long-term monitoring of adipose tissues has not been reported. In this study, we generated stable transgenic zebrafish expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in adipocytes. The transgenic zebrafish harbored adipose tissues that could be detected using GFP fluorescence and the morphology of single adipocyte could be investigated in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated the applicability of this model to the long-term in vivo imaging of adipose tissue development and regulation based on nutrition. The transgenic zebrafish established in this study may serve as an excellent tool to advance the characterization of white adipose tissue in zebrafish, thereby aiding the development of therapeutic interventions to treat metabolic diseases in humans.

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