Evolutionary conserved role of ptf1a in the specification of exocrine pancreatic fates

Beclin1 is essential for the pancreas development

Beclin1 (Becn1) is a multifunctional protein involved in autophagy regulation, membrane trafficking, and tumor suppression. In this study, we examined the roles of Becn1 in the pancreas development by generating mice with conditional deletion of Becn1 in the pancreas using pancreatic transcriptional factor 1a (Ptf1a)-Cre mice (Becn1f/f; Ptf1aCre/+). Surprisingly, loss of Becn1 in the pancreas resulted in severe pancreatic developmental defects, leading to insufficient exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function. Approximately half of Becn1f/f; Ptf1aCre/+ mice died immediately after birth. However, duodenum and neural tissue development were almost normal, indicating that pancreatic insufficiency was the cause of death. These findings demonstrated a novel role for Becn1 in pancreas morphogenesis, differentiation, and growth, and suggested that loss of this factor leaded to pancreatic agenesis at birth.

Multi-regional expression of pancreas-related digestive enzyme genes in the intestinal chamber of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A

Bilateria share sequential steps in their digestive systems, and digestion occurs in a pre-absorption step within a chamber-like structure. Previous studies on the ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A, an evolutionary research model of vertebrate organs, revealed that Ciona homologs of pancreas-related exocrine digestive enzymes (XDEs) are exclusively expressed in the chamber-like bulging stomach. In the development of the gastrointestinal tract, genes for the pancreas-related transcription factors, namely Ptf1a, Nr5a2, and Pdx, are expressed near the stomach. Recent organ/tissue RNA-seq studies on two Ciona species reported that transcripts of the XDE homologs exist in the intestinal regions, as well as in the stomach. In the present study, we investigated the spatial gene expression of XDE homologs in the gastrointestinal region of the C. intestinalis type A. Whole-mount in situ hybridization using adult and juvenile specimens revealed apparent expression signals of XDE homologs in a small number of gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, two pancreas-related transcription factor genes, Nr5a2 and Pdx, exhibited multi-regional expression along the Ciona juvenile intestines. These results imply that ascidians may form multiple digestive regions corresponding to the vertebrate pancreas.

Ptf1a function and transcriptional cis-regulation, a cornerstone in vertebrate pancreas development

Vertebrate pancreas organogenesis is a stepwise process regulated by a complex network of signaling and transcriptional events, progressively steering the early endoderm toward pancreatic fate. Many crucial players of this process have been identified, including signaling pathways, cis-regulatory elements, and transcription factors (TFs). Pancreas-associated transcription factor 1a (PTF1A) is one such TF, crucial for pancreas development. PTF1A mutations result in dramatic pancreatic phenotypes associated with severe complications, such as neonatal diabetes and impaired food digestion due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Here, we present a brief overview of vertebrate pancreas development, centered on Ptf1a function and transcriptional regulation, covering similarities and divergences in three broadly studied organisms: human, mouse and zebrafish.

Integrating single cell transcriptomics and volume electron microscopy confirms the presence of pancreatic acinar-like cells in sea urchins

The identity and function of a given cell type relies on the differential expression of gene batteries that promote diverse phenotypes and functional specificities. Therefore, the identification of the molecular and morphological fingerprints of cell types across taxa is essential for untangling their evolution. Here we use a multidisciplinary approach to identify the molecular and morphological features of an exocrine, pancreas-like cell type harbored within the sea urchin larval gut. Using single cell transcriptomics, we identify various cell populations with a pancreatic-like molecular fingerprint that are enriched within the S. purpuratus larva digestive tract. Among these, in the region where they reside, the midgut/stomach domain, we find that populations of exocrine pancreas-like cells have a unique regulatory wiring distinct from the rest the of the cell types of the same region. Furthermore, Serial Block-face scanning Electron Microscopy (SBEM) of the exocrine cells shows that this reported molecular diversity is associated to distinct morphological features that reflect the physiological and functional properties of this cell type. Therefore, we propose that these sea urchin exocrine cells are homologous to the well-known mammalian pancreatic acinar cells and thus we trace the origin of this particular cell type to the time of deuterostome diversification. Overall, our approach allows a thorough characterization of a complex cell type and shows how both the transcriptomic and morphological information contribute to disentangling the evolution of cell types and organs such as the pancreatic cells and pancreas.

Hyperactivation of Wnt/β-catenin and Jak/Stat3 pathways in human and zebrafish foetal growth restriction models: Implications for pharmacological rescue

Foetal Growth Restriction (FGR), previously known as Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), is an obstetrical condition due to placental insufficiency, affecting yearly about 30 million newborns worldwide. In this work, we aimed to identify and pharmacologically target signalling pathways specifically involved in the FGR condition, focusing on FGR-related cardiovascular phenotypes. The transcriptional profile of human umbilical cords from FGR and control cases was compared with the response to hypoxia of zebrafish (Danio rerio) transgenic lines reporting in vivo the activity of twelve signalling pathways involved in embryonic development. Wnt/β-catenin and Jak/Stat3 were found as key pathways significantly dysregulated in both human and zebrafish samples. This information was used in a chemical-genetic analysis to test drugs targeting Wnt/β-catenin and Jak/Stat3 pathways to rescue a set of FGR phenotypes, including growth restriction and cardiovascular modifications. Treatments with the Wnt/β-catenin agonist SB216763 successfully rescued body dimensions, cardiac shape, and vessel organization in zebrafish FGR models. Our data support the Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a key FGR marker and a promising target for pharmacological intervention in the FGR condition.

Rcl1 depletion impairs 18S pre-rRNA processing at the A1-site and up-regulates a cohort of ribosome biogenesis genes in zebrafish

Yeast Rcl1 is a potential endonuclease that mediates pre-RNA cleavage at the A₂-site to separate 18S rRNA from 5.8S and 25S rRNAs. However, the biological function of Rcl1 in opisthokonta is poorly defined. Moreover, there is no information regarding the exact positions of 18S pre-rRNA processing in zebrafish. Here, we report that zebrafish pre-rRNA harbours three major cleavage sites in the 5′ETS, namely –477nt (A′-site), –97nt (A₀-site) and the 5′ETS and 18S rRNA link (A₁-site), as well as two major cleavage regions within the ITS1, namely 208–218nt (site 2) and 20–33nt (site E). We also demonstrate that depletion of zebrafish Rcl1 mainly impairs cleavage at the A₁-site. Phenotypically, rcl1^–/– mutants exhibit a small liver and exocrine pancreas and die before 15 days post-fertilization. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the most significant event in rcl1^–/– mutants is the up-regulated expression of a cohort of genes related to ribosome biogenesis and tRNA production. Our data demonstrate that Rcl1 is essential for 18S rRNA maturation at the A₁-site and for digestive organogenesis in zebrafish. Rcl1 deficiency, similar to deficiencies in other ribosome biogenesis factors, might trigger a common mechanism to upregulate the expression of genes responsible for ribosome biogenesis.

Zebrafish Models of Autosomal Recessive Ataxias

Autosomal recessive ataxias are much less well studied than autosomal dominant ataxias and there are no clearly defined systems to classify them. Autosomal recessive ataxias, which are characterized by neuronal and multisystemic features, have significant overlapping symptoms with other complex multisystemic recessive disorders. The generation of animal models of neurodegenerative disorders increases our knowledge of their cellular and molecular mechanisms and helps in the search for new therapies. Among animal models, the zebrafish, which shares 70% of its genome with humans, offer the advantages of being small in size and demonstrating rapid development, making them optimal for high throughput drug and genetic screening. Furthermore, embryo and larval transparency allows to visualize cellular processes and central nervous system development in vivo. In this review, we discuss the contributions of zebrafish models to the study of autosomal recessive ataxias characteristic phenotypes, behavior, and gene function, in addition to commenting on possible treatments found in these models. Most of the zebrafish models generated to date recapitulate the main features of recessive ataxias.

Exploring the mechanism of pancreatic cell fate decisions via cell-cell communication

The endocrine and exocrine cells in pancreas originate initially from a group of apparently identical endoderm cells in the early gut. The endocrine and exocrine tissues are composed of islet/acinar and duct cells respectively. To explore the mechanism of pancreas cell fate decisions, we first construct a minimal mathematical model related to pancreatic regulations. The regulatory mechanism of acinar-to-islet cell conversion is revealed by bifurcation analysis of the model. In addition, Notch signaling is critical in determining the fate of endocrine and exocrine in the developing pancreas and it is a typical mediator of lateral inhibition which instructs adjacent cells to make different fate decisions. Next, we construct a multicellular model of cell-cell communication mediated by Notch signaling with trans-activation and cis-inhibition. The roles of Notch signaling in regulating fate decisions of endocrine and exocrine cells during the differentiation of pancreatic cells are explored. The results indicate that high (or low) level of Notch signaling drive cells to select the fate of exocrine (or endocrine) progenitor cells. The networks and the models presented here might be good candidates for providing qualitative mechanisms of pancreatic cell fate decisions. These results can also provide some insight on choosing perturbation strategies for further experimental analysis.

Glis3 as a Critical Regulator of Thyroid Primordium Specification

Background: GLIS3 (GLI-Similar protein 3) is a transcription factor involved in several cellular processes. Homozygous mutations in the GLIS3 gene have been typically associated with neonatal diabetes and congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in a syndrome called NDH. NDH patients present developmental abnormalities including endocrine pancreas defects and a spectrum of thyroid abnormalities, mainly including thyroid dysgenesis (TD). The mouse models revealed a key role of Glis3 in pancreatic islets but not in early thyroid development, as Glis3 was described to retain a role in regulating thyroid hormone synthesis downstream the thyrotropin (TSH)/TSHR signaling pathway and in postnatal follicle proliferation. Hence, in this study, we have been taking advantage of the zebrafish model to gain insights on the Glis3 activity during thyroid organogenesis. Methods: Transient glis3-knockdown zebrafish embryos (called glis3 morphants) were generated by the microinjection of specific glis3 morpholinos at one- to two-cell stage to analyze the thyroid phenotype in vivo. Several additional analyses (in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and pharmacological treatments) were performed for further molecular characterization. Results: The analysis of thyroid embryonic development revealed that Glis3 is involved in early steps of thyroid specification. glis3 morphants exhibited a reduced expression of the early transcription factors nkx2.4 and pax2a at the thyroid primordium level, which is not caused by changes in proliferation or apoptosis of the pharyngeal endoderm. As a result, the differentiated thyroid tissue in morphants appeared reduced in size with decreased expression of tg and slc5a5, a low number of thyroxine (T4)-producing follicles, associated with an elevation of tshba (homologous of the human TSHβ), thus resembling the clinical and biochemical manifestations of patients with TD. Interestingly, glis3 morphants have pancreatic β-cell defects, but not liver defects. In vitro and in vivo data also demonstrated that Glis3 is an effector of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway. Molecular and pharmacological inhibition of SHH reproduced the thyroid defects observed in glis3 morphant. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that glis3, within the SHH pathway, appears to determine the number of endodermal cells committed to a thyroid fate. This is the first evidence of the involvement of Glis3 in TD, thereby expanding the understanding of the genetic basis of thyroid development and CH.

Mid1ip1b modulates apical reorientation of non-centrosomal microtubule organizing center in epithelial cells

In most kinds of animal cells, the centrosome serves as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) that nucleates microtubule arrays throughout the cytoplasm to maintain cell structure, cell division and intracellular transport. Whereas in epithelial cells, non-centrosomal MTOCs are established in the apical domain for generating asymmetric microtubule fibers and cilia in epithelial cells for the organ morphogenesis during embryonic development. However, the mechanism by which MTOCs localize to the apical domain in epithelial cells remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Mid1ip1b has a close interaction with γ-tubulin protein, the central component of MTOC, and modulates lumen opening of the neural tube, gut, intestine, and kidney of zebrafish. Knockdown or dominant negative effect of Mid1ip1b resulted in failure of lumen formation of the organs as aforementioned. Moreover, the non-centrosomal MTOCs were unable to orientate to the apical domain in Mid1ip1b knockdown epithelial cells, and the centrosomal MTOCs were inaccurately placed in the apical domain, resulting in defective formation of asymmetric microtubules and misplacement of cilia in the apical domain. These data uncover a molecule that controls the proper localization of MTOCs in the apical domain in epithelial cells for organ morphogenesis during embryonic development.

Compartmentalized expression patterns of pancreatic- and gastric-related genes in the alimentary canal of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis: evolutionary insights into the functional regionality of the gastrointestinal tract in Olfactores

Many heterotrophic animals have a one-way alimentary canal that is essential for their nutrition and sequential steps of the digestive system, namely ingestion, digestion, absorption and elimination, are widely shared among bilaterians. Morphological, functional and molecular knowledge of the alimentary canal has been obtained in particular from mammalian research but the shared features and evolution of these aspects of the highly diverged alimentary canal in the animal kingdom are still unclear. We therefore investigate spatial gene expression patterns of pancreatic- and gastric-related molecules of ascidians (a sister group of vertebrates) with special reference to the functional regionality of the gastrointestinal tract. Genome-wide surveys of ascidian homologs to mammalian exocrine digestive enzyme genes revealed that pancreatic enzymes, namely alpha-amylase, lipase, phospholipase A2, trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase, exist in the ascidian genome. However, an ascidian homolog of the mammalian gastric enzyme pepsin has not been identified, although molecules resembling cathepsin D, a pepsin relative, are indeed present. Spatial expression analyses in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, by means of whole-mount in situ hybridization, have elucidated that the expression of Ciona homologs of pancreatic- and gastric-related exocrine enzyme genes and of their transcriptional regulator genes is restricted to the Ciona stomach. Furthermore, the expression of these genes is localized to specific regions of the stomach epithelium according to their regionality in the vertebrate digestive system. The compartmentalized expression patterns of Ciona homologs imply primitive and/or ancestral aspects of molecular, functional and morphological bases among Olfactores.

Uncovering stem cell differentiation factors for salivary gland regeneration by quantitative analysis of differential proteomes

Severe xerostomia (dry mouth) compromises the quality of life in patients with Sjögren's syndrome or radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. A clinical management of xerostomia is often unsatisfactory as most interventions are palliative with limited efficacy. Following up our previous study demonstrating that mouse BM-MSCs are capable of differentiating into salivary epithelial cells in a co-culture system, we further explored the molecular basis that governs the MSC reprogramming by utilizing high-throughput iTRAQ-2D-LC-MS/MS-based proteomics. Our data revealed the novel induction of pancreas-specific transcription factor 1a (PTF1α), muscle, intestine and stomach expression-1 (MIST-1), and achaete-scute complex homolog 3 (ASCL3) in 7 day co-cultured MSCs but not in control MSCs. More importantly, a common notion of pancreatic-specific expression of PTF1 α was challenged for the first time by our verification of PTF1 α expression in the mouse salivary glands. Furthermore, a molecular network simulation of our selected putative MSC reprogramming factors demonstrated evidence for their perspective roles in salivary gland development. In conclusion, quantitative proteomics with extensive data analyses narrowed down a set of MSC reprograming factors potentially contributing to salivary gland regeneration. Identification of their differential/synergistic impact on MSC conversion warrants further investigation.

ptf1a+ , ela3l- cells are developmentally maintained progenitors for exocrine regeneration following extreme loss of acinar cells in zebrafish larvae

The exocrine pancreas displays a significant capacity for regeneration and renewal. In humans and mammalian model systems, the partial loss of exocrine tissue, such as after acute pancreatitis or partial pancreatectomy induces rapid recovery via expansion of surviving acinar cells. In mouse it was further found that an almost complete removal of acinar cells initiates regeneration from a currently not well-defined progenitor pool. Here, we used the zebrafish as an alternative model to study cellular mechanisms of exocrine regeneration following an almost complete removal of acinar cells. We introduced and validated two novel transgenic approaches for genetically encoded conditional cell ablation in the zebrafish, either by caspase-8-induced apoptosis or by rendering cells sensitive to diphtheria toxin. By using the ela3l promoter for exocrine-specific expression, we show that both approaches allowed cell-type-specific removal of >95% of acinar tissue in larval and adult zebrafish without causing any signs of unspecific side effects. We find that zebrafish larvae are able to recover from a virtually complete acinar tissue ablation within 2 weeks. Using short-term lineage-tracing experiments and EdU incorporation assays, we exclude duct-associated Notch-responsive cells as the source of regeneration. Rather, a rare population of slowly dividing ela3l-negative cells expressing ptf1a and CPA was identified as the origin of the newly forming exocrine cells. Cells are actively maintained, as revealed by a constant number of these cells at different larval stages and after repeated cell ablation. These cells establish ela3l expression about 4-6 days after ablation without signs of increased proliferation in between. With onset of ela3l expression, cells initiate rapid proliferation, leading to fast expansion of the ela3l-positive population. Finally, we show that this proliferation is blocked by overexpression of the Wnt-signaling antagonist dkk1b In conclusion, we show a conserved requirement for Wnt signaling in exocrine tissue expansion and reveal a potential novel progenitor or stem cell population as a source for exocrine neogenesis after complete loss of acinar cells.

Zebrafish Pancreas Development and Regeneration: Fishing for Diabetes Therapies

The zebrafish pancreas shares its basic organization and cell types with the mammalian pancreas. In addition, the developmental pathways that lead to the establishment of the pancreatic islets of Langherhans are generally conserved from fish to mammals. Zebrafish provides a powerful tool to probe the mechanisms controlling establishment of the pancreatic endocrine cell types from early embryonic progenitor cells, as well as the regeneration of endocrine cells after damage. This knowledge is, in turn, applicable to refining protocols to generate renewable sources of human pancreatic islet cells that are critical for regulation of blood sugar levels. Here, we review how previous and ongoing studies in zebrafish and beyond are influencing the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying various forms of diabetes and efforts to develop cell-based approaches to cure this increasingly widespread disease.

Iterative use of nuclear receptor Nr5a2 regulates multiple stages of liver and pancreas development

The stepwise progression of common endoderm progenitors into differentiated liver and pancreas organs is regulated by a dynamic array of signals that are not well understood. The nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 2 gene nr5a2, also known as Liver receptor homolog-1 (Lrh-1) is expressed in several tissues including the developing liver and pancreas. Here, we interrogate the role of Nr5a2 at multiple developmental stages using genetic and chemical approaches and uncover novel pleiotropic requirements during zebrafish liver and pancreas development. Zygotic loss of nr5a2 in a targeted genetic null mutant disrupted the development of the exocrine pancreas and liver, while leaving the endocrine pancreas intact. Loss of nr5a2 abrogated exocrine pancreas markers such as trypsin, while pancreas progenitors marked by ptf1a or pdx1 remained unaffected, suggesting a role for Nr5a2 in regulating pancreatic acinar cell differentiation. In the developing liver, Nr5a2 regulates hepatic progenitor outgrowth and differentiation, as nr5a2 mutants exhibited reduced hepatoblast markers hnf4α and prox1 as well as differentiated hepatocyte marker fabp10a. Through the first in vivo use of Nr5a2 chemical antagonist Cpd3, the iterative requirement for Nr5a2 for exocrine pancreas and liver differentiation was temporally elucidated: chemical inhibition of Nr5a2 function during hepatopancreas progenitor specification was sufficient to disrupt exocrine pancreas formation and enhance the size of the embryonic liver, suggesting that Nr5a2 regulates hepatic vs. pancreatic progenitor fate choice. Chemical inhibition of Nr5a2 at a later time during pancreas and liver differentiation was sufficient to block the formation of mature acinar cells and hepatocytes. These findings define critical iterative and pleiotropic roles for Nr5a2 at distinct stages of pancreas and liver organogenesis, and provide novel perspectives for interpreting the role of Nr5a2 in disease.

Adult Neurogenesis in Fish

Teleost fish have a remarkable neurogenic and regenerative capacity in the adult throughout the rostrocaudal axis of the brain. The distribution of proliferation zones shows a remarkable conservation, even in distantly related teleost species, suggesting a common teleost ground plan of proliferation zones. There are different progenitor populations in the neurogenic niches-progenitors positive for radial glial markers (dorsal telencephalon, hypothalamus) and progenitors with neuroepithelial-like characteristics (ventral telencephalon, optic tectum, cerebellum). Definition of these progenitors has allowed studying their role in normal growth of the adult brain, but also when challenged following a lesion. From these studies, important roles have emerged for intrinsic mechanisms and extrinsic signals controlling the activation of adult neurogenesis that enable regeneration of the adult brain to occur, opening up new perspectives on rekindling regeneration also in the context of the mammalian brain.

A novel subset of enteric neurons revealed by ptf1a:GFP in the developing zebrafish enteric nervous system

The enteric nervous system, the largest division of the peripheral nervous system, is derived from vagal neural crest cells that invade and populate the entire length of the gut to form diverse neuronal subtypes. Here, we identify a novel population of neurons within the enteric nervous system of zebrafish larvae that express the transgenic marker ptf1a:GFP within the midgut. Genetic lineage analysis reveals that enteric ptf1a:GFP(+) cells are derived from the neural crest and that most ptf1a:GFP(+) neurons express the neurotransmitter 5HT, demonstrating that they are serotonergic. This transgenic line, Tg(ptf1a:GFP), provides a novel neuronal marker for a subpopulation of neurons within the enteric nervous system, and highlights the possibility that Ptf1a may act as an important transcription factor for enteric neuron development.

Differential effects on β-cell mass by disruption of Bardet-Biedl syndrome or Alstrom syndrome genes

Rare genetic syndromes characterized by early-onset type 2 diabetes have revealed the importance of pancreatic β-cells in genetic susceptibility to diabetes. However, the role of genetic regulation of β-cells in disorders that are also characterized by highly penetrant obesity, a major additional risk factor, is unclear. In this study, we investigated the contribution of genes associated with two obesity ciliopathies, Bardet-Biedl Syndrome and Alstrom Syndrome, to the production and maintenance of pancreatic β-cells. Using zebrafish models of these syndromes, we identified opposing effects on production of β-cells. Loss of the Alstrom gene, alms1, resulted in a significant decrease in β-cell production whereas loss of BBS genes, bbs1 or bbs4, resulted in a significant increase. Examination of the regulatory program underlying β-cell production suggested that these effects were specific to β-cells. In addition to the initial production of β-cells, we observed significant differences in their continued maintenance. Under prolonged exposure to high glucose conditions, alms1-deficient β-cells were unable to continually expand as a result of decreased proliferation and increased cell death. Although bbs1-deficient β-cells were similarly susceptible to apoptosis, the overall maintenance of β-cell number in those animals was sustained likely due to increased proliferation. Taken together, these findings implicate discrepant production and maintenance of β-cells in the differential susceptibility to diabetes found between these two genetic syndromes.

Development of the pancreas in medaka, Oryzias latipes, from embryo to adult

To address conserved and unique features of fish pancreas development, we performed extensive analyses of pancreatic development in medaka embryos and adults using pdx1- and ptf1a-transgenic medaka, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The markers used in these analyses included pdx1, nkx6.1, nkx6.2, nkx2.2, Islet1, insulin, Somatostatin, glucagon, ptf1a, ela3l, trypsin, and amylase. The double transgenic (Tg) fish produced in the present study visualizes the development of endocrine (pdx1+) and exocrine (ptf1a+) parts simultaneously in living fishes. Like other vertebrates, the medaka pancreas develops as two (dorsal and ventral) buds in the anterior gut tube, which soon fuse into a single anlagen. The double Tg fish demonstrates that the differential property between the two buds is already established at the initial phase of bud development as indicated by strong pdx1 expression in the dorsal one. This Tg fish also allowed us to examine the gross morphology and the structure of adult pancreas and revealed unique characters of medaka pancreas such as broad and multiple connections with the gut tube along the anterior-posterior axis.

Lnx2 ubiquitin ligase is essential for exocrine cell differentiation in the early zebrafish pancreas

The gene encoding the E3 ubiquitin ligase Ligand of Numb protein-X (Lnx)2a is expressed in the ventral-anterior pancreatic bud of zebrafish embryos in addition to its expression in the brain. Knockdown of Lnx2a by using an exon 2/intron 2 splice morpholino resulted in specific inhibition of the differentiation of ventral bud derived exocrine cell types, with little effect on endocrine cell types. A frame shifting null mutation in lnx2a did not mimic this phenotype, but a mutation that removed the exon 2 splice donor site did. We found that Lnx2b functions in a redundant manner with its paralog Lnx2a. Inhibition of lnx2a exon 2/3 splicing causes exon 2 skipping and leads to the production of an N-truncated protein that acts as an interfering molecule. Thus, the phenotype characterized by inhibition of exocrine cell differentiation requires inactivation of both Lnx2a and Lnx2b. Human LNX1 is known to destabilize Numb, and we show that inhibition of Numb expression rescues the Lnx2a/b-deficient phenotype. Further, Lnx2a/b inhibition leads to a reduction in the number of Notch active cells in the pancreas. We suggest that Lnx2a/b function to fine tune the regulation of Notch through Numb in the differentiation of cell types in the early zebrafish pancreas. Further, the complex relationships among genotype, phenotype, and morpholino effect in this case may be instructive in the ongoing consideration of morpholino use.

Progenitor potential of nkx6.1-expressing cells throughout zebrafish life and during beta cell regeneration

Background

In contrast to mammals, the zebrafish has the remarkable capacity to regenerate its pancreatic beta cells very efficiently. Understanding the mechanisms of regeneration in the zebrafish and the differences with mammals will be fundamental to discovering molecules able to stimulate the regeneration process in mammals. To identify the pancreatic cells able to give rise to new beta cells in the zebrafish, we generated new transgenic lines allowing the tracing of multipotent pancreatic progenitors and endocrine precursors.

Results

Using novel bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic nkx6.1 and ascl1b reporter lines, we established that nkx6.1-positive cells give rise to all the pancreatic cell types and ascl1b-positive cells give rise to all the endocrine cell types in the zebrafish embryo. These two genes are initially co-expressed in the pancreatic primordium and their domains segregate, not as a result of mutual repression, but through the opposite effects of Notch signaling, maintaining nkx6.1 expression while repressing ascl1b in progenitors. In the adult zebrafish, nkx6.1 expression persists exclusively in the ductal tree at the tip of which its expression coincides with Notch active signaling in centroacinar/terminal end duct cells. Tracing these cells reveals that they are able to differentiate into other ductal cells and into insulin-expressing cells in normal (non-diabetic) animals. This capacity of ductal cells to generate endocrine cells is supported by the detection of ascl1b in the nkx6.1:GFP ductal cell transcriptome. This transcriptome also reveals, besides actors of the Notch and Wnt pathways, several novel markers such as id2a. Finally, we show that beta cell ablation in the adult zebrafish triggers proliferation of ductal cells and their differentiation into insulin-expressing cells.

Conclusions

We have shown that, in the zebrafish embryo, nkx6.1+ cells are bona fide multipotent pancreatic progenitors, while ascl1b+ cells represent committed endocrine precursors. In contrast to the mouse, pancreatic progenitor markers nkx6.1 and pdx1 continue to be expressed in adult ductal cells, a subset of which we show are still able to proliferate and undergo ductal and endocrine differentiation, providing robust evidence of the existence of pancreatic progenitor/stem cells in the adult zebrafish. Our findings support the hypothesis that nkx6.1+ pancreatic progenitors contribute to beta cell regeneration. Further characterization of these cells will open up new perspectives for anti-diabetic therapies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-015-0179-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fate mapping of ptf1a-expressing cells during pancreatic organogenesis and regeneration in zebrafish

BACKGROUND

Pancreas development in zebrafish shares many features with mammals, including the participation of epithelial progenitor cells expressing pancreas transcription factor 1a (ptf1a). However, to date it has remained unclear whether, as in mammals, ptf1a-expressing zebrafish pancreatic progenitors are able to contribute to multiple exocrine and endocrine lineages. To delineate the lineage potential of ptf1a-expressing cells, we generated ptf1a:creER(T2) transgenic fish and performed genetic-inducible lineage tracing in developmental, regenerating, and ptf1a-deficient zebrafish pancreas.

RESULTS

In addition to their contribution to the acinar cell lineage, ptf1a-expressing cells give rise to both pancreatic Notch-responsive-cells (PNCs) as well as small numbers of endocrine cells during pancreatic development. In fish with ptf1a haploinsufficiency, a higher proportion of ptf1a lineage-labeled cells are traced into the PNC and endocrine compartments. Further reduction of ptf1a gene dosage converts pancreatic progenitor cells to gall bladder and other non-pancreatic cell fates.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the presence of multipotent ptf1a-expressing progenitor cells in developing zebrafish pancreas, with reduced ptf1a dosage promoting greater contributions towards non-acinar lineages. As in mammals, loss of ptf1a results in conversion of nascent pancreatic progenitor cells to non-pancreatic cell fates, underscoring the central role of ptf1a in foregut tissue specification.

Retinoic acid plays an evolutionarily conserved and biphasic role in pancreas development

As the developing zebrafish pancreas matures, hormone-producing endocrine cells differentiate from pancreatic Notch-responsive cells (PNCs) that reside within the ducts. These new endocrine cells form small clusters known as secondary (2°) islets. We use the formation of 2° islets in the pancreatic tail of the larval zebrafish as a model of β-cell neogenesis. Pharmacological inhibition of Notch signaling leads to precocious endocrine differentiation and the early appearance of 2° islets in the tail of the pancreas. Following a chemical screen, we discovered that blocking the retinoic acid (RA)-signaling pathway also leads to the induction of 2° islets. Conversely, the addition of exogenous RA blocks the differentiation caused by Notch inhibition. In this report we characterize the interaction of these two pathways. We first verified that signaling via both RA and Notch ligands act together to regulate pancreatic progenitor differentiation. We produced a transgenic RA reporter, which demonstrated that PNCs directly respond to RA signaling through the canonical transcriptional pathway. Next, using a genetic lineage tracing approach, we demonstrated these progenitors produce endocrine cells following inhibition of RA signaling. Lastly, inhibition of RA signaling using a cell-type specific inducible cre/lox system revealed that RA signaling acts cell-autonomously in PNCs to regulate their differentiation. Importantly, the action of RA inhibition on endocrine formation is evolutionarily conserved, as shown by the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells in a model of human pancreas development. Together, these results revealed a biphasic function for RA in pancreatogenesis. As previously shown by others, RA initially plays an essential role during embryogenesis as it patterns the endoderm and specifies the pancreatic field. We reveal here that later in development RA is involved in negatively regulating the further differentiation of pancreatic progenitors and expands upon the developmental mechanisms by which this occurs.

Disruption of ldlr causes increased LDL-c and vascular lipid accumulation in a zebrafish model of hypercholesterolemia

Hyperlipidemia and arterial cholesterol accumulation are primary causes of cardiovascular events. Monogenic forms of hyperlipidemia and recent genome-wide association studies indicate that genetics plays an important role. Zebrafish are a useful model for studying the genetic susceptibility to hyperlipidemia owing to conservation of many components of lipoprotein metabolism, including those related to LDL, ease of genetic manipulation, and in vivo observation of lipid transport and vascular calcification. We sought to develop a genetic model for lipid metabolism in zebrafish, capitalizing on one well-understood player in LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) transport, the LDL receptor (ldlr), and an established in vivo model of hypercholesterolemia. We report that morpholinos targeted against the gene encoding ldlr effectively suppressed its expression in embryos during the first 8 days of development. The ldlr morphants exhibited increased LDL-c levels that were exacerbated by feeding a high cholesterol diet. Increased LDL-c was ameliorated in morphants upon treatment with atorvastatin. Furthermore, we observed significant vascular and liver lipid accumulation, vascular leakage, and plaque oxidation in ldlr-deficient embryos. Finally, upon transcript analysis of several cholesterol-regulating genes, we observed changes similar to those seen in mammalian systems, suggesting that cholesterol regulation may be conserved in zebrafish. Taken together, these observations indicate conservation of ldlr function in zebrafish and demonstrate the utility of transient gene knockdown in embryos as a genetic model for hyperlipidemia.

Zebrafish reporter lines reveal in vivo signaling pathway activities involved in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, one of the worst malignancies of the exocrine pancreas, is a solid tumor with increasing incidence and mortality in industrialized countries. This condition is usually driven by oncogenic KRAS point mutations and evolves into a highly aggressive metastatic carcinoma due to secondary gene mutations and unbalanced expression of genes involved in the specific signaling pathways. To examine in vivo the effects of KRAS^G12D during pancreatic cancer progression and time correlation with cancer signaling pathway activities, we have generated a zebrafish model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in which eGFP-KRAS^G12D expression was specifically driven to the pancreatic tissue by using the GAL4/UAS conditional expression system. Outcrossing the inducible oncogenic KRAS^G12D line with transgenic zebrafish reporters, harboring specific signaling responsive elements of transcriptional effectors, we were able to follow TGFβ, Notch, Bmp and Shh activities during tumor development. Zebrafish transgenic lines expressing eGFP-KRAS^G12D showed normal exocrine pancreas development until 3 weeks post fertilization (wpf). From 4 to 24 wpf we observed several degrees of acinar lesions, characterized by an increase in mesenchymal cells and mixed acinar/ductal features, followed by progressive bowel and liver infiltrations and, finally, highly aggressive carcinoma. Moreover, live imaging analysis of the exocrine pancreatic tissue revealed an increasing number of KRAS-positive cells and progressive activation of TGFβ and Notch pathways. Increase in TGFβ, following KRAS^G12D activation, was confirmed in a concomitant model of medulloblastoma (MDB). Notch and Shh signaling activities during tumor onset were different between MDB and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, indicating a tissue-specific regulation of cell signaling pathways. Moreover, our results show that a living model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma joined with cell signaling reporters is a suitable tool for describing in vivo the signaling cascades and molecular mechanisms involved in tumor development and a potential platform to screen for novel oncostatic drugs.

Specification and positioning of the anterior neuroectoderm in deuterostome embryos

The molecular mechanisms used by deuterostome embryos (vertebrates, urochordates, cephalochordates, hemichordates, and echinoderms) to specify and then position the anterior neuroectoderm (ANE) along the anterior-posterior axis are incompletely understood. Studies in several deuterostome embryos suggest that the ANE is initially specified by an early, broad regulatory state. Then, a posterior-to-anterior wave of respecification restricts this broad ANE potential to the anterior pole. In vertebrates, sea urchins and hemichordates a posterior-anterior gradient of Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an essential and conserved role in this process. Recent data collected from the basal deuterostome sea urchin embryo suggests that positioning the ANE to the anterior pole involves more than the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, instead relying on the integration of information from the Wnt/β-catenin, Wnt/JNK, and Wnt/PKC pathways. Moreover, comparison of functional and expression data from the ambulacrarians, invertebrate chordates, and vertebrates strongly suggests that this Wnt network might be an ANE positioning mechanism shared by all deuterostomes.

Valproic acid silencing of ascl1b/Ascl1 results in the failure of serotonergic differentiation in a zebrafish model of fetal valproate syndrome

Fetal valproate syndrome (FVS) is caused by in utero exposure to the drug sodium valproate. Valproate is used worldwide for the treatment of epilepsy, as a mood stabiliser and for its pain-relieving properties. In addition to birth defects, FVS is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is characterised by abnormal behaviours. Valproate perturbs multiple biochemical pathways and alters gene expression through its inhibition of histone deacetylases. Which, if any, of these mechanisms is relevant to the genesis of its behavioural side effects is unclear. Neuroanatomical changes associated with FVS have been reported and, among these, altered serotonergic neuronal differentiation is a consistent finding. Altered serotonin homeostasis is also associated with autism. Here we have used a chemical-genetics approach to investigate the underlying molecular defect in a zebrafish FVS model. Valproate causes the selective failure of zebrafish central serotonin expression. It does so by downregulating the proneural gene ascl1b, an ortholog of mammalian Ascl1, which is a known determinant of serotonergic identity in the mammalian brainstem. ascl1b is sufficient to rescue serotonin expression in valproate-treated embryos. Chemical and genetic blockade of the histone deacetylase Hdac1 downregulates ascl1b, consistent with the Hdac1-mediated silencing of ascl1b expression by valproate. Moreover, tonic Notch signalling is crucial for ascl1b repression by valproate. Concomitant blockade of Notch signalling restores ascl1b expression and serotonin expression in both valproate-exposed and hdac1 mutant embryos. Together, these data provide a molecular explanation for serotonergic defects in FVS and highlight an epigenetic mechanism for genome-environment interaction in disease.

Aldh1-expressing endocrine progenitor cells regulate secondary islet formation in larval zebrafish pancreas

Aldh1 expression is known to mark candidate progenitor populations in adult and embryonic mouse pancreas, and Aldh1 enzymatic activity has been identified as a potent regulator of pancreatic endocrine differentiation in zebrafish. However, the location and identity of Aldh1-expressing cells in zebrafish pancreas remain unknown. In this study we demonstrate that Aldh1-expressing cells are located immediately adjacent to 2F11-positive pancreatic ductal epithelial cells, and that their abundance dramatically increases during zebrafish secondary islet formation. These cells also express neurod, a marker of endocrine progenitor cells, but do not express markers of more mature endocrine cells such as pax6b or insulin. Using formal cre/lox-based lineage tracing, we further show that Aldh1-expressing pancreatic epithelial cells are the direct progeny of pancreatic notch-responsive progenitor cells, identifying them as a critical intermediate between multi-lineage progenitors and mature endocrine cells. Pharmacologic manipulation of Aldh1 enzymatic activity accelerates cell entry into the Aldh1-expressing endocrine progenitor pool, and also leads to the premature maturation of these cells, as evidenced by accelerated pax6b expression. Together, these findings suggest that Aldh1-expressing cells act as both participants and regulators of endocrine differentiation during zebrafish secondary islet formation.

Transdifferentiation of pancreatic cells by loss of contact-mediated signaling

Background

Replacement of dysfunctional β-cells in the islets of Langerhans by transdifferentiation of pancreatic acinar cells has been proposed as a regenerative therapy for diabetes. Adult acinar cells spontaneously revert to a multipotent state upon tissue dissociation in vitro and can be stimulated to redifferentiate into β-cells. Despite accumulating evidence that contact-mediated signals are involved, the mechanisms regulating acinar-to-islet cell transdifferentiation remain poorly understood.

Results

In this study, we propose that the crosstalk between two contact-mediated signaling mechanisms, lateral inhibition and lateral stabilization, controls cell fate stability and transdifferentiation of pancreatic cells. Analysis of a mathematical model combining gene regulation with contact-mediated signaling reveals the multistability of acinar and islet cell fates. Inhibition of one or both modes of signaling results in transdifferentiation from the acinar to the islet cell fate, either by dedifferentiation to a multipotent state or by direct lineage switching.

Conclusions

This study provides a theoretical framework to understand the role of contact-mediated signaling in pancreatic cell fate control that may help to improve acinar-to-islet cell transdifferentiation strategies for β-cell neogenesis.

Distinct enhancers of ptf1a mediate specification and expansion of ventral pancreas in zebrafish

Development of the pancreas and cerebellum require Pancreas-specific transcription factor-1a (Ptf1a), which encodes a subunit of the transcription factor complex PTF1. Ptf1a is required in succession for specification of the pancreas, proper allocation of pancreatic progenitors to endocrine and exocrine fates, and the production of digestive enzymes from the exocrine acini. In several neuronal structures, including the cerebellum, hindbrain, retina and spinal cord, Ptf1a is transiently expressed and promotes inhibitory neuron fates at the expense of excitatory fates. Transcription of Ptf1a in mouse is maintained in part by PTF1 acting on an upstream autoregulatory enhancer. However, the transcription factors and enhancers that initially activate Ptf1a expression in the pancreas and in certain structures of the nervous system have not yet been identified. Here we describe a zebrafish autoregulatory element, conserved among teleosts, with activity similar to that described in mouse. In addition, we performed a comprehensive survey of all non-coding sequences in a 67kb interval encompassing zebrafish ptf1a, and identified several neuronal enhancers, and an enhancer active in the ventral pancreas prior to activation of the autoregulatory enhancer. To test the requirement for autoregulatory control during pancreatic development, we restored ptf1a function through BAC transgenesis in ptf1a morphants, either with an intact BAC or one lacking the autoregulatory enhancer. We find that ptf1a autoregulation is required for development of the exocrine pancreas and full rescue of the ptf1a morphant phenotype. Similarly, we demonstrate that a ptf1a locus lacking the early enhancer region is also capable of rescue, but only supports formation of a hypoplastic exocrine pancreas. Through our dissection of the complex regulatory control of ptf1a, we identified separate cis-regulatory elements that underlie different aspects of its expression and function, and further demonstrated the requirement of maintained ptf1a expression for normal pancreatic morphogenesis. We also identified a novel enhancer that mediates initiation of ptf1a expression in the pancreas, through which the signals that specify the ventral pancreas are expected to exert their action.

Specification of hepatopancreas progenitors in zebrafish by hnf1ba and wnt2bb

Although the liver and ventral pancreas are thought to arise from a common multipotent progenitor pool, it is unclear whether these progenitors of the hepatopancreas system are specified by a common genetic mechanism. Efforts to determine the role of Hnf1b and Wnt signaling in this crucial process have been confounded by a combination of factors, including a narrow time frame for hepatopancreas specification, functional redundancy among Wnt ligands, and pleiotropic defects caused by either severe loss of Wnt signaling or Hnf1b function. Using a novel hypomorphic hnf1ba zebrafish mutant that exhibits pancreas hypoplasia, as observed in HNF1B monogenic diabetes, we show that hnf1ba plays essential roles in regulating β-cell number and pancreas specification, distinct from its function in regulating pancreas size and liver specification, respectively. By combining Hnf1ba partial loss of function with conditional loss of Wnt signaling, we uncover a crucial developmental window when these pathways synergize to specify the entire ventrally derived hepatopancreas progenitor population. Furthermore, our in vivo genetic studies demonstrate that hnf1ba generates a permissive domain for Wnt signaling activity in the foregut endoderm. Collectively, our findings provide a new model for HNF1B function, yield insight into pancreas and β-cell development, and suggest a new mechanism for hepatopancreatic specification.

Translating discovery in zebrafish pancreatic development to human pancreatic cancer: biomarkers, targets, pathogenesis, and therapeutics

Abstract Experimental studies in the zebrafish have greatly facilitated understanding of genetic regulation of the early developmental events in the pancreas. Various approaches using forward and reverse genetics, chemical genetics, and transgenesis in zebrafish have demonstrated generally conserved regulatory roles of mammalian genes and discovered novel genetic pathways in exocrine pancreatic development. Accumulating evidence has supported the use of zebrafish as a model of human malignant diseases, including pancreatic cancer. Studies have shown that the genetic regulators of exocrine pancreatic development in zebrafish can be translated into potential clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Transgenic zebrafish expressing oncogenic K-ras and zebrafish tumor xenograft model have emerged as valuable tools for dissecting the pathogenetic mechanisms of pancreatic cancer and for drug discovery and toxicology. Future analysis of the pancreas in zebrafish will continue to advance understanding of the genetic regulation and biological mechanisms during organogenesis. Results of those studies are expected to provide new insights into how aberrant developmental pathways contribute to formation and growth of pancreatic neoplasia, and hopefully generate valid biomarkers and targets as well as effective and safe therapeutics in pancreatic cancer.

On the role of lateral stabilization during early patterning in the pancreas

The cell fate decision of multi-potent pancreatic progenitor cells between the exocrine and endocrine lineages is regulated by Notch signalling, mediated by cell-cell interactions. However, canonical models of Notch-mediated lateral inhibition cannot explain the scattered spatial distribution of endocrine cells and the cell-type ratio in the developing pancreas. Based on evidence from acinar-to-islet cell transdifferentiation in vitro, we propose that lateral stabilization, i.e. positive feedback between adjacent progenitor cells, acts in parallel with lateral inhibition to regulate pattern formation in the pancreas. A simple mathematical model of transcriptional regulation and cell-cell interaction reveals the existence of multi-stability of spatial patterns whose simultaneous occurrence causes scattering of endocrine cells in the presence of noise. The scattering pattern allows for control of the endocrine-to-exocrine cell-type ratio by modulation of lateral stabilization strength. These theoretical results suggest a previously unrecognized role for lateral stabilization in lineage specification, spatial patterning and cell-type ratio control in organ development.

Microarray analysis of Xenopus endoderm expressing Ptf1a

Pancreas-specific transcription factor 1a (Ptf1a), a bHLH transcription factor, has two temporally distinct functions during pancreas development; initially it is required for early specification of the entire pancreas, while later it is required for proper differentiation and maintenance of only acinar cells. The importance of Ptf1a function was revealed by the fact that loss of Ptf1a leads to pancreas agenesis in humans. While Ptf1a is one of the most important pancreatic transcription factors, little is known about the differences between the regulatory networks it controls during initial specification of the pancreas as opposed to acinar cell development, and to date no comprehensive analysis of its downstream targets has been published. In this article, we use Xenopus embryos to identify putative downstream targets of Ptf1a. We isolated anterior endoderm tissue overexpressing Ptf1a at two early stages, NF32 and NF36, and compared their gene expression profiles using microarrays. Our results revealed that Ptf1a regulates genes with a wide variety of functions, providing insight into the complexity of the regulatory network required for pancreas specification.

Cyclic caged morpholinos: conformationally gated probes of embryonic gene function

Feeling a bit cagey: morpholino-based antisense reagents have been caged through oligonucleotide cyclization, enabling photocontrol of gene expression in zebrafish embryos and larvae. Using these reagents, the timing of exocrine cell fate commitment in the developing pancreas has been examined.

Zebrafish sox9b is crucial for hepatopancreatic duct development and pancreatic endocrine cell regeneration

Recent zebrafish studies have shown that the late appearing pancreatic endocrine cells are derived from pancreatic ducts but the regulatory factors involved are still largely unknown. Here, we show that the zebrafish sox9b gene is expressed in pancreatic ducts where it labels the pancreatic Notch-responsive cells previously shown to be progenitors. Inactivation of sox9b disturbs duct formation and impairs regeneration of beta cells from these ducts in larvae. sox9b expression in the midtrunk endoderm appears at the junction of the hepatic and ventral pancreatic buds and, by the end of embryogenesis, labels the hepatopancreatic ductal system as well as the intrapancreatic and intrahepatic ducts. Ductal morphogenesis and differentiation are specifically disrupted in sox9b mutants, with the dysmorphic hepatopancreatic ducts containing misdifferentiated hepatocyte-like and pancreatic-like cells. We also show that maintenance of sox9b expression in the extrapancreatic and intrapancreatic ducts requires FGF and Notch activity, respectively, both pathways known to prevent excessive endocrine differentiation in these ducts. Furthermore, beta cell recovery after specific ablation is severely compromised in sox9b mutant larvae. Our data position sox9b as a key player in the generation of secondary endocrine cells deriving from pancreatic ducts in zebrafish.

DEAD-box protein Ddx46 is required for the development of the digestive organs and brain in zebrafish

Spatially and temporally controlled gene expression, including transcription, several mRNA processing steps, and the export of mature mRNA to the cytoplasm, is essential for developmental processes. It is well known that RNA helicases of the DExD/H-box protein family are involved in these gene expression processes, including transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, and rRNA biogenesis. Although one DExD/H-box protein, Prp5, a homologue of vertebrate Ddx46, has been shown to play important roles in pre-mRNA splicing in yeast, the in vivo function of Ddx46 remains to be fully elucidated in metazoans. In this study, we isolated zebrafish morendo (mor), a mutant that shows developmental defects in the digestive organs and brain, and found that it encodes Ddx46. The Ddx46 transcript is maternally supplied, and as development proceeds in zebrafish larvae, its ubiquitous expression gradually becomes restricted to those organs. The results of whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that the expression of various molecular markers in these organs is considerably reduced in the Ddx46 mutant. Furthermore, splicing status analysis with RT-PCR revealed unspliced forms of mRNAs in the digestive organ and brain tissues of the Ddx46 mutant, suggesting that Ddx46 may be required for pre-mRNA splicing during zebrafish development. Therefore, our results suggest a model in which zebrafish Ddx46 is required for the development of the digestive organs and brain, possibly through the control of pre-mRNA splicing.

Forgotten and novel aspects in pancreas development

Diseases related to the pancreas are of highest importance in public health. It is anticipated that a detailed understanding of the molecular events that govern the embryonic development of this organ will have an immediate impact on clinical research relating to this issue. One major aim is the reconstruction of embryonic development in vitro with appropriate precursor cells, a second strategy is aimed at understanding the transdifferentiation of non-pancreatic into pancreatic tissue, and a third avenue is defined by the stimulation of the intrinsic ability of the pancreas to regenerate. Recent progress in developmental biology with respect to these different topics is reviewed in the present article. In addition, we also address evolutionary aspects of pancreas development, emphasizing the role of the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, as an additional useful model system to study the molecular control of pancreas development.

Essential roles of zebrafish bmp2a, fgf10, and fgf24 in the specification of the ventral pancreas

In vertebrates, pancreas and liver arise from bipotential progenitors located in the embryonic gut endoderm. Bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways have been shown to induce hepatic specification while repressing pancreatic fate. Here we show that BMP and FGF factors also play crucial function, at slightly later stages, in the specification of the ventral pancreas. By analyzing the pancreatic markers pdx1, ptf1a, and hlxb9la in different zebrafish models of BMP loss of function, we demonstrate that the BMP pathway is required between 20 and 24 h postfertilization to specify the ventral pancreatic bud. Knockdown experiments show that bmp2a, expressed in the lateral plate mesoderm at these stages, is essential for ventral pancreas specification. Bmp2a action is not restricted to the pancreatic domain and is also required for the proper expression of hepatic markers. By contrast, through the analysis of fgf10(-/-); fgf24(-/-) embryos, we reveal the specific role of these two FGF ligands in the induction of the ventral pancreas and in the repression of the hepatic fate. These mutants display ventral pancreas agenesis and ectopic masses of hepatocytes. Overall, these data highlight the dynamic role of BMP and FGF in the patterning of the hepatopancreatic region.

Wdr18 is required for Kupffer's vesicle formation and regulation of body asymmetry in zebrafish

Correct specification of the left-right (L-R) axis is important for organ morphogenesis. Conserved mechanisms involving cilia rotation inside node-like structures and asymmetric Nodal signaling in the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM), which are important symmetry-breaking events, have been intensively studied. In zebrafish, the clustering and migration of dorsal forerunner cells (DFCs) is critical for the formation of the Kuppfer's vesicle (KV). However, molecular events underlying DFC clustering and migration are less understood. The WD-repeat proteins function in a variety of biological processes, including cytoskeleton assembly, intracellular trafficking, mRNA splicing, transcriptional regulation and cell migration. However, little is known about the function of WD-repeat proteins in L-R asymmetry determination. Here, we report the identification and functional analyses of zebrafish wdr18, a novel gene that encodes a WD-repeat protein that is highly conserved among vertebrate species. wdr18 was identified from a Tol2 transposon-mediated enhancer trap screen. Follow-up analysis of wdr18 mRNA expression showed that it was detected in DFCs or the KV progenitor cells and later in the KV at early somitogenesis stages. Morpholino knockdown of wdr18 resulted in laterality defects in the visceral organs, which were preceded by the mis-expression of Nodal-related genes, including spaw and pitx2. Examination of morphants at earlier stages revealed that the KV had fewer and shorter cilia which are immotile and a smaller cavity. We further investigated the organization of DFCs in wdr18 morphant embryos using ntl and sox17 as specific markers and found that the clustering and migration of DFC was altered, leading to a disorganized KV. Finally, through a combination of wdr18 and itgb1b morpholino injections, we provided evidence that wdr18 and itgb1b genetically interact in the laterality determination process. Thus, we reveal a new and essential role for WD-repeat proteins in the determination and regulation of L-R asymmetry and propose a potential mechanism for wdr18 in the regulation of DFC clustering and migration and KV formation.

Ptf1a/Rbpj complex inhibits ganglion cell fate and drives the specification of all horizontal cell subtypes in the chick retina

During development, progenitor cells of the retina give rise to six principal classes of neurons and the Müller glial cells found within the adult retina. The pancreas transcription factor 1 subunit a (Ptf1a) encodes a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor necessary for the specification of horizontal cells and the majority of amacrine cell subtypes in the mouse retina. The Ptf1a-regulated genes and the regulation of Ptf1a activity by transcription cofactors during retinogenesis have been poorly investigated. Using a retrovirus-mediated gene transfer approach, we reported that Ptf1a was sufficient to promote the fates of amacrine and horizontal cells from retinal progenitors and inhibit retinal ganglion cell and photoreceptor differentiation in the chick retina. Both GABAergic H1 and non-GABAergic H3 horizontal cells were induced following the forced expression of Ptf1a. We describe Ptf1a as a strong, negative regulator of Atoh7 expression. Furthermore, the Rbpj-interacting domains of Ptf1a protein were required for its effects on cell fate specification. Together, these data provide a novel insight into the molecular basis of Ptf1a activity on early cell specification in the chick retina.

Histone deacetylase 1 is required for exocrine pancreatic epithelial proliferation in development and cancer

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play important roles in the epigenetic control of development, and aberrant expression of HDACs has been implicated in human diseases including cancer. Among the mammalian HDACs, HDAC1 has been extensively studied, but its role in exocrine pancreatic morphogenesis and cancer is still poorly understood. The goal of this study is to determine the functional role of HDAC1 in normal development of exocrine pancreas using zebrafish as the model organism as well as in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The zebrafish germline loss-of-function mutation hdac1(hi1618) caused impaired cell cycle progression in pancreatic epithelia, resulting in growth arrest and dysmorphogenesis of exocrine pancreas. In human pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues and cell lines, HDAC1 was expressed at variably elevated levels. RNA interference-induced silencing of HDAC1 diminished proliferation of the cancer cells and cell cycle progression. The proliferative arrest in the developing exocrine pancreas and pancreatic cancer cells was associated with up-regulated expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and the sonic hedgehog signaling components. This study indicates that HDAC1 is required for pancreatic epithelial proliferation in development and cancer. We hypothesize that aberrant expression of HDAC1 modulates the developmental and signaling pathways in exocrine pancreatic epithelia and consequently the genes required for cellular proliferation during development and progression of pancreatic neoplasia.

Transient receptor potential ion channel Trpm7 regulates exocrine pancreatic epithelial proliferation by Mg2+-sensitive Socs3a signaling in development and cancer

Genetic analysis of pancreatic development has provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying the formation of exocrine pancreatic neoplasia. Zebrafish sweetbread (swd) mutants develop hypoplastic acini and dysmorphic ducts in the exocrine pancreas, with impeded progression of cell division cycle and of epithelial growth. Positional cloning and allelic complementation have revealed that the swd mutations affect the transient receptor potential melastatin-subfamily member 7 (trpm7) gene, which encodes a divalent cation-permeable channel with kinase activity. Supplementary Mg(2+) partially rescued the exocrine pancreatic defects of the trpm7 mutants by improving cell-cycle progression and growth and repressing the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3a (socs3a) gene. The role of Socs3a in Trpm7-mediated signaling is supported by the findings that socs3a mRNA level is elevated in the trpm7 mutants, and antisense inhibition of socs3a expression improved their exocrine pancreatic growth. TRPM7 is generally overexpressed in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. TRPM7-deficient cells are impaired in proliferation and arrested in the G0-G1 phases of the cell division cycle. Supplementary Mg(2+) rescued the proliferative defect of the TRPM7-deficient cells. Results of this study indicate that Trpm7 regulates exocrine pancreatic development via the Mg(2+)-sensitive Socs3a pathway, and suggest that aberrant TRPM7-mediated signaling contributes to pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Genetic inducible fate mapping in larval zebrafish reveals origins of adult insulin-producing β-cells

The Notch-signaling pathway is known to be fundamental in controlling pancreas differentiation. We now report on using Cre-based fate mapping to indelibly label pancreatic Notch-responsive cells (PNCs) at larval stages and follow their fate in the adult pancreas. We show that the PNCs represent a population of progenitors that can differentiate to multiple lineages, including adult ductal cells, centroacinar cells (CACs) and endocrine cells. These endocrine cells include the insulin-producing β-cells. CACs are a functional component of the exocrine pancreas; however, our fate-mapping results indicate that CACs are more closely related to endocrine cells by lineage as they share a common progenitor. The majority of the exocrine pancreas consists of the secretory acinar cells; however, we only detect a very limited contribution of PNCs to acinar cells. To explain this observation we re-examined early events in pancreas formation. The pancreatic anlage that gives rise to the exocrine pancreas is located in the ventral gut endoderm (called the ventral bud). Ptf1a is a gene required for exocrine pancreas development and is first expressed as the ventral bud forms. We used transgenic marker lines to observe both the domain of cells expressing ptf1a and cells responding to Notch signaling. We do not detect any overlap in expression and demonstrate that the ventral bud consists of two cell populations: a ptf1-expressing domain and a Notch-responsive progenitor core. As pancreas organogenesis continues, the ventral bud derived PNCs align along the duct, remain multipotent and later in development differentiate to form secondary islets, ducts and CACs.

Antagonistic interactions of hedgehog, Bmp and retinoic acid signals control zebrafish endocrine pancreas development

Pancreatic organogenesis is promoted or restricted by different signaling pathways. In amniotes, inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) activity in the early embryonic endoderm is a prerequisite for pancreatic specification. However, in zebrafish, loss of Hh signaling leads to a severe reduction of β-cells, leading to some ambiguity as to the role of Hh during pancreas development and whether its function has completely diverged between species. Here, we have employed genetic and pharmacological manipulations to temporally delineate the role of Hh in zebrafish endocrine pancreas development and investigate its relationship with the Bmp and retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathways. We found that Hh is required at the start of gastrulation for the medial migration and differentiation of pdx1-expressing pancreatic progenitors at later stages. This early positive role of Hh promotes β-cell lineage differentiation by restricting the repressive effects of Bmp. Inhibition of Bmp signaling in the early gastrula leads to increased β-cell numbers and partially rescued β-cell formation in Hh-deficient embryos. By the end of gastrulation, Hh switches to a negative role by antagonizing RA-mediated specification of the endocrine pancreas, but continues to promote differentiation of exocrine progenitors. We show that RA downregulates the Hh signaling components ptc1 and smo in endodermal explants, indicating a possible molecular mechanism for blocking axial mesoderm-derived Hh ligands from the prepancreatic endoderm during the specification stage. These results identify multiple sequential roles for Hh in pancreas development and highlight an unexpected antagonistic relationship between Hh and other signaling pathways to control pancreatic specification and differentiation.

Zebrafish lipid metabolism: from mediating early patterning to the metabolism of dietary fat and cholesterol

Lipids serve essential functions in cells as signaling molecules, membrane components, and sources of energy. Defects in lipid metabolism are implicated in a number of pandemic human diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia. Many aspects of how fatty acids and cholesterol are absorbed and processed by intestinal cells remain unclear and present a hurdle to developing approaches for disease prevention and treatment. Numerous studies have shown that the zebrafish is an excellent model for vertebrate lipid metabolism. In this chapter, we review studies that employ zebrafish to better understand lipid signaling and metabolism.

Screening pancreatic oncogenes in zebrafish using the Gal4/UAS system

Pancreatic cancer is a genetic disease in which somatic mutations in the KRAS proto-oncogene are detected in a majority of tumors. KRAS mutations represent an early event during pancreatic tumorigenesis, crucial for cancer initiation and progression. Recent studies, including comprehensive sequencing of the pancreatic cancer exome, have implicated the involvement of a number of additional core signaling pathways during pancreatic tumorigenesis. Improving our understanding of genetic interactions between KRAS and these additional pathways represents a critical challenge, as these interactions may provide novel opportunities for diagnosis and treatment. However, studying these interactions requires the expression of multiple transgenes in relevant cell types, an effort that has proven very difficult to achieve using gene targeted mice and is also technically challenging in zebrafish. Based on the ability of the Gal4 transcriptional activator to drive the expression of multiple transgenes under regulation of UAS (upstream activator sequence) regulatory elements, the Gal4/UAS system represents an attractive strategy for the study of genetic interactions. In this chapter, we review our experience using the Gal4/UAS system to model KRAS-initiated pancreatic cancer in zebrafish, as well as our early efforts using this system to study the influence of other cooperating oncogenes. We also describe techniques used to identify and characterize pancreatic tumors in adult transgenic fish.

Proneural gene-linked neurogenesis in zebrafish cerebellum

In mammals, cerebellar neurons are categorized as glutamatergic or GABAergic, and are derived from progenitors that express the proneural genes atoh1 or ptf1a, respectively. In zebrafish, three atoh1 genes, atoh1a, atoh1b, and atoh1c, are expressed in overlapping but distinct expression domains in the upper rhombic lip (URL): ptf1a is expressed exclusively in the ventricular zone (VZ). Using transgenic lines expressing fluorescent proteins under the control of the regulatory elements of atoh1a and ptf1a, we traced the lineages of the cerebellar neurons. The atoh1(+) progenitors gave rise not only to granule cells but also to neurons of the anteroventral rhombencephalon. The ptf1a(+) progenitors generated Purkinje cells. The olig2(+) eurydendroid cells, which are glutamatergic, were derived mostly from ptf1a(+) progenitors in the VZ but some originated from the atoh1(+) progenitors in the URL. In the adult cerebellum, atoh1a, atoh1b, and atoh1c are expressed in the molecular layer of the valvula cerebelli and of the medial corpus cerebelli, and ptf1a was detected in the VZ. The proneural gene expression patterns coincided with the sites of proliferating neuronal progenitors in the adult cerebellum. Our data indicate that proneural gene-linked neurogenesis is evolutionarily conserved in the cerebellum among vertebrates, and that the continuously generated neurons help remodel neural circuits in the adult zebrafish cerebellum.