1
|
Colijn S, Nambara M, Malin G, Sacchetti EA, Stratman AN. Identification of distinct vascular mural cell populations during zebrafish embryonic development. Dev Dyn 2024; 253:519-541. [PMID: 38112237 PMCID: PMC11065631 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mural cells are an essential perivascular cell population that associate with blood vessels and contribute to vascular stabilization and tone. In the embryonic zebrafish vasculature, pdgfrb and tagln are commonly used as markers for identifying pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. However, the overlapping and distinct expression patterns of these markers in tandem have not been fully described. RESULTS Here, we used the Tg(pdgfrb:Gal4FF; UAS:RFP) and Tg(tagln:NLS-EGFP) transgenic lines to identify single- and double-positive perivascular cell populations on the cranial, axial, and intersegmental vessels between 1 and 5 days postfertilization. From this comparative analysis, we discovered two novel regions of tagln-positive cell populations that have the potential to function as mural cell precursors. Specifically, we found that the hypochord-a reportedly transient structure-contributes to tagln-positive cells along the dorsal aorta. We also identified a unique mural cell progenitor population that resides along the midline between the neural tube and notochord and contributes to intersegmental vessel mural cell coverage. CONCLUSION Together, our findings highlight the variability and versatility of tracking both pdgfrb and tagln expression in mural cells of the developing zebrafish embryo and reveal unexpected embryonic cell populations that express pdgfrb and tagln.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Colijn
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Miku Nambara
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Gracie Malin
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Elena A. Sacchetti
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Amber N. Stratman
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen J, Wang H, Wu S, Zhang A, Qiu Z, Huang P, Qu JY, Xu J. col1a2+ fibroblasts/muscle progenitors finetune xanthophore countershading by differentially expressing csf1a/1b in embryonic zebrafish. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj9637. [PMID: 38578990 PMCID: PMC10997200 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj9637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Animals evolve diverse pigment patterns to adapt to the natural environment. Countershading, characterized by a dark-colored dorsum and a light-colored ventrum, is one of the most prevalent pigment patterns observed in vertebrates. In this study, we reveal a mechanism regulating xanthophore countershading in zebrafish embryos. We found that csf1a and csf1b mutants altered xanthophore countershading differently: csf1a mutants lack ventral xanthophores, while csf1b mutants have reduced dorsal xanthophores. Further study revealed that csf1a is expressed throughout the trunk, whereas csf1b is expressed dorsally. Ectopic expression of csf1a or csf1b in neurons attracted xanthophores into the spinal cord. Blocking csf1 signaling by csf1ra mutants disrupts spinal cord distribution and normal xanthophores countershading. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified two col1a2+ populations: csf1ahighcsf1bhigh muscle progenitors and csf1ahighcsf1blow fibroblast progenitors. Ablation of col1a2+ fibroblast and muscle progenitors abolished xanthophore patterns. Our study suggests that fibroblast and muscle progenitors differentially express csf1a and csf1b to modulate xanthophore patterning, providing insights into the mechanism of countershading.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Chen
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Honggao Wang
- Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuting Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ao Zhang
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Zhongkai Qiu
- Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jianan Y Qu
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ahuja S, Adjekukor C, Li Q, Kocha KM, Rosin N, Labit E, Sinha S, Narang A, Long Q, Biernaskie J, Huang P, Childs SJ. The development of brain pericytes requires expression of the transcription factor nkx3.1 in intermediate precursors. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002590. [PMID: 38683849 PMCID: PMC11081496 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain pericytes are one of the critical cell types that regulate endothelial barrier function and activity, thus ensuring adequate blood flow to the brain. The genetic pathways guiding undifferentiated cells into mature pericytes are not well understood. We show here that pericyte precursor populations from both neural crest and head mesoderm of zebrafish express the transcription factor nkx3.1 develop into brain pericytes. We identify the gene signature of these precursors and show that an nkx3.1-, foxf2a-, and cxcl12b-expressing pericyte precursor population is present around the basilar artery prior to artery formation and pericyte recruitment. The precursors later spread throughout the brain and differentiate to express canonical pericyte markers. Cxcl12b-Cxcr4 signaling is required for pericyte attachment and differentiation. Further, both nkx3.1 and cxcl12b are necessary and sufficient in regulating pericyte number as loss inhibits and gain increases pericyte number. Through genetic experiments, we have defined a precursor population for brain pericytes and identified genes critical for their differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suchit Ahuja
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Cynthia Adjekukor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Katrinka M. Kocha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Nicole Rosin
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Elodie Labit
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Sarthak Sinha
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Ankita Narang
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Quan Long
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jeff Biernaskie
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Sarah J. Childs
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rajan AM, Rosin NL, Labit E, Biernaskie J, Liao S, Huang P. Single-cell analysis reveals distinct fibroblast plasticity during tenocyte regeneration in zebrafish. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi5771. [PMID: 37967180 PMCID: PMC10651129 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite their importance in tissue maintenance and repair, fibroblast diversity and plasticity remain poorly understood. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we uncover distinct sclerotome-derived fibroblast populations in zebrafish, including progenitor-like perivascular/interstitial fibroblasts, and specialized fibroblasts such as tenocytes. To determine fibroblast plasticity in vivo, we develop a laser-induced tendon ablation and regeneration model. Lineage tracing reveals that laser-ablated tenocytes are quickly regenerated by preexisting fibroblasts. By combining single-cell clonal analysis and live imaging, we demonstrate that perivascular/interstitial fibroblasts actively migrate to the injury site, where they proliferate and give rise to new tenocytes. By contrast, perivascular fibroblast-derived pericytes or specialized fibroblasts, including tenocytes, exhibit no regenerative plasticity. Active Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is required for the proliferation of activated fibroblasts to ensure efficient tenocyte regeneration. Together, our work highlights the functional diversity of fibroblasts and establishes perivascular/interstitial fibroblasts as tenocyte progenitors that promote tendon regeneration in a Hh signaling-dependent manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arsheen M. Rajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Nicole L. Rosin
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Elodie Labit
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jeff Biernaskie
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Shan Liao
- Inflammation Research Network, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|