1
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Gioacchino E, Zhang W, Koyunlar C, Zink J, de Looper H, Gussinklo KJ, Hoogenboezem R, Bosch D, Bindels E, Touw IP, de Pater E. GATA2 heterozygosity causes an epigenetic feedback mechanism resulting in myeloid and erythroid dysplasia. Br J Haematol 2024. [PMID: 38887897 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The transcription factor GATA2 has a pivotal role in haematopoiesis. Heterozygous germline GATA2 mutations result in a syndrome characterized by immunodeficiency, bone marrow failure and predispositions to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia. Clinical symptoms in these patients are diverse and mechanisms driving GATA2-related phenotypes are largely unknown. To explore the impact of GATA2 haploinsufficiency on haematopoiesis, we generated a zebrafish model carrying a heterozygous mutation of gata2b (gata2b+/-), an orthologue of GATA2. Morphological analysis revealed myeloid and erythroid dysplasia in gata2b+/- kidney marrow. Because Gata2b could affect both transcription and chromatin accessibility during lineage differentiation, this was assessed by single-cell (sc) RNA-seq and single-nucleus (sn) ATAC-seq. Sn-ATAC-seq showed that the co-accessibility between the transcription start site (TSS) and a -3.5-4.1 kb putative enhancer was more robust in gata2b+/- zebrafish HSPCs compared to wild type, increasing gata2b expression and resulting in higher genome-wide Gata2b motif use in HSPCs. As a result of increased accessibility of the gata2b locus, gata2b+/- chromatin was also more accessible during lineage differentiation. scRNA-seq data revealed myeloid differentiation defects, that is, impaired cell cycle progression, reduced expression of cebpa and cebpb and increased signatures of ribosome biogenesis. These data also revealed a differentiation delay in erythroid progenitors, aberrant proliferative signatures and down-regulation of Gata1a, a master regulator of erythropoiesis, which worsened with age. These findings suggest that cell-intrinsic compensatory mechanisms, needed to obtain normal levels of Gata2b in heterozygous HSPCs to maintain their integrity, result in aberrant lineage differentiation, thereby representing a critical step in the predisposition to MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Gioacchino
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cansu Koyunlar
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joke Zink
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans de Looper
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Genome Editing Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kirsten J Gussinklo
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Remco Hoogenboezem
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Bosch
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Bindels
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ivo P Touw
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emma de Pater
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Genome Editing Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Panara V, Yu H, Peng D, Staxäng K, Hodik M, Filipek-Gorniok B, Kazenwadel J, Skoczylas R, Mason E, Allalou A, Harvey NL, Haitina T, Hogan BM, Koltowska K. Multiple cis-regulatory elements control prox1a expression in distinct lymphatic vascular beds. Development 2024; 151:dev202525. [PMID: 38722096 PMCID: PMC11128278 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202525] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
During embryonic development, lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) precursors are distinguished from blood endothelial cells by the expression of Prospero-related homeobox 1 (Prox1), which is essential for lymphatic vasculature formation in mouse and zebrafish. Prox1 expression initiation precedes LEC sprouting and migration, serving as the marker of specified LECs. Despite its crucial role in lymphatic development, Prox1 upstream regulation in LECs remains to be uncovered. SOX18 and COUP-TFII are thought to regulate Prox1 in mice by binding its promoter region. However, the specific regulation of Prox1 expression in LECs remains to be studied in detail. Here, we used evolutionary conservation and chromatin accessibility to identify enhancers located in the proximity of zebrafish prox1a active in developing LECs. We confirmed the functional role of the identified sequences through CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of a lymphatic valve enhancer. The deletion of this region results in impaired valve morphology and function. Overall, our results reveal an intricate control of prox1a expression through a collection of enhancers. Ray-finned fish-specific distal enhancers drive pan-lymphatic expression, whereas vertebrate-conserved proximal enhancers refine expression in functionally distinct subsets of lymphatic endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Panara
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
- Beijer Gene and Neuro Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
| | - Hujun Yu
- Organogenesis and Cancer Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Di Peng
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
| | - Karin Staxäng
- BioVis Core Facility, Platform EM, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
| | - Monika Hodik
- BioVis Core Facility, Platform EM, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
| | - Beata Filipek-Gorniok
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
| | - Jan Kazenwadel
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Renae Skoczylas
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth Mason
- Organogenesis and Cancer Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Amin Allalou
- Uppsala University, Department of Information Technology, Division of Visual Information and Interaction, and SciLifeLab BioImage Informatics Facility, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
| | - Natasha L. Harvey
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Tatjana Haitina
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75236, Sweden
| | - Benjamin M. Hogan
- Organogenesis and Cancer Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Katarzyna Koltowska
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
- Beijer Gene and Neuro Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden
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3
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Xie L, Tao Y, Shen Z, Deng H, Duan X, Xue Y, Chen D, Li Y. Congenital asplenia impairs heme-iron recycling during erythropoiesis in zebrafish. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 151:105108. [PMID: 38040044 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.105108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The spleen is postulated to be a hematopoietic tissue in adult fish; however, clear evidence is still lacking to define its role in hematopoietic activity. In our previous study, a congenitally asplenic zebrafish was generated though gene editing, which provided a new perspective for studying the role of fish spleen in hematopoiesis. In this study, HSC-regulated and erythrocyte marker genes, such as gata1a, gata2, klf1, hbaa1, hbaa2, hbba1 and hbba2 were significantly reduced in congenitally asplenic zebrafish when compared with wild-type (WT). Subsequently, we conducted the transcriptome profiles of whole kidneys from WT and congenitally asplenic zebrafish to explore the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the impaired erythropoiesis caused by congenital asplenia. Our results demonstrated that congenital asplenia might impair heme-iron recycling during erythropoiesis, as evidenced by significant down-regulation of genes associated with iron acquisition (tfr1a, tfa, steap3 and slc25a37) and heme biosynthesis and transport (alas2, fech, uros, urod, copx, ppox and abcb10) in congenitally asplenic zebrafish. In addition, the down-regulation of hemopoiesis-related GO terms, including heme binding, tetrapyrrole binding, iron ion binding, heme metabolic process, heme biosynthetic process, erythrocyte differentiation, iron ion homeostasis and hemoglobin metabolic process confirmed the impaired erythropoiesis induced by congenital asplenia. Our study provides an in-depth understanding of spleen function in regulating heme-iron homeostasis during hematopoiesis, thereby providing valuable insights into pathological responses in splenectomized or congenitally asplenic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Xie
- National Agricultural Science Observing and Experimental Station of Chongqing, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuhan, Hubei, 430223, China; Aquaculture Engineering Technology Research Center of Southwest University, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yixi Tao
- Aquaculture Engineering Technology Research Center of Southwest University, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ziwei Shen
- National Agricultural Science Observing and Experimental Station of Chongqing, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuhan, Hubei, 430223, China
| | - Huatang Deng
- National Agricultural Science Observing and Experimental Station of Chongqing, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuhan, Hubei, 430223, China
| | - Xinbin Duan
- National Agricultural Science Observing and Experimental Station of Chongqing, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuhan, Hubei, 430223, China
| | - Yang Xue
- Chongqing Fisheries Technical Extension Center, Chongqing, 400020, China
| | - Daqing Chen
- National Agricultural Science Observing and Experimental Station of Chongqing, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuhan, Hubei, 430223, China
| | - Yun Li
- Aquaculture Engineering Technology Research Center of Southwest University, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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4
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Peters IJA, de Pater E, Zhang W. The role of GATA2 in adult hematopoiesis and cell fate determination. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1250827. [PMID: 38033856 PMCID: PMC10682726 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1250827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The correct maintenance and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in bone marrow is vital for the maintenance and operation of the human blood system. GATA2 plays a critical role in the maintenance of HSCs and the specification of HSCs into the different hematopoietic lineages, highlighted by the various defects observed in patients with heterozygous mutations in GATA2, resulting in cytopenias, bone marrow failure and increased chance of myeloid malignancy, termed GATA2 deficiency syndrome. Despite this, the mechanisms underlying GATA2 deficiency syndrome remain to be elucidated. The detailed description of how GATA2 regulates HSC maintenance and blood lineage determination is crucial to unravel the pathogenesis of GATA2 deficiency syndrome. In this review, we summarize current advances in elucidating the role of GATA2 in hematopoietic cell fate determination and discuss the challenges of modeling GATA2 deficiency syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wei Zhang
- *Correspondence: Wei Zhang, ; Emma de Pater,
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5
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Jimenez Gonzalez A, Baranasic D, Müller F. Zebrafish regulatory genomic resources for disease modelling and regeneration. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050280. [PMID: 37529920 PMCID: PMC10417509 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decades, the zebrafish has become a disease model with increasing popularity owing to its advantages that include fast development, easy genetic manipulation, simplicity for imaging, and sharing conserved disease-associated genes and pathways with those of human. In parallel, studies of disease mechanisms are increasingly focusing on non-coding mutations, which require genome annotation maps of regulatory elements, such as enhancers and promoters. In line with this, genomic resources for zebrafish research are expanding, producing a variety of genomic data that help in defining regulatory elements and their conservation between zebrafish and humans. Here, we discuss recent developments in generating functional annotation maps for regulatory elements of the zebrafish genome and how this can be applied to human diseases. We highlight community-driven developments, such as DANIO-CODE, in generating a centralised and standardised catalogue of zebrafish genomics data and functional annotations; consider the advantages and limitations of current annotation maps; and offer considerations for interpreting and integrating existing maps with comparative genomics tools. We also discuss the need for developing standardised genomics protocols and bioinformatic pipelines and provide suggestions for the development of analysis and visualisation tools that will integrate various multiomic bulk sequencing data together with fast-expanding data on single-cell methods, such as single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing. Such integration tools are essential to exploit the multiomic chromatin characterisation offered by bulk genomics together with the cell-type resolution offered by emerging single-cell methods. Together, these advances will build an expansive toolkit for interrogating the mechanisms of human disease in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Jimenez Gonzalez
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Damir Baranasic
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, UK
- Division of Electronics, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ferenc Müller
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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6
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Mahony CB, Copper L, Vrljicak P, Noyvert B, Constantinidou C, Browne S, Pan Y, Palles C, Ott S, Higgs MR, Monteiro R. Lineage skewing and genome instability underlie marrow failure in a zebrafish model of GATA2 deficiency. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112571. [PMID: 37256751 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited bone marrow failure associated with heterozygous mutations in GATA2 predisposes toward hematological malignancies, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the mechanistic basis of marrow failure in a zebrafish model of GATA2 deficiency. Single-cell transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility assays reveal that loss of gata2a leads to skewing toward the erythroid lineage at the expense of myeloid cells, associated with loss of cebpa expression and decreased PU.1 and CEBPA transcription factor accessibility in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Furthermore, gata2a mutants show impaired expression of npm1a, the zebrafish NPM1 ortholog. Progressive loss of npm1a in HSPCs is associated with elevated levels of DNA damage in gata2a mutants. Thus, Gata2a maintains myeloid lineage priming through cebpa and protects against genome instability and marrow failure by maintaining expression of npm1a. Our results establish a potential mechanism underlying bone marrow failure in GATA2 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Mahony
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Lucy Copper
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Cancer Research UK Birmingham Centre, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Pavle Vrljicak
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Boris Noyvert
- Centre for Computational Biology, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Chrystala Constantinidou
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Bioinformatics Research Technology Platform, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sofia Browne
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Yi Pan
- Centre for Computational Biology, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claire Palles
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sascha Ott
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Bioinformatics Research Technology Platform, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Martin R Higgs
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rui Monteiro
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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7
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Begeman IJ, Emery B, Kurth A, Kang J. Regeneration and developmental enhancers are differentially compatible with minimal promoters. Dev Biol 2022; 492:47-58. [PMID: 36167150 PMCID: PMC10211259 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.09.007] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Enhancers and promoters are cis-regulatory elements that control gene expression. Enhancers are activated in a cell type-, tissue-, and condition-specific manner to stimulate promoter function and transcription. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful animal model for examining the activities of enhancers derived from various species through transgenic enhancer assays, in which an enhancer is coupled with a minimal promoter. However, the efficiency of minimal promoters and their compatibility with multiple developmental and regeneration enhancers have not been systematically tested in zebrafish. Thus, we assessed the efficiency of six minimal promoters and comprehensively interrogated the compatibility of the promoters with developmental and regeneration enhancers. We found that the fos minimal promoter and Drosophila synthetic core promoter (DSCP) yielded high rates of leaky expression that may complicate the interpretation of enhancer assays. Notably, the adenovirus E1b promoter, the zebrafish lepb 0.8-kb (P0.8) and lepb 2-kb (P2) promoters, and a new zebrafish synthetic promoter (ZSP) that combines elements of the E1b and P0.8 promoters drove little or no ectopic expression, making them suitable for transgenic assays. We also found significant differences in compatibility among specific combinations of promoters and enhancers, indicating the importance of promoters as key regulatory elements determining the specificity of gene expression. Our study provides guidelines for transgenic enhancer assays in zebrafish to aid in the discovery of functional enhancers regulating development and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian J Begeman
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Benjamin Emery
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Andrew Kurth
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Junsu Kang
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; UW Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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8
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Leyhr J, Waldmann L, Filipek-Górniok B, Zhang H, Allalou A, Haitina T. A novel cis-regulatory element drives early expression of Nkx3.2 in the gnathostome primary jaw joint. eLife 2022; 11:75749. [PMCID: PMC9665848 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The acquisition of movable jaws was a major event during vertebrate evolution. The role of NK3 homeobox 2 (Nkx3.2) transcription factor in patterning the primary jaw joint of gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) is well known, however knowledge about its regulatory mechanism is lacking. In this study, we report a proximal enhancer element of Nkx3.2 that is deeply conserved in most gnathostomes but undetectable in the jawless hagfish and lamprey. This enhancer is active in the developing jaw joint region of the zebrafish Danio rerio, and was thus designated as jaw joint regulatory sequence 1 (JRS1). We further show that JRS1 enhancer sequences from a range of gnathostome species, including a chondrichthyan and mammals, have the same activity in the jaw joint as the native zebrafish enhancer, indicating a high degree of functional conservation despite the divergence of cartilaginous and bony fish lineages or the transition of the primary jaw joint into the middle ear of mammals. Finally, we show that deletion of JRS1 from the zebrafish genome using CRISPR/Cas9 results in a significant reduction of early gene expression of nkx3.2 and leads to a transient jaw joint deformation and partial fusion. Emergence of this Nkx3.2 enhancer in early gnathostomes may have contributed to the origin and shaping of the articulating surfaces of vertebrate jaws.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Leyhr
- Subdepartment of Evolution and Development, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
| | - Laura Waldmann
- Subdepartment of Evolution and Development, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
| | - Beata Filipek-Górniok
- Science for Life Laboratory Genome Engineering Zebrafish Facility, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
| | - Hanqing Zhang
- Division of Visual Information and Interaction, Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University
- Science for Life Laboratory BioImage Informatics Facility
| | - Amin Allalou
- Division of Visual Information and Interaction, Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University
- Science for Life Laboratory BioImage Informatics Facility
| | - Tatjana Haitina
- Subdepartment of Evolution and Development, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
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9
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Kotmayer L, Romero‐Moya D, Marin‐Bejar O, Kozyra E, Català A, Bigas A, Wlodarski MW, Bödör C, Giorgetti A. GATA2 deficiency and MDS/AML: Experimental strategies for disease modelling and future therapeutic prospects. Br J Haematol 2022; 199:482-495. [PMID: 35753998 PMCID: PMC9796058 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The importance of predisposition to leukaemia in clinical practice is being increasingly recognized. This is emphasized by the establishment of a novel WHO disease category in 2016 called "myeloid neoplasms with germline predisposition". A major syndrome within this group is GATA2 deficiency, a heterogeneous immunodeficiency syndrome with a very high lifetime risk to develop myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). GATA2 deficiency has been identified as the most common hereditary cause of MDS in adolescents with monosomy 7. Allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative option; however, chances of survival decrease with progression of immunodeficiency and MDS evolution. Penetrance and expressivity within families carrying GATA2 mutations is often variable, suggesting that co-operating extrinsic events are required to trigger the disease. Predictive tools are lacking, and intrafamilial heterogeneity is poorly understood; hence there is a clear unmet medical need. On behalf of the ERAPerMed GATA2 HuMo consortium, in this review we describe the genetic, clinical, and biological aspects of familial GATA2-related MDS, highlighting the importance of developing robust disease preclinical models to improve early detection and clinical decision-making of GATA2 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Kotmayer
- HCEMM‐SE Molecular Oncohematology Research Group, 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer ResearchSemmelweis UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Damia Romero‐Moya
- Regenerative Medicine ProgramInstitut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Oskar Marin‐Bejar
- Regenerative Medicine ProgramInstitut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Emilia Kozyra
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Center, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany,Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Albert Català
- Department of Hematology and OncologyInstitut de Recerca Sant Joan de DéuHospital Sant Joan de DeuBarcelonaSpain,Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare DiseasesInstituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Anna Bigas
- Cancer Research ProgramInstitut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, CIBERONC, Hospital del MarBarcelonaSpain,Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC), BadalonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Marcin W. Wlodarski
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Center, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany,Department of HematologySt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Csaba Bödör
- HCEMM‐SE Molecular Oncohematology Research Group, 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer ResearchSemmelweis UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Alessandra Giorgetti
- Regenerative Medicine ProgramInstitut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)BarcelonaSpain,Fondazione Pisana Per la Scienza ONLUS (FPS)San Giuliano TermeItaly,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesBarcelona UniversityBarcelonaSpain
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10
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Panara V, Monteiro R, Koltowska K. Epigenetic Regulation of Endothelial Cell Lineages During Zebrafish Development-New Insights From Technical Advances. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:891538. [PMID: 35615697 PMCID: PMC9125237 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.891538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation is integral in orchestrating the spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression which underlies tissue development. The emergence of new tools to assess genome-wide epigenetic modifications has enabled significant advances in the field of vascular biology in zebrafish. Zebrafish represents a powerful model to investigate the activity of cis-regulatory elements in vivo by combining technologies such as ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq and CUT&Tag with the generation of transgenic lines and live imaging to validate the activity of these regulatory elements. Recently, this approach led to the identification and characterization of key enhancers of important vascular genes, such as gata2a, notch1b and dll4. In this review we will discuss how the latest technologies in epigenetics are being used in the zebrafish to determine chromatin states and assess the function of the cis-regulatory sequences that shape the zebrafish vascular network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Panara
- Immunology Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rui Monteiro
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,Birmingham Centre of Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Katarzyna Koltowska
- Immunology Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,*Correspondence: Katarzyna Koltowska,
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11
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Bresciani E, Carrington B, Yu K, Kim EM, Zhen T, Guzman VS, Broadbridge E, Bishop K, Kirby M, Harper U, Wincovitch S, Dell’Orso S, Sartorelli V, Sood R, Liu P. Redundant mechanisms driven independently by RUNX1 and GATA2 for hematopoietic development. Blood Adv 2021; 5:4949-4962. [PMID: 34492681 PMCID: PMC9153008 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RUNX1 is essential for the generation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Runx1-null mouse embryos lack definitive hematopoiesis and die in mid-gestation. However, although zebrafish embryos with a runx1 W84X mutation have defects in early definitive hematopoiesis, some runx1W84X/W84X embryos can develop to fertile adults with blood cells of multilineages, raising the possibility that HSCs can emerge without RUNX1. Here, using 3 new zebrafish runx1-/- lines, we uncovered the compensatory mechanism for runx1-independent hematopoiesis. We show that, in the absence of a functional runx1, a cd41-green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ population of hematopoietic precursors still emerge from the hemogenic endothelium and can colonize the hematopoietic tissues of the mutant embryos. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the cd41-GFP+ cells identified a set of runx1-/--specific signature genes during hematopoiesis. Significantly, gata2b, which normally acts upstream of runx1 for the generation of HSCs, was increased in the cd41-GFP+ cells in runx1-/- embryos. Interestingly, genetic inactivation of both gata2b and its paralog gata2a did not affect hematopoiesis. However, knocking out runx1 and any 3 of the 4 alleles of gata2a and gata2b abolished definitive hematopoiesis. Gata2 expression was also upregulated in hematopoietic cells in Runx1-/- mice, suggesting the compensatory mechanism is conserved. Our findings indicate that RUNX1 and GATA2 serve redundant roles for HSC production, acting as each other's safeguard.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kai Yu
- Oncogenesis and Development Section
| | | | - Tao Zhen
- Oncogenesis and Development Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stephen Wincovitch
- Cytogenetics and Microscopy Core, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Vittorio Sartorelli
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Raman Sood
- Oncogenesis and Development Section
- Zebrafish Core
| | - Paul Liu
- Oncogenesis and Development Section
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12
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Sugden WW, North TE. Making Blood from the Vessel: Extrinsic and Environmental Cues Guiding the Endothelial-to-Hematopoietic Transition. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101027. [PMID: 34685398 PMCID: PMC8539454 DOI: 10.3390/life11101027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
It is increasingly recognized that specialized subsets of endothelial cells carry out unique functions in specific organs and regions of the vascular tree. Perhaps the most striking example of this specialization is the ability to contribute to the generation of the blood system, in which a distinct population of “hemogenic” endothelial cells in the embryo transforms irreversibly into hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that produce circulating erythroid, myeloid and lymphoid cells for the lifetime of an animal. This review will focus on recent advances made in the zebrafish model organism uncovering the extrinsic and environmental factors that facilitate hemogenic commitment and the process of endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition that produces blood stem cells. We highlight in particular biomechanical influences of hemodynamic forces and the extracellular matrix, metabolic and sterile inflammatory cues present during this developmental stage, and outline new avenues opened by transcriptomic-based approaches to decipher cell–cell communication mechanisms as examples of key signals in the embryonic niche that regulate hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wade W. Sugden
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Trista E. North
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence:
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13
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Using the Zebrafish as a Genetic Model to Study Erythropoiesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910475. [PMID: 34638816 PMCID: PMC8508994 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrates generate mature red blood cells (RBCs) via a highly regulated, multistep process called erythropoiesis. Erythropoiesis involves synthesis of heme and hemoglobin, clearance of the nuclei and other organelles, and remodeling of the plasma membrane, and these processes are exquisitely coordinated by specific regulatory factors including transcriptional factors and signaling molecules. Defects in erythropoiesis can lead to blood disorders such as congenital dyserythropoietic anemias, Diamond–Blackfan anemias, sideroblastic anemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, and porphyria. The molecular mechanisms of erythropoiesis are highly conserved between fish and mammals, and the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has provided a powerful genetic model for studying erythropoiesis. Studies in zebrafish have yielded important insights into RBC development and established a number of models for human blood diseases. Here, we focus on latest discoveries of the molecular processes and mechanisms regulating zebrafish erythropoiesis and summarize newly established zebrafish models of human anemias.
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14
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Peña OA, Lubin A, Rowell J, Hoade Y, Khokhar N, Lemmik H, Mahony C, Dace P, Umamahesan C, Payne EM. Differential Requirement of Gata2a and Gata2b for Primitive and Definitive Myeloid Development in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:708113. [PMID: 34589480 PMCID: PMC8475954 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.708113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Germline loss or mutation of one copy of the transcription factor GATA2 in humans leads to a range of clinical phenotypes affecting hematopoietic, lymphatic and vascular systems. GATA2 heterozygous mice show only a limited repertoire of the features observed in humans. Zebrafish have two copies of the Gata2 gene as a result of an additional round of ancestral whole genome duplication. These genes, Gata2a and Gata2b, show distinct but overlapping expression patterns, and between them, highlight a significantly broader range of the phenotypes observed in GATA2 deficient syndromes, than each one alone. In this manuscript, we use mutants for Gata2a and Gata2b to interrogate the effects on hematopoiesis of these two ohnologs, alone and in combination, during development in order to further define the role of GATA2 in developmental hematopoiesis. We define unique roles for each ohnolog at different stages of developmental myelopoiesis and for the emergence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. These effects are not additive in the haploinsufficient state suggesting a redundancy between these two genes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Rescue studies additionally support that Gata2b can compensate for the effects of Gata2a loss. Finally we show that adults with loss of combined heterozygosity show defects in the myeloid compartment consistent with GATA2 loss in humans. These results build on existing knowledge from other models of GATA2 deficiency and refine our understanding of the early developmental effects of GATA2. In addition, these studies shed light on the complexity and potential structure-function relationships as well as sub-functionalization of Gata2 genes in the zebrafish model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A. Peña
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Lubin
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmine Rowell
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yvette Hoade
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Noreen Khokhar
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hanna Lemmik
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Mahony
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Phoebe Dace
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chianna Umamahesan
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elspeth M. Payne
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)/UCLH Clinical Research Facility, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Single-cell ATAC-seq reveals GATA2-dependent priming defect in myeloid and a maturation bottleneck in lymphoid lineages. Blood Adv 2021; 5:2673-2686. [PMID: 34170284 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Germline heterozygous mutations in GATA2 are associated with a syndrome characterized by cytopenias, atypical infections, and increased risk of hematologic malignancies. Here, we generated a zebrafish mutant of gata2b that recapitulated the myelomonocytopenia and B-cell lymphopenia of GATA2 deficiency syndrome. Using single-cell assay for transposase accessible chromatin with sequencing of marrow cells, we showed that loss of gata2b led to contrasting alterations in chromosome accessibility in early myeloid and lymphoid progenitors, associated with defects in gene expression. Within the myeloid lineage in gata2b mutant zebrafish, we identified an attenuated myeloid differentiation with reduced transcriptional priming and skewing away from the monocytic program. In contrast, in early lymphoid progenitors, gata2b loss led to accumulation of B-lymphoid transcription factor accessibility coupled with increased expression of the B-cell lineage-specification program. However, gata2b mutant zebrafish had incomplete B-cell lymphopoiesis with loss of lineage-specific transcription factor accessibility in differentiating B cells, in the context of aberrantly reduced oxidative metabolic pathways. Our results establish that transcriptional events in early progenitors driven by Gata2 are required to complete normal differentiation.
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16
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Essential role for Gata2 in modulating lineage output from hematopoietic stem cells in zebrafish. Blood Adv 2021; 5:2687-2700. [PMID: 34170285 PMCID: PMC8288679 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is tightly controlled to ensure a proper balance between myeloid and lymphoid cell output. GATA2 is a pivotal hematopoietic transcription factor required for generation and maintenance of HSCs. GATA2 is expressed throughout development, but because of early embryonic lethality in mice, its role during adult hematopoiesis is incompletely understood. Zebrafish contains 2 orthologs of GATA2: Gata2a and Gata2b, which are expressed in different cell types. We show that the mammalian functions of GATA2 are split between these orthologs. Gata2b-deficient zebrafish have a reduction in embryonic definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) numbers, but are viable. This allows us to uniquely study the role of GATA2 in adult hematopoiesis. gata2b mutants have impaired myeloid lineage differentiation. Interestingly, this defect arises not in granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, but in HSPCs. Gata2b-deficient HSPCs showed impaired progression of the myeloid transcriptional program, concomitant with increased coexpression of lymphoid genes. This resulted in a decrease in myeloid-programmed progenitors and a relative increase in lymphoid-programmed progenitors. This shift in the lineage output could function as an escape mechanism to avoid a block in lineage differentiation. Our study helps to deconstruct the functions of GATA2 during hematopoiesis and shows that lineage differentiation flows toward a lymphoid lineage in the absence of Gata2b.
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17
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Soto RA, Najia MAT, Hachimi M, Frame JM, Yette GA, Lummertz da Rocha E, Stankunas K, Daley GQ, North TE. Sequential regulation of hemogenic fate and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell formation from arterial endothelium by Ezh1/2. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1718-1734. [PMID: 34143974 PMCID: PMC8282472 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Across species, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) arise during embryogenesis from a specialized arterial population, termed hemogenic endothelium. Here, we describe a mechanistic role for the epigenetic regulator, Enhancer of zeste homolog-1 (Ezh1), in vertebrate HSPC production via regulation of hemogenic commitment. Loss of ezh1 in zebrafish embryos favored acquisition of hemogenic (gata2b) and HSPC (runx1) fate at the expense of the arterial program (ephrinb2a, dll4). In contrast, ezh1 overexpression blocked hematopoietic progression via maintenance of arterial gene expression. The related Polycomb group subunit, Ezh2, functioned in a non-redundant, sequential manner, whereby inhibition had no impact on arterial identity, but was capable of blocking ezh1-knockdown-associated HSPC expansion. Single-cell RNA sequencing across ezh1 genotypes revealed a dropout of ezh1+/− cells among arterial endothelium associated with positive regulation of gene transcription. Exploitation of Ezh1/2 modulation has potential functional relevance for improving in vitro HSPC differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cell sources. ezh1 loss increases HSPC and lymphoid progenitor formation during embryogenesis ezh1 loss promotes a developmental shift from arterial to hemogenic fate in the DA Ezh2 functions downstream of Ezh1-regulated arterial identity in HSPC commitment scRNA-seq confirms ezh1 loss modifies distinct arterial associated gene programs
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Soto
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mohamad Ali T Najia
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Health Sciences & Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mariam Hachimi
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jenna M Frame
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gabriel A Yette
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Kryn Stankunas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - George Q Daley
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Trista E North
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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18
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Kobar K, Collett K, Prykhozhij SV, Berman JN. Zebrafish Cancer Predisposition Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:660069. [PMID: 33987182 PMCID: PMC8112447 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.660069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer predisposition syndromes are rare, typically monogenic disorders that result from germline mutations that increase the likelihood of developing cancer. Although these disorders are individually rare, resulting cancers collectively represent 5-10% of all malignancies. In addition to a greater incidence of cancer, affected individuals have an earlier tumor onset and are frequently subjected to long-term multi-modal cancer screening protocols for earlier detection and initiation of treatment. In vivo models are needed to better understand tumor-driving mechanisms, tailor patient screening approaches and develop targeted therapies to improve patient care and disease prognosis. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a robust model for cancer research due to its high fecundity, time- and cost-efficient genetic manipulation and real-time high-resolution imaging. Tumors developing in zebrafish cancer models are histologically and molecularly similar to their human counterparts, confirming the validity of these models. The zebrafish platform supports both large-scale random mutagenesis screens to identify potential candidate/modifier genes and recently optimized genome editing strategies. These techniques have greatly increased our ability to investigate the impact of certain mutations and how these lesions impact tumorigenesis and disease phenotype. These unique characteristics position the zebrafish as a powerful in vivo tool to model cancer predisposition syndromes and as such, several have already been created, including those recapitulating Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, RASopathies, inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, and several other pathogenic mutations in cancer predisposition genes. In addition, the zebrafish platform supports medium- to high-throughput preclinical drug screening to identify compounds that may represent novel treatment paradigms or even prevent cancer evolution. This review will highlight and synthesize the findings from zebrafish cancer predisposition models created to date. We will discuss emerging trends in how these zebrafish cancer models can improve our understanding of the genetic mechanisms driving cancer predisposition and their potential to discover therapeutic and/or preventative compounds that change the natural history of disease for these vulnerable children, youth and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Kobar
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Keon Collett
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jason N. Berman
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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19
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Bergo V, Trompouki E. New tools for 'ZEBRA-FISHING'. Brief Funct Genomics 2021:elab001. [PMID: 33605988 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elab001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish has been established as a classical model for developmental studies, yet in the past years, with the explosion of novel technological methods, the use of zebrafish as a model has expanded. One of the prominent fields that took advantage of zebrafish as a model organism early on is hematopoiesis, the process of blood cell generation from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). In zebrafish, HSPCs are born early during development in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region and then translocate to the caudal hematopoietic tissue, where they expand and finally take residence in the kidney marrow. This journey is tightly regulated at multiple levels from extracellular signals to chromatin. In order to delineate the mechanistic underpinnings of this process, next-generation sequencing techniques could be an important ally. Here, we describe genome-wide approaches that have been undertaken to delineate zebrafish hematopoiesis.
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