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Shin K, Rodriguez-Parks A, Kim C, Silaban IM, Xia Y, Sun J, Dong C, Keles S, Wang J, Cao J, Kang J. Harnessing the regenerative potential of interleukin11 to enhance heart repair. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.29.577788. [PMID: 38352555 PMCID: PMC10862709 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.29.577788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Balancing between regenerative processes and fibrosis is crucial for heart repair, yet strategies regulating this balance remain a barrier to developing therapies. While Interleukin11 (IL11) is known as a fibrotic factor, its contribution to heart regeneration is poorly understood. We uncovered that il11a, an Il11 homolog in zebrafish, can trigger robust regenerative programs in zebrafish hearts, including cardiomyocytes proliferation and coronary expansion, even in the absence of injury. However, prolonged il11a induction in uninjured hearts causes persistent fibroblast emergence, resulting in fibrosis. While deciphering the regenerative and fibrotic effects of il11a, we found that il11-dependent fibrosis, but not regeneration, is mediated through ERK activity, suggesting to potentially uncouple il11a dual effects on regeneration and fibrosis. To harness the il11a's regenerative ability, we devised a combinatorial treatment through il11a induction with ERK inhibition. This approach enhances cardiomyocyte proliferation with mitigated fibrosis, achieving a balance between regenerative processes and fibrosis. Thus, we unveil the mechanistic insights into regenerative il11 roles, offering therapeutic avenues to foster cardiac repair without exacerbating fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwangdeok Shin
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Anjelica Rodriguez-Parks
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Chanul Kim
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Isabella M Silaban
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Yu Xia
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jisheng Sun
- Cardiology Division, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Chenyang Dong
- Departments of Statistics and of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sunduz Keles
- Departments of Statistics and of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jinhu Wang
- Cardiology Division, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jingli Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, 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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2
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Ando K, Ou J, Thompson JD, Welsby J, Bangru S, Shen J, Wei X, Diao Y, Poss KD. A screen for regeneration-associated silencer regulatory elements in zebrafish. Dev Cell 2024; 59:676-691.e5. [PMID: 38290519 PMCID: PMC10939760 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.004] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Regeneration involves gene expression changes explained in part by context-dependent recruitment of transcriptional activators to distal enhancers. Silencers that engage repressive transcriptional complexes are less studied than enhancers and more technically challenging to validate, but they potentially have profound biological importance for regeneration. Here, we identified candidate silencers through a screening process that examined the ability of DNA sequences to limit injury-induced gene expression in larval zebrafish after fin amputation. A short sequence (s1) on chromosome 5 near several genes that reduce expression during adult fin regeneration could suppress promoter activity in stable transgenic lines and diminish nearby gene expression in knockin lines. High-resolution analysis of chromatin organization identified physical associations of s1 with gene promoters occurring preferentially during fin regeneration, and genomic deletion of s1 elevated the expression of these genes after fin amputation. Our study provides methods to identify "tissue regeneration silencer elements" (TRSEs) with the potential to reduce unnecessary or deleterious gene expression during regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazunori Ando
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jianhong Ou
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - John D Thompson
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - John Welsby
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sushant Bangru
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jingwen Shen
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Xiaolin Wei
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yarui Diao
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kenneth D Poss
- Duke Regeneration Center and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Dong Y, Yang Y, Wang H, Feng D, Nist E, Yapundich N, Spurlock B, Craft M, Qian L, Liu J. Single-cell chromatin profiling reveals genetic programs activating proregenerative states in nonmyocyte cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk4694. [PMID: 38381829 PMCID: PMC10881044 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk4694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac regeneration requires coordinated participation of multiple cell types whereby their communications result in transient activation of proregenerative cell states. Although the molecular characteristics and lineage origins of these activated cell states and their contribution to cardiac regeneration have been studied, the extracellular signaling and the intrinsic genetic program underlying the activation of the transient functional cell states remain largely unexplored. In this study, we delineated the chromatin landscapes of the noncardiomyocytes (nonCMs) of the regenerating heart at the single-cell level and inferred the cis-regulatory architectures and trans-acting factors that control cell type-specific gene expression programs. Moreover, further motif analysis and cell-specific genetic manipulations suggest that the macrophage-derived inflammatory signal tumor necrosis factor-α, acting via its downstream transcription factor complex activator protein-1, functions cooperatively with discrete transcription regulators to activate respective nonCM cell types critical for cardiac regeneration. Thus, our study defines the regulatory architectures and intercellular communication principles in zebrafish heart regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhan Dong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haofei Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dong Feng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Elizabeth Nist
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Nicholas Yapundich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Brian Spurlock
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Madison Craft
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Weinberger M, Riley PR. Animal models to study cardiac regeneration. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:89-105. [PMID: 37580429 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00914-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Permanent fibrosis and chronic deterioration of heart function in patients after myocardial infarction present a major health-care burden worldwide. In contrast to the restricted potential for cellular and functional regeneration of the adult mammalian heart, a robust capacity for cardiac regeneration is seen during the neonatal period in mammals as well as in the adults of many fish and amphibian species. However, we lack a complete understanding as to why cardiac regeneration takes place more efficiently in some species than in others. The capacity of the heart to regenerate after injury is controlled by a complex network of cellular and molecular mechanisms that form a regulatory landscape, either permitting or restricting regeneration. In this Review, we provide an overview of the diverse array of vertebrates that have been studied for their cardiac regenerative potential and discuss differential heart regeneration outcomes in closely related species. Additionally, we summarize current knowledge about the core mechanisms that regulate cardiac regeneration across vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weinberger
- Institute of Developmental & Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul R Riley
- Institute of Developmental & Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Shin K, Begeman IJ, Cao J, Kang J. leptin b and its regeneration enhancer illustrate the regenerative features of zebrafish hearts. Dev Dyn 2024; 253:91-106. [PMID: 36495292 PMCID: PMC10256838 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.556] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zebrafish possess a remarkable regenerative capacity, which is mediated by the induction of various genes upon injury. Injury-dependent transcription is governed by the tissue regeneration enhancer elements (TREEs). Here, we utilized leptin b (lepb), an injury-specific factor, and its TREE to dissect heterogeneity of noncardiomyocytes (CMs) in regenerating hearts. RESULTS Our single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis demonstrated that the endothelium/endocardium(EC) is activated to induce distinct subpopulations upon injury. We demonstrated that lepb can be utilized as a regeneration-specific marker to subset injury-activated ECs. lepb+ ECs robustly induce pro-regenerative factors, implicating lepb+ ECs as a signaling center to interact with other cardiac cells. Our scRNA-seq analysis identified that lepb is also produced by subpopulation of epicardium (Epi) and epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs). To determine whether lepb labels injury-emerging non-CM cells, we tested the activity of lepb-linked regeneration enhancer (LEN) with chromatin accessibility profiles and transgenic lines. While nondetectable in uninjured hearts, LEN directs EC and Epi/EPDC expression upon injury. The endogenous LEN activity was assessed using LEN deletion lines, demonstrating that LEN deletion abolished injury-dependent expression of lepb, but not other nearby genes. CONCLUSIONS Our integrative analyses identify regeneration-emerging cell-types and factors, leading to the discovery of regenerative features of hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwangdeok Shin
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Ian J. Begeman
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Jingli Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Junsu Kang
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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Ji L, Shi Y, Bian Q. Comparative genomics analyses reveal sequence determinants underlying interspecies variations in injury-responsive enhancers. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:177. [PMID: 37020217 PMCID: PMC10077677 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09283-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injury induces profound transcriptional remodeling events, which could lead to only wound healing, partial tissue repair, or perfect regeneration in different species. Injury-responsive enhancers (IREs) are cis-regulatory elements activated in response to injury signals, and have been demonstrated to promote tissue regeneration in some organisms such as zebrafish and flies. However, the functional significances of IREs in mammals remain elusive. Moreover, whether the transcriptional responses elicited by IREs upon injury are conserved or specialized in different species, and what sequence features may underlie the functional variations of IREs have not been elucidated. RESULTS We identified a set of IREs that are activated in both regenerative and non-regenerative neonatal mouse hearts upon myocardial ischemia-induced damage by integrative epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses. Motif enrichment analysis showed that AP-1 and ETS transcription factor binding motifs are significantly enriched in both zebrafish and mouse IREs. However, the IRE-associated genes vary considerably between the two species. We further found that the IRE-related sequences in zebrafish and mice diverge greatly, with the loss of IRE inducibility accompanied by a reduction in AP-1 and ETS motif frequencies. The functional turnover of IREs between zebrafish and mice is correlated with changes in transcriptional responses of the IRE-associated genes upon injury. Using mouse cardiomyocytes as a model, we demonstrated that the reduction in AP-1 or ETS motif frequency attenuates the activation of IREs in response to hypoxia-induced damage. CONCLUSIONS By performing comparative genomics analyses on IREs, we demonstrated that inter-species variations in AP-1 and ETS motifs may play an important role in defining the functions of enhancers during injury response. Our findings provide important insights for understanding the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional remodeling in response to injury across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luzhang Ji
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Yuanyuan Shi
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Qian Bian
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China.
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Rolland L, Jopling C. The multifaceted nature of endogenous cardiac regeneration. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1138485. [PMID: 36998973 PMCID: PMC10043193 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1138485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first evidence of cardiac regeneration was observed, almost 50 years ago, more studies have highlighted the endogenous regenerative abilities of several models following cardiac injury. In particular, analysis of cardiac regeneration in zebrafish and neonatal mice has uncovered numerous mechanisms involved in the regenerative process. It is now apparent that cardiac regeneration is not simply achieved by inducing cardiomyocytes to proliferate but requires a multifaceted response involving numerous different cell types, signaling pathways and mechanisms which must all work in harmony in order for regeneration to occur. In this review we will endeavor to highlight a variety of processes that have been identifed as being essential for cardiac regeneration.
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Tamaki T, Yoshida T, Shibata E, Nishihara H, Ochi H, Kawakami A. Splashed E-box and AP-1 motifs cooperatively drive regeneration response and shape regeneration abilities. Biol Open 2023; 12:286596. [PMID: 36636913 PMCID: PMC9922731 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Injury triggers a genetic program that induces gene expression for regeneration. Recent studies have identified regeneration-response enhancers (RREs); however, it remains unclear whether a common mechanism operates in these RREs. We identified three RREs from the zebrafish fn1b promoter by searching for conserved sequences within the surrounding genomic regions of regeneration-induced genes and performed a transgenic assay for regeneration response. Two regions contained in the transposons displayed RRE activity when combined with the -0.7 kb fn1b promoter. Another non-transposon element functioned as a stand-alone enhancer in combination with a minimum promoter. By searching for transcription factor-binding motifs and validation by transgenic assays, we revealed that the cooperation of E-box and activator protein 1 motifs is necessary and sufficient for regenerative response. Such RREs respond to variety of tissue injuries, including those in the zebrafish heart and Xenopus limb buds. Our findings suggest that the fidelity of regeneration response is ensured by the two signals evoked by tissue injuries. It is speculated that a large pool of potential enhancers in the genome has helped shape the regenerative capacities during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruhisa Tamaki
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Takafumi Yoshida
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Eri Shibata
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Hidenori Nishihara
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Haruki Ochi
- Institute for Promotion of Medical Science Research, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, Yamagata Pref. 990-9585, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kawakami
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan,Author for correspondence ()
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Cao Y, Xia Y, Balowski JJ, Ou J, Song L, Safi A, Curtis T, Crawford GE, Poss KD, Cao J. Identification of enhancer regulatory elements that direct epicardial gene expression during zebrafish heart regeneration. Development 2022; 149:dev200133. [PMID: 35179181 PMCID: PMC8918790 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The epicardium is a mesothelial tissue layer that envelops the heart. Cardiac injury activates dynamic gene expression programs in epicardial tissue, which in zebrafish enables subsequent regeneration through paracrine and vascularizing effects. To identify tissue regeneration enhancer elements (TREEs) that control injury-induced epicardial gene expression during heart regeneration, we profiled transcriptomes and chromatin accessibility in epicardial cells purified from regenerating zebrafish hearts. We identified hundreds of candidate TREEs, which are defined by increased chromatin accessibility of non-coding elements near genes with increased expression during regeneration. Several of these candidate TREEs were incorporated into stable transgenic lines, with five out of six elements directing injury-induced epicardial expression but not ontogenetic epicardial expression in larval hearts. Whereas two independent TREEs linked to the gene gnai3 showed similar functional features of gene regulation in transgenic lines, two independent ncam1a-linked TREEs directed distinct spatiotemporal domains of epicardial gene expression. Thus, multiple TREEs linked to a regeneration gene can possess either matching or complementary regulatory controls. Our study provides a new resource and principles for understanding the regulation of epicardial genetic programs during heart regeneration. This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxi Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Yu Xia
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Joseph J. Balowski
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jianhong Ou
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Lingyun Song
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Alexias Safi
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Timothy Curtis
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Gregory E. Crawford
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kenneth D. Poss
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jingli Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Parisi C, Vashisht S, Winata CL. Fish-Ing for Enhancers in the Heart. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3914. [PMID: 33920121 PMCID: PMC8069060 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise control of gene expression is crucial to ensure proper development and biological functioning of an organism. Enhancers are non-coding DNA elements which play an essential role in regulating gene expression. They contain specific sequence motifs serving as binding sites for transcription factors which interact with the basal transcription machinery at their target genes. Heart development is regulated by intricate gene regulatory network ensuring precise spatiotemporal gene expression program. Mutations affecting enhancers have been shown to result in devastating forms of congenital heart defect. Therefore, identifying enhancers implicated in heart biology and understanding their mechanism is key to improve diagnosis and therapeutic options. Despite their crucial role, enhancers are poorly studied, mainly due to a lack of reliable way to identify them and determine their function. Nevertheless, recent technological advances have allowed rapid progress in enhancer discovery. Model organisms such as the zebrafish have contributed significant insights into the genetics of heart development through enabling functional analyses of genes and their regulatory elements in vivo. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge on heart enhancers gained through studies in model organisms, discuss various approaches to discover and study their function, and finally suggest methods that could further advance research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costantino Parisi
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland; (C.P.); (S.V.)
| | - Shikha Vashisht
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland; (C.P.); (S.V.)
| | - Cecilia Lanny Winata
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland; (C.P.); (S.V.)
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
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Unlocking the Secrets of the Regenerating Fish Heart: Comparing Regenerative Models to Shed Light on Successful Regeneration. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8010004. [PMID: 33467137 PMCID: PMC7830602 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The adult human heart cannot repair itself after injury and, instead, forms a permanent fibrotic scar that impairs cardiac function and can lead to incurable heart failure. The zebrafish, amongst other organisms, has been extensively studied for its innate capacity to repair its heart after injury. Understanding the signals that govern successful regeneration in models such as the zebrafish will lead to the development of effective therapies that can stimulate endogenous repair in humans. To date, many studies have investigated cardiac regeneration using a reverse genetics candidate gene approach. However, this approach is limited in its ability to unbiasedly identify novel genes and signalling pathways that are essential to successful regeneration. In contrast, drawing comparisons between different models of regeneration enables unbiased screens to be performed, identifying signals that have not previously been linked to regeneration. Here, we will review in detail what has been learnt from the comparative approach, highlighting the techniques used and how these studies have influenced the field. We will also discuss what further comparisons would enhance our knowledge of successful regeneration and scarring. Finally, we focus on the Astyanax mexicanus, an intraspecies comparative fish model that holds great promise for revealing the secrets of the regenerating heart.
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