Project description:Stromal interaction molecules (STIMs) are endoplasmic reticulum resident proteins that regulate Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling by store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). The different properties and functions of STIM1 and STIM2 have been described mostly based on work in vitro. Since STIM2 knockout mice do not survive till the adulthood we generated stim2a and stim2b double knockout zebrafish and characterized it. This (stim2a;stim2b)-/- fish were fertile and did not have apparent morphological phenotype. However, RNA-sequencing revealed 1424 genes differentially expressed with at least 2-fold change. One of the most upregulated gene was annexinA3a, which is a marker of activated microglia. This corresponded well to augmented Neutral Red staining observed by imaging in vivo of (stim2a;stim2b)-/- brain. The lack of Stim2 decreased survival of fish under low oxygen conditions. Behavioral tests such as visual-motor response and dark-light preferences indicated that (stim2a;stim2b)-/- larvae might have problems with vision. This is consistent with GO BP's analysis, which showed downregulation of many genes related to light perception. The Periodic acid-Schiff staining of retina sections from adult fish reveled the alteration in stratum pigmentosum suggesting involvement of Stim2-dependent process in visual perception. Together, these data reveal new functions for Stim2 in nervous system.
Project description:Calcium is involved in vision processes in retina and is implicated in various pathologies including glaucoma. Rods are protected against prolonged lowering of intracellular calcium ion concentrations by Store Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE). We showed zebrafish lacking SOCE calcium sensor Stim2 had problem with vision as indicated by behavior tests, staining of retina and downregulation of genes related to light perception. In this work we aimed to understand the mechanism responsible for the vision problems in stim2 zebrafish knockout. scRNA-sequencing of neuronal origin cells from brains of 5 dpf larvae identified 27 clusters. Differently expressed genes were detected in ten clusters including amacrine and GABAergic retinal interneurons and GABAergic optic tectum cells. In five clusters the proportion of cells in stim2 KO fish versus control was significantly decreased including GABAergic diencephalon and optic tectum, and was increased in amacrine and GABAergic retinal interneurons. Transmission Electron Microscopy in stim2 KO fish revealed decrease in width of inner plexiform layer (IPL), ganglion cells and their dendrites numbers what is characteristic for glaucoma. Analysis of cell density in the inner nucleus layer, which includes amacrine cells among others, showed a significant decrease in the number of GABAergic neurons. The area of cristae in photoreceptor mitochondria was statistically lower in stim2 KO than in control retinas.
Project description:Calcium is involved in vision processes in retina and is implicated in various pathologies including glaucoma. Rods are protected against prolonged lowering of intracellular calcium ion concentrations by Store Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE). We showed zebrafish lacking SOCE calcium sensor Stim2 had problem with vision as indicated by behavior tests, staining of retina and downregulation of genes related to light perception. In this work we aimed to understand the mechanism responsible for the vision problems in stim2 zebrafish knockout. scRNA-sequencing of neuronal origin cells from brains of 5 dpf larvae identified 27 clusters. Differently expressed genes were detected in ten clusters including amacrine and GABAergic retinal interneurons and GABAergic optic tectum cells. In five clusters the proportion of cells in stim2 KO fish versus control was significantly decreased including GABAergic diencephalon and optic tectum, and was increased in amacrine and GABAergic retinal interneurons. Transmission Electron Microscopy in stim2 KO fish revealed decrease in width of inner plexiform layer (IPL), ganglion cells and their dendrites numbers what is characteristic for glaucoma. Analysis of cell density in the inner nucleus layer, which includes amacrine cells among others, showed a significant decrease in the number of GABAergic neurons.The area of cristae in photoreceptor mitochondria was statistically lower in stim2 KO than in control retinas.
Project description:Investigation of actin N-terminal acetylation status in zebrafish with knockout alleles for Naa80, the actin N-terminal acetyltransferase.
Project description:Interventions: experimental group :PD-1 Knockout Engineered T Cells
Primary outcome(s): Number of participants with Adverse Events and/or Dose Limiting Toxicities as a Measure of Safety and tolerability of dose of PD-1 Knockout T cells using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0) in patients
Study Design: historical control
Project description:HES3 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that regulates neural stem cell renewal during development. HES3 overexpression is predictive of reduced overall survival in patients with fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric cancer that resembles immature and undifferentiated skeletal muscle. However, the mechanisms of HES3 cooperation in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma are unclear and are likely related to her3/HES3’s role in neurogenesis. To further investigate how HES3 functions during development, we generated a zebrafish CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of her3, the zebrafish ortholog of HES3. Zebrafish her3 mutants are not embryonic lethal and as adults exhibit expected Mendelian ratios. Embryonic her3 zebrafish mutants are significantly smaller than wildtype and present with lens defects as adults. Transcriptomic analysis of her3 mutant embryos indicates that genes involved in organ development, such as pctp and grinab, are significantly downregulated. Further, differentially expressed genes in her3 knockout embryos are enriched for HOX and sox10 motifs. Several cancer-related gene pathways are impacted, including the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases. Altogether, this new model is a powerful system to study her3/HES3-mediated neural development and its misappropriation in cancer contexts.