PUBLICATION

Zebrafish as a model for vertebrate hematopoiesis

Authors
Ellett, F., and Lieschke, G.J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-100614-36
Date
2010
Source
Current opinion in pharmacology   10(5): 563--570 (Review)
Registered Authors
Ellett, Felix, Lieschke, Graham J.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Communicable Diseases/genetics
  • Communicable Diseases/immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Hematologic Diseases/genetics
  • Hematopoiesis/physiology*
  • Inflammation/genetics
  • Inflammation/immunology
  • Mutation
  • Zebrafish*/blood
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/immunology
PubMed
20538521 Full text @ Curr. Opin. Pharmacol.
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a model organism making useful contributions in many areas of biological research. Zebrafish have proven particularly suitable for studying early development. The transparency and ex vivo development of zebrafish embryos means that early embryology can be easily visualized, especially using transgenic strains expressing fluorophores marking tissues of interest. High fecundity and tolerance of dense mutagenesis have made it a practical model for forward genetic screening and creation of mutagenized libraries from which stable mutant alleles can be recovered. Transient genetic manipulation by microinjection of mRNA (overexpression) or antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (knockdown) provide convenient methods for functionally assessing genetic regulatory pathways without the need for extended breeding strategies. A standout example of the utility of this model has been its application to modeling of the earliest stages of hematopoiesis. Zebrafish developmental hematopoiesis shows close correspondence to the development of the mammalian hematopoietic system and is regulated by conserved molecular pathways. This review highlights key recent studies that have used this model to provide insights into vertebrate hematopoietic development and innate immunity.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping