PUBLICATION

Foxj1a is expressed in ependymal precursors, controls central canal position and is activated in new ependymal cells during regeneration in zebrafish

Authors
Ribeiro, A., Monteiro, J.F., Certal, A.C., Cristovão, A.M., Saúde, L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-171123-6
Date
2017
Source
Open Biology   7(11): (Journal)
Registered Authors
Saude, Leonor
Keywords
CSF-contacting neurons, Foxj1a, Shh, ependymal radial glia, spinal cord injury, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Ependyma/cytology
  • Ependyma/metabolism
  • Ependyma/physiology*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • Regeneration*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/injuries
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
29162726 Full text @ Open Biol.
Abstract
Zebrafish are able to regenerate the spinal cord and recover motor and sensory functions upon severe injury, through the activation of cells located at the ependymal canal. Here, we show that cells surrounding the ependymal canal in the adult zebrafish spinal cord express Foxj1a. We demonstrate that ependymal cells express Foxj1a from their birth in the embryonic neural tube and that Foxj1a activity is required for the final positioning of the ependymal canal. We also show that in response to spinal cord injury, Foxj1a ependymal cells actively proliferate and contribute to the restoration of the spinal cord structure. Finally, this study reveals that Foxj1a expression in the injured spinal cord is regulated by regulatory elements activated during regeneration. These data establish Foxj1a as a pan-ependymal marker in development, homeostasis and regeneration and may help identify the signals that enable this progenitor population to replace lost cells after spinal cord injury.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping