PUBLICATION

Nfe2 is dispensable for early but required for adult thrombocyte formation and function in zebrafish

Authors
Rost, M.S., Shestopalov, I., Liu, Y., Vo, A.H., Richter, C.E., Emly, S.M., Barrett, F.G., Stachura, D.L., Holinstat, M., Zon, L.I., Shavit, J.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-181207-8
Date
2018
Source
Blood advances   2: 3418-3427 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Liu, Yang, Richter, Catherine, Rost, Megan, Shavit, Jordan, Shestopalov, Ilya, Vo, Andy, Zon, Leonard I.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Blood Platelets/cytology
  • Blood Platelets/metabolism*
  • Codon, Terminator
  • Fibrinogen/metabolism
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • Gene Editing
  • Humans
  • Larva/metabolism
  • NF-E2 Transcription Factor/chemistry
  • NF-E2 Transcription Factor/genetics
  • NF-E2 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Thrombopoiesis
  • Zebrafish/growth & development*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/chemistry
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
30504234 Full text @ Blood Adv
Abstract
The NFE2 transcription factor is expressed in multiple hematopoietic lineages with a well-defined role in regulating megakaryocyte biogenesis and platelet production in mammals. Mice deficient in NFE2 develop severe thrombocytopenia with lethality resulting from neonatal hemorrhage. Recent data in mammals reveal potential differences in embryonic and adult thrombopoiesis. Multiple studies in zebrafish have revealed mechanistic insights into hematopoiesis, although thrombopoiesis has been less studied. Rather than platelets, zebrafish possess thrombocytes, which are nucleated cells with similar functional properties. Using transcription activator-like effector nucleases to generate mutations in nfe2, we show that unlike mammals, zebrafish survive to adulthood in the absence of Nfe2. Despite developing severe thrombocytopenia, homozygous mutants do not display overt hemorrhage or reduced survival. Surprisingly, quantification of circulating thrombocytes in mutant 6-day-old larvae revealed no significant differences from wild-type siblings. Both wild-type and nfe2 null larvae formed thrombocyte-rich clots in response to endothelial injury. In addition, ex vivo thrombocytic colony formation was intact in nfe2 mutants, and adult kidney marrow displayed expansion of hematopoietic progenitors. These data suggest that loss of Nfe2 results in a late block in adult thrombopoiesis, with secondary expansion of precursors: features consistent with mammals. Overall, our data suggest parallels with erythropoiesis, including distinct primitive and definitive pathways of development and potential for a previously unknown Nfe2-independent pathway of embryonic thrombopoiesis. Long-term homozygous mutant survival will facilitate in-depth study of Nfe2 deficiency in vivo, and further investigation could lead to alternative methodologies for the enhancement of platelet production.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping