PUBLICATION

otx2b mutant zebrafish have pituitary, eye and mandible defects that model mammalian disease

Authors
Bando, H., Gergics, P., Bohnsack, B.L., Toolan, K.P., Richter, C.E., Shavit, J.A., Camper, S.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200422-89
Date
2020
Source
Human molecular genetics   29(10): 1648-1657 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bohnsack, Brenda, Richter, Catherine, Shavit, Jordan
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis/genetics
  • Cell Proliferation/genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics
  • Gills/metabolism
  • Gills/pathology
  • Growth Hormone/genetics*
  • Humans
  • Hypopituitarism/genetics*
  • Hypopituitarism/pathology
  • Hypothalamus/growth & development
  • Hypothalamus/pathology
  • Loss of Function Mutation/genetics
  • Mandible/pathology
  • Otx Transcription Factors/genetics*
  • Prolactin/genetics
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
PubMed
32277752 Full text @ Hum. Mol. Genet.
Abstract
Combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder caused by mutations in over thirty genes. Loss of function mutations in many of these genes, including Orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2), can present with a broad range of clinical symptoms, which provides a challenge for predicting phenotype from genotype. Another challenge in human genetics is functional evaluation of rare genetic variants that are predicted to be deleterious. Zebrafish are an excellent vertebrate model for evaluating gene function and disease pathogenesis, especially because large numbers of progeny can be obtained, overcoming the challenge of individual variation. To clarify the utility of zebrafish for the analysis of CPHD related genes, we analyzed the effect of OTX2 loss of function in zebrafish. The otx2b gene is expressed in the developing hypothalamus, and otx2bhu3625/hu3625 fish exhibit multiple defects in the development of head structures and are not viable past 10 days post fertilization (dpf). Otx2bhu3625/hu3625 fish have a small hypothalamus and low expression of pituitary growth hormone and prolactin. The gills of otx2bhu3625/hu3625 fish have weak sodium influx, consistent with the role of prolactin in osmoregulation. The otx2bhu3625/hu3625 eyes are microphthalmic with colobomas, which may underlie the inability of the mutant fish to find food. The small pituitary and eyes are associated with reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis evident at 3 and 5 dpf, respectively. These observations establish the zebrafish as a useful tool for the analysis of CPHD genes with variable and complex phenotypes.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping