PUBLICATION
Zebrafish Syndromic Albinism Models as Tools for Understanding and Treating Pigment Cell Disease in Humans
- Authors
- Neuffer, S.J., Cooper, C.D.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-220413-3
- Date
- 2022
- Source
- Cancers 14(7): (Review)
- Registered Authors
- Cooper, Cynthia
- Keywords
- Hermansky–Pudlak Syndrome, albinism, melanin synthesis, melanocytes, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
- none
- PubMed
- 35406524 Full text @ Cancers
Citation
Neuffer, S.J., Cooper, C.D. (2022) Zebrafish Syndromic Albinism Models as Tools for Understanding and Treating Pigment Cell Disease in Humans. Cancers. 14(7):.
Abstract
Melanin is the pigment that protects DNA from ultraviolet (UV) damage by absorbing excess energy. Melanin is produced in a process called melanogenesis. When melanogenesis is altered, diseases such as albinism result. Albinism can result in an increased skin cancer risk. Conversely, black pigment cell (melanocyte) development pathways can be misregulated, causing excessive melanocyte growth that leads to melanoma (cancer of melanocytes). Zebrafish is an emerging model organism used to study pigment disorders due to their high fecundity, visible melanin development in melanophores (melanocytes in mammals) from 24 h post-fertilization, and conserved melanogenesis pathways. Here, we reviewed the conserved developmental pathways in zebrafish melanophores and mammalian melanocytes. Additionally, we summarized the progress made in understanding pigment cell disease and evidence supporting the strong potential for using zebrafish to find novel treatment options for albinism.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping