PUBLICATION

Rapid generation of a sdhb loss-of-function zebrafish model for secreting pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

Authors
Parisien-La Salle, S., Nobilleau, F., da Silva Babinet, A., Lamontagne, J., Labrecque, M., Rampal, B., Mas, C., Liao, M., Barragan Torres, V.A., Corbeil, G., Chatel-Chaix, L., Dona, M., Tétreault, M., Bourdeau, I., Samarut, É.
ID
ZDB-PUB-250812-14
Date
2025
Source
NPJ genomic medicine   10: 5959 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Dona, Margo, Samarut, Eric
Keywords
none
Datasets
GEO:GSE300914
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
40790300 Full text @ NPJ Genom Med
Abstract
Genotype plays a central role in the comprehensive management of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, highlighting the critical need for specific in vivo genetic models. Yet, animal models fall short of fully recapitulating the biological complexity of these tumours. We generated first-generation loss-of-function zebrafish models for sdhb, a canonical PPGL-associated gene, using CRISPR/Cas9. Sdhb-CRISPants exhibit increased heart rates, reduced swimming activity and premature death. In whole fish extracts, normetanephrine (NM), metanephrine (MN), and dopamine (DA) levels were about three times higher in sdhb CRISPants than in control larvae. In the bathing medium, NM and MN were also significantly elevated, along with 3-MT. Complementary metabolic and transcriptomic profiling revealed that sdhb CRISPants exhibit a clear signature of Complex II dysfunction and upregulation of genes involved in the hypoxia response, angiogenesis, stress response, and glycolysis. Our work validates the relevance of CRISPant zebrafish models to study the pathogenicity of PPGL-causing genetic variants in vivo.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping