csrnp1a is necessary for the development of primitive hematopoiesis progenitors in zebrafish

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53858. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053858. Epub 2013 Jan 9.

Abstract

The CSRNP (cystein-serine-rich nuclear protein) transcription factors are conserved from Drosophila to human. Functional studies in mice, through knockout for each of their paralogs, have resulted insufficient to elucidate the function of this family of proteins in vertebrate development. Previously, we described the function of the zebrafish ortholog, Csnrp1/Axud1, showing its essential role in the survival and proliferation of cephalic progenitors. To extend our understanding of this family, we have studied the function of its paralog csrnp1a. Our results show that csrnp1a is expressed from 0 hpf, until larval stages, particularly in cephalic territories and in the intermediate cell mass (ICM). Using morpholinos in wild type and transgenic lines we observed that Csrnp1a knockdown generates a mild reduction in head size and a depletion of blood cells in circulation. This was combined with in situ hybridizations to analyze the expression of different mesodermal and primitive hematopoiesis markers. Morphant embryos have impaired blood formation without disruption of mesoderm specification, angiogenesis or heart development. The reduction of circulating blood cells occurs at the hematopoietic progenitor level, affecting both the erythroid and myeloid lineages. In addition, cell proliferation was also altered in hematopoietic anterior sites, specifically in spi1 expression domain. These and previous observations suggest an important role of Csnrps transcription factors in progenitor biology, both in the neural and hematopoietic linages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Blood Cell Count
  • Cell Lineage
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / physiopathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Head* / anatomy & histology
  • Head* / growth & development
  • Head* / pathology
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics*
  • Larva / genetics
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / growth & development*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • csrnp1b protein, zebrafish

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by FONDAP grant 15090007 (A.G.), Universidad Nacional Andres Bello grant DI-07-09/R (C.G.F. and A.G.) and FONDECYT grant 11090102 (C.G.F). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.