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Transcriptomics reveal an integrative role for maternal thyroid hormones during zebrafish embryogenesis
Nadia Silva1, Bruno Louro1, Marlene Trindade1
1Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology Group, Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
Scientific Reports
|December 2, 2017
Summary
Maternal thyroid hormones (MTHs) are crucial for embryonic brain development. This study reveals MTHs regulate key neural development pathways in zebrafish, offering insights into Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome genetics.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Maternal thyroid hormones (MTHs) are vital for embryonic brain development.
- The precise genetic mechanisms governing MTH action remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the genetic networks and cellular targets regulated by MTHs during zebrafish embryogenesis.
- To understand the role of MTHs in neurogenesis and neural development pathways.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a zebrafish monocarboxylic acid transporter 8 (MCT8) knockdown model.
- Performed transcriptome analysis of 25-hour post-fertilization embryos.
- Applied Reactome pathway analysis, in situ expression analysis, and immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- Identified 4,343 differentially expressed genes, with thyroid hormone (TH) implicated in 1,681 pathways.
- MTHs were found to regulate core developmental pathways (NOTCH, WNT) in a cell-specific manner.
- Neural MTH-target genes showed cell-specific actions on neural stem cells and neurons.
Conclusions:
- MTHs play a significant role in zebrafish neurogenesis.
- MTHs may mediate crosstalk between key neural development pathways.
- Findings provide a genetic basis for understanding Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome.
