Pdgf1aa regulates zebrafish neural crest cells migration through Hif-1 in an oxygen-independent manner

The transcription factor Hif-1α regulates epithelial to mesenchymal transition and neural crest cell chemotaxis in Xenopus. Hif-1α is only stabilised under low oxygen levels, and the in vivo stabilisation of this factor in neural crest cells is poorly understood. Multiple oxygen-independent Hif-1α regulators have been described in cell cultures and cancer models. Among these, the PDGF pathway has been linked to neural crest development. The present study established a connection between the Pdgf pathway and Hif-1α stabilisation in zebrafish. Specifically, embryos with a disrupted Pdgf pathway were rescued by employing hif-1α mRNA through qPCR and immunohistochemistry techniques. The data suggest that oxygen levels in the neural crest are normal and that Pdgf1aa regulates neural crest migration through Hif-1α expression.