Biology subjects

Mazzaferro, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Mazzaferro, E..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Kita crispants for systematic image-based genetic screens of complex traits in zebrafish larvae

With thousands of loci identified by genome-wide association studies for complex traits, there is a need for in vivo model systems that can reliably and quickly infer the role of large numbers of candidate genes. CRISPR/Cas9-based functional screens in F0 zebrafish represent such a system. However, negative controls used so far - including scrambled guide RNAs (gRNAs), inactivated Cas9, and sham injections - do not elicit the same cellular and organismal responses as mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9, and may fuel biased conclusions. Here, we show that targeting kita facilitates efficient optical pre-screening for successful mutagenesis, higher quality imaging data, and efficient classification of cases and controls. We identified and tested two gRNAs that target kita with similarly high mutagenic efficiency and effects on pigmentation, and are free from off-target effects or major effects on cardiometabolic traits. We propose several approaches that will result in valid, unbiased conclusions.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Loss of RREB1 in pancreatic beta cells reduces cellular insulin content and affects endocrine cell gene expression

Aims/hypothesisGenome-wide studies have uncovered multiple independent signals at the RREB1 locus associated with altered type 2 diabetes risk and related glycemic traits. However, little is known about the function of the zinc finger transcription factor RREB1 in glucose homeostasis or how changes in its expression and/or function influence diabetes risk. MethodsA zebrafish model lacking rreb1a and rreb1b was used to study the effect of RREB1 loss in vivo. Using transcriptomic and cellular phenotyping of a human beta cell model (EndoC-{beta}H1) and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived beta-like cells, we investigated how loss of RREB1 expression and activity affects pancreatic endocrine cell development and function. Ex vivo measurements of human islet function were performed in donor islets from carriers of RREB1 T2D-risk alleles. ResultsCRISPR-Cas9-mediated loss of rreb1a and rreb1b function in zebrafish supports an in vivo role for the transcription factor in beta cell mass, beta cell insulin expression, and glucose levels. Loss of RREB1 reduced insulin gene expression and cellular insulin content in EndoC-{beta}H1 cells, and impaired insulin secretion under prolonged stimulation. Transcriptomic analysis of RREB1 knockdown and knockout EndoC-{beta}H1 cells supports RREB1 as a novel regulator of genes involved in insulin secretion. In vitro differentiation of RREB1KO/KO hiPSCs revealed a dysregulation of pro-endocrine cell genes, including RFX family members, suggesting that RREB1 also regulates genes involved in endocrine cell development. Human donor islets from carriers of T2D-risk alleles in RREB1 have altered glucose-stimulated insulin secretion ex vivo, consistent with RREB1 regulating islet cell function. Conclusions/interpretationTogether, our results indicate that RREB1 regulates beta cell function by transcriptionally regulating the expression of genes involved in beta cell development and function. Research in contextO_ST_ABSWhat is already known about this subject?C_ST_ABSO_LIHuman genetic variation in RREB1 is associated with altered diabetes risk, variation in glycemic, and anthropometric traits C_LIO_LIRREB1 is a transcription factor that binds to Ras-responsive elements and is expressed in multiple diabetes relevant tissues, including pancreatic islets C_LI What is the key question?O_LIHow does altered expression or function of RREB1 influence diabetes risk? C_LI What are the new findings?O_LIKnockdown and knockout of RREB1 in mature human EndoC-{beta}H1 cells reduces expression of insulin transcript and cellular content, as well as insulin secretion under prolonged stress C_LIO_LICarriers of the T2D-risk RREB1 coding allele trend towards reduced insulin content, but have improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion C_LIO_LIA loss-of-function zebrafish model suggests that RREB1 is required for insulin expression C_LI How might this impact on clinical practice in the foreseeable future?O_LIRREB1 controls beta cell function and whole-body glucose homeostasis by transcriptionally regulating the development and function of pancreatic beta cells C_LI

physiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Zebrafish larvae as a model system for systematic characterization of drugs and genes in dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis

BackgroundHundreds of loci have been robustly associated with circulating lipids, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease; but for most loci the causal genes and mechanisms remain uncharacterized.\n\nMethodsWe developed a semi-automated experimental pipeline for systematic, quantitative, large-scale characterization of mechanisms, drugs and genes associated with dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in a zebrafish model system. We validated our pipeline using a dietary (n>2000), drug treatment (n>1000), and genetic intervention (n=384), and used it to characterize three candidate genes in a GWAS-identified pleiotropic locus on chr 19p13.11 (n>500).\n\nResultsOur results show that five days of overfeeding and cholesterol supplementation had independent pro-atherogenic effects, which could be diminished by concomitant treatment with atorvastatin and ezetimibe. CRISPR-Cas9-induced mutations in orthologues of proof-of-concept genes resulted in higher LDL cholesterol levels (apoea), and more early stage atherosclerosis (apobb.1). Finally, our pipeline helped identify putative causal genes for circulating lipids and early-stage atherosclerosis (LPAR2 and GATAD2A).\n\nConclusionsIn summary, our pipeline facilitates systematic, in vivo characterization of drugs and candidate genes to increase our understanding of disease etiology, and can likely help identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2018

Translating GWAS-identified loci for cardiac rhythm and rate using an in vivo, image-based, large-scale genetic screen in zebrafish

A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified eight loci that are associated with heart rate variability (HRV), but candidate genes in these loci remain uncharacterized. We developed an image- and CRISPR/Cas9-based pipeline to systematically characterize candidate genes for HRV in live zebrafish embryos. Nine zebrafish orthologues of six human candidate genes were targeted simultaneously in eggs from fish that transgenically express GFP on smooth muscle cells (Tg[acta2:GFP]), to visualize the beating heart. An automated analysis of repeated 30s recordings of beating atria in 381 live, intact zebrafish embryos at 2 and 5 days post-fertilization highlighted genes that influence HRV (hcn4 and si:dkey-65j6.2 [KIAA1755]); heart rate (rgs6 and hcn4); and the risk of sinoatrial pauses and arrests (hcn4). Exposure to 10 or 25{micro}M ivabradine - an open channel blocker of HCNs - for 24h resulted in a dose-dependent higher HRV and lower heart rate at 5 days post-fertilization. Hence, our screen confirmed the role of established genes for heart rate and rhythm (RGS6 and HCN4); showed that ivabradine reduces heart rate and increases HRV in zebrafish embryos, as it does in humans; and highlighted a novel gene that plays a role in HRV (KIAA1755).

genomics↗