PUBLICATION

son is necessary for proper vertebrate blood development

Authors
Belmonte, R.L., Engbretson, I.L., Kim, J.H., Cajias, I., Ahn, E.E., Stachura, D.L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210226-12
Date
2021
Source
PLoS One   16: e0247489 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified/embryology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/physiology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/cytology*
  • Hematologic Diseases/metabolism
  • Hematopoiesis*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells/cytology
  • Humans
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/physiology
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/physiology
PubMed
33630943 Full text @ PLoS One
Abstract
The gene SON is on human chromosome 21 (21q22.11) and is thought to be associated with hematopoietic disorders that accompany Down syndrome. Additionally, SON is an RNA splicing factor that plays a role in the transcription of leukemia-associated genes. Previously, we showed that mutations in SON cause malformations in human and zebrafish spines and brains during early embryonic development. To examine the role of SON in normal hematopoiesis, we reduced expression of the zebrafish homolog of SON in zebrafish at the single-cell developmental stage with specific morpholinos. In addition to the brain and spinal malformations we also observed abnormal blood cell levels upon son knockdown. We then investigated how blood production was altered when levels of son were reduced. Decreased levels of son resulted in lower amounts of red blood cells when visualized with lcr:GFP transgenic fish. There were also reduced thrombocytes seen with cd41:GFP fish, and myeloid cells when mpx:GFP fish were examined. We also observed a significant decrease in the quantity of T cells, visualized with lck:GFP fish. However, when we examined their hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), we saw no difference in colony-forming capability. These studies indicate that son is essential for the proper differentiation of the innate and adaptive immune system, and further investigation determining the molecular pathways involved during blood development should elucidate important information about vertebrate HSPC generation, proliferation, and differentiation.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping