PUBLICATION
Unbiased characterization of the larval zebrafish enteric nervous system at a single cell transcriptomic level
- Authors
- Kuil, L.E., Kakiailatu, N.J.M., Windster, J.D., Bindels, E., Zink, J.T.M., van der Zee, G., Hofstra, R.M.W., Shepherd, I.T., Melotte, V., Alves, M.M.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-230710-46
- Date
- 2023
- Source
- iScience 26: 107070107070 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Alves, Maria, Kakiailatu, Naomi, Kuil, Laura, Shepherd, Iain T., Windster, Jonathan
- Keywords
- Developmental neuroscience, Neuroscience, Transcriptomics
- Datasets
- GEO:GSE225510
- MeSH Terms
- none
- PubMed
- 37426341 Full text @ iScience
Citation
Kuil, L.E., Kakiailatu, N.J.M., Windster, J.D., Bindels, E., Zink, J.T.M., van der Zee, G., Hofstra, R.M.W., Shepherd, I.T., Melotte, V., Alves, M.M. (2023) Unbiased characterization of the larval zebrafish enteric nervous system at a single cell transcriptomic level. iScience. 26:107070107070.
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) regulates many gastrointestinal functions including peristalsis, immune regulation and uptake of nutrients. Defects in the ENS can lead to severe enteric neuropathies such as Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). Zebrafish have proven to be fruitful in the identification of genes involved in ENS development and HSCR pathogenesis. However, composition and specification of enteric neurons and glial subtypes at larval stages, remains mainly unexplored. Here, we performed single cell RNA sequencing of zebrafish ENS at 5 days post-fertilization. We identified vagal neural crest progenitors, Schwann cell precursors, and four clusters of differentiated neurons. In addition, a previously unrecognized elavl3+/phox2bb-population of neurons and cx43+/phox2bb-enteric glia was found. Pseudotime analysis supported binary neurogenic branching of ENS differentiation, driven by a notch-responsive state. Taken together, we provide new insights on ENS development and specification, proving that the zebrafish is a valuable model for the study of congenital enteric neuropathies.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping