PUBLICATION

Identification and characterization of T reg-like cells in zebrafish

Authors
Kasheta, M., Painter, C.A., Moore, F.E., Lobbardi, R., Bryll, A., Freiman, E., Stachura, D., Rogers, A.B., Houvras, Y., Langenau, D.M., Ceol, C.J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-171028-22
Date
2017
Source
The Journal of experimental medicine   214(12): 3519-3530 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ceol, Craig, Houvras, Yariv, Langenau, David
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Chronic Disease
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Inflammation/pathology
  • Lymphocytes/metabolism
  • Mutation/genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Splenomegaly/pathology
  • Survival Analysis
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology*
  • Thymocytes/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/immunology*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/deficiency
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
29066577 Full text @ J. Exp. Med.
Abstract
Regulatory T (T reg) cells are a specialized sublineage of T lymphocytes that suppress autoreactive T cells. Functional studies of T reg cells in vitro have defined multiple suppression mechanisms, and studies of T reg-deficient humans and mice have made clear the important role that these cells play in preventing autoimmunity. However, many questions remain about how T reg cells act in vivo. Specifically, it is not clear which suppression mechanisms are most important, where T reg cells act, and how they get there. To begin to address these issues, we sought to identify T reg cells in zebrafish, a model system that provides unparalleled advantages in live-cell imaging and high-throughput genetic analyses. Using a FOXP3 orthologue as a marker, we identified CD4-enriched, mature T lymphocytes with properties of T reg cells. Zebrafish mutant for foxp3a displayed excess T lymphocytes, splenomegaly, and a profound inflammatory phenotype that was suppressed by genetic ablation of lymphocytes. This study identifies T reg-like cells in zebrafish, providing both a model to study the normal functions of these cells in vivo and mutants to explore the consequences of their loss.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping