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. 2019 Nov 6:8:e1056.
doi: 10.31661/gmj.v8i0.1056. eCollection 2019.

Generation of a Transgenic Zebrafish Model for Pancreatic Beta Cell Regeneration

Hossein Pourghadamyari  1 , Mohammad Rezaei  2 , Mohsen Basiri  3 , Yaser Tahamtani  3 , Behrouz Asgari  3 , Seyedeh-Nafiseh Hassani  3 , Reza Meshkani  1 , Taghi Golmohammadi  1 , Hossein Baharvand  3   4
Affiliations

Generation of a Transgenic Zebrafish Model for Pancreatic Beta Cell Regeneration

Hossein Pourghadamyari et al. Galen Med J. .

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a major worldwide health problem. It is widely accepted that the beta cell mass decreases in type I diabetes (T1D). Accordingly, beta cell regeneration is a promising approach to increase the beta cell mass in T1D patients. However, the underlying mechanisms of beta cell regeneration have yet to be elucidated. One promising avenue is to create a relevant animal model to explore the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of beta cell regeneration. The zebrafish can be considered a model in beta cell regeneration studies because the pancreas structure and gene expression pattern are highly conserved between human and zebrafish.

Materials and methods: In this study, the Tol2 transposase was exploited to generate a Tg(Ins:egfp-nfsB) zebrafish model that expressed a fusion protein composed of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and nitroreductase (NTR) under control of the Ins promoter.

Results: Metronidazole (MTZ) treatment of Tg(ins:egfp-nfsB) zebrafish larvae led to selective ablation of beta cells. Proof-of-concept evidence for beta cell regeneration in the transgenic larvae was observed two days after withdrawal of MTZ.

Conclusion: This study suggests that the Tg(ins:egfp-nfsB) zebrafish can be used as a disease model to study beta cell regeneration and elucidate underlying mechanisms during the regeneration process.

Keywords: Diabetes; Genetically Modified Animals; Pancreatic Beta Cells; Regeneration.

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