Identification of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of zebrafish spinal cord regeneration

• Grant number: 17/06022-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Embryology
• Principal Investigator: Hozana Andrade Castillo
• Grantee: Hozana Andrade Castillo
• Host Investigator: Peter Currie
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Monash University, Australia

Abstract

Mammals cannot regenerate their Central Nervous System, but certain non-mammalian vertebrates have the ability to regenerate brainstem neurons. In particular, zebrafish have high capacity of regenerating neurons after spinal cord injury, a process that is accompanied by tissue restoration and functional recovery. The cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating this remarkable process remains unclear. However, the activation of quiescent ependymal cells that serve as neural stem cells is required to initiate neural regeneration in the zebrafish. Ependymal cells in mammals also act as stem cells after injury but are unable to contribute to neurogenesis. This project aims to make use of an integrative approach to characterize the molecular identity and cellular behaviour of neural stem cells in the zebrafish spinal cord upon injury, as well as factors that control the regenerative process. These findings can potentially be translated into developing novel therapies for patients suffering from spinal cord injury. The accomplishment of this project will bring important scientific contributions, as well as promoting the collaboration between two leading international research institutions, LNBio and ARMI and the implementation of new and important research lines in the State of São Paulo. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SINGH, AMITOJ; CASTILLO, HOZANA ANDRADE; BROWN, JULIE; KASLIN, JAN; DWYER, KAREN M.; GIBERT, YANN. High glucose levels affect retinal patterning during zebrafish embryogenesis. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 9, MAR 11 2019. (17/06022-7)

VANDESTADT, CELIA; VANWALLEGHEM, GILLES C.; KHABOOSHAN, MITRA AMIRI; DOUEK, ALON M.; CASTILLO, HOZANA ANDRADE; LI, MEI; SCHULZE, KEITH; DON, EMILY; STAMATIS, SEBASTIAN-ALEXANDER; RATNADIWAKARA, MADARA; et al. RNA-induced inflammation and migration of precursor neurons initiates neuronal circuit regeneration in zebrafish. DEVELOPMENTAL CELL, v. 56, n. 16, p. 2364+, AUG 23 2021. (17/06022-7)