A protein found in the backbone of zebrafish that plays a positive role in disc maintenance and promotes regeneration in aged discs between vertebrae can have potential therapeutic implications to promote regeneration in degenerated human discs.
Key points
- A study by Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune discovered that a protein called Cellular communication network factor 2a (Ccn2a) secreted from intervertebral disc cells induces disc regeneration in aged degenerated discs by promoting cell proliferation and cell survival by modulating the pathway called the FGFR1-SHH (Fibroblast growth factor receptor-Sonic Hedgehog) pathway.
Discs degeneration
- In humans, discs degenerate naturally, leading to many related health concerns, including low back, neck, and appendage pain.
- Currently, only symptomatic treatments for disc degeneration are available, including pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
- In severe cases, disc replacement or disc fusion surgery is performed. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a treatment either to suppress disc degeneration or to promote disc regeneration in humans.
Zebrafish-A model organism
- The zebrafish is a model organism used to study the development of vertebrates. Since the 1960s, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become increasingly important to scientific research.
- The zebrafish is a tropical fish native to southeast Asia.
- The complete genome sequence of the zebrafish was published in 2013.
- They are cheaper to maintain than mice.
- Zebrafish produce hundreds of offspring at weekly intervals providing scientists with an ample supply of embryos to study.
- They grow at an extremely fast rate, developing as much in a day as a human embryo develops in one month.
- Zebrafish embryos are nearly transparent which allows researchers to easily examine the development of internal structures. Every blood vessel in a living zebrafish embryo can be seen using just a low-power microscope.
- As zebrafish eggs are fertilised and develop outside the mother’s body it is an ideal model organism for studying early development.
- Zebrafish have a similar genetic structure to humans. They share 70% of genes with humans.
- 84% of genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish counterpart.
- As a vertebrate, the zebrafish has the same major organs and tissues as humans.
- Their muscle, blood, kidney and eyes share many features with human systems. Zebrafish have the unique ability to repair heart muscle
