Open AccessCcn2a/Ctgfa is an injury-induced matricellular factor that promotes cardiac regeneration in zebrafish
Author(s) -
Debanjan Mukherjee,
Ganesh Wagh,
Mayssa H. Mokalled,
Zacharias Kontarakis,
Amy L. Dickson,
Amey Rayrikar,
Stefan Günther,
Kenneth D. Poss,
Didier Y.R. Stainier,
Chinmoy Patra
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.754
H-Index - 325
eISSN - 1477-9129
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.193219
Subject(s) - zebrafish , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , regeneration (biology) , regenerative process , ctgf , extracellular matrix , growth factor , immunology , anatomy , receptor , gene , genetics
The ability of zebrafish to heal their heart after injury makes them an attractive model to investigate mechanisms governing the regenerative process. In this study, we show that the gene cellular communication network factor 2a (ccn2a), previously known as ctgfa, is induced in endocardial cells in the injured tissue and regulates CM proliferation and repopulation of the damaged tissue. We find that whereas in wild-type animals, CMs track along the newly formed blood vessels that revascularize the injured tissue, in ccn2a mutants CM proliferation and repopulation are disrupted despite apparently unaffected revascularization. In addition, we find that ccn2a overexpression enhances CM proliferation and improves the resolution of transient collagen deposition. Through loss- and gain-of-function as well as pharmacological approaches, we provide evidence that Ccn2a is necessary for and promotes heart regeneration by enhancing the expression of pro-regenerative extracellular matrix genes, and by inhibiting the chemokine receptor gene cxcr3.1 through a mechanism involving Tgfβ/pSmad3 signaling. Thus, Ccn2a positively modulates the innate regenerative response of the adult zebrafish heart.