Characterization of transgenic zebrafish lines for studying role of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling on coronary vessel formation in regenerating zebrafish heart after cryoinjury

2013-11-22It is known that PDGF-B and PDGFRβ interaction in crucial in blood vessel formation in mammals. PDGF-B is involved in proliferation and recruitment of vSMC (vascular smooth muscle cells) and pericytes to blood vessels. Mutants lacking PDGF-B and PDGFRβ show pericyte loss, capillary dilation and rupture. Not much has been known about role of Pdgfb-Pdgfrβ mediated signaling in zebrafish until recently. Now it has been shown that pdgf is upregulated in regenerating zebrafish heart and Pdgf signaling is necessary for intersegmental vessel formation in zebrafish embryo. Also, with the help of chemical inhibitors blocking Pdgfr signaling, it has been shown that Pdgf signaling plays an important role in coronary vessel formation during regeneration in zebrafish. The aim of this project is to help characterize an improved, cleaner and more specific genetic tool which can overcome the shortcoming of chemical inhibitor to study the role of Pdgfrβ signaling in coronary vessel formation during regeneration in zebrafish heart after cryoinjury