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Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a proliferative marker during embryonic and adult zebrafish hematopoiesis

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Abstract

We investigated the expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in zebrafish to delineate the proliferative hematopoietic component during adult and embryonic hematopoiesis. Immunostaining for PCNA and enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) was performed in wild-type and fli1-eGFP (endothelial marker) and gata1-eGFP (erythroid cell marker) transgenic fish. Expression of PCNA mRNA was examined in wild-type and chordin morphant embryos. In adult zebrafish kidney, the renal tubules are surrounded by endothelial cells and it is separated into hematopoietic and excretory compartments. PCNA was expressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells but not in mature neutrophils, eosinophils or erythroid cells. Some PCNA+ cells are scattered in the hematopoietic compartment of the kidney while others are closely associated with renal tubular cells. PCNA was also expressed in spermatogonial stem cells and intestine crypts, consistent with its role in cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. In embryos, PCNA is expressed in the brain, spinal cord and intermediate cell mass (ICM) at 24 h-post fertilization. In chordin morphants, PCNA is significantly upregulated in the expanded ICM. Therefore, PCNA can be used to mark cell proliferation in zebrafish hematopoietic tissues and to identify a population of progenitor cells whose significance would have to be further investigated.

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Acknowledgement

Supported by RGC grant (HKU 7488/04M)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Anskar YH Leung, Joseph CK Leung, Loretta YY Chan, Tommy TF Kwan, KN Lai & Raymond Liang

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Edmond SK Ma

  3. Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    A Meng

Authors
  1. Anskar YH Leung
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  2. Joseph CK Leung
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  3. Loretta YY Chan
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  4. Edmond SK Ma
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  5. Tommy TF Kwan
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  7. A Meng
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  8. Raymond Liang
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Correspondence to Anskar YH Leung.

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Leung, A.Y., Leung, J.C., Chan, L.Y. et al. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a proliferative marker during embryonic and adult zebrafish hematopoiesis. Histochem Cell Biol 124, 105–111 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-005-0003-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-005-0003-2

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