Reverse genetic screen reveals that Il34 facilitates yolk sac macrophage distribution and seeding of the brain.

ABSTRACT: Microglia are brain-resident macrophages, which have specialized functions important in brain development and in disease. They colonize the brain in early embryonic stages, but few factors that drive the migration of yolk sac macrophages (YSMs) into the embryonic brain, or regulate their acquisition of specialized properties, are currently known. Here, we present a CRISPR/Cas9-based in vivo reverse genetic screening pipeline to identify new microglia regulators using zebrafish. Zebrafish larvae are particularly suitable due to their external development, transparency and conserved microglia features. We targeted putative microglia regulators, by Cas9/gRNA complex injections, followed by Neutral-Red-based visualization of microglia. Microglia were quantified automatically in 3-day-old larva

SUBMITTER: Kuil LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6451432 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature