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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qin, Lulu, Hu, Chongbin, Zhao, Qiong, Wang, Yong, Fan, Dongdong, Lin, Aifu, Xiang, Lixin, Chen, Ye, Shao, Jianzhong
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: eLife 2025
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Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40392591/
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  • Unraveling the role of Ctla-4 in intestinal immune homeostasis through a novel Zebrafish model of inflammatory bowel disease. Qin, Lulu Hu, Chongbin Zhao, Qiong Wang, Yong Fan, Dongdong Lin, Aifu Xiang, Lixin Chen, Ye Shao, Jianzhong Animals Zebrafish Inflammatory Bowel Diseases CTLA-4 Antigen Homeostasis Disease Models, Animal Intestines Gastrointestinal Microbiome Zebrafish Proteins Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and relapsing immune-mediated disorder characterized by intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury. The underlying causes of IBD are not fully understood, but genetic factors have been implicated in genome-wide association studies, including CTLA-4, an essential negative regulator of T cell activation. However, establishing a direct link between CTLA-4 and IBD has been challenging due to the early lethality of CTLA-4 knockout mice. In this study, we identified zebrafish Ctla-4 homolog and investigated its role in maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis by generating a Ctla-4-deficient () zebrafish line. These mutant zebrafish exhibited reduced weight, along with impaired epithelial barrier integrity and lymphocytic infiltration in their intestines. Transcriptomics analysis revealed upregulation of inflammation-related genes, disturbing immune system homeostasis. Moreover, single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis indicated increased Th2 cells and interleukin 13 expression, along with decreased innate lymphoid cells and upregulated proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, Ctla-4-deficient zebrafish exhibited reduced diversity and an altered composition of the intestinal microbiota. All these phenotypes closely resemble those found in mammalian IBD. Lastly, supplementation with Ctla-4-Ig successfully alleviated intestinal inflammation in these mutants. Altogether, our findings demonstrate the pivotal role of Ctla-4 in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Additionally, they offer substantial evidence linking CTLA-4 to IBD and establish a novel zebrafish model for investigating both the pathogenesis and potential treatments.