Mutations in the human myeloproliferative leukemia (MPL) protein gene are known to cause congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT). The prognosis of this heritable disorder is poor and bone marrow transplantation is the only effective treatment. Here, by using the TALEN (transcription activator-like effector nuclease) technology, we created a zebrafish mpl mutant to model human CAMT. Disruption of zebrafish mpl lead to a severe reduction in thrombocytes and a high bleeding tendency, as well as deficiencies in adult hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. We further demonstrated that thrombocytopenia in mpl mutant zebrafish was caused by impaired Tpo/Mpl/Jak2 signaling, resulting in reduced proliferation of thrombocyte precursors. These results indicate that mpl mutant zebrafish develop thrombocytopenia resembling the human CAMT. To utilize fully zebrafish to study thrombocyte biology and thrombocytopenia disorders, we generated a transgenic reporter line Tg(mpl:eGFP)smu4, in which green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was driven by the mpl promoter. Detailed characterization of Tg(mpl:eGFP)smu4 fish confirmed that the thrombocyte lineage was specifically marked by GFP expression. In conclusion, we generated the first transmissible congenital thrombocytopenia zebrafish model mimicking human CAMT and a thrombocyte-specific transgenic line. Together with Tg(mpl:eGFP)smu4, mpl mutant zebrafish provide a useful tool for drug screening and study of thrombocytopoiesis.

Foxa2 is one member of the Foxa subfamily of winged helix/forkhead box (Fox) transcription factors which has been found to play important roles in multiple stages of mammalian life, beginning with early development, continuing during organogenesis, and finally in metabolism and homeostasis in the adult. To explore the involvement of Foxa2 and its epigenetic regulations in cellular senescence, we established the premature senescence model induced by hydrogen peroxide in comparison with replicative senescence. The mRNA level of Foxa2 was downregulated in both replicative and premature senescent cells. We further found the increased DNA methylation level and new methylation at CpG sites in the promoter with 43.6% of methylated CpG islands in premature senescence, while only 5.7% and 17.1% in young cells and replicative senescence separately. Moreover, we noted the alterations of histone modifications including decreased histone H3 acetylation, increased H4 (Lys-20) trimethylation at the Foxa2 CpG islands in the promoter in replicative or premature senescence, while decreased histone H3 (Lys-4) trimethylation across the transcription start regions in cellular senescence. Taken together, epigenetic silencing of Foxa2 is associated with an increased DNA methylation level and histone H4 (Lys-20) trimethylation, decreased histone H3 acetylation and histone H3 (Lys-4) trimethylation, involved in cellular replicative or premature senescence.

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