A novel perivascular cell population in the zebrafish brain

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier is essential for the proper homeostasis and function of the CNS, but its mechanism of function is poorly understood. Perivascular cells surrounding brain blood vessels are thought to be important for blood-brain barrier establishment, but their roles are not well defined. Here, we describe a novel perivascular cell population closely associated with blood vessels on the zebrafish brain. Based on similarities in their morphology, location, and scavenger behavior, these cells appear to be the zebrafish equivalent of cells variably characterized as Fluorescent Granular Perithelial cells (FGPs), perivascular macrophages, or ‘Mato Cells’ in mammals. Despite their macrophage-like morphology and perivascular location, zebrafish FGPs appear molecularly most similar to lymphatic endothelium, and our imaging studies suggest that these cells emerge by differentiation from endothelium of the optic choroidal vascular plexus. Our findings provide the first report of a perivascular cell population in the brain derived from vascular endothelium.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24369.001

Postnatal development of lymphatic vasculature in the brain meninges

“…Interestingly, LYVE-1-positive perivascular cells with macrophage-like morphology have also been reported on the surface of the zebrafish brain (Bower et al, 2017; Venero Galanternik et al, 2017). These cells express Prox1, but no other macrophage markers, and are not of hematopoietic origin.…”

Brain perivascular macrophages: characterization and functional roles in health and disease

“…At the level of smaller arterioles (≤ 10 μM) and capillaries, the two membranes fuse together thereby occluding the perivascular space [5]. The perivascular space contains several cell types including PVM [6, 7]. Here, we will summarize key findings that led to the identification and characterization of PVM.…”

Transposons As Tools for Functional Genomics in Vertebrate Models

“…7). Since the body of a zebrafish larva is transparent through all developmental stages, such transgenic fish have been used to visualize the vascular system [108], the central and peripheral nervous systems [109, 110], the regenerating processes of the sensory system and fin [111, 112], the cellular process of muscle wound repair [113], and proteolytic cleavage of the extracellular domain of a membrane protein (Neuregulin) in the motor neurons [114], among others. Also, the transgenic fish were applied to image the activity of specific neuronal populations or endothelial cells by targeted expression of a calcium indicator GCaMP [115, 116].…”

“…( A ) Blood vessels in gSAIzGFF478A embryos at 3 days post-fertilization (dpf) [108]. ( B ) Central nervous system (cerebellum) in SAGFF128A embryo at 5 dpf [109].…”