实验动物与比较医学 ›› 2024, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (2): 162-179.DOI: 10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2023.159

• 人类疾病动物模型 • 上一篇    下一篇

玻璃海鞘作为模式生物的优势及其应用

李睿琪(), 段涵(), 甘罗, 郑媛()(), 杨文()()   

  1. 上海交通大学医学院基础医学院, 上海 200025
  • 收稿日期:2023-11-13 修回日期:2024-02-09 出版日期:2024-05-09 发布日期:2024-04-25
  • 通讯作者: 杨文(1979—),男,博士,研究员,研究方向:线粒体代谢与衰老。E-mail: yangwen@shsmu.edu.cn。ORCID: 0000-0002-2032-1982;
    郑 媛(1979—),女,博士,助理研究员,研究方向:玻璃海鞘实验动物模型的构建及其在衰老生物学研究中的应用。E-mail: zhengyuan@shsmu.edu.cn。0009-0007-6016-548X;
  • 作者简介:李睿琪(2001—),女,临床医学八年制在读,研究方向:临床医学。E-mail: lrq.seven@sjtu.edu.cn。ORCID: 0009-0004-1379-0555;
    段 涵(2002—),女,临床医学八年制在读,研究方向:临床医学。E-mail: dhhhh020606@sjtu.edu.cn。ORCID: 0009-0006-6080-0896
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金项目“基于玻璃海鞘(Ciona intestinalis)的衰老对心肌细胞凋亡作用初步研究”(31900377)

Advantages of Ciona intestinalis as a Model Organism and Its Applications

Ruiqi LI(), Han DUAN(), Luo GAN, Yuan ZHENG()(), Wen YANG()()   

  1. Shanghai Jiao Tong University College of Basic Medicine Sciences, Shanghai 200025, China
  • Received:2023-11-13 Revised:2024-02-09 Published:2024-04-25 Online:2024-05-09
  • Contact: YANG Wen (ORCID: 0000-0002-2032-1982), E-mail: yangwen@shsmu.edu.cn;
    ZHENG Yuan (ORCID:0009-0007-6016-548X), E-mail: zhengyuan@shsmu.edu.cn;

摘要:

随着实验生物学的持续发展,常用模式生物的应用局限日益凸显。由于实验动物和人类的相关研究之间存在差异,严重影响到动物实验研究结果的转化应用。本文介绍了一种在进化上与脊椎动物亲缘关系最近的无脊椎动物,同时也是脊椎动物的姊妹分支——尾索动物玻璃海鞘( Ciona intestinalis)。本综述通过总结近年来玻璃海鞘在各领域的研究进展,说明其作为新型模式生物具有的优势与巨大应用前景。玻璃海鞘的研究进展主要包括:(1)玻璃海鞘全基因组测序完成并建立了许多相关数据库,多种胚胎基因编辑技术已经在玻璃海鞘中成功应用,使玻璃海鞘成为易于遗传学操作且能够直观研究目的基因功能和相互作用的动物模型。(2)神经生物学领域,玻璃海鞘具有与脊椎动物相似的中枢神经系统组织结构且拥有众多同源神经肽和激素分子,使其在研究内分泌与神经内分泌相关分子的作用机制、功能进化方面具有优越性。同时,玻璃海鞘幼虫对光刺激的敏感性与习惯性可用于探索行为可塑性相关机制。(3)免疫学领域,玻璃海鞘已有成熟的固有免疫系统,并进化出部分适应性免疫系统相关基因的前体,加之编码免疫相关基因较简单,故而可以作为免疫领域研究较理想的模式生物。(4)发育生物学领域,众多研究聚焦玻璃海鞘的脊索发育过程和其中的表达调控机制,提示脊索动物共同的进化发育策略。另外有关心脏发育方向的研究则对人类心脏发育基因网络的理解做出重要贡献。(5)医学领域中,玻璃海鞘的神经复合体和虹吸管具有再生能力,以及心脏在严重损伤后仍然可以存活并恢复收缩功能,使得玻璃海鞘可作为研究再生问题和心脏受损的动物模型。同时玻璃海鞘作为阿尔茨海默病的研究模型在新药开发方面也有其独特优势。此外,玻璃海鞘的完整生命周期仅5个月左右,便于用其观察记录衰老全过程,探索不同因子的衰老效应。总之,本综述旨在说明玻璃海鞘作为模式动物具有独特的优越性并且有望在更多的科学研究方面发挥重要作用。

关键词: 玻璃海鞘, 模式生物, 神经生物学, 免疫学, 发育生物学

Abstract:

With the continuous development of experimental biology, the limitations of commonly utilized model organisms are becoming increasingly apparent. Discrepancies between research conducted on laboratory animals and humans significantly impede the translational application of findings derived from animal experiments. This review introduces ascidian Ciona intestinalis as a novel model organism, an invertebrate that is evolutionarily closest to vertebrates and is a sister group to vertebrates. The review summarizes recent research progress on Ciona intestinalis in various fields to illustrate the significant advantages and promising application prospects of it as a model organism. The research progress outlined in the review mainly encompasses: (1) The whole-genome sequencing of Ciona intestinalis has been determined and numerous related databases have been established. Various embryonic gene editing technologies have been successfully applied, making it an animal model easy to manipulate genetically and study the functions and interactions of target genes visually. (2) In the field of neurobiology, Ciona intestinalis boasts a central nervous system structure similar to that of vertebrates and possesses numerous homologous neuropeptides and hormone molecules. These features grant it an edge in exploring the mechanisms and functional evolution of endocrine and neuroendocrine-related molecules. Additionally, the sensitivity and habituation of its larvae to light stimulation provide an avenue for exploring mechanisms related to behavioral plasticity. (3) In the field of immunology, Ciona intestinalis possesses a mature innate immune system and has evolved precursor genes to the adaptive immune system, with a relatively simple coding of immune-related genes. These features make it an exemplary model organism for immunological studies. (4) In the field of developmental biology, many studies have focused on the notochord development process in Ciona intestinalis and the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression within it, indicating common evolutionary developmental strategies among chordates. Additionally, insights into its heart development also significantly enhance our comprehension on the genetic network of human heart development. (5) In medical research, the ability of Ciona intestinalis to regenerate its neural complex and siphon, as well as the resilience of its heart to recover contractile function from substantial damage, renders it a valuable animal model for the study of regeneration and heart injury. It also has unique advantages as a research model for Alzheimer's disease and new drug development. Furthermore, its brief five-month lifespan facilitates the observation and recording of the entire aging process and the exploration of the effects of various factors on aging. In summary, this review aims to demonstrate that Ciona intestinalis stands out as a model organism with unique attributes and is expected to play a significant role in a wider range of scientific research areas.

Key words: Ciona intestinalis, Model organism, Neurobiology, Immunology, Developmental biology

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