Zebrafish have become a popular animal model for studying various biological processes and human diseases. The metabolic pathways and players conserved among zebrafish and mammals facilitate the use of zebrafish to understand the pathological mechanisms underlying various metabolic disorders in humans. Adipocytes play an important role in metabolic homeostasis, and zebrafish adipocytes have been characterized. However, a versatile and reliable zebrafish model for long-term monitoring of adipose tissues has not been reported. In this study, we generated stable transgenic zebrafish expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in adipocytes. The transgenic zebrafish harbored adipose tissues that could be detected using GFP fluorescence and the morphology of single adipocyte could be investigated in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated the applicability of this model to the long-term in vivo imaging of adipose tissue development and regulation based on nutrition. The transgenic zebrafish established in this study may serve as an excellent tool to advance the characterization of white adipose tissue in zebrafish, thereby aiding the development of therapeutic interventions to treat metabolic diseases in humans.
Objective: This study aims to identify characteristic genes associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and hub genes in key module were identified using the limma package and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) in R software, respectively. The intersection of these genes was then subjected to LASSO regression to pinpoint characteristic genes. The correlation between immune cell infiltration and these characteristic genes was further elucidated using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Spearman correlation analysis.Results: A total of 113 DEGs were identified, along with their associated biological pathways. From this pool, five characteristic genes—ADH1B, CCL27, ID4, LRP4 and S100A9—were selected and validated. Immune infiltration analysis revealed significant correlations between these genes and various immune cell types, particularly with CCL27, ID4, LRP4 and S100A9.Conclusion: The identification of characteristic genes for cSCC provides valuable insights into its molecular mechanisms. The correlations between these genes and immune cell infiltration suggests their potential roles in tumor immunity.
Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and significant immune dysregulation. Obesity is markedly associated with psoriasis, acting as an independent risk factor that exacerbates disease severity and treatment failure, while weight‑reduction interventions can improve psoriatic lesions. However, the mechanisms by which obesity promotes the onset and progression of psoriatic lesions still require further elucidation. The present comprehensive narrative review highlighted the critical role of the crosstalk between white adipose tissue (WAT) and skin in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The expansion of WAT contributes to inflammation, epidermal proliferation and angiogenesis in skin lesions through the release of adipokines, extracellular vesicles and free fatty acids. Conversely, psoriatic lesions induce dysregulation in the inflammation and function of WAT. These findings suggested that this bidirectional communication not only explains the high prevalence of obesity among patients with psoriasis, but also highlights the importance of addressing metabolic comorbidities in treatment strategies.
Hidradenitis suppurativa and Dowling-Degos disease are two independent rare diseases with characteristic clinical manifestations. The PSENEN gene encodes a critical subunit of the γ-secretase complex, mutations of which can independently or concurrently lead to hidradenitis suppurativa and Dowling-Degos disease. Given the rarity of pathogenic PSENEN mutations in the general population, further elucidation of their relationship with these conditions is warranted. We conducted an investigation on a multigenerational Chinese family encompassing 14 members, all of whom exhibited clinical manifestations of both hidradenitis suppurativa and Dowling-Degos disease. Diagnosis was established through pedigree analysis, clinical assessment, pathological examination, Twist whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Genetic analysis revealed a deletion mutation (c.66delG) in the PSENEN gene located on chromosome 19, marking this mutation being associated with the clinical manifestations of both diseases. Additionally, this article reviews existing literature and discusses the potential systemic comorbidities associated with PSENEN mutations in relation to the clinical phenotypes of skin diseases. These findings contribute novel insights into genotype–phenotype correlations involving the PSENEN gene, expanding our understanding of these complex dermatologic disorders at the molecular level.
Global warming and extreme weather events pose a significant threat to global biodiversity, with rising water temperatures exerting a profound influence on fish conservation and fishery development. In this study, we used zebrafish as a model organism to explore the impact of a heat acclimation period on their survival rates. The results demonstrated that a 2-month heat acclimation period almost completely mitigated heat stress-induced mortality in zebrafish. Subsequent analysis of the surviving zebrafish revealed a predominance of hepatic mitochondria in a fission state. Remarkably, a short-term fasting regimen, which induced hepatic mitochondrial fission, mirrored the outcomes of the protective effect of heat acclimation and augmented animal survival under heat stress. Conversely, treatment with a mitochondrial fission inhibitor within the fasting group attenuated the elevated survival rate. Furthermore, zebrafish embryos subjected to brief heat acclimation also exhibited increased heat resistance, a trait diminished by a chemical intervention inhibiting mitochondrial fission. This suggests a shared mechanism for heat resistance between embryos and adult zebrafish. These findings underscore the potential use of inducing mitochondrial fission to enhance heat resistance in zebrafish, offering promise for fish biodiversity conservation in the face of global warming.
11 July 2026 in Archives of Dermatological Research