Zebrafish for Personalized Regenerative Medicine; A More Predictive Humanized Model of Endocrine Disease

Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2020 · DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00396 · Published: July 17, 2020

Endocrinology Research Methodology & Design Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Regenerative medicine seeks to repair damaged tissues and organs. Personalized regenerative medicine tailors treatments to individual characteristics. Endocrine disorders are potential targets for regenerative medicine. Zebrafish are a promising model for studying regenerative medicine due to their ability to regenerate tissues and organs. They are also useful for studying development and disease mechanisms. Zebrafish can play a leading role in regeneration studies of endocrine diseases, offering insights into underlying mechanisms.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review Article

Key Findings

1
Zebrafish possess regenerative capabilities in various organs, making them suitable for studying regenerative medicine approaches for endocrine disorders like diabetes mellitus.
2
Zebrafish offer advantages as a model for personalized medicine, particularly in cancer studies, due to embryo transparency, high permeability to chemotherapy drugs, and a rejection-free environment.
3
Zebrafish models are useful for investigating thyroid diseases, metabolic diseases (obesity, diabetes, NAFLD, NASH), and the impact of endocrine-disrupting components (EDCs).

Research Summary

This review highlights the potential of zebrafish as a model for personalized regenerative medicine, particularly in the context of endocrine diseases. Zebrafish possess remarkable regenerative capabilities and offer advantages over traditional animal models. The review discusses the application of zebrafish in studying diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, and thyroid disorders, emphasizing their utility in identifying underlying mechanisms and developing therapeutic approaches. The authors conclude that zebrafish, with its unique characteristics, can contribute to advancements in personalized regenerative medicine and cell-based treatments for various diseases.

Practical Implications

Drug Discovery

Zebrafish models can be used to screen potential drugs for endocrine and metabolic disorders.

Personalized Treatment Strategies

Zebrafish avatars can help tailor treatments to individual patients based on their genetic and physiological characteristics.

Understanding Disease Mechanisms

Zebrafish can be used to study the underlying mechanisms of endocrine and metabolic diseases, leading to the development of more effective therapies.

Study Limitations

1
Fundamental differences between zebrafish and human systems (e.g., respiratory and reproductive systems).
2
Difficulties in replicating human lifestyle and socioeconomic factors in zebrafish models of metabolic disease.
3
Challenges in performing certain procedures in zebrafish compared to other animal models (e.g., intraperitoneal injections, blood sampling).

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