The Role And Mechanism Of Transcription Factor Sox11b In Retinal Regeneration Of Zebrafish

Transription factor Sox11 has important functions in neural development and axon regeneration,but its potential role in retinal regeneration remains unclear.In this study,we investigated the role of Sox11 b in retinal regeneration in zebrafish.We found that Sox11 b was highly expressed in proliferating Müller glia-derived progenitor cells(MGPCs)after a stab injury in the retina.MO-mediated Sox11 b knockdown had no effect on MGPC proliferation,but significantly disrupted their distribution and differentiation.Specifically,higher proportions of MGPCs with depleted Sox11 b were located in the inner neuclear layer(INL)and ganglion cell layer(GCL),while less of them were in ONL compared to control.Lineage tracing showed that more amacrine cells and RGCs were generated from Sox11-deplected MGPCs,while less cone photoreceptors were produced.At the molecular level,Sox11 b knockdown significantly increased the expression of Foxn4 which is a known regulator of retina progenitor differentiation,and both Foxn4 and Sox11 b are expressed in proliferating MGPCs.These data suggest Sox11 b likely regulates the fate choice of MGPCs via inhibiting Foxn4 expression.Our results indicate Sox11 b is an important regulator of MGPC's distribution and differentiation during retinal regeneration.Results from this study will not only deepen our understanding of the mechanism governing retina regeneration in fish,but also provide new strategies for repairing the human retina in the future.