Developing zebrafish models for the study of Wnt-related central nervous system pathologies

Natalia  Erofeeva; Murilo S  de Abreu; Jiahao Cui; Lee Wei Lim; Longen Yang; Allan V Kalueff

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.06.003

Developing zebrafish models for the study of Wnt-related central nervous system pathologies

Natalia Erofeeva, Murilo S de Abreu^*, Jiahao Cui, Lee Wei Lim, Longen Yang, Allan V Kalueff^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and pathology of the central nervous system (CNS), modulating neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and cell fate determination. Dysregulation of this pathway is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of several CNS disorders. Recognizing the growing importance of Wnt signaling in the brain, here we provide novel insights into experimental animal models studying this mechanism, with a particular emphasis on zebrafish (Danio rerio), including CNS development, and high-throughput drug screening of compounds that modulate Wnt signaling. Despite certain limitations, zebrafish provide a promising and powerful model system to increase our understanding of the role of Wnt signaling in CNS function, and to foster the development of novel therapies for brain disorders associated with this signaling pathway.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	239-249
Number of pages	11
Journal	Neuroscience
Volume	579
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.06.003
Publication status	Published - 23 Jul 2025

Keywords

Animal model
Neurodegeneration
Wnt-signaling pathway
Zebrafish

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title = "Developing zebrafish models for the study of Wnt-related central nervous system pathologies",

abstract = "The wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and pathology of the central nervous system (CNS), modulating neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and cell fate determination. Dysregulation of this pathway is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of several CNS disorders. Recognizing the growing importance of Wnt signaling in the brain, here we provide novel insights into experimental animal models studying this mechanism, with a particular emphasis on zebrafish (Danio rerio), including CNS development, and high-throughput drug screening of compounds that modulate Wnt signaling. Despite certain limitations, zebrafish provide a promising and powerful model system to increase our understanding of the role of Wnt signaling in CNS function, and to foster the development of novel therapies for brain disorders associated with this signaling pathway.",

keywords = "Animal model, Neurodegeneration, Wnt-signaling pathway, Zebrafish",

author = "Natalia Erofeeva and {de Abreu}, {Murilo S} and Jiahao Cui and Lim, {Lee Wei} and Longen Yang and Kalueff, {Allan V}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

day = "23",

doi = "10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.06.003",

language = "English",

volume = "579",

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journal = "Neuroscience",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing zebrafish models for the study of Wnt-related central nervous system pathologies

AU - Erofeeva, Natalia

AU - de Abreu, Murilo S

AU - Cui, Jiahao

AU - Lim, Lee Wei

AU - Yang, Longen

AU - Kalueff, Allan V

PY - 2025/7/23

Y1 - 2025/7/23

N2 - The wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and pathology of the central nervous system (CNS), modulating neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and cell fate determination. Dysregulation of this pathway is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of several CNS disorders. Recognizing the growing importance of Wnt signaling in the brain, here we provide novel insights into experimental animal models studying this mechanism, with a particular emphasis on zebrafish (Danio rerio), including CNS development, and high-throughput drug screening of compounds that modulate Wnt signaling. Despite certain limitations, zebrafish provide a promising and powerful model system to increase our understanding of the role of Wnt signaling in CNS function, and to foster the development of novel therapies for brain disorders associated with this signaling pathway.

AB - The wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and pathology of the central nervous system (CNS), modulating neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and cell fate determination. Dysregulation of this pathway is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of several CNS disorders. Recognizing the growing importance of Wnt signaling in the brain, here we provide novel insights into experimental animal models studying this mechanism, with a particular emphasis on zebrafish (Danio rerio), including CNS development, and high-throughput drug screening of compounds that modulate Wnt signaling. Despite certain limitations, zebrafish provide a promising and powerful model system to increase our understanding of the role of Wnt signaling in CNS function, and to foster the development of novel therapies for brain disorders associated with this signaling pathway.

KW - Animal model

KW - Neurodegeneration

KW - Wnt-signaling pathway

KW - Zebrafish

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U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.06.003

DO - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.06.003

M3 - Review article

SN - 0306-4522

VL - 579

SP - 239

EP - 249

JO - Neuroscience

JF - Neuroscience

ER -

Developing zebrafish models for the study of Wnt-related central nervous system pathologies

Abstract

Keywords

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