Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39817421›Full record

ArticleeLife2025

Crispant analysis in zebrafish as a tool for rapid functional screening of disease-causing genes for bone fragility.

Sophie Debaenst, Tamara Jarayseh, Hanna De Saffel, Jan Willem Bek, Matthieu Boone, Ivan Josipovic, Pierre Kibleur, Ronald Y Kwon, Paul J Coucke, Andy Willaert

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in eLife, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sophie DebaenstCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7598-919X
Tamara JaraysehCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Hanna De SaffelCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Jan Willem BekCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Matthieu BooneCenter for X-ray Tomography, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Ivan JosipovicCenter for X-ray Tomography, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Pierre KibleurCenter for X-ray Tomography, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Ronald Y KwonDepartment of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9760-3761
Paul J CouckeCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Andy WillaertCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9543-1932

Funding

Diversity Supplement for Rohda YaseR01AR074417 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI KWON, RONALD Y · 2020 to 2025
$2.9M
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek FWO.OPR.2020.0023.01NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR074417
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Heritable fragile bone disorders (FBDs), ranging from multifactorial to rare monogenic conditions, are characterized by an elevated fracture risk. Validating causative genes and understanding their mechanisms remain challenging. We assessed a semi-high throughput zebrafish screening platform for rapid in vivo functional testing of candidate FBD genes. Six genes linked to severe recessive osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and four associated with bone mineral density (BMD) from genome-wide association studies were analyzed. Using CRISPR/Cas9-based crispant screening in F0 mosaic founder zebrafish, Next-generation sequencing confirmed high indel efficiency (mean 88%), mimicking stable knock-out models. Skeletal phenotyping at 7, 14, and 90 days post-fertilization (dpf) using microscopy, Alizarin Red S staining, and microCT was performed. Larval crispants showed variable osteoblast and mineralization phenotypes, while adult crispants displayed consistent skeletal defects, including malformed neural and haemal arches, vertebral fractures and fusions, and altered bone volume and density. In addition, aldh7a1 and mbtps2 crispants experienced increased mortality due to severe skeletal deformities. RT-qPCR revealed differential expression of osteogenic markers bglap and col1a1a, highlighting their biomarker potential. Our results establish zebrafish crispant screening as a robust tool for FBD gene validation, combining skeletal and molecular analyses across developmental stages to uncover novel insights into gene functions in bone biology.

Indexed as

Osteogenesis ImperfectaZebrafishAnimalsBone and BonesBone DensityCRISPR-Cas SystemsDisease Models, AnimalCrispantsDanio reriogeneticsgenomicszebrafish

Identifiers

PMID39817421
PMCPMC11737869

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.