Peng Huang
@penghuang031.bsky.social
Developmental biologist at University of Calgary
Cell signaling, tissue patterning, fibroblast, regeneration, zebrafish
Cell signaling, tissue patterning, fibroblast, regeneration, zebrafish
Couldn’t have done this without Emilio’s hard work 🎉 Huge thanks to our amazing co-authors, collaborators, and @CIHR for supporting this fundamental research! #Zebrafish #Fibroblast #CellMigration #Chemoattraction #DevBiol 8/8
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Couldn’t have done this without Emilio’s hard work 🎉 Huge thanks to our amazing co-authors, collaborators, and @CIHR for supporting this fundamental research! #Zebrafish #Fibroblast #CellMigration #Chemoattraction #DevBiol 8/8
Together, Emilio’s work demonstrates that Pdgfab/Pdgfra signaling-mediated chemoattraction guides the migration of fibroblast precursors to specific locations, where they diversify into distinct fibroblast subtypes. 7/8
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Together, Emilio’s work demonstrates that Pdgfab/Pdgfra signaling-mediated chemoattraction guides the migration of fibroblast precursors to specific locations, where they diversify into distinct fibroblast subtypes. 7/8
Mosaic expression of Pdgfab is sufficient to restore fibroblast precursor migration locally, and can even redirect them to ectopic locations. These results suggest that Pdgfab functions as a chemoattractant. 6/8
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Mosaic expression of Pdgfab is sufficient to restore fibroblast precursor migration locally, and can even redirect them to ectopic locations. These results suggest that Pdgfab functions as a chemoattractant. 6/8
What is the ligand for Pdgfra? Interestingly, pdgfab is expressed in the medial somite, flanking the migratory path of fibroblast precursors. Loss of pdgfab specifically impairs medial migration of fibroblast precursors toward the notochord. 5/8
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
What is the ligand for Pdgfra? Interestingly, pdgfab is expressed in the medial somite, flanking the migratory path of fibroblast precursors. Loss of pdgfab specifically impairs medial migration of fibroblast precursors toward the notochord. 5/8
Using a dominant-negative Pdgfra tool, we found that Pdgfra functions cell-autonomously to regulate fibroblast precursor migration. 4/8
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Using a dominant-negative Pdgfra tool, we found that Pdgfra functions cell-autonomously to regulate fibroblast precursor migration. 4/8
Platelet-derived growth factor receptor a (pdgfra) is specifically expressed in sclerotome progenitors. Loss of Pdgfra in a gene-trap mutant results in severe defects in the migration of sclerotome-derived fibroblast precursors in all directions. 3/8
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Platelet-derived growth factor receptor a (pdgfra) is specifically expressed in sclerotome progenitors. Loss of Pdgfra in a gene-trap mutant results in severe defects in the migration of sclerotome-derived fibroblast precursors in all directions. 3/8
Fibroblasts are found in nearly all vertebrate organs. But how are fibroblast precursors instructed to migrate and populate diverse tissues during embryonic development? We previously showed that the sclerotome of the somite is an embryonic source of diverse fibroblast subtypes in zebrafish. 2/8
September 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Fibroblasts are found in nearly all vertebrate organs. But how are fibroblast precursors instructed to migrate and populate diverse tissues during embryonic development? We previously showed that the sclerotome of the somite is an embryonic source of diverse fibroblast subtypes in zebrafish. 2/8
Thank you Kevin! You rock!
June 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Thank you Kevin! You rock!
Big thanks to all our co-authors for their contributions, and to #CIHR for supporting this fundamental research! #zebrafish #devbio 8/8
June 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Big thanks to all our co-authors for their contributions, and to #CIHR for supporting this fundamental research! #zebrafish #devbio 8/8
Together, our findings highlight that dynamic regulation of BMP signaling is crucial for sclerotome induction and the diversification of its derivatives during zebrafish development. 7/8
June 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Together, our findings highlight that dynamic regulation of BMP signaling is crucial for sclerotome induction and the diversification of its derivatives during zebrafish development. 7/8
Functionally, sustained BMP signaling prevents the differentiation of tenocytes (tendon fibroblasts) in the trunk, while BMP inhibition disrupts fin mesenchymal cell morphogenesis. 6/8
June 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Functionally, sustained BMP signaling prevents the differentiation of tenocytes (tendon fibroblasts) in the trunk, while BMP inhibition disrupts fin mesenchymal cell morphogenesis. 6/8
Interestingly, BMP responsiveness differs among sclerotome-derived cell populations: notochord-associated cells in the medial trunk show no BMP response, whereas fin mesenchymal cells in the fin fold maintain high-level of BMP signaling. 5/8
June 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Interestingly, BMP responsiveness differs among sclerotome-derived cell populations: notochord-associated cells in the medial trunk show no BMP response, whereas fin mesenchymal cells in the fin fold maintain high-level of BMP signaling. 5/8
Using mosaic expression of a dominant-negative BMP receptor, we demonstrated that BMP signaling induces sclerotome fate in a cell-autonomous manner. 4/8
June 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Using mosaic expression of a dominant-negative BMP receptor, we demonstrated that BMP signaling induces sclerotome fate in a cell-autonomous manner. 4/8
Gain- and loss-of-function experiments show that BMP signaling is both necessary and sufficient for sclerotome induction. For example, activating BMP signaling induces sclerotome markers at the expense of dermomyotome markers. 3/8
June 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Gain- and loss-of-function experiments show that BMP signaling is both necessary and sufficient for sclerotome induction. For example, activating BMP signaling induces sclerotome markers at the expense of dermomyotome markers. 3/8
The sclerotome is an embryonic source of the axial skeleton and many tissue-supporting cells like fibroblasts. We found that several BMP ligands, including bmp4, are expressed in sclerotome progenitors and in cells adjacent to sclerotome-derived lineages such as fin mesenchymal cells. 2/8
June 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The sclerotome is an embryonic source of the axial skeleton and many tissue-supporting cells like fibroblasts. We found that several BMP ligands, including bmp4, are expressed in sclerotome progenitors and in cells adjacent to sclerotome-derived lineages such as fin mesenchymal cells. 2/8
Congrats! Well deserved!!
June 23, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Congrats! Well deserved!!
Congratulations, well-deserved!!
February 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Congratulations, well-deserved!!
Cool story. Congratulations, David!!
January 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Cool story. Congratulations, David!!