Meteorins regulate the formation of the left-right organizer and the establishment of vertebrate body asymmetry

While the exterior of vertebrate bodies appears bilaterally symmetrical, internal organ positioning and morphology frequently exhibit left-right (L-R) asymmetries. In several vertebrates, including human, mouse, frog and zebrafish, left-right symmetry-breaking during embryonic development is initiated by a ciliated organ called the Node or left-right organizer. Within the Node, a leftward flow of extraembryonic fluid named the Nodal flow mediates the asymmetric expressions of Nodal factors. Although downstream Nodal pathway components leading to the establishment of the embryonic left-right axis are well known, less is known about the development and formation of the embryonic Node itself.

Here we reveal a novel role for the Meteorin protein family in the establishment of the left-right axis and in the formation of the Kupffer’s vesicle, the Node equivalent structure in zebrafish. We show that the genetic inactivation of each or all three members of the zebrafish Meteorin family (metrn,metrn-like aandmetrn-like b) leads to defects in properties of the Kupffer’s vesicle, caused by impaired assembly and migration of the Kupffer’s vesicle forming dorsal forerunner cells. In addition, we demonstrate that Meteorins genetically interact with integrins ItgaV and Itgβ1b regulating the dorsal forerunner cell clustering and thatmeteorinsloss-of-function results in disturbed Nodal factor expression and consequently in randomized or symmetric heart looping and jogging.

These results identify a new role for the Meteorin protein family in the left-right asymmetry patterning during embryonic vertebrate development.