Transcription profiling by RNA-seq of zebrafish kidney marrow cells treated with Kitlga. Transcription profiling by RNA-seq of zebrafish kidney marrow cells treated with Kitlga

Kit ligand (Kitlg) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a prominent role in vertebrate erythropoiesis. Due to whole genome duplication, zebrafish possess two copies of Kit ligand (Kitlga and Kitlgb). We generated a recombinant version of Kitlga, tested its biological activity in culture of zebrafish kidney marrow cells and performed RNA-seq analysis. Using this assay, we demonstrate that Kitlga cooperates with other factors to promote erythroid cell expansion ex vivo.