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Steinbeck BJ, Gao XD, McElroy AN, Pandey S, Doman JL, Riddle MJ, Xia L, Chen W, Eide CR, Lengert AH, Han SW, Blazar BR, Wandall HH, Dabelsteen S, Liu DR, Tolar J, Osborn MJ. Twin prime editing mediated exon skipping/reinsertion for restored collagen VII expression in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. J Invest Dermatol 2024:S0022-202X(24)00372-5. [PMID: 38763174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Gene editing nucleases, base editors, and prime editors are potential locus specific genetic treatment strategies for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB); however, many RDEB COL7A1 mutations are unique, making the development of personalized editing reagents challenging. 270 of the ∼320 COL7A1 EB mutations reside in exons that can be skipped, and antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and gene editing nucleases have been used to create in-frame deletions. ASOs are transient and nucleases generate deleterious double stranded DNA breaks (DSB) and uncontrolled mixtures of allele products. We developed a twin prime editing (twinPE) strategy using the PEmax and recently evolved PE6 prime editors and dual prime editing guide RNAs flanking COL7A1 exon five. Prime editing-mediated deletion of exon 5 with a homozygous premature stop codon was achieved in RDEB fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and iPSC with minimal DSBs, and collagen type VII (C7) protein was restored. TwinPE can replace the target exon with recombinase attachment sequences, and we exploited this to re-insert a normal copy of exon 5 using the Bxb1 recombinase. These findings demonstrate that twinPE can facilitate locus-specific, predictable, in-frame deletions and sequence replacement with few DSBs as a strategy that may enable a single therapeutic agent to treat multiple RDEB patient cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Steinbeck
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xin D Gao
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amber N McElroy
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Smriti Pandey
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jordan L Doman
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Megan J Riddle
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Lily Xia
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Weili Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Cindy R Eide
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Andre H Lengert
- Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo Escola Paulista de Medicina: Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Sang Won Han
- Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo Escola Paulista de Medicina: Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Hans H Wandall
- University of Copenhagen, Centre for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sally Dabelsteen
- University of Copenhagen, Centre for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mark J Osborn
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Lu H, Zuo X, Yuan J, Xie Z, Yin L, Pu Y, Chen Z, Zhang J. Research progress in the development of 3D skin models and their application to in vitro skin irritation testing. J Appl Toxicol 2024. [PMID: 38711121 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Toxicological assessment of chemicals is crucial for safeguarding human health and the environment. However, traditional animal experiments are associated with ethical, technical, and predictive limitations in assessing the toxicity of chemicals to the skin. With the recent development of bioengineering and tissue engineering, three-dimensional (3D) skin models have been commonly used as an alternative for toxicological studies. The skin consists of the subcutaneous, dermis, and epidermis. All these layers have crucial functions such as physical and biological protection and thermoregulation. The epidermis is the shallowest layer protecting against external substances and media. Because the skin is the first contact point for many substances, this organ is very significant for assessing local toxicity following skin exposure. According to the classification of the United Nations Global Harmonized System, skin irritation is a major potentially hazardous characteristic of chemicals, and this characteristic must be accurately assessed and classified for enhancing chemical safety management and preventing and reducing chemical accidents. This review discusses the research progress of 3D skin models and introduces their application in assessing chemical skin irritation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Lu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Xulei Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Jiayu Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Zhuoying Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Lihong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Yuepu Pu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Zaozao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Institute for Sport and Health (JISH), Nanjing, P. R. China
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3
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Arjmand B, Bahrami-Vahdat E, Alavi-Moghadam S, Arjmand R, Rezaei-Tavirani M, Namazi N, Larijani B. Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell‒Derived Keratinocytes, as Therapeutic Option in Vitiligo. Methods Mol Biol 2024. [PMID: 38189899 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2023_510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Vitiligo is a skin condition affecting 1% of the global population, causing non-scaly, chalky-white macules on the skin and hair. It is caused by the pathologic destruction of melanocytes, which produce melanin. Research has focused on the abnormalities of melanocytes and their interaction with neighboring keratinocytes. Current treatments are mainly immunosuppressive drugs and UV radiation, which are scarce and ineffective. To treat vitiligo, regenerative medicine techniques, such as cell-based and cell-free methods, are recommended. Keratinocyte cell transplantation has shown promising results in treating vitiligo. Moreover, studies suggest individualized therapy for diseases can be provided by reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. On the other hand, differentiation into particular cell types is a key component of induced pluripotent stem cells-based treatment. In this chapter, the differentiation and validation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into a keratinocyte as a therapeutic option in vitiligo will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Arjmand
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Sepideh Alavi-Moghadam
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rasta Arjmand
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Nazli Namazi
- Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Salois MN, Gugger JA, Webb S, Sheldon CE, Parraga SP, Lewitt GM, Grange DK, Koch PJ, Koster MI. Effects of TP63 mutations on keratinocyte adhesion and migration. Exp Dermatol 2023; 32:1575-1581. [PMID: 37432020 PMCID: PMC10529328 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the formation of skin erosions in patients affected by Ankyloblepharon-ectodermal defects-cleft lip/palate syndrome (AEC). This ectodermal dysplasia is caused by mutations in the TP63 gene, which encodes several transcription factors that control epidermal development and homeostasis. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from AEC patients and corrected the TP63 mutations using genome editing tools. Three pairs of the resulting conisogenic iPSC lines were differentiated into keratinocytes (iPSC-K). We identified a significant downregulation of key components of hemidesmosomes and focal adhesions in AEC iPSC-K compared to their gene-corrected counterparts. Further, we demonstrated reduced AEC iPSC-K migration, suggesting the possibility that a process critical for cutaneous wound healing might be impaired in AEC patients. Next, we generated chimeric mice expressing a TP63-AEC transgene and confirmed a downregulation of these genes in transgene-expressing cells in vivo. Finally, we also observed these abnormalities in AEC patient skin. Our findings suggest that integrin defects in AEC patients might weaken the adhesion of keratinocytes to the basement membrane. We propose that reduced expression of extracellular matrix adhesion receptors, potentially in conjunction with previously identified desmosomal protein defects, contribute to skin erosions in AEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddison N. Salois
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Jessica A. Gugger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Saiphone Webb
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Christina E. Sheldon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Shirley P. Parraga
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | | | - Dorothy K. Grange
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Peter J. Koch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Maranke I. Koster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
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5
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Yang X, Chen D, Sun Q, Wang Y, Xia Y, Yang J, Lin C, Dang X, Cen Z, Liang D, Wei R, Xu Z, Xi G, Xue G, Ye C, Wang LP, Zou P, Wang SQ, Rivera-Fuentes P, Püntener S, Chen Z, Liu Y, Zhang J, Zhao Y. A live-cell image-based machine learning strategy for reducing variability in PSC differentiation systems. Cell Discov 2023; 9:53. [PMID: 37280224 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00543-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into diverse functional cell types provides a promising solution to support drug discovery, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. However, functional cell differentiation is currently limited by the substantial line-to-line and batch-to-batch variabilities, which severely impede the progress of scientific research and the manufacturing of cell products. For instance, PSC-to-cardiomyocyte (CM) differentiation is vulnerable to inappropriate doses of CHIR99021 (CHIR) that are applied in the initial stage of mesoderm differentiation. Here, by harnessing live-cell bright-field imaging and machine learning (ML), we realize real-time cell recognition in the entire differentiation process, e.g., CMs, cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs), PSC clones, and even misdifferentiated cells. This enables non-invasive prediction of differentiation efficiency, purification of ML-recognized CMs and CPCs for reducing cell contamination, early assessment of the CHIR dose for correcting the misdifferentiation trajectory, and evaluation of initial PSC colonies for controlling the start point of differentiation, all of which provide a more invulnerable differentiation method with resistance to variability. Moreover, with the established ML models as a readout for the chemical screen, we identify a CDK8 inhibitor that can further improve the cell resistance to the overdose of CHIR. Together, this study indicates that artificial intelligence is able to guide and iteratively optimize PSC differentiation to achieve consistently high efficiency across cell lines and batches, providing a better understanding and rational modulation of the differentiation process for functional cell manufacturing in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Daichao Chen
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiushi Sun
- Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Xia
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyu Yang
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Lin
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zimu Cen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongdong Liang
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Wei
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ze Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangyin Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Xue
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Can Ye
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Zou
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shi-Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Salome Püntener
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zhixing Chen
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jue Zhang
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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6
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Wright JT, Abbott BM, Salois MN, Gugger JA, Parraga SP, Swanson AK, Fete M, Koster MI. Rare diseases of ectoderm: Translating discovery to therapy. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:902-909. [PMID: 36534506 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Heritable conditions known as ectodermal dysplasias are rare and can be associated with marked morbidity, mortality, and a reduced quality of life. The diagnosis and care of individuals affected by one of the many ectodermal dysplasias presents myriad challenges due to their rarity and the diverse phenotypes. These conditions are caused by abnormalities in multiple genes and signaling pathways that are essential for the development and function of ectodermal derivatives. During a 2021 international conference focused on translating discovery to therapy, researchers and clinicians gathered with the goal of advancing the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting ectodermal tissues with an emphasis on skin, hair, tooth, and eye phenotypes. Conference participants presented a variety of promising treatment strategies including gene or protein replacement, gene editing, cell therapy, and the identification of druggable targets. Further, barriers that negatively influence the current development of novel therapeutics were identified. These barriers include a lack of accurate prevalence data for rare conditions, absence of an inclusive patient registry with deep phenotyping data, and insufficient animal models and cell lines. Overcoming these barriers will need to be prioritized in order to facilitate the development of novel treatments for genetic disorders of the ectoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Timothy Wright
- Division of Pediatric and Public Health, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Becky M Abbott
- National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias, Fairview Heights, Illinois, USA
| | - Maddison N Salois
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica A Gugger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shirley P Parraga
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amanda K Swanson
- Division of Pediatric and Public Health, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mary Fete
- National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias, Fairview Heights, Illinois, USA
| | - Maranke I Koster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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7
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Whye D, Wood D, Kim K, Chen C, Makhortova N, Sahin M, Buttermore ED. Dynamic 3D Combinatorial Generation of hPSC-Derived Neuromesodermal Organoids With Diverse Regional and Cellular Identities. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e568. [PMID: 36264199 PMCID: PMC9589923 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Neuromesodermal progenitors represent a unique, bipotent population of progenitors residing in the tail bud of the developing embryo, which give rise to the caudal spinal cord cell types of neuroectodermal lineage as well as the adjacent paraxial somite cell types of mesodermal origin. With the advent of stem cell technologies, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the modeling of rare genetic disorders can be accomplished in vitro to interrogate cell-type specific pathological mechanisms in human patient conditions. Stem cell-derived models of neuromesodermal progenitors have been accomplished by several developmental biology groups; however, most employ a 2D monolayer format that does not fully reflect the complexity of cellular differentiation in the developing embryo. This article presents a dynamic 3D combinatorial method to generate robust populations of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neuromesodermal organoids with multi-cellular fates and regional identities. By utilizing a dynamic 3D suspension format for the differentiation process, the organoids differentiated by following this protocol display a hallmark of embryonic development that involves a morphological elongation known as axial extension. Furthermore, by employing a combinatorial screening assay, we dissect essential pathways for optimally directing the patterning of pluripotent stem cells into neuromesodermal organoids. This protocol highlights the influence of timing, duration, and concentration of WNT and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways on enhancing early neuromesodermal identity, and later, downstream cell fate specification through combined synergies of retinoid signaling and sonic hedgehog activation. Finally, through robust inhibition of the Notch signaling pathway, this protocol accelerates the acquisition of terminal cell identities. This enhanced organoid model can serve as a powerful tool for studying normal developmental processes as well as investigating complex neurodevelopmental disorders, such as neural tube defects. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Robust generation of 3D hPSC-derived spheroid populations in dynamic motion settings Support Protocol 1: Pluronic F-127 reagent preparation and coating to generate low-attachment suspension culture dishes Basic Protocol 2: Enhanced specification of hPSCs into NMP organoids Support Protocol 2: Combinatorial pathway assay for NMP organoid protocol optimization Basic Protocol 3: Differentiation of NMP organoids along diverse cellular trajectories and accelerated terminal fate specification into neurons, neural crest, and sclerotome derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dosh Whye
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Delaney Wood
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Kristina Kim
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Cidi Chen
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Nina Makhortova
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Elizabeth D. Buttermore
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
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