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Valderhaug VD, Ramstad OH, van de Wijdeven R, Heiney K, Nichele S, Sandvig A, Sandvig I. Micro-and mesoscale aspects of neurodegeneration in engineered human neural networks carrying the LRRK2 G2019S mutation. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1366098. [PMID: 38644975 PMCID: PMC11026646 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1366098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene have been widely linked to Parkinson's disease, where the G2019S variant has been shown to contribute uniquely to both familial and sporadic forms of the disease. LRRK2-related mutations have been extensively studied, yet the wide variety of cellular and network events related to these mutations remain poorly understood. The advancement and availability of tools for neural engineering now enable modeling of selected pathological aspects of neurodegenerative disease in human neural networks in vitro. Our study revealed distinct pathology associated dynamics in engineered human cortical neural networks carrying the LRRK2 G2019S mutation compared to healthy isogenic control neural networks. The neurons carrying the LRRK2 G2019S mutation self-organized into networks with aberrant morphology and mitochondrial dynamics, affecting emerging structure-function relationships both at the micro-and mesoscale. Taken together, the findings of our study points toward an overall heightened metabolic demand in networks carrying the LRRK2 G2019S mutation, as well as a resilience to change in response to perturbation, compared to healthy isogenic controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibeke Devold Valderhaug
- Department of Research and Innovation, Møre and Romsdal Hospital Trust, Ålesund, Norway
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ola Huse Ramstad
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Rosanne van de Wijdeven
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kristine Heiney
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), Oslo, Norway
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stefano Nichele
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), Oslo, Norway
- Department of Computer Science and Communication, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway
| | - Axel Sandvig
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neuro, Head and Neck, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St Olav’s Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ioanna Sandvig
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
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Zhang X, Dou Z, Kim SH, Upadhyay G, Havert D, Kang S, Kazemi K, Huang K, Aydin O, Huang R, Rahman S, Ellis‐Mohr A, Noblet HA, Lim KH, Chung HJ, Gritton HJ, Saif MTA, Kong HJ, Beggs JM, Gazzola M. Mind In Vitro Platforms: Versatile, Scalable, Robust, and Open Solutions to Interfacing with Living Neurons. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306826. [PMID: 38161217 PMCID: PMC10953569 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Motivated by the unexplored potential of in vitro neural systems for computing and by the corresponding need of versatile, scalable interfaces for multimodal interaction, an accurate, modular, fully customizable, and portable recording/stimulation solution that can be easily fabricated, robustly operated, and broadly disseminated is presented. This approach entails a reconfigurable platform that works across multiple industry standards and that enables a complete signal chain, from neural substrates sampled through micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) to data acquisition, downstream analysis, and cloud storage. Built-in modularity supports the seamless integration of electrical/optical stimulation and fluidic interfaces. Custom MEA fabrication leverages maskless photolithography, favoring the rapid prototyping of a variety of configurations, spatial topologies, and constitutive materials. Through a dedicated analysis and management software suite, the utility and robustness of this system are demonstrated across neural cultures and applications, including embryonic stem cell-derived and primary neurons, organotypic brain slices, 3D engineered tissue mimics, concurrent calcium imaging, and long-term recording. Overall, this technology, termed "mind in vitro" to underscore the computing inspiration, provides an end-to-end solution that can be widely deployed due to its affordable (>10× cost reduction) and open-source nature, catering to the expanding needs of both conventional and unconventional electrophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Zhang
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Zhi Dou
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Seung Hyun Kim
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Gaurav Upadhyay
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Daniel Havert
- Department of PhysicsIndiana University BloomingtonBloomingtonIN47405USA
| | - Sehong Kang
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Kimia Kazemi
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Kai‐Yu Huang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Onur Aydin
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Raymond Huang
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Saeedur Rahman
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Austin Ellis‐Mohr
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Hayden A. Noblet
- Molecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Neuroscience ProgramUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Ki H. Lim
- Molecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Hee Jung Chung
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Molecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Neuroscience ProgramUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and TechnologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Howard J. Gritton
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and TechnologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of Comparative BiosciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61802USA
| | - M. Taher A. Saif
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Hyun Joon Kong
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - John M. Beggs
- Department of PhysicsIndiana University BloomingtonBloomingtonIN47405USA
| | - Mattia Gazzola
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
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O'Neill KM, Anderson ED, Mukherjee S, Gandu S, McEwan SA, Omelchenko A, Rodriguez AR, Losert W, Meaney DF, Babadi B, Firestein BL. Time-dependent homeostatic mechanisms underlie brain-derived neurotrophic factor action on neural circuitry. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1278. [PMID: 38110605 PMCID: PMC10728104 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05638-9] [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: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasticity and homeostatic mechanisms allow neural networks to maintain proper function while responding to physiological challenges. Despite previous work investigating morphological and synaptic effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the most prevalent growth factor in the central nervous system, how exposure to BDNF manifests at the network level remains unknown. Here we report that BDNF treatment affects rodent hippocampal network dynamics during development and recovery from glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in culture. Importantly, these effects are not obvious when traditional activity metrics are used, so we delve more deeply into network organization, functional analyses, and in silico simulations. We demonstrate that BDNF partially restores homeostasis by promoting recovery of weak and medium connections after injury. Imaging and computational analyses suggest these effects are caused by changes to inhibitory neurons and connections. From our in silico simulations, we find that BDNF remodels the network by indirectly strengthening weak excitatory synapses after injury. Ultimately, our findings may explain the difficulties encountered in preclinical and clinical trials with BDNF and also offer information for future trials to consider.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M O'Neill
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Institute for Physical Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Erin D Anderson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shoutik Mukherjee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Srinivasa Gandu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Sara A McEwan
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Anton Omelchenko
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Ana R Rodriguez
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Wolfgang Losert
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Physical Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - David F Meaney
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Behtash Babadi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Bonnie L Firestein
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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Zanini G, Parodi G, Chiappalone M, Martinoia S. Investigating the reliability of the evoked response in human iPSCs-derived neuronal networks coupled to micro-electrode arrays. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:046121. [PMID: 38130601 PMCID: PMC10735322 DOI: 10.1063/5.0174227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro models of neuronal networks have emerged as a potent instrument for gaining deeper insights into the intricate mechanisms governing the human brain. Notably, the integration of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with micro-electrode arrays offers a means to replicate and dissect both the structural and functional elements of the human brain within a controlled in vitro environment. Given that neuronal communication relies on the emission of electrical (and chemical) stimuli, the employment of electrical stimulation stands as a mean to comprehensively interrogate neuronal assemblies, to better understand their inherent electrophysiological dynamics. However, the establishment of standardized stimulation protocols for cultures derived from hiPSCs is still lacking, thereby hindering the precise delineation of efficacious parameters to elicit responses. To fill this gap, the primary objective of this study resides in delineating effective parameters for the electrical stimulation of hiPSCs-derived neuronal networks, encompassing the determination of voltage amplitude and stimulation frequency able to evoke reliable and stable responses. This study represents a stepping-stone in the exploration of efficacious stimulation parameters, thus broadening the electrophysiological activity profiling of neural networks sourced from human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Zanini
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Parodi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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Parodi G, Brofiga M, Pastore VP, Chiappalone M, Martinoia S. Deepening the role of excitation/inhibition balance in human iPSCs-derived neuronal networks coupled to MEAs during long-term development. J Neural Eng 2023; 20:056011. [PMID: 37678214 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acf78b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Objective.The purpose of this study is to investigate whether and how the balance between excitation and inhibition ('E/I balance') influences the spontaneous development of human-derived neuronal networksin vitro. To achieve that goal, we performed a long-term (98 d) characterization of both homogeneous (only excitatory or inhibitory neurons) and heterogeneous (mixed neuronal types) cultures with controlled E/I ratios (i.e. E:I 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0) by recording their electrophysiological activity using micro-electrode arrays.Approach.Excitatory and inhibitory neurons were derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We realized five different configurations by systematically varying the glutamatergic and GABAergic percentages.Main results.We successfully built both homogeneous and heterogeneous neuronal cultures from hiPSCs finely controlling the E/I ratios; we were able to maintain them for up to 3 months. Homogeneity differentially impacted purely inhibitory (no bursts) and purely excitatory (few bursts) networks, deviating from the typical traits of heterogeneous cultures (burst dominated). Increased inhibition in heterogeneous cultures strongly affected the duration and organization of bursting and network bursting activity. Spike-based functional connectivity and image-based deep learning analysis further confirmed all the above.Significance.Healthy neuronal activity is controlled by a well-defined E/I balance whose alteration could lead to the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia or epilepsy. Most of the commonly usedin vitromodels are animal-derived or too simplified and thus far from thein vivohuman condition. In this work, by performing a long-term study of hiPSCs-derived neuronal networks obtained from healthy human subjects, we demonstrated the feasibility of a robustin vitromodel which can be further exploited for investigating pathological conditions where the E/I balance is impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Parodi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Martina Brofiga
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- ScreenNeuroPharm s.r.l, Sanremo, Italy
- Neurofacility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Vito Paolo Pastore
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- Machine Learning Genoa Center (MaLGa), Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Michela Chiappalone
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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López-León CF, Soriano J, Planet R. Rheological Characterization of Three-Dimensional Neuronal Cultures Embedded in PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels. Gels 2023; 9:642. [PMID: 37623097 PMCID: PMC10454106 DOI: 10.3390/gels9080642] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) neuronal cultures are valuable models for studying brain complexity in vitro, and the choice of the bulk material in which the neurons grow is a crucial factor in establishing successful cultures. Indeed, neuronal development and network functionality are influenced by the mechanical properties of the selected material; in turn, these properties may change due to neuron-matrix interactions that alter the microstructure of the material. To advance our understanding of the interplay between neurons and their environment, here we utilized a PEGylated fibrin hydrogel as a scaffold for mouse primary neuronal cultures and carried out a rheological characterization of the scaffold over a three-week period, both with and without cells. We observed that the hydrogels exhibited an elastic response that could be described in terms of the Young's modulus E. The hydrogels without neurons procured a stable E≃420 Pa, while the neuron-laden hydrogels showed a higher E≃590 Pa during the early stages of development that decreased to E≃340 Pa at maturer stages. Our results suggest that neurons and their processes dynamically modify the hydrogel structure during development, potentially compromising both the stability of the material and the functional traits of the developing neuronal network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara F. López-León
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.F.L.-L.); (J.S.)
- Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Soriano
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.F.L.-L.); (J.S.)
- Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Planet
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.F.L.-L.); (J.S.)
- Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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