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Habecker BA, Bers DM, Birren SJ, Chang R, Herring N, Kay MW, Li D, Mendelowitz D, Mongillo M, Montgomery JM, Ripplinger CM, Tampakakis E, Winbo A, Zaglia T, Zeltner N, Paterson DJ. Molecular and cellular neurocardiology in heart disease. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38778747 DOI: 10.1113/jp284739] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper updates and builds on a previous White Paper in this journal that some of us contributed to concerning the molecular and cellular basis of cardiac neurobiology of heart disease. Here we focus on recent findings that underpin cardiac autonomic development, novel intracellular pathways and neuroplasticity. Throughout we highlight unanswered questions and areas of controversy. Whilst some neurochemical pathways are already demonstrating prognostic viability in patients with heart failure, we also discuss the opportunity to better understand sympathetic impairment by using patient specific stem cells that provides pathophysiological contextualization to study 'disease in a dish'. Novel imaging techniques and spatial transcriptomics are also facilitating a road map for target discovery of molecular pathways that may form a therapeutic opportunity to treat cardiac dysautonomia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Habecker
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Department of Medicine Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Donald M Bers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Susan J Birren
- Department of Biology, Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Rui Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Neil Herring
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre and BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew W Kay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dan Li
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre and BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David Mendelowitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marco Mongillo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Johanna M Montgomery
- Department of Physiology and Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Crystal M Ripplinger
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Annika Winbo
- Department of Physiology and Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tania Zaglia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Nadja Zeltner
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - David J Paterson
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre and BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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2
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Allison RL, Welby E, Ehlers V, Burand A, Isaeva O, Nieves Torres D, Highland J, Brandow AM, Stucky CL, Ebert AD. Sickle cell disease iPSC-derived sensory neurons exhibit increased excitability and sensitization to patient plasma. Blood 2024; 143:2037-2052. [PMID: 38427938 PMCID: PMC11143522 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023022591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience severe recurrent acute and chronic pain. Challenges to gaining mechanistic insight into pathogenic SCD pain processes include differential gene expression and function of sensory neurons between humans and mice with SCD, and extremely limited availability of neuronal tissues from patients with SCD. Here, we used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), derived from patients with SCD, differentiated into sensory neurons (SCD iSNs) to begin to overcome these challenges. We characterize key gene expression and function of SCD iSNs to establish a model to investigate intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may contribute to SCD pain. Despite similarities in receptor gene expression, SCD iSNs show pronounced excitability using patch clamp electrophysiology. Furthermore, we find that plasma taken from patients with SCD during acute pain associated with a vaso-occlusive event increases the calcium responses to the nociceptive stimulus capsaicin in SCD iSNs compared with those treated with paired plasma from patients with SCD at steady state baseline or healthy control plasma samples. We identified high levels of the polyamine spermine in baseline and acute pain states of plasma from patients with SCD, which sensitizes SCD iSNs to subthreshold concentrations of capsaicin. Together, these data identify potential intrinsic mechanisms within SCD iSNs that may extend beyond a blood-based pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly L. Allison
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Emily Welby
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Vanessa Ehlers
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Anthony Burand
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Olena Isaeva
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Damaris Nieves Torres
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Janelle Highland
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Amanda M. Brandow
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Cheryl L. Stucky
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Allison D. Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
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3
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Maheshwari S, Vilema-Enríquez G, Wade-Martins R. Patient-derived iPSC models of Friedreich ataxia: a new frontier for understanding disease mechanisms and therapeutic application. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:45. [PMID: 37726850 PMCID: PMC10510273 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00376-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a rare genetic multisystem disorder caused by a pathological GAA trinucleotide repeat expansion in the FXN gene. The numerous drawbacks of historical cellular and rodent models of FRDA have caused difficulty in performing effective mechanistic and translational studies to investigate the disease. The recent discovery and subsequent development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology provides an exciting platform to enable enhanced disease modelling for studies of rare genetic diseases. Utilising iPSCs, researchers have created phenotypically relevant and previously inaccessible cellular models of FRDA. These models enable studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying GAA-induced pathology, as well as providing an exciting tool for the screening and testing of novel disease-modifying therapies. This review explores how the use of iPSCs to study FRDA has developed over the past decade, as well as discussing the enormous therapeutic potentials of iPSC-derived models, their current limitations and their future direction within the field of FRDA research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Maheshwari
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Gabriela Vilema-Enríquez
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
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4
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Saito-Diaz K, James C, Patel AJ, Zeltner N. Isolation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neuron subtypes by immunopanning. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1101423. [PMID: 37206924 PMCID: PMC10189519 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1101423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory neurons (SNs) detect a wide range of information from the body and the environment that is critical for homeostasis. There are three main subtypes of SNs: nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors, which express different membrane proteins, such as TRKA, TRKB, or TRKC, respectively. Human pluripotent stem cell technology provides an ideal platform to study development and diseases of SNs, however there is not a viable method to isolate individual SN subtype for downstream analysis available. Here, we employ the method immunopanning to isolate each SN subtype. This method is very gentle and allows proper survival after the isolation. We use antibodies against TRKA, TRKB, and TRKC to isolate nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors, respectively. We show that our cultures are enriched for each subtype and express their respective subtype markers. Furthermore, we show that the immunopanned SNs are electrically active and respond to specific stimuli. Thus, our method can be used to purify viable neuronal subtypes using respective membrane proteins for downstream studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenyi Saito-Diaz
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Christina James
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Archie Jayesh Patel
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Nadja Zeltner
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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5
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Röderer P, Belu A, Heidrich L, Siobal M, Isensee J, Prolingheuer J, Janocha E, Valdor M, Hagendorf S, Bahrenberg G, Opitz T, Segschneider M, Haupt S, Nitzsche A, Brüstle O, Hucho T. Emergence of nociceptive functionality and opioid signaling in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neurons. Pain 2023:00006396-990000000-00249. [PMID: 36727909 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have enabled the generation of various difficult-to-access cell types such as human nociceptors. A key challenge associated with human iPSC-derived nociceptors (hiPSCdNs) is their prolonged functional maturation. While numerous studies have addressed the expression of classic neuronal markers and ion channels in hiPSCdNs, the temporal development of key signaling cascades regulating nociceptor activity has remained largely unexplored. In this study, we used an immunocytochemical high-content imaging approach alongside electrophysiological staging to assess metabotropic and ionotropic signaling of large scale-generated hiPSCdNs across 70 days of in vitro differentiation. During this period, the resting membrane potential became more hyperpolarized, while rheobase, action potential peak amplitude, and membrane capacitance increased. After 70 days, hiPSCdNs exhibited robust physiological responses induced by GABA, pH shift, ATP, and capsaicin. Direct activation of protein kinase A type II (PKA-II) through adenylyl cyclase stimulation with forskolin resulted in PKA-II activation at all time points. Depolarization-induced activation of PKA-II emerged after 35 days of differentiation. However, effective inhibition of forskolin-induced PKA-II activation by opioid receptor agonists required 70 days of in vitro differentiation. Our results identify a pronounced time difference between early expression of functionally important ion channels and emergence of regulatory metabotropic sensitizing and desensitizing signaling only at advanced stages of in vitro cultivation, suggesting an independent regulation of ionotropic and metabotropic signaling. These data are relevant for devising future studies into the development and regulation of human nociceptor function and for defining time windows suitable for hiPSCdN-based drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Röderer
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Andreea Belu
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Luzia Heidrich
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Maike Siobal
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Isensee
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jonathan Prolingheuer
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Thoralf Opitz
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michaela Segschneider
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
| | - Simone Haupt
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Anja Nitzsche
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Oliver Brüstle
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Tim Hucho
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Dionisi C, Chazalon M, Rai M, Keime C, Imbault V, Communi D, Puccio H, Schiffmann SN, Pandolfo M. Proprioceptors-enriched neuronal cultures from induced pluripotent stem cells from Friedreich ataxia patients show altered transcriptomic and proteomic profiles, abnormal neurite extension, and impaired electrophysiological properties. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad007. [PMID: 36865673 PMCID: PMC9972525 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad007] [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: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with prominent neurological manifestations and cardiac involvement. The disease is caused by large GAA expansions in the first intron of the FXN gene, encoding the mitochondrial protein frataxin, resulting in downregulation of gene expression and reduced synthesis of frataxin. The selective loss of proprioceptive neurons is a hallmark of Friedreich ataxia, but the cause of the specific vulnerability of these cells is still unknown. We herein perform an in vitro characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neuronal cultures highly enriched for primary proprioceptive neurons. We employ neurons differentiated from healthy donors, Friedreich ataxia patients and Friedreich ataxia sibling isogenic control lines. The analysis of the transcriptomic and proteomic profile suggests an impairment of cytoskeleton organization at the growth cone, neurite extension and, at later stages of maturation, synaptic plasticity. Alterations in the spiking profile of tonic neurons are also observed at the electrophysiological analysis of mature neurons. Despite the reversal of the repressive epigenetic state at the FXN locus and the restoration of FXN expression, isogenic control neurons retain many features of Friedreich ataxia neurons. Our study suggests the existence of abnormalities affecting proprioceptors in Friedreich ataxia, particularly their ability to extend towards their targets and transmit proper synaptic signals. It also highlights the need for further investigations to better understand the mechanistic link between FXN silencing and proprioceptive degeneration in Friedreich ataxia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Myriam Rai
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Céline Keime
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire UMR 7104 CNRS-UdS / INSERM U1258, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, Strasbourg, France
| | - Virginie Imbault
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Communi
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hélène Puccio
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire UMR 7104 CNRS-UdS / INSERM U1258, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, Strasbourg, France,Institut NeuroMyoGene (INMG) UMR5310—INSERM U1217, Faculté de Médecine, Université Claude Bernard—Lyon I, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Serge N Schiffmann
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB-Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Massimo Pandolfo
- Correspondence to: Massimo Pandolfo Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery McGill University, Montreal Neurological Institute 3801 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada E-mail:
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7
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Allison RL, Burand A, Torres DN, Brandow AM, Stucky CL, Ebert AD. Sickle cell disease patient plasma sensitizes iPSC-derived sensory neurons from sickle cell disease patients. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.10.523446. [PMID: 36711992 PMCID: PMC9882050 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.10.523446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience severe recurrent acute and chronic pain. In order to develop novel therapies, it is necessary to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying SCD pain. There are many barriers to gaining mechanistic insight into pathogenic SCD pain processes, such as differential gene expression and function of sensory neurons between humans and mice with SCD, as well as the limited availability of patient samples. These can be overcome by utilizing SCD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiated into sensory neurons (SCD iSNs). Here, we characterize the key gene expression and function of SCD iSNs to establish a model for higher-throughput investigation of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may contribute to increased SCD patient pain. Importantly, identified roles for C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2) and endothelin 1 (ET1) in SCD pain can be recapitulated in SCD iSNs. Further, we find that plasma taken from SCD patients during acute pain increases SCD iSN calcium response to the nociceptive stimulus capsaicin compared to those treated with paired SCD patient plasma at baseline or healthy control plasma samples. Together, these data provide the framework necessary to utilize iSNs as a powerful tool to investigate the neurobiology of SCD and identify potential intrinsic mechanisms of SCD pain which may extend beyond a blood-based pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly L. Allison
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Anthony Burand
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Damaris Nieves Torres
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Amanda M. Brandow
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Cheryl L. Stucky
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Allison D. Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
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8
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Badiola-Mateos M, Osaki T, Kamm RD, Samitier J. In vitro modelling of human proprioceptive sensory neurons in the neuromuscular system. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21318. [PMID: 36494423 PMCID: PMC9734133 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23565-3] [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: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprioceptive sensory neurons (pSN) are an essential and undervalued part of the neuromuscular circuit. A protocol to differentiate healthy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) human neural stem cells (hNSC) into pSN, and their comparison with the motor neuron (MN) differentiation process from the same hNSC sources, facilitated the development of in vitro co-culture platforms. The obtained pSN spheroids cultured interact with human skeletal myocytes showing the formation of annulospiral wrapping-like structures between TrkC + neurons and a multinucleated muscle fibre, presenting synaptic bouton-like structures in the contact point. The comparative analysis of the genetic profile performed in healthy and sporadic ALS hNSC differentiated to pSN suggested that basal levels of ETV1, critical for motor feedback from pSN, were much lower for ALS samples and that the differences between healthy and ALS samples, suggest the involvement of pSN in ALS pathology development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maider Badiola-Mateos
- grid.424736.00000 0004 0536 2369Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)—Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ,grid.263145.70000 0004 1762 600XPresent Address: The BioRobotics Institute, Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tatsuya Osaki
- grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ,grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XPresent Address: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Komaba, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, 153-8505 Japan
| | - Roger Dale Kamm
- grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ,grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Josep Samitier
- grid.424736.00000 0004 0536 2369Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)—Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.512890.7Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Cantor EL, Shen F, Jiang G, Tan Z, Cunningham GM, Wu X, Philips S, Schneider BP. Passage number affects differentiation of sensory neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15869. [PMID: 36151116 PMCID: PMC9508090 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19018-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a valuable resource for neurological disease-modeling and drug discovery due to their ability to differentiate into neurons reflecting the genetics of the patient from which they are derived. iPSC-derived cultures, however, are highly variable due to heterogeneity in culture conditions. We investigated the effect of passage number on iPSC differentiation to optimize the generation of sensory neurons (iPSC-dSNs). Three iPSC lines reprogrammed from the peripheral blood of three donors were differentiated into iPSC-dSNs at passage numbers within each of the following ranges: low (5-10), intermediate (20-26), and high (30-38). Morphology and pluripotency of the parent iPSCs were assessed prior to differentiation. iPSC-dSNs were evaluated based on electrophysiological properties and expression of key neuronal markers. All iPSC lines displayed similar morphology and were similarly pluripotent across passage numbers. However, the expression levels of neuronal markers and sodium channel function analyses indicated that iPSC-dSNs differentiated from low passage numbers better recapitulated the sensory neuron phenotype than those differentiated from intermediate or high passage numbers. Our results demonstrate that lower passage numbers may be better suited for differentiation into peripheral sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L Cantor
- Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Fei Shen
- Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Guanglong Jiang
- Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Zhiyong Tan
- Pharmacology & Toxicology, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Geneva M Cunningham
- Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xi Wu
- Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Santosh Philips
- Clinical Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Bryan P Schneider
- Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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10
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Labau JIR, Andelic M, Faber CG, Waxman SG, Lauria G, Dib-Hajj SD. Recent advances for using human induced-pluripotent stem cells as pain-in-a-dish models of neuropathic pain. Exp Neurol 2022; 358:114223. [PMID: 36100046 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is amongst the most common non-communicable disorders and the poor effectiveness of current treatment is an unmet need. Although pain is a universal experience, there are significant inter-individual phenotypic differences. Developing models that can accurately recapitulate the clinical pain features is crucial to better understand underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and find innovative treatments. Current data from heterologous expression systems that investigate properties of specific molecules involved in pain signaling, and from animal models, show limited success with their translation into the development of novel treatments for pain. This is in part because they do not recapitulate the native environment in which a particular molecule functions, and due to species-specific differences in the properties of several key molecules that are involved in pain signaling. The limited availability of post-mortem tissue, in particular dorsal root ganglia (DRG), has hampered research using human cells in pre-clinical studies. Human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as an exciting alternative platform to study patient-specific diseases. Sensory neurons that are derived from iPSCs (iPSC-SNs) have provided new avenues towards elucidating peripheral pathophysiological mechanisms, the potential for development of personalized treatments, and as a cell-based system for high-throughput screening for discovering novel analgesics. Nevertheless, reprogramming and differentiation protocols to obtain nociceptors have mostly yielded immature homogenous cell populations that do not recapitulate the heterogeneity of native sensory neurons. To close the gap between native human tissue and iPSCs, alternative strategies have been developed. We will review here recent developments in differentiating iPSC-SNs and their use in pre-clinical translational studies. Direct conversion of stem cells into the cells of interest has provided a more cost- and time-saving method to improve reproducibility and diversity of sensory cell types. Furthermore, multi-cellular strategies that mimic in vivo microenvironments for cell maturation, by improving cell contact and communication (co-cultures), reproducing the organ complexity and architecture (three-dimensional organoid), and providing iPSCs with the full spatiotemporal context and nutrients needed for acquiring a mature phenotype (xenotransplantation), have led to functional sensory neuron-like systems. Finally, this review touches on novel prospective strategies, including fluorescent-tracking to select the differentiated neurons of relevance, and dynamic clamp, an electrophysiological method that allows direct manipulation of ionic conductances that are missing in iPSC-SNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie I R Labau
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Toxicogenomics, Clinical Genomics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Mirna Andelic
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Neuroalgology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Catharina G Faber
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Stephen G Waxman
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
| | - Sulayman D Dib-Hajj
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA.
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11
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Kelekçi S, Yıldız AB, Sevinç K, Çimen DU, Önder T. Perspectives on current models of Friedreich’s ataxia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:958398. [PMID: 36036008 PMCID: PMC9403045 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.958398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA, OMIM#229300) is the most common hereditary ataxia, resulting from the reduction of frataxin protein levels due to the expansion of GAA repeats in the first intron of the FXN gene. Why the triplet repeat expansion causes a decrease in Frataxin protein levels is not entirely known. Generation of effective FRDA disease models is crucial for answering questions regarding the pathophysiology of this disease. There have been considerable efforts to generate in vitro and in vivo models of FRDA. In this perspective article, we highlight studies conducted using FRDA animal models, patient-derived materials, and particularly induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models. We discuss the current challenges in using FRDA animal models and patient-derived cells. Additionally, we provide a brief overview of how iPSC-based models of FRDA were used to investigate the main pathways involved in disease progression and to screen for potential therapeutic agents for FRDA. The specific focus of this perspective article is to discuss the outlook and the remaining challenges in the context of FRDA iPSC-based models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tamer Önder
- *Correspondence: Simge Kelekçi, , ; Tamer Önder,
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12
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Zeidler M, Kummer KK, Kress M. Towards bridging the translational gap by improved modeling of human nociception in health and disease. Pflugers Arch 2022; 474:965-978. [PMID: 35655042 PMCID: PMC9393146 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-022-02707-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Despite numerous studies which have explored the pathogenesis of pain disorders in preclinical models, there is a pronounced translational gap, which is at least partially caused by differences between the human and rodent nociceptive system. An elegant way to bridge this divide is the exploitation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming into human iPSC-derived nociceptors (iDNs). Several protocols were developed and optimized to model nociceptive processes in health and disease. Here we provide an overview of the different approaches and summarize the knowledge obtained from such models on pain pathologies associated with monogenetic sensory disorders so far. In addition, novel perspectives offered by increasing the complexity of the model systems further to better reflect the natural environment of nociceptive neurons by involving other cell types in 3D model systems are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Zeidler
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kai K Kummer
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michaela Kress
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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13
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Rommel D, Mork M, Vedaraman S, Bastard C, Guerzoni LPB, Kittel Y, Vinokur R, Born N, Haraszti T, De Laporte L. Functionalized Microgel Rods Interlinked into Soft Macroporous Structures for 3D Cell Culture. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103554. [PMID: 35032119 PMCID: PMC8981485 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In this work, a two component microgel assembly using soft anisometric microgels that interlink to create a 3D macroporous construct for cell growth is reported. Reactive microgel rods with variable aspect ratio are produced via microfluidics in a continuous plug-flow on-chip gelation method by photoinitiated free-radical polymerization of star-polyethylene glycol-acrylate with glycidyl methacrylate or 2-aminoethyl methacrylate comonomers. The resulting complementary epoxy- and amine-functionalized microgels assemble and interlink with each other via a ring opening reaction, resulting in macroporous constructs with pores up to several hundreds of micrometers. The level of crosslinking depends on the functionalization degree of the microgels, which also affects the stiffness and cell adhesiveness of the microgels when modified with the cell-adhesive GRGDS-PC peptide. Therefore, 3D spreading and growth of cells inside the macroporous structure is influenced not only by the presence of macropores but also by the mechanical and biochemical properties of the individual microgels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Rommel
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Matthias Mork
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Sitara Vedaraman
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Céline Bastard
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Luis P. B. Guerzoni
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Yonca Kittel
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | | | | | - Tamás Haraszti
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Laura De Laporte
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
- Institute of Applied Medical EngineeringDepartment of Advanced Materials for BiomedicineRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
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14
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Rodden LN, Gilliam KM, Lam C, Rojsajjakul T, Mesaros C, Dionisi C, Pook M, Pandolfo M, Lynch DR, Blair IA, Bidichandani SI. DNA methylation in Friedreich ataxia silences expression of frataxin isoform E. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5031. [PMID: 35322126 PMCID: PMC8943190 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09002-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic silencing in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), induced by an expanded GAA triplet-repeat in intron 1 of the FXN gene, results in deficiency of the mitochondrial protein, frataxin. A lesser known extramitochondrial isoform of frataxin detected in erythrocytes, frataxin-E, is encoded via an alternate transcript (FXN-E) originating in intron 1 that lacks a mitochondrial targeting sequence. We show that FXN-E is deficient in FRDA, including in patient-derived cell lines, iPS-derived proprioceptive neurons, and tissues from a humanized mouse model. In a series of FRDA patients, deficiency of frataxin-E protein correlated with the length of the expanded GAA triplet-repeat, and with repeat-induced DNA hypermethylation that occurs in close proximity to the intronic origin of FXN-E. CRISPR-induced epimodification to mimic DNA hypermethylation seen in FRDA reproduced FXN-E transcriptional deficiency. Deficiency of frataxin E is a consequence of FRDA-specific epigenetic silencing, and therapeutic strategies may need to address this deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layne N Rodden
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OU Children's Physician Building, Suite 12100, 1200 Children's Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kaitlyn M Gilliam
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OU Children's Physician Building, Suite 12100, 1200 Children's Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Christina Lam
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OU Children's Physician Building, Suite 12100, 1200 Children's Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Teerapat Rojsajjakul
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Clementina Mesaros
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Mark Pook
- Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Massimo Pandolfo
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - David R Lynch
- Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ian A Blair
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sanjay I Bidichandani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OU Children's Physician Building, Suite 12100, 1200 Children's Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
- Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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15
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Tavares-Ferreira D, Shiers S, Ray PR, Wangzhou A, Jeevakumar V, Sankaranarayanan I, Cervantes AM, Reese JC, Chamessian A, Copits BA, Dougherty PM, Gereau RW, Burton MD, Dussor G, Price TJ. Spatial transcriptomics of dorsal root ganglia identifies molecular signatures of human nociceptors. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabj8186. [PMID: 35171654 PMCID: PMC9272153 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj8186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Nociceptors are specialized sensory neurons that detect damaging or potentially damaging stimuli and are found in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia. These neurons are critical for the generation of neuronal signals that ultimately create the perception of pain. Nociceptors are also primary targets for treating acute and chronic pain. Single-cell transcriptomics on mouse nociceptors has transformed our understanding of pain mechanisms. We sought to generate equivalent information for human nociceptors with the goal of identifying transcriptomic signatures of nociceptors, identifying species differences and potential drug targets. We used spatial transcriptomics to molecularly characterize transcriptomes of single DRG neurons from eight organ donors. We identified 12 clusters of human sensory neurons, 5 of which are C nociceptors, as well as 1 C low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs), 1 Aβ nociceptor, 2 Aδ, 2 Aβ, and 1 proprioceptor subtypes. By focusing on expression profiles for ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and other pharmacological targets, we provided a rich map of potential drug targets in the human DRG with direct comparison to mouse sensory neuron transcriptomes. We also compared human DRG neuronal subtypes to nonhuman primates showing conserved patterns of gene expression among many cell types but divergence among specific nociceptor subsets. Last, we identified sex differences in human DRG subpopulation transcriptomes, including a marked increase in calcitonin-related polypeptide alpha (CALCA) expression in female pruritogen receptor-enriched nociceptors. This comprehensive spatial characterization of human nociceptors might open the door to development of better treatments for acute and chronic pain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA.,Corresponding author: (T.J.P.); (D.T.-F.)
| | - Stephanie Shiers
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Pradipta R. Ray
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Andi Wangzhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Vivekanand Jeevakumar
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Ishwarya Sankaranarayanan
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | | | | | - Alexander Chamessian
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bryan A. Copits
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Patrick M. Dougherty
- Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert W. Gereau
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael D. Burton
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Gregory Dussor
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Theodore J. Price
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA.,Corresponding author: (T.J.P.); (D.T.-F.)
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16
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Tavares-Ferreira D, Shiers S, Ray PR, Wangzhou A, Jeevakumar V, Sankaranarayanan I, Cervantes AM, Reese JC, Chamessian A, Copits BA, Dougherty PM, Gereau RW, Burton MD, Dussor G, Price TJ. Spatial transcriptomics of dorsal root ganglia identifies molecular signatures of human nociceptors. Sci Transl Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj8186\] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Nociceptors are specialized sensory neurons that detect damaging or potentially damaging stimuli and are found in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia. These neurons are critical for the generation of neuronal signals that ultimately create the perception of pain. Nociceptors are also primary targets for treating acute and chronic pain. Single-cell transcriptomics on mouse nociceptors has transformed our understanding of pain mechanisms. We sought to generate equivalent information for human nociceptors with the goal of identifying transcriptomic signatures of nociceptors, identifying species differences and potential drug targets. We used spatial transcriptomics to molecularly characterize transcriptomes of single DRG neurons from eight organ donors. We identified 12 clusters of human sensory neurons, 5 of which are C nociceptors, as well as 1 C low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs), 1 Aβ nociceptor, 2 Aδ, 2 Aβ, and 1 proprioceptor subtypes. By focusing on expression profiles for ion channels, G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), and other pharmacological targets, we provided a rich map of potential drug targets in the human DRG with direct comparison to mouse sensory neuron transcriptomes. We also compared human DRG neuronal subtypes to nonhuman primates showing conserved patterns of gene expression among many cell types but divergence among specific nociceptor subsets. Last, we identified sex differences in human DRG subpopulation transcriptomes, including a marked increase in calcitonin-related polypeptide alpha (
CALCA
) expression in female pruritogen receptor–enriched nociceptors. This comprehensive spatial characterization of human nociceptors might open the door to development of better treatments for acute and chronic pain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Stephanie Shiers
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Pradipta R. Ray
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Andi Wangzhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Vivekanand Jeevakumar
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Ishwarya Sankaranarayanan
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | | | | | - Alexander Chamessian
- Department of Anesthesiology , Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bryan A. Copits
- Department of Anesthesiology , Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Patrick M. Dougherty
- Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert W. Gereau
- Department of Anesthesiology , Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael D. Burton
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Gregory Dussor
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
| | - Theodore J. Price
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, USA
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17
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Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS-cells) have significantly expanded our experimental possibilities, by creating new strategies for the molecular study of human disease and drug development. Treatment of pain has not seen much improvement over the past decade, likely due to species differences in preclinical models. Thus, iPS-cell derived sensory neurons offer a highly welcome translational approach for research and drug development. Although central neuronal differentiation is relatively straightforward, the successful and reliable generation of peripheral neurons requires more complex measures. Here, we describe a small molecule-based protocol for the differentiation of human sensory neurons from iPS-cells which renders functional nociceptor-like cells within several weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Neureiter
- Institute of Physiology, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Esther Eberhardt
- Department of Anesthesiology, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Angelika Lampert
- Institute of Physiology, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
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18
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Functional Characterization of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Models of the Brain with Microelectrode Arrays. Cells 2021; 11:cells11010106. [PMID: 35011667 PMCID: PMC8750870 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neuron cultures have emerged as models of electrical activity in the human brain. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) measure changes in the extracellular electric potential of cell cultures or tissues and enable the recording of neuronal network activity. MEAs have been applied to both human subjects and hPSC-derived brain models. Here, we review the literature on the functional characterization of hPSC-derived two- and three-dimensional brain models with MEAs and examine their network function in physiological and pathological contexts. We also summarize MEA results from the human brain and compare them to the literature on MEA recordings of hPSC-derived brain models. MEA recordings have shown network activity in two-dimensional hPSC-derived brain models that is comparable to the human brain and revealed pathology-associated changes in disease models. Three-dimensional hPSC-derived models such as brain organoids possess a more relevant microenvironment, tissue architecture and potential for modeling the network activity with more complexity than two-dimensional models. hPSC-derived brain models recapitulate many aspects of network function in the human brain and provide valid disease models, but certain advancements in differentiation methods, bioengineering and available MEA technology are needed for these approaches to reach their full potential.
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19
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Chrysostomidou L, Cooper AH, Weir GA. Cellular models of pain: New technologies and their potential to progress preclinical research. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2021; 10:100063. [PMID: 34977426 PMCID: PMC8683679 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2021.100063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Human sensory neurons can reduce the translational gap in analgesic development. Access to dorsal root ganglion (hDRG) neurons is increasing. Diverse sensory neuron subtypes can now be generated via stem cell technology. Advances of these technologies will improve our understanding of human nociception.
In vitro models fill a vital niche in preclinical pain research, allowing detailed study of molecular pathways, and in the case of humanised systems, providing a translational bridge between in vivo animal models and human patients. Significant advances in cellular technology available to basic pain researchers have occurred in the last decade, including developing protocols to differentiate sensory neuron-like cells from stem cells and greater access to human dorsal root ganglion tissue. In this review, we discuss the use of both models in preclinical pain research: What can a human sensory neuron in a dish tell us that rodent in vivo models cannot? How similar are these models to their endogenous counterparts, and how should we judge them? What limitations do we need to consider? How can we leverage cell models to improve translational success? In vitro human sensory neuron models equip pain researchers with a valuable tool to investigate human nociception. With continual development, consideration for their advantages and limitations, and effective integration with other experimental strategies, they could become a driving force for the pain field's advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Chrysostomidou
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew H Cooper
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Greg A Weir
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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20
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Barravecchia I, Demontis GC. HCN1 channels: A versatile tool for signal processing by primary sensory neurons. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 166:133-146. [PMID: 34197835 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2021.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Most primary sensory neurons (PSNs) generate a slowly-activating inward current in response to membrane hyperpolarization (Ih) and express HCN1 along with additional isoforms coding for hyperpolarization-activated channels (HCN). Changes in HCN expression may affect the excitability and firing patterns of PSNs, but retinal and inner ear PSNs do not fire action potentials, suggesting HCN channel roles may extend beyond excitability and cell firing control. In patients taking Ih blockers, photopsia triggered in response to abrupt changes in luminance correlates with impaired visual signal processing via parallel rod and cone pathways. Furthermore, in a mouse model of inherited retinal degeneration, HCN blockers or Hcn1 genetic ablation may worsen photoreceptors' demise. PSN's use of HCN channels to adjust either their firing rate or process signals generated by sensory transduction in non-spiking PSNs indicates HCN1 channels as a versatile tool with a novel role in sensory processing beyond firing control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Barravecchia
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Italy, Via Bonanno, 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Istitute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant' Anna, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Gian Carlo Demontis
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Italy, Via Bonanno, 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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21
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Middleton SJ, Barry AM, Comini M, Li Y, Ray PR, Shiers S, Themistocleous AC, Uhelski ML, Yang X, Dougherty PM, Price TJ, Bennett DL. Studying human nociceptors: from fundamentals to clinic. Brain 2021; 144:1312-1335. [PMID: 34128530 PMCID: PMC8219361 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain affects one in five of the general population and is the third most important cause of disability-adjusted life-years globally. Unfortunately, treatment remains inadequate due to poor efficacy and tolerability. There has been a failure in translating promising preclinical drug targets into clinic use. This reflects challenges across the whole drug development pathway, from preclinical models to trial design. Nociceptors remain an attractive therapeutic target: their sensitization makes an important contribution to many chronic pain states, they are located outside the blood-brain barrier, and they are relatively specific. The past decade has seen significant advances in the techniques available to study human nociceptors, including: the use of corneal confocal microscopy and biopsy samples to observe nociceptor morphology, the culture of human nociceptors (either from surgical or post-mortem tissue or using human induced pluripotent stem cell derived nociceptors), the application of high throughput technologies such as transcriptomics, the in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological characterization through microneurography, and the correlation with pain percepts provided by quantitative sensory testing. Genome editing in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived nociceptors enables the interrogation of the causal role of genes in the regulation of nociceptor function. Both human and rodent nociceptors are more heterogeneous at a molecular level than previously appreciated, and while we find that there are broad similarities between human and rodent nociceptors there are also important differences involving ion channel function, expression, and cellular excitability. These technological advances have emphasized the maladaptive plastic changes occurring in human nociceptors following injury that contribute to chronic pain. Studying human nociceptors has revealed new therapeutic targets for the suppression of chronic pain and enhanced repair. Cellular models of human nociceptors have enabled the screening of small molecule and gene therapy approaches on nociceptor function, and in some cases have enabled correlation with clinical outcomes. Undoubtedly, challenges remain. Many of these techniques are difficult to implement at scale, current induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation protocols do not generate the full diversity of nociceptor populations, and we still have a relatively poor understanding of inter-individual variation in nociceptors due to factors such as age, sex, or ethnicity. We hope our ability to directly investigate human nociceptors will not only aid our understanding of the fundamental neurobiology underlying acute and chronic pain but also help bridge the translational gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Middleton
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Allison M Barry
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Maddalena Comini
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pradipta R Ray
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Stephanie Shiers
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Andreas C Themistocleous
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.,Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Megan L Uhelski
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xun Yang
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Patrick M Dougherty
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Theodore J Price
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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22
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Derivation of Peripheral Nociceptive, Mechanoreceptive, and Proprioceptive Sensory Neurons from the same Culture of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:446-457. [PMID: 33545066 PMCID: PMC7940146 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The three peripheral sensory neuron (SN) subtypes, nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors, localize to dorsal root ganglia and convey sensations such as pain, temperature, pressure, and limb movement/position. Despite previous reports, to date no protocol is available allowing the generation of all three SN subtypes at high efficiency and purity from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). We describe a chemically defined differentiation protocol that generates all three SN subtypes from the same starting population, as well as methods to enrich for each individual subtype. The protocol yields high efficiency and purity cultures that are electrically active and respond to specific stimuli. We describe their molecular character and maturity stage and provide evidence for their use as an axotomy model; we show disease phenotypes in hPSCs derived from patients with familial dysautonomia. Our protocol will allow the modeling of human disorders affecting SNs, the search for treatments, and the study of human development.
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23
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Lampert A, Bennett DL, McDermott LA, Neureiter A, Eberhardt E, Winner B, Zenke M. Human sensory neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells for disease modelling and personalized medicine. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN 2020; 8:100055. [PMID: 33364527 PMCID: PMC7750732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2020.100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
New techniques emerge to study peripheral sensory neurons in iPS-cell derived models. Genetic pain syndromes, e.g. gain- and loss-of-function mutations in Nav-channels are helpful. Individualized treatment for neuropathic pain can be identified with iPS-cell derived nociceptors.
In this concise Mini-Review we will summarize ongoing developments of new techniques to study physiology and pathophysiology of the peripheral sensory nervous system in human stem cell derived models. We will focus on recent developments of reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, neural differentiation towards neuronal progenitors and human sensory neurons. We will sum up the high potential of this new technique for disease modelling of human neuropathies with a focus on genetic pain syndromes, such as gain- and loss-of-function mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels. The stem cell derived human sensory neurons are used for drug testing and we will summarize their usefulness for individualized treatment identification in patients with neuropathic pain. The review will give an outlook on potential application of this technique as companion diagnostics and for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Lucy A McDermott
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK.,Wadham College, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | - Esther Eberhardt
- Department of Anesthesiology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.,Department of Stem Cell Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.,Department of Anesthesiology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Beate Winner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
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24
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Mazzara PG, Muggeo S, Luoni M, Massimino L, Zaghi M, Valverde PTT, Brusco S, Marzi MJ, Palma C, Colasante G, Iannielli A, Paulis M, Cordiglieri C, Giannelli SG, Podini P, Gellera C, Taroni F, Nicassio F, Rasponi M, Broccoli V. Frataxin gene editing rescues Friedreich's ataxia pathology in dorsal root ganglia organoid-derived sensory neurons. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4178. [PMID: 32826895 PMCID: PMC7442818 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17954-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal-recessive neurodegenerative and cardiac disorder which occurs when transcription of the FXN gene is silenced due to an excessive expansion of GAA repeats into its first intron. Herein, we generate dorsal root ganglia organoids (DRG organoids) by in vitro differentiation of human iPSCs. Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing show that DRG organoids present a transcriptional signature similar to native DRGs and display the main peripheral sensory neuronal and glial cell subtypes. Furthermore, when co-cultured with human intrafusal muscle fibers, DRG organoid sensory neurons contact their peripheral targets and reconstitute the muscle spindle proprioceptive receptors. FRDA DRG organoids model some molecular and cellular deficits of the disease that are rescued when the entire FXN intron 1 is removed, and not with the excision of the expanded GAA tract. These results strongly suggest that removal of the repressed chromatin flanking the GAA tract might contribute to rescue FXN total expression and fully revert the pathological hallmarks of FRDA DRG neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Giuseppe Mazzara
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sharon Muggeo
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Massimino
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Zaghi
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Simone Brusco
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Jacopo Marzi
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Palma
- Department of Electronics, Information & Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Gaia Colasante
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Iannielli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Marianna Paulis
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089, Rozzano, Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Cordiglieri
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo e Enrica Invernizzi" - INGM, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Gea Giannelli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Podini
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Franco Taroni
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Nicassio
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information & Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy.
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, 20129, Milan, Italy.
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