1
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Zha X, Zheng G, Skutella T, Kiening K, Unterberg A, Younsi A. Microglia: a promising therapeutic target in spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:454-463. [PMID: 38819048 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-02044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia are present throughout the central nervous system and are vital in neural repair, nutrition, phagocytosis, immunological regulation, and maintaining neuronal function. In a healthy spinal cord, microglia are accountable for immune surveillance, however, when a spinal cord injury occurs, the microenvironment drastically changes, leading to glial scars and failed axonal regeneration. In this context, microglia vary their gene and protein expression during activation, and proliferation in reaction to the injury, influencing injury responses both favorably and unfavorably. A dynamic and multifaceted injury response is mediated by microglia, which interact directly with neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neural stem/progenitor cells. Despite a clear understanding of their essential nature and origin, the mechanisms of action and new functions of microglia in spinal cord injury require extensive research. This review summarizes current studies on microglial genesis, physiological function, and pathological state, highlights their crucial roles in spinal cord injury, and proposes microglia as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Zha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Guoli Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karl Kiening
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Unterberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Younsi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Zhao Y, Liu K, Wang Y, Ma Y, Guo W, Shi C. Human-mouse chimeric brain models constructed from iPSC-derived brain cells: Applications and challenges. Exp Neurol 2024; 379:114848. [PMID: 38857749 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The establishment of reliable human brain models is pivotal for elucidating specific disease mechanisms and facilitating the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies for human brain disorders. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) exhibit remarkable self-renewal capabilities and can differentiate into specialized cell types. This makes them a valuable cell source for xenogeneic or allogeneic transplantation. Human-mouse chimeric brain models constructed from iPSC-derived brain cells have emerged as valuable tools for modeling human brain diseases and exploring potential therapeutic strategies for brain disorders. Moreover, the integration and functionality of grafted stem cells has been effectively assessed using these models. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in differentiating human iPSC into various highly specialized types of brain cells. This review evaluates the characteristics and functions of the human-mouse chimeric brain model. We highlight its potential roles in brain function and its ability to reconstruct neural circuitry in vivo. Additionally, we elucidate factors that influence the integration and differentiation of human iPSC-derived brain cells in vivo. This review further sought to provide suitable research models for cell transplantation therapy. These research models provide new insights into neuropsychiatric disorders, infectious diseases, and brain injuries, thereby advancing related clinical and academic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Zhao
- Laboratory Animal Center, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Ke Liu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China; Gansu University of traditional Chinese medicine, Lanzhou 730030, PR China
| | - Yinghua Wang
- Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, PR China
| | - Yifan Ma
- Laboratory Animal Center, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China; Gansu University of traditional Chinese medicine, Lanzhou 730030, PR China
| | - Wenwen Guo
- Laboratory Animal Center, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Changhong Shi
- Laboratory Animal Center, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China.
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3
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Teo F, Kok CYL, Tan MJ, Je HS. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived microglia for the study of brain disorders. A comprehensive review of existing protocols. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2024; 16:497-508. [PMID: 38655500 PMCID: PMC11035045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, resident immune cells of the brain that originate from the yolk sac, play a critical role in maintaining brain homeostasis by monitoring and phagocytosing pathogens and cellular debris in the central nervous system (CNS). While they share characteristics with myeloid cells, they are distinct from macrophages. In response to injury, microglia release pro-inflammatory factors and contribute to brain homeostasis through activities such as synapse pruning and neurogenesis. To better understand their role in neurological disorders, the generation of in vitro models of human microglia has become essential. These models, derived from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), provide a controlled environment to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The incorporation or generation of microglia into three-dimensional (3D) organoid cultures provides a more physiologically relevant environment that offers further opportunities to study microglial dynamics and disease modeling. This review describes several protocols that have been recently developed for the generation of human-induced microglia. Importantly, it highlights the promise of these in vitro models in advancing our understanding of brain disorders and facilitating personalized drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fionicca Teo
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Catherine Yen Li Kok
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Mao-Jia Tan
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - H. Shawn Je
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Advanced Bioimaging Centre, SingHealth, Academia, 20 College Road, Singapore 169856, Singapore
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4
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Cerneckis J, Cai H, Shi Y. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): molecular mechanisms of induction and applications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:112. [PMID: 38670977 PMCID: PMC11053163 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01809-0] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has transformed in vitro research and holds great promise to advance regenerative medicine. iPSCs have the capacity for an almost unlimited expansion, are amenable to genetic engineering, and can be differentiated into most somatic cell types. iPSCs have been widely applied to model human development and diseases, perform drug screening, and develop cell therapies. In this review, we outline key developments in the iPSC field and highlight the immense versatility of the iPSC technology for in vitro modeling and therapeutic applications. We begin by discussing the pivotal discoveries that revealed the potential of a somatic cell nucleus for reprogramming and led to successful generation of iPSCs. We consider the molecular mechanisms and dynamics of somatic cell reprogramming as well as the numerous methods available to induce pluripotency. Subsequently, we discuss various iPSC-based cellular models, from mono-cultures of a single cell type to complex three-dimensional organoids, and how these models can be applied to elucidate the mechanisms of human development and diseases. We use examples of neurological disorders, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and cancer to highlight the diversity of disease-specific phenotypes that can be modeled using iPSC-derived cells. We also consider how iPSC-derived cellular models can be used in high-throughput drug screening and drug toxicity studies. Finally, we discuss the process of developing autologous and allogeneic iPSC-based cell therapies and their potential to alleviate human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Cerneckis
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Hongxia Cai
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Yanhong Shi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
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5
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Magni G, Riboldi B, Ceruti S. Human Glial Cells as Innovative Targets for the Therapy of Central Nervous System Pathologies. Cells 2024; 13:606. [PMID: 38607045 PMCID: PMC11011741 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070606] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In vitro and preclinical in vivo research in the last 35 years has clearly highlighted the crucial physiopathological role of glial cells, namely astrocytes/microglia/oligodendrocytes and satellite glial cells/Schwann cells in the central and peripheral nervous system, respectively. Several possible pharmacological targets to various neurodegenerative disorders and painful conditions have therefore been successfully identified, including receptors and enzymes, and mediators of neuroinflammation. However, the translation of these promising data to a clinical setting is often hampered by both technical and biological difficulties, making it necessary to perform experiments on human cells and models of the various diseases. In this review we will, therefore, summarize the most relevant data on the contribution of glial cells to human pathologies and on their possible pharmacological modulation based on data obtained in post-mortem tissues and in iPSC-derived human brain cells and organoids. The possibility of an in vivo visualization of glia reaction to neuroinflammation in patients will be also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefania Ceruti
- Laboratory of Pain Therapy and Neuroimmunology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (B.R.)
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Ji Y, McLean JL, Xu R. Emerging Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Human-Animal Brain Chimeras for Advancing Disease Modeling and Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders. Neurosci Bull 2024:10.1007/s12264-024-01189-z. [PMID: 38466557 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01189-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) models provide unprecedented opportunities to study human neurological disorders by recapitulating human-specific disease mechanisms. In particular, hPSC-based human-animal brain chimeras enable the study of human cell pathophysiology in vivo. In chimeric brains, human neural and immune cells can maintain human-specific features, undergo maturation, and functionally integrate into host brains, allowing scientists to study how human cells impact neural circuits and animal behaviors. The emerging human-animal brain chimeras hold promise for modeling human brain cells and their interactions in health and disease, elucidating the disease mechanism from molecular and cellular to circuit and behavioral levels, and testing the efficacy of cell therapy interventions. Here, we discuss recent advances in the generation and applications of using human-animal chimeric brain models for the study of neurological disorders, including disease modeling and cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Ji
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jenna Lillie McLean
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ranjie Xu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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7
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Ifediora N, Canoll P, Hargus G. Human stem cell transplantation models of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1354164. [PMID: 38450383 PMCID: PMC10915253 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1354164] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent form of dementia. It is characterized by pronounced neuronal degeneration with formation of neurofibrillary tangles and deposition of amyloid β throughout the central nervous system. Animal models have provided important insights into the pathogenesis of AD and they have shown that different brain cell types including neurons, astrocytes and microglia have important functions in the pathogenesis of AD. However, there are difficulties in translating promising therapeutic observations in mice into clinical application in patients. Alternative models using human cells such as human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may provide significant advantages, since they have successfully been used to model disease mechanisms in neurons and in glial cells in neurodegenerative diseases in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we summarize recent studies that describe the transplantation of human iPSC-derived neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells into the forebrain of mice to generate chimeric transplantation models of AD. We also discuss opportunities, challenges and limitations in using differentiated human iPSCs for in vivo disease modeling and their application for biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nkechime Ifediora
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gunnar Hargus
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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8
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Cuní-López C, Stewart R, Oikari LE, Nguyen TH, Roberts TL, Sun Y, Guo CC, Lupton MK, White AR, Quek H. Advanced patient-specific microglia cell models for pre-clinical studies in Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:50. [PMID: 38365833 PMCID: PMC10870454 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03037-3] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder with a rapidly increasing prevalence worldwide. Current approaches targeting hallmark pathological features of AD have had no consistent clinical benefit. Neuroinflammation is a major contributor to neurodegeneration and hence, microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, are an attractive target for potentially more effective therapeutic strategies. However, there is no current in vitro model system that captures AD patient-specific microglial characteristics using physiologically relevant and experimentally flexible culture conditions. METHODS To address this shortcoming, we developed novel 3D Matrigel-based monocyte-derived microglia-like cell (MDMi) mono-cultures and co-cultures with neuro-glial cells (ReNcell VM). We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) analysis to compare the transcriptomic signatures of MDMi between model systems (2D, 3D and 3D co-culture) and against published human microglia datasets. To demonstrate the potential of MDMi for use in personalized pre-clinical strategies, we generated and characterized MDMi models from sixteen AD patients and matched healthy controls, and profiled cytokine responses upon treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs (dasatinib and spiperone). RESULTS MDMi in 3D exhibited a more branched morphology and longer survival in culture compared to 2D. scRNAseq uncovered distinct MDMi subpopulations that exhibit higher functional heterogeneity and best resemble human microglia in 3D co-culture. AD MDMi in 3D co-culture showed altered cell-to-cell interactions, growth factor and cytokine secretion profiles and responses to amyloid-β. Drug testing assays revealed patient- and model-specific cytokine responses. CONCLUSION Our study presents a novel, physiologically relevant and AD patient-specific 3D microglia cell model that opens avenues towards improving personalized drug development strategies in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cuní-López
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Romal Stewart
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane City, QLD, 4029, Australia
| | - Lotta E Oikari
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Tam Hong Nguyen
- Scientific Services, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Tara L Roberts
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane City, QLD, 4029, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research and School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia
| | - Yifan Sun
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Christine C Guo
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL, 32502, USA
| | - Michelle K Lupton
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Anthony R White
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
| | - Hazel Quek
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000, Australia.
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9
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Balak CD, Han CZ, Glass CK. Deciphering microglia phenotypes in health and disease. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 84:102146. [PMID: 38171044 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Microglia are the major immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that perform numerous adaptive functions required for normal CNS development and homeostasis but are also linked to neurodegenerative and behavioral diseases. Microglia development and function are strongly influenced by brain environmental signals that are integrated at the level of transcriptional enhancers to drive specific programs of gene expression. Here, we describe a conceptual framework for how lineage-determining and signal-dependent transcription factors interact to select and regulate the ensembles of enhancers that determine microglia development and function. We then highlight recent findings that advance these concepts and conclude with a consideration of open questions that represent some of the major hurdles to be addressed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Balak
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Claudia Z Han
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Christopher K Glass
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA.
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10
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Larson KC, Martens LH, Marconi M, Dejesus C, Bruhn S, Miller TA, Tate B, Levenson JM. Preclinical translational platform of neuroinflammatory disease biology relevant to neurodegenerative disease. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:37. [PMID: 38297405 PMCID: PMC10832185 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03029-3] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a key driver of neurodegenerative disease, however the tools available to model this disease biology at the systems level are lacking. We describe a translational drug discovery platform based on organotypic culture of murine cortical brain slices that recapitulate disease-relevant neuroinflammatory biology. After an acute injury response, the brain slices assume a chronic neuroinflammatory state marked by transcriptomic profiles indicative of activation of microglia and astrocytes and loss of neuronal function. Microglia are necessary for manifestation of this neuroinflammation, as depletion of microglia prior to isolation of the brain slices prevents both activation of astrocytes and robust loss of synaptic function genes. The transcriptomic pattern of neuroinflammation in the mouse platform is present in published datasets derived from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and frontotemporal dementia. Pharmacological utility of the platform was validated by demonstrating reversal of microglial activation and the overall transcriptomic signature with transforming growth factor-β. Additional anti-inflammatory targets were screened and inhibitors of glucocorticoid receptors, COX-2, dihydrofolate reductase, and NLRP3 inflammasome all failed to reverse the neuroinflammatory signature. Bioinformatics analysis of the neuroinflammatory signature identified protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11/SHP2) as a potential target. Three structurally distinct inhibitors of PTPN11 (RMC-4550, TN0155, IACS-13909) reversed the neuroinflammatory disease signature. Collectively, these results highlight the utility of this novel neuroinflammatory platform for facilitating identification and validation of targets for neuroinflammatory neurodegenerative disease drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley C Larson
- Vigil Neuroscience, Watertown, USA
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Lauren H Martens
- , Neumora Therapeutics, Watertown, USA
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Michael Marconi
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Christopher Dejesus
- Atalanta Therapeutics, Boston, USA
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Suzanne Bruhn
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, Glenolden, USA
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Thomas A Miller
- Walden Biosciences, Cambridge, USA
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Barbara Tate
- FARA, Homestead, USA
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Jonathan M Levenson
- FireCyte Therapeutics, Beverly, USA.
- Tiaki Therapeutics, Inc., c/o Dementia Discovery Fund, 201 Washington Street, 39th Floor, Boston, MA, 02108, USA.
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11
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Ramaswami G, Yuva-Aydemir Y, Akerberg B, Matthews B, Williams J, Golczer G, Huang J, Al Abdullatif A, Huh D, Burkly LC, Engle SJ, Grossman I, Sehgal A, Sigova AA, Fremeau RT, Liu Y, Bumcrot D. Transcriptional characterization of iPSC-derived microglia as a model for therapeutic development in neurodegeneration. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2153. [PMID: 38272949 PMCID: PMC10810793 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52311-0] [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: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the resident immune cells in the brain that play a key role in driving neuroinflammation, a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders. Inducible microglia-like cells have been developed as an in vitro platform for molecular and therapeutic hypothesis generation and testing. However, there has been no systematic assessment of similarity of these cells to primary human microglia along with their responsiveness to external cues expected of primary cells in the brain. In this study, we performed transcriptional characterization of commercially available human inducible pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia-like (iMGL) cells by bulk and single cell RNA sequencing to assess their similarity with primary human microglia. To evaluate their stimulation responsiveness, iMGL cells were treated with Liver X Receptor (LXR) pathway agonists and their transcriptional responses characterized by bulk and single cell RNA sequencing. Bulk transcriptome analyses demonstrate that iMGL cells have a similar overall expression profile to freshly isolated human primary microglia and express many key microglial transcription factors and functional and disease-associated genes. Notably, at the single-cell level, iMGL cells exhibit distinct transcriptional subpopulations, representing both homeostatic and activated states present in normal and diseased primary microglia. Treatment of iMGL cells with LXR pathway agonists induces robust transcriptional changes in lipid metabolism and cell cycle at the bulk level. At the single cell level, we observe heterogeneity in responses between cell subpopulations in homeostatic and activated states and deconvolute bulk expression changes into their corresponding single cell states. In summary, our results demonstrate that iMGL cells exhibit a complex transcriptional profile and responsiveness, reminiscent of in vivo microglia, and thus represent a promising model system for therapeutic development in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiaqi Huang
- CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yuting Liu
- CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation, Cambridge, MA, USA
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12
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Min AK, Javidfar B, Missall R, Doanman D, Durens M, Graziani M, Mordelt A, Marro SG, de Witte L, Chen BK, Swartz TH, Akbarian S. HIV-1 infection of genetically engineered iPSC-derived central nervous system-engrafted microglia in a humanized mouse model. J Virol 2023; 97:e0159523. [PMID: 38032195 PMCID: PMC10734545 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01595-23] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Our mouse model is a powerful tool for investigating the genetic mechanisms governing central nervous system (CNS) human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection and latency in the CNS at a single-cell level. A major advantage of our model is that it uses induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia, which enables human genetics, including gene function and therapeutic gene manipulation, to be explored in vivo, which is more challenging to study with current hematopoietic stem cell-based models for neuroHIV. Our transgenic tracing of xenografted human cells will provide a quantitative medium to develop new molecular and epigenetic strategies for reducing the HIV-1 latent reservoir and to test the impact of therapeutic inflammation-targeting drug interventions on CNS HIV-1 latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice K. Min
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Behnam Javidfar
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Roy Missall
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Donald Doanman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Madel Durens
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mara Graziani
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Annika Mordelt
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Samuele G. Marro
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lotje de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Benjamin K. Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Talia H. Swartz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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13
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Ayyubova G, Kodali M, Upadhya R, Madhu LN, Attaluri S, Somayaji Y, Shuai B, Rao S, Shankar G, Shetty AK. Extracellular vesicles from hiPSC-NSCs can prevent peripheral inflammation-induced cognitive dysfunction with inflammasome inhibition and improved neurogenesis in the hippocampus. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:297. [PMID: 38087314 PMCID: PMC10717852 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02971-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells (hiPSC-NSCs) are enriched with miRNAs and proteins capable of mediating robust antiinflammatory activity. The lack of tumorigenic and immunogenic properties and ability to permeate the entire brain to incorporate into microglia following intranasal (IN) administrations makes them an attractive biologic for curtailing chronic neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disorders. We tested the hypothesis that IN administrations of hiPSC-NSC-EVs can alleviate chronic neuroinflammation and cognitive impairments induced by the peripheral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Adult male, C57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injections of LPS (0.75 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days. Then, the mice received either vehicle (VEH) or hiPSC-NSC-EVs (~ 10 × 109 EVs/administration, thrice over 6 days). A month later, mice in all groups were investigated for cognitive function with behavioral tests and euthanized for histological and biochemical studies. Mice receiving VEH after LPS displayed deficits in associative recognition memory, temporal pattern processing, and pattern separation. Such impairments were associated with an increased incidence of activated microglia presenting NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, elevated levels of NLRP3 inflammasome mediators and end products, and decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampus. In contrast, the various cognitive measures in mice receiving hiPSC-NSC-EVs after LPS were closer to naive mice. Significantly, these mice displayed diminished microglial activation, NLRP3 inflammasomes, proinflammatory cytokines, and a level of neurogenesis matching age-matched naïve controls. Thus, IN administrations of hiPSC-NSC-EVs are an efficacious approach to reducing chronic neuroinflammation-induced cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunel Ayyubova
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Maheedhar Kodali
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Raghavendra Upadhya
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Leelavathi N Madhu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Sahithi Attaluri
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yogish Somayaji
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Bing Shuai
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Shama Rao
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Goutham Shankar
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Ashok K Shetty
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 1114 TAMU, 206 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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14
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Marei HE, Khan MUA, Hasan A. Potential use of iPSCs for disease modeling, drug screening, and cell-based therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2023; 28:98. [PMID: 38031028 PMCID: PMC10687886 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-023-00504-2] [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: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic illness marked by increasing cognitive decline and nervous system deterioration. At this time, there is no known medication that will stop the course of Alzheimer's disease; instead, most symptoms are treated. Clinical trial failure rates for new drugs remain high, highlighting the urgent need for improved AD modeling for improving understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of disease and improving drug development. The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has made it possible to model neurological diseases like AD, giving access to an infinite number of patient-derived cells capable of differentiating neuronal fates. This advance will accelerate Alzheimer's disease research and provide an opportunity to create more accurate patient-specific models of Alzheimer's disease to support pathophysiological research, drug development, and the potential application of stem cell-based therapeutics. This review article provides a complete summary of research done to date on the potential use of iPSCs from AD patients for disease modeling, drug discovery, and cell-based therapeutics. Current technological developments in AD research including 3D modeling, genome editing, gene therapy for AD, and research on familial (FAD) and sporadic (SAD) forms of the disease are discussed. Finally, we outline the issues that need to be elucidated and future directions for iPSC modeling in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany E Marei
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35116, Egypt.
| | - Muhammad Umar Aslam Khan
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Anwarul Hasan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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15
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Sudwarts A, Thinakaran G. Alzheimer's genes in microglia: a risk worth investigating. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:90. [PMID: 37986179 PMCID: PMC10662636 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00679-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite expressing many key risk genes, the role of microglia in late-onset Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology is somewhat ambiguous, with various phenotypes reported to be either harmful or protective. Herein, we review some key findings from clinical and animal model investigations, discussing the role of microglial genetics in mediating perturbations from homeostasis. We note that impairment to protective phenotypes may include prolonged or insufficient microglial activation, resulting in dysregulated metabolomic (notably lipid-related) processes, compounded by age-related inflexibility in dynamic responses. Insufficiencies of mouse genetics and aggressive transgenic modelling imply severe limitations in applying current methodologies for aetiological investigations. Despite the shortcomings, widely used amyloidosis and tauopathy models of the disease have proven invaluable in dissecting microglial functional responses to AD pathophysiology. Some recent advances have brought modelling tools closer to human genetics, increasing the validity of both aetiological and translational endeavours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari Sudwarts
- Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| | - Gopal Thinakaran
- Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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16
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Michalski C, Wen Z. Leveraging iPSC technology to assess neuro-immune interactions in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1291115. [PMID: 38025464 PMCID: PMC10672983 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1291115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Communication between the immune and the nervous system is essential for human brain development and homeostasis. Disruption of this intricately regulated crosstalk can lead to neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, or neurodegenerative disorders. While animal models have been essential in characterizing the role of neuroimmunity in development and disease, they come with inherent limitations due to species specific differences, particularly with regard to microglia, the major subset of brain resident immune cells. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology now allows the development of clinically relevant models of the central nervous system that adequately reflect human genetic architecture. This article will review recent publications that have leveraged iPSC technology to assess neuro-immune interactions. First, we will discuss the role of environmental stressors such as neurotropic viruses or pro-inflammatory cytokines on neuronal and glial function. Next, we will review how iPSC models can be used to study genetic risk factors in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Lastly, we will evaluate current challenges and future potential for iPSC models in the field of neuroimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Michalski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Zhexing Wen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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17
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Stöberl N, Maguire E, Salis E, Shaw B, Hall-Roberts H. Human iPSC-derived glia models for the study of neuroinflammation. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:231. [PMID: 37817184 PMCID: PMC10566197 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02919-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a complex biological process that plays a significant role in various brain disorders. Microglia and astrocytes are the key cell types involved in inflammatory responses in the central nervous system. Neuroinflammation results in increased levels of secreted inflammatory factors, such as cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen species. To model neuroinflammation in vitro, various human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based models have been utilized, including monocultures, transfer of conditioned media between cell types, co-culturing multiple cell types, neural organoids, and xenotransplantation of cells into the mouse brain. To induce neuroinflammatory responses in vitro, several stimuli have been established that can induce responses in either microglia, astrocytes, or both. Here, we describe and critically evaluate the different types of iPSC models that can be used to study neuroinflammation and highlight how neuroinflammation has been induced and measured in these cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Stöberl
- UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK
| | - Emily Maguire
- UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK
| | - Elisa Salis
- UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK
| | - Bethany Shaw
- UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK
| | - Hazel Hall-Roberts
- UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK
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18
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Hossein Geranmayeh M, Farokhi-Sisakht F, Sadigh-Eteghad S, Rahbarghazi R, Mahmoudi J, Farhoudi M. Simultaneous Pericytes and M2 Microglia Transplantation Improve Cognitive Function in Mice Model of mPFC Ischemia. Neuroscience 2023; 529:62-72. [PMID: 37591334 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.08.010] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral ischemia is one of the major problems threatening global health. Many of the cerebral ischemia survivors would suffer from the physical and cognitive disabilities for their whole lifetime. Cell based-therapies have been introduced as a therapeutic approach for alleviating ischemia-enforced limitations. Photothrombotic stroke model was applied on the left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of adult male BALB/c mice. Then, pericytes isolated from brain microvessels of adult male BALB/c mice, microglia isolated from brain cortices of the neonatal male BALB/c mice, and M2 phenotype shifted microglia by IL-4 treatment were used for transplantation into the injured area after 24 h of ischemia induction. The behavioural outcomes evaluated by social interaction and Barnes tests and the levels of growth associated protein (GAP)-43 and inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 protein were assessed by western blotting 7 days after cell transplantation. Animals in both of the microglia + pericytes and microglia M2 + pericytes transplanted groups showed better performance in social memory as well as enhanced spatial learning and memory compared to ischemic controls. Also, improved escape latency was only observed in microglia M2 + pericytes (p < 0.01) group compared to ischemic controls. GAP-43 showed significant protein expression in microglia + pericytes and microglia M2 + pericytes groups compared to the control group. Conversely, IL-1 levels diminished in all of the pericytes microglia + pericytes, and microglia M2 + pericytes groups compared to the ischemic controls. Current study highlights efficiency of M2 microglia and pericytes combinatory transplantation therapeutic role on relieving ischemic stroke outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hossein Geranmayeh
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Stem Cells Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | | | - Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Rahbarghazi
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Javad Mahmoudi
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Farhoudi
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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19
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Krzisch M, Yuan B, Chen W, Osaki T, Fu D, Garrett-Engele C, Svoboda D, Andrykovich K, Sur M, Jaenisch R. The A53T mutation in α-synuclein enhances pro-inflammatory activation in human microglia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.29.555300. [PMID: 37693409 PMCID: PMC10491251 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.29.555300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the aggregation of α-synuclein into Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in the brain. Microglia-driven neuroinflammation may contribute to neuronal death in PD, however the exact role of microglia remains unclear and has been understudied. The A53T mutation in the gene coding for α-synuclein has been linked to early-onset PD, and exposure to A53T-mutant human α-synuclein increases the potential for inflammation of murine microglia. To date, its effect has not been studied in human microglia. Here, we used 2-dimensional cultures of human iPSC-derived microglia and transplantation of these cells into the mouse brain to assess the effects of the A53T mutation on human microglia. We found that A53T-mutant human microglia had an intrinsically increased propensity towards pro-inflammatory activation upon inflammatory stimulus. Additionally, A53T mutant microglia showed a strong decrease in catalase expression in non-inflammatory conditions, and increased oxidative stress. Our results indicate that A53T mutant human microglia display cell-autonomous phenotypes that may worsen neuronal damage in early-onset PD.
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20
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Toh HSY, Choo XY, Sun AX. Midbrain organoids-development and applications in Parkinson's disease. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 2:kvad009. [PMID: 38596240 PMCID: PMC10913847 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvad009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Human brain development is spatially and temporally complex. Insufficient access to human brain tissue and inadequacy of animal models has limited the study of brain development and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent advancements of brain organoid technology have created novel opportunities to model human-specific neurodevelopment and brain diseases. In this review, we discuss the use of brain organoids to model the midbrain and Parkinson's disease. We critically evaluate the extent of recapitulation of PD pathology by organoids and discuss areas of future development that may lead to the model to become a next-generation, personalized therapeutic strategy for PD and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary S Y Toh
- Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore
| | - Xin Yi Choo
- Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore
| | - Alfred Xuyang Sun
- Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore
- National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jln Tan Tock Seng, Singapore
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21
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Cerneckis J, Shi Y. Modeling brain macrophage biology and neurodegenerative diseases using human iPSC-derived neuroimmune organoids. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1198715. [PMID: 37342768 PMCID: PMC10277621 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1198715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Cerneckis
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Yanhong Shi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
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22
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Watson LA, Meharena HS. From neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration: utilizing human stem cell models to gain insight into Down syndrome. Front Genet 2023; 14:1198129. [PMID: 37323671 PMCID: PMC10267712 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1198129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), caused by triplication of chromosome 21, is the most frequent aneuploidy observed in the human population and represents the most common genetic form of intellectual disability and early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Individuals with DS exhibit a wide spectrum of clinical presentation, with a number of organs implicated including the neurological, immune, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and gastrointestinal systems. Decades of DS research have illuminated our understanding of the disorder, however many of the features that limit quality of life and independence of individuals with DS, including intellectual disability and early-onset dementia, remain poorly understood. This lack of knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to neurological features of DS has caused significant roadblocks in developing effective therapeutic strategies to improve quality of life for individuals with DS. Recent technological advances in human stem cell culture methods, genome editing approaches, and single-cell transcriptomics have provided paradigm-shifting insights into complex neurological diseases such as DS. Here, we review novel neurological disease modeling approaches, how they have been used to study DS, and what questions might be addressed in the future using these innovative tools.
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23
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Chen A, Neuwirth I, Herndler-Brandstetter D. Modeling the Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Immunotherapy in Next-Generation Humanized Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112989. [PMID: 37296949 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112989] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has brought significant clinical benefits to numerous patients with malignant disease. However, only a fraction of patients experiences complete and durable responses to currently available immunotherapies. This highlights the need for more effective immunotherapies, combination treatments and predictive biomarkers. The molecular properties of a tumor, intratumor heterogeneity and the tumor immune microenvironment decisively shape tumor evolution, metastasis and therapy resistance and are therefore key targets for precision cancer medicine. Humanized mice that support the engraftment of patient-derived tumors and recapitulate the human tumor immune microenvironment of patients represent a promising preclinical model to address fundamental questions in precision immuno-oncology and cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we provide an overview of next-generation humanized mouse models suitable for the establishment and study of patient-derived tumors. Furthermore, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of modeling the tumor immune microenvironment and testing a variety of immunotherapeutic approaches using human immune system mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Chen
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ines Neuwirth
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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24
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Wu JY, Yeager K, Tavakol DN, Morsink M, Wang B, Soni RK, Hung CT, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Directed differentiation of human iPSCs into mesenchymal lineages by optogenetic control of TGF-β signaling. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112509. [PMID: 37178118 PMCID: PMC10278972 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112509] [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: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In tissue development and homeostasis, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling is finely coordinated by latent forms and matrix sequestration. Optogenetics can offer precise and dynamic control of cell signaling. We report the development of an optogenetic human induced pluripotent stem cell system for TGF-β signaling and demonstrate its utility in directing differentiation into the smooth muscle, tenogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Light-activated TGF-β signaling resulted in expression of differentiation markers at levels close to those in soluble factor-treated cultures, with minimal phototoxicity. In a cartilage-bone model, light-patterned TGF-β gradients allowed the establishment of hyaline-like layer of cartilage tissue at the articular surface while attenuating with depth to enable hypertrophic induction at the osteochondral interface. By selectively activating TGF-β signaling in co-cultures of light-responsive and non-responsive cells, undifferentiated and differentiated cells were simultaneously maintained in a single culture with shared medium. This platform can enable patient-specific and spatiotemporally precise studies of cellular decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Y Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Keith Yeager
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Margaretha Morsink
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Bryan Wang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Rajesh Kumar Soni
- Proteomics and Macromolecular Crystallography Shared Resource, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Clark T Hung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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25
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Qu W, Canoll P, Hargus G. Molecular Insights into Cell Type-specific Roles in Alzheimer's Disease: Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-based Disease Modelling. Neuroscience 2023; 518:10-26. [PMID: 35569647 PMCID: PMC9974106 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia resulting in widespread degeneration of the central nervous system with severe cognitive impairment. Despite the devastating toll of AD, the incomplete understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms hinders the expeditious development of effective cures. Emerging evidence from animal studies has shown that different brain cell types play distinct roles in the pathogenesis of AD. Glutamatergic neurons are preferentially affected in AD and pronounced gliosis contributes to the progression of AD in both a cell-autonomous and a non-cell-autonomous manner. Much has been discovered through genetically modified animal models, yet frequently failed translational attempts to clinical applications call for better disease models. Emerging evidence supports the significance of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived brain cells in modeling disease development and progression, opening new avenues for the discovery of molecular mechanisms. This review summarizes the function of different cell types in the pathogenesis of AD, such as neurons, microglia, and astrocytes, and recognizes the potential of utilizing the rapidly growing iPSC technology in modeling AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Qu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gunnar Hargus
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
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26
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Min AK, Javidfar B, Missall R, Doanman D, Durens M, Vil SS, Masih Z, Graziani M, Mordelt A, Marro S, de Witte L, Chen BK, Swartz TH, Akbarian S. HIV-1 infection of genetically engineered iPSC-derived central nervous system-engrafted microglia in a humanized mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.26.538461. [PMID: 37162838 PMCID: PMC10168358 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.26.538461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is a major human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reservoir. Microglia are the primary target cell of HIV-1 infection in the CNS. Current models have not allowed the precise molecular pathways of acute and chronic CNS microglial infection to be tested with in vivo genetic methods. Here, we describe a novel humanized mouse model utilizing human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia to xenograft into murine hosts. These mice are additionally engrafted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells that served as a medium to establish a peripheral infection that then spread to the CNS microglia xenograft, modeling a trans-blood-brain barrier route of acute CNS HIV-1 infection with human target cells. The approach is compatible with iPSC genetic engineering, including inserting targeted transgenic reporter cassettes to track the xenografted human cells, enabling the testing of novel treatment and viral tracking strategies in a comparatively simple and cost-effective way vivo model for neuroHIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice K. Min
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Behnam Javidfar
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Roy Missall
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Donald Doanman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Madel Durens
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Samantha St Vil
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Zahra Masih
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mara Graziani
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Annika Mordelt
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Samuele Marro
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lotje de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Benjamin K. Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Talia H. Swartz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Wang M, Gage FH, Schafer ST. Transplantation Strategies to Enhance Maturity and Cellular Complexity in Brain Organoids. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:616-621. [PMID: 36739209 PMCID: PMC10662460 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Human brain organoids are 3-dimensional cell aggregates that are generated from pluripotent stem cells and recapitulate features of the early developing human brain. Brain organoids mainly consist of cells from the neural lineage, such as neural progenitor cells, neurons, and astrocytes. However, current brain organoid systems lack functional vasculature as well as other non-neuronal cells that are indispensable for oxygen and nutrient supply to the organoids, causing cell stress and formation of a necrotic center. Attempts to utilize intracerebral transplantation approaches have demonstrated successful vascularization of brain organoids and robust neurodifferentiation. In this review, we summarize recent progress and discuss ethical considerations in the field of brain organoid transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiyan Wang
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California.
| | - Fred H Gage
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Simon T Schafer
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Center for Organoid Systems and Tissue Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
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28
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Harris VK, Bishop D, Wollowitz J, Carling G, Carlson AL, Daviaud N, Sadiq SA. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitors attenuate proinflammatory microglial activation via paracrine mechanisms. Regen Med 2023; 18:259-273. [PMID: 36852422 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2023-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitor cell (MSC-NP) therapy is an experimental approach to treat multiple sclerosis. The influence of MSC-NPs on microglial activation was investigated. Methods: Microglia were stimulated in the presence of MSC-NP-conditioned media, and proinflammatory or proregenerative marker expression was assessed by quantitative PCR and ELISA. Results: Microglia stimulated in the presence of MSC-NP-conditioned media displayed reduced expression of proinflammatory markers including CCL2, increased expression of proregenerative markers and reduced phagocytic activity. The paracrine effects of MSC-NPs from multiple donors correlated with TGF-β3 gene expression and was reversed by TGF-β signaling inhibition. Conclusion: MSC-NPs promote beneficial microglial polarization through secreted factors. This study suggests that microglia are a potential therapeutic target of MSC-NP cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Derek Bishop
- Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Jaina Wollowitz
- Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Gillian Carling
- Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Alyssa L Carlson
- Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Nicolas Daviaud
- Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Saud A Sadiq
- Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, NY 10019, USA
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29
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Cuní-López C, Stewart R, White AR, Quek H. 3D in vitro modelling of human patient microglia: A focus on clinical translation and drug development in neurodegenerative diseases. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 375:578017. [PMID: 36657374 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Microglia have an increasingly well-recognised role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, thereby becoming attractive therapeutic targets. However, the development of microglia-targeted therapeutics for neurodegeneration has had limited success. This stems partly from the lack of clinically relevant microglia model systems. To circumvent this translational gap, patient-derived microglial cell models established using conventional 2D in vitro techniques have emerged. Though promising, these models lack the microenvironment and multicellular interactions of the brain needed to maintain microglial homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the use of 3D in vitro platforms to improve microglia modelling and their potential benefits to fast-track drug development for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cuní-López
- Mental Health and Neuroscience, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, QLD, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4006, QLD, Australia.
| | - Romal Stewart
- Mental Health and Neuroscience, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, QLD, Australia; UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4006, QLD, Australia.
| | - Anthony R White
- Mental Health and Neuroscience, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
| | - Hazel Quek
- Mental Health and Neuroscience, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4059, QLD, Australia.
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30
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Microglia-containing human brain organoids for the study of brain development and pathology. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:96-107. [PMID: 36474001 PMCID: PMC9734443 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01892-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system, playing critical roles in brain development and homeostasis. Increasing evidence has implicated microglia dysfunction in the pathogenesis of various brain disorders ranging from psychiatric disorders to neurodegenerative diseases. Using a human cell-based model to illuminate the functional mechanisms of microglia will promote pathological studies and drug development. The recently developed microglia-containing human brain organoids (MC-HBOs), in-vitro three-dimensional cell cultures that recapitulate key features of the human brain, have provided a new avenue to model brain development and pathology. However, MC-HBOs generated from different methods differ in the origin, proportion, and fidelity of microglia within the organoids, and may have produced inconsistent results. To help researchers to develop a robust and reproducible model that recapitulates in-vivo signatures of human microglia to study brain development and pathology, this review summarized the current methods used to generate MC-HBOs and provided opinions on the use of MC-HBOs for disease modeling and functional studies.
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31
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Li M, Gao L, Zhao L, Zou T, Xu H. Toward the next generation of vascularized human neural organoids. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:31-54. [PMID: 35993813 DOI: 10.1002/med.21922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Thanks to progress in the development of three-dimensional (3D) culture technologies, human central nervous system (CNS) development and diseases have been gradually deciphered by using organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Selforganized neural organoids (NOs) have been used to mimic morphogenesis and functions of specific organs in vitro. Many NOs have been reproduced in vitro, such as those mimicking the human brain, retina, and spinal cord. However, NOs fail to capitulate to the maturation and complexity of in vivo neural tissues. The persistent issues with current NO cultivation protocols are inadequate oxygen supply and nutrient diffusion due to the absence of vascular networks. In vivo, the developing CNS is interpenetrated by vasculature that not only supplies oxygen and nutrients but also provides a structural template for neuronal growth. To address these deficiencies, recent studies have begun to couple NO culture with bioengineering techniques and methodologies, including genetic engineering, coculture, multidifferentiation, microfluidics and 3D bioprinting, and transplantation, which might promote NO maturation and create more functional NOs. These cutting-edge methods could generate an ever more reliable NO model in vitro for deciphering the codes of human CNS development, disease progression, and translational application. In this review, we will summarize recent technological advances in culture strategies to generate vascularized NOs (vNOs), with a special focus on cerebral- and retinal-organoid models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Lixiong Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Zou
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
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32
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Warden AS, Han C, Hansen E, Trescott S, Nguyen C, Kim R, Schafer D, Johnson A, Wright M, Ramirez G, Lopez-Sanchez M, Coufal NG. Tools for studying human microglia: In vitro and in vivo strategies. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:369-382. [PMID: 36336207 PMCID: PMC9810377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia may only represent 10% of central nervous system (CNS) cells but they perform critical roles in development, homeostasis and neurological disease. Microglia are also environmentally regulated, quickly losing their transcriptomic and epigenetic signature after leaving the CNS. This facet of microglia biology is both fascinating and technically challenging influencing the study of the genetics and function of human microglia in a manner that recapitulates the CNS environment. In this review we provide a comprehensive overview of existing in vitro and in vivo methodology to study human microglia, such as immortalized cells lines, stem cell-derived microglia, cerebral organoids and xenotransplantation. Since there is currently no single method that completely recapitulates all hallmarks of human ex vivo adult homeostatic microglia, we also discuss the advantages and limitations of each existing model as a practical guide for researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Warden
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Claudia Han
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Emily Hansen
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Samantha Trescott
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Celina Nguyen
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Roy Kim
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Danielle Schafer
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Avalon Johnson
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Madison Wright
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gabriela Ramirez
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mark Lopez-Sanchez
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nicole G Coufal
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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33
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Implications of microglial heterogeneity in spinal cord injury progression and therapy. Exp Neurol 2023; 359:114239. [PMID: 36216123 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS), where they aid in the maintenance of neuronal function and perform key auxiliary roles in phagocytosis, neural repair, immunological control, and nutrition delivery. Microglia in the undamaged spinal cord is in a stable state and serve as immune monitors. In the event of spinal cord injury (SCI), severe changes in the microenvironment and glial scar formation lead to axonal regeneration failure. Microglia participates in a series of pathophysiological processes and behave both positive and negative consequences during this period. A deep understanding of the characteristics and functions of microglia can better identify therapeutic targets for SCI. Technological innovations such as single-cell RNA sequencing (Sc-RNAseq) have led to new advances in the study of microglia heterogeneity throughout the lifespan. Here,We review the updated studies searching for heterogeneity of microglia from the developmental and pathological state, survey the activity and function of microglia in SCI and explore the recent therapeutic strategies targeting microglia in the CNS injury.
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34
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Schlachetzki JCM, Zhou Y, Glass CK. Human microglia phenotypes in the brain associated with HIV infection. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 77:102637. [PMID: 36194988 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment in individuals infected with HIV is highly prevalent despite life-long antiretroviral therapy. A growing line of evidence suggests that the human brain serves as a sanctuary for HIV persistence. Microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain parenchyma, may serve as a reservoir for HIV and drive the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Here, we highlight recent advances in understanding microglia diversity in HIV regarding their epigenome, transcriptome, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes C M Schlachetzki
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0651, USA.
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0651, USA. https://twitter.com/jojoyizhou_JOY
| | - Christopher K Glass
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0651, USA. https://twitter.com/UCSDGlassLab
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35
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Towards elucidating disease-relevant states of neurons and glia by CRISPR-based functional genomics. Genome Med 2022; 14:130. [PMID: 36401300 PMCID: PMC9673433 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-022-01134-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of neurological diseases has been tremendously enhanced over the past decade by the application of new technologies. Genome-wide association studies have highlighted glial cells as important players in diseases. Single-cell profiling technologies are providing descriptions of disease states of neurons and glia at unprecedented molecular resolution. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms driving disease-associated cell states, and how these states contribute to disease. These gaps in our understanding can be bridged by CRISPR-based functional genomics, a powerful approach to systematically interrogate gene function. In this review, we will briefly review the current literature on neurological disease-associated cell states and introduce CRISPR-based functional genomics. We discuss how advances in CRISPR-based screens, especially when implemented in the relevant brain cell types or cellular environments, have paved the way towards uncovering mechanisms underlying neurological disease-associated cell states. Finally, we will delineate current challenges and future directions for CRISPR-based functional genomics to further our understanding of neurological diseases and potential therapeutic strategies.
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36
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Washer SJ, Perez-Alcantara M, Chen Y, Steer J, James WS, Trynka G, Bassett AR, Cowley SA. Single-cell transcriptomics defines an improved, validated monoculture protocol for differentiation of human iPSC to microglia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19454. [PMID: 36376339 PMCID: PMC9663826 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23477-2] [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: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing genetic evidence for the role of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron disease. Therefore, there is a need to generate authentic in vitro models to study human microglial physiology. Various methods have been developed using human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) to generate microglia, however, systematic approaches to identify which media components are actually essential for functional microglia are mostly lacking. Here, we systematically assess medium components, coatings, and growth factors required for iPSC differentiation to microglia. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, qPCR, and functional assays, with validation across two labs, we have identified several medium components from previous protocols that are redundant and do not contribute to microglial identity. We provide an optimised, defined medium which produces both transcriptionally and functionally relevant microglia for modelling microglial physiology in neuroinflammation and for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J Washer
- James and Lillian Martin Centre for Stem Cell Research, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK. .,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK. .,Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Marta Perez-Alcantara
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.,Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Yixi Chen
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.,Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Juliette Steer
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.,Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - William S James
- James and Lillian Martin Centre for Stem Cell Research, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Gosia Trynka
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.,Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Andrew R Bassett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.,Open Targets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Sally A Cowley
- James and Lillian Martin Centre for Stem Cell Research, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK.
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37
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Siddiqui AM, Sabljic TF, Ball AK. Anatomical location of injected microglia in different activation states and time course of injury determines survival of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve crush. Int J Neurosci 2022:1-23. [PMID: 36371721 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2142579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background: Activated microglia release harmful substances to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), but may also benefit by removing cellular debris and secreting neurotrophic factors. These paradoxical roles remain controversial because the nature and time-course of the injury that defines their role is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if pharmacological manipulation of microglia to acquire a pro-inflammatory or pro-survival phenotype will exacerbate or enhance neuronal survival after injury.Material and methods: Treated HAP I (highly aggressively proliferating immortalized) microglia were injected into the vitreous or tail vein (T V) of female Sprague-Dawley rats. Retinas were examined at 4-14 days following optic nerve crush (ONC) and the number of surviving RGCs was determined.Results: Injection of untreated HAP I cells resulted in the greater loss of RGCs early after ONC when injected into the vitreous and later after ONC when injected into the T V. LP S activated HAP I cells injected into the vitreous resulted in greater RGC loss with and without injury. When injected into the T V with ONC there was no loss of RGCs 4 days after ONC but greater loss afterwards. Minocycline treated HAP I cells injected into the vitreous resulted in greater RGC survival than untreated HAP I cells. However, when injected into the T V with ONC there was greater loss of RGCs. These results suggest that optic nerve signals attract extrinsic microglia to the retina, resulting in a proinflammatory response.Conclusion: Neuroprotection or cytotoxicity of microglia depends on the type of activation, time course of the injury, and if they act on the axon or cell body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahad M Siddiqui
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas F Sabljic
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander K Ball
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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38
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Jin M, Alam MM, Liu AYC, Jiang P. Rag2 -/- accelerates lipofuscin accumulation in the brain: Implications for human stem cell brain transplantation studies. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:2381-2391. [PMID: 36270284 PMCID: PMC9669406 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunodeficient mice are widely used in human stem cell transplantation research. Recombination activating gene 1 (Rag1) deletion results in immunodeficiency and leads to accelerated aging in zebrafish with increased cytosolic accumulation of lipofuscin (LF). Unlike zebrafish, mammals have two homologs, Rag1 and Rag2, that regulate adaptive immunity. Currently, little is known if and how Rag1-/- and Rag2-/- may impact aging and LF accumulation in immunodeficient mouse brains and how this may confound results in human neural cell transplantation studies. Here, we demonstrate that in Rag2-/- mouse brains, LF appears early, spreads broadly, emits strong autofluorescence, and accumulates with age. LF is found in various types of glial cells, including xenografted human microglia. Surprisingly, in Rag1-/- mouse brains, LF autofluorescence is seen at much older ages compared with Rag2-/- brains. This study provides direct evidence that Rag2-/- expedites LF occurrence and sets a context for studies using aged immunodeficient mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Jin
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Mahabub Maraj Alam
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Alice Y-C Liu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Peng Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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Su Y, Zhou Y, Bennett ML, Li S, Carceles-Cordon M, Lu L, Huh S, Jimenez-Cyrus D, Kennedy BC, Kessler SK, Viaene AN, Helbig I, Gu X, Kleinman JE, Hyde TM, Weinberger DR, Nauen DW, Song H, Ming GL. A single-cell transcriptome atlas of glial diversity in the human hippocampus across the postnatal lifespan. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:1594-1610.e8. [PMID: 36332572 PMCID: PMC9844262 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The molecular diversity of glia in the human hippocampus and their temporal dynamics over the lifespan remain largely unknown. Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing to generate a transcriptome atlas of the human hippocampus across the postnatal lifespan. Detailed analyses of astrocytes, oligodendrocyte lineages, and microglia identified subpopulations with distinct molecular signatures and revealed their association with specific physiological functions, age-dependent changes in abundance, and disease relevance. We further characterized spatiotemporal heterogeneity of GFAP-enriched astrocyte subpopulations in the hippocampal formation using immunohistology. Leveraging glial subpopulation classifications as a reference map, we revealed the diversity of glia differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells and identified dysregulated genes and pathological processes in specific glial subpopulations in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Together, our study significantly extends our understanding of human glial diversity, population dynamics across the postnatal lifespan, and dysregulation in AD and provides a reference atlas for stem-cell-based glial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Su
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mariko L Bennett
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shiying Li
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Marc Carceles-Cordon
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sooyoung Huh
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dennisse Jimenez-Cyrus
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Benjamin C Kennedy
- Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sudha K Kessler
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Angela N Viaene
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ingo Helbig
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics (DBHi), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Xiaosong Gu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Joel E Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, and Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Thomas M Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, and Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, and Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - David W Nauen
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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40
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Limone F, Klim JR, Mordes DA. Pluripotent stem cell strategies for rebuilding the human brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1017299. [PMID: 36408113 PMCID: PMC9667068 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1017299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders have been extremely challenging to treat with traditional drug-based approaches and curative therapies are lacking. Given continued progress in stem cell technologies, cell replacement strategies have emerged as concrete and potentially viable therapeutic options. In this review, we cover advances in methods used to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into several highly specialized types of neurons, including cholinergic, dopaminergic, and motor neurons, and the potential clinical applications of stem cell-derived neurons for common neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, ataxia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Additionally, we summarize cellular differentiation techniques for generating glial cell populations, including oligodendrocytes and microglia, and their conceivable translational roles in supporting neural function. Clinical trials of specific cell replacement therapies in the nervous system are already underway, and several attractive avenues in regenerative medicine warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Limone
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Joseph R. Klim
- Faze Medicines, Cambridge, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Joseph R. Klim,
| | - Daniel A. Mordes
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States,Daniel A. Mordes,
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41
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Waight E, Zhang C, Mathews S, Kevadiya BD, Lloyd KCK, Gendelman HE, Gorantla S, Poluektova LY, Dash PK. Animal models for studies of HIV-1 brain reservoirs. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:1285-1295. [PMID: 36044375 PMCID: PMC9804185 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5vmr0322-161r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 often evades a robust antiretroviral-mediated immune response, leading to persistent infection within anatomically privileged sites including the CNS. Continuous low-level infection occurs in the presence of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) in CD4+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes (MP; monocytes, macrophages, microglia, and dendritic cells). Within the CNS, productive viral infection is found exclusively in microglia and meningeal, perivascular, and choroidal macrophages. MPs serve as the principal viral CNS reservoir. Animal models have been developed to recapitulate natural human HIV-1 infection. These include nonhuman primates, humanized mice, EcoHIV, and transgenic rodent models. These models have been used to study disease pathobiology, antiretroviral and immune modulatory agents, viral reservoirs, and eradication strategies. However, each of these models are limited to specific component(s) of human disease. Indeed, HIV-1 species specificity must drive therapeutic and cure studies. These have been studied in several model systems reflective of latent infections, specifically in MP (myeloid, monocyte, macrophages, microglia, and histiocyte cell) populations. Therefore, additional small animal models that allow productive viral replication to enable viral carriage into the brain and the virus-susceptible MPs are needed. To this end, this review serves to outline animal models currently available to study myeloid brain reservoirs and highlight areas that are lacking and require future research to more effectively study disease-specific events that could be useful for viral eradication studies both in and outside the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiko Waight
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Saumi Mathews
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Bhavesh D. Kevadiya
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - K. C. Kent Lloyd
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, and Mouse Biology ProgramUniversity of California DavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Howard E. Gendelman
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Santhi Gorantla
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Larisa Y. Poluektova
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Prasanta K. Dash
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
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42
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Boucher T, Liang S, Brown AM. Advancing basic and translational research to deepen understanding of the molecular immune-mediated mechanisms regulating long-term persistence of HIV-1 in microglia in the adult human brain. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:1223-1231. [PMID: 35612272 PMCID: PMC9613482 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.1mr0422-620r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about the diversity microglia (MG) type and function in the rodent and human brain has advanced significantly in the last few years. Nevertheless, we have known for 40 years that MG, monocytes, and macrophages in the brain play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of the HIV-1 in all tissues. HIV enters and spreads in the brain early, long before the initiation of antiviral therapy. As a result, many people with HIV continue to experience neurologic and neuropsychiatric comorbid conditions collectively known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). HIV pathogenic sequelae in the CNS pose a challenge for cure strategies. Detailed understanding at a mechanistic level of how low-level and latent HIV-1 infection in MG negatively impacts neuroglial function has remained somewhat elusive. Direct rigorous in vivo experimental validation that the virus can integrate into MG and assume a latent but reactivatable state has remained constrained. However, there is much excitement that human in vitro models for MG can now help close the gap. This review will provide a brief background to place the role of MG in the ongoing neurologic complications of HIV infection of the CNS, then focus on the use and refinement of human postmitotic monocyte-derived MG-like cells and how they are being applied to advance research on HIV persistence and proinflammatory signaling in the CNS. Critically, an understanding of myeloid plasticity and heterogeneity and rigorous attention to all aspects of cell handling is essential for reproducibility. Summary Sentence: This review focuses on human postmitotic monocyte-derived microglia-like cells as tools to advance research on HIV persistence and neuroinflammatory signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Boucher
- Department of NeurologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Shijun Liang
- Department of NeurologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Amanda M. Brown
- Department of NeurologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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43
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Pinals RL, Tsai LH. Building in vitro models of the brain to understand the role of APOE in Alzheimer's disease. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/11/e202201542. [PMID: 36167428 PMCID: PMC9515460 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201542] [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] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating, complex, and incurable disease that represents an increasingly problematic global health issue. The etiology of sporadic AD that accounts for a vast majority of cases remains poorly understood, with no effective therapeutic interventions. Genetic studies have identified AD risk genes including the most prominent, APOE, of which the ɛ4 allele increases risk in a dose-dependent manner. A breakthrough discovery enabled the creation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that can be differentiated into various brain cell types, facilitating AD research in genetically human models. Herein, we provide a brief background on AD in the context of APOE susceptibility and feature work employing hiPSC-derived brain cell and tissue models to interrogate the contribution of APOE in driving AD pathology. Such models have delivered crucial insights into cellular mechanisms and cell type-specific roles underlying the perturbed biological functions that trigger pathogenic cascades and propagate neurodegeneration. Collectively, hiPSC-based models are envisioned to be an impactful platform for uncovering fundamental AD understanding, with high translational value toward AD drug discovery and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Pinals
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA .,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
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44
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Fraker S, Atkinson B, Heredia A. Humanized mouse models for preclinical evaluation of HIV cure strategies. AIDS Rev 2022; 24:139-151. [PMID: 35622983 PMCID: PMC9643647 DOI: 10.24875/aidsrev.22000013] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Although the world is currently focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV/AIDS remains a significant threat to public health. To date, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has claimed the lives of over 36 million people, while nearly 38 million people are currently living with the virus. Despite the undeniable success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in controlling HIV, the medications are not curative. Soon after initial infection, HIV integrates into the genome of infected cells as a provirus, primarily, within CD4+ T lymphocytes and tissue macrophages. When not actively transcribed, the provirus is referred to as a latent reservoir because it is hidden to the immune system and ART. Following ART discontinuation, HIV may emerge from the replication-competent proviruses and resumes the infection of healthy cells. Thus, these latent reservoirs are a major obstacle to an HIV cure, and their removal remains a priority. A vital aspect in the development of curative therapies is the demonstration of efficacy in an animal model, such as the humanized mouse model. Therefore, optimization, standardization, and validation of the humanized mouse model are a priority. The purpose of this review article is to provide an update on existing humanized mouse models, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each as they pertain to HIV cure studies and to review the approaches to curative therapies that are under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Fraker
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Benjamin Atkinson
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Alonso Heredia
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
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45
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Deterministic programming of human pluripotent stem cells into microglia facilitates studying their role in health and disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2123476119. [PMID: 36251998 PMCID: PMC9618131 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123476119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are derived from yolk-sac macrophages that populate the developing CNS during early embryonic development. Once established, the microglia population is self-maintained throughout life by local proliferation. As a scalable source of microglia-like cells (MGLs), we here present a forward programming protocol for their generation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). The transient overexpression of PU.1 and C/EBPβ in hPSCs led to a homogenous population of mature microglia within 16 d. MGLs met microglia characteristics on a morphological, transcriptional, and functional level. MGLs facilitated the investigation of a human tauopathy model in cortical neuron-microglia cocultures, revealing a secondary dystrophic microglia phenotype. Single-cell RNA sequencing of microglia integrated into hPSC-derived cortical brain organoids demonstrated a shift of microglia signatures toward a more-developmental in vivo-like phenotype, inducing intercellular interactions promoting neurogenesis and arborization. Taken together, our microglia forward programming platform represents a tool for both reductionist studies in monocultures and complex coculture systems, including 3D brain organoids for the study of cellular interactions in healthy or diseased environments.
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46
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Sánchez KE, Bhaskar K, Rosenberg GA. Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD-mediated release of matrix metalloproteinase 10 stimulates a change in microglia phenotype. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:976108. [PMID: 36305000 PMCID: PMC9595131 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.976108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation contributes to amyloid-β and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia facilitate an altered immune response that includes microgliosis, upregulation of inflammasome proteins, and elevation of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs). Studies of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood in dementia patients show upregulation of two potential biomarkers of inflammation at the cellular level, MMP10 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC). However, little is known about their relationship in the context of brain inflammation. Therefore, we stimulated microglia cultures with purified insoluble ASC speck aggregates and MMP10 to elucidate their role. We found that ASC specks altered microglia shape and stimulated the release of MMP3 and MMP10. Furthermore, MMP10 stimulated microglia released additional MMP10 along with the inflammatory cytokines, tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNFα), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and CXCL1 CXC motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1). A broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor, GM6001, prevented TNFα release. With these results, we conclude that MMP10 and ASC specks act on microglial cells to propagate inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E. Sánchez
- Center for Memory and Aging, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Kiran Bhaskar
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Gary A. Rosenberg
- Center for Memory and Aging, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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47
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Sheridan SD, Horng JE, Perlis RH. Patient-Derived In Vitro Models of Microglial Function and Synaptic Engulfment in Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:470-479. [PMID: 35232567 PMCID: PMC10039432 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence implicate dysregulated microglia-mediated synaptic pruning in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In vitro human cellular studies represent a promising means of pursuing this hypothesis, complementing efforts with animal models and postmortem human data while addressing their limitations. The challenges in culturing homogeneous populations of cells derived from postmortem or surgical biopsy brain material from patients, and their limited availability, has led to a focus on differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells. These methods too have limitations, in that they disrupt the epigenome and can demonstrate line-to-line variability due in part to extended time in culture, partial reprogramming, and/or residual epigenetic memory from the cell source, yielding large technical artifacts. Yet another strategy uses direct transdifferentiation of peripheral mononuclear blood cells, or umbilical cord blood cells, to microglia-like cells. Any of these approaches can be paired with patient-derived synaptosomes from differentiated neurons as a simpler alternative to co-culture. Patient-derived microglia models may facilitate identification of novel modulators of synaptic pruning and identification of biomarkers that may allow more targeted early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Sheridan
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joy E Horng
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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48
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Zhao P, Xu Y, Jiang L, Fan X, Li L, Li X, Arase H, Zhao Y, Cao W, Zheng H, Xu H, Tong Q, Zhang N, An Z. A tetravalent TREM2 agonistic antibody reduced amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabq0095. [PMID: 36070367 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) plays crucial roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating microglia migration toward, and phagocytosis of oligomeric amyloid-β (oAβ) and amyloid plaques. Studies in rodent models of AD have shown that mice with increased TREM2 expression have reduced amyloid pathology. Here, we identified a TREM2 agonist monoclonal Ab (Ab18) by panning a phage-displayed single-chain variable fragment Ab library. By engineering the bivalent immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) to tetra-variable domain immunoglobulin (TVD-Ig), we further increased the TREM2 activation by 100-fold. Stronger TREM2 activation led to enhanced microglia phagocytosis of the oAβ-lipid complex, migration toward oAβ, and improved microglia survival in vitro. Mechanistic studies showed increased TREM2 clustering on microglia by the tetravalent Ab18 TVD-Ig without altering microglial TREM2 amount. An engineered bispecific Ab targeting TREM2 and transferrin receptor (TfR; Ab18 TVD-Ig/αTfR) improved Ab brain entry by more than 10-fold with a broad brain parenchyma distribution. Weekly treatment of 5XFAD mice (a model of AD) with Ab18 TVD-Ig/αTfR showed a considerable reduction of amyloid burden with increased microglia migration to and phagocytosis of amyloid plaques, improved synaptic and neuronal marker intensity, improved cognitive functions, reduced endogenous tau hyperphosphorylation, and decreased phosphorylated neurofilament H immunostaining. This study demonstrated the feasibility of engineering multivalent TREM2 agonistic Ab coupled with TfR-mediated brain delivery to enhance microglia functions and reduce amyloid pathology in vitro and in vivo. This Ab engineering approach enables the development of effective TREM2-targeting therapies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhao
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yuanzhong Xu
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - LuLin Jiang
- Neuroscience Initiative, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Xuejun Fan
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Leike Li
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hisashi Arase
- Department of Immunochemistry, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0081, Japan
| | - Yingjun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hui Zheng
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Huaxi Xu
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
- Institute for Brain Science and Disease, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Qingchun Tong
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ningyan Zhang
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhiqiang An
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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49
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Dräger NM, Sattler SM, Huang CTL, Teter OM, Leng K, Hashemi SH, Hong J, Aviles G, Clelland CD, Zhan L, Udeochu JC, Kodama L, Singleton AB, Nalls MA, Ichida J, Ward ME, Faghri F, Gan L, Kampmann M. A CRISPRi/a platform in human iPSC-derived microglia uncovers regulators of disease states. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:1149-1162. [PMID: 35953545 PMCID: PMC9448678 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are emerging as key drivers of neurological diseases. However, we lack a systematic understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we present a screening platform to systematically elucidate functional consequences of genetic perturbations in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia. We developed an efficient 8-day protocol for the generation of microglia-like cells based on the inducible expression of six transcription factors. We established inducible CRISPR interference and activation in this system and conducted three screens targeting the ‘druggable genome’. These screens uncovered genes controlling microglia survival, activation and phagocytosis, including neurodegeneration-associated genes. A screen with single-cell RNA sequencing as the readout revealed that these microglia adopt a spectrum of states mirroring those observed in human brains and identified regulators of these states. A disease-associated state characterized by osteopontin (SPP1) expression was selectively depleted by colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF1R) inhibition. Thus, our platform can systematically uncover regulators of microglial states, enabling their functional characterization and therapeutic targeting. Dräger et al. establish a rapid, scalable platform for iPSC-derived microglia. CRISPRi/a screens uncover roles of disease-associated genes in phagocytosis, and regulators of disease-relevant microglial states that can be targeted pharmacologically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina M Dräger
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sydney M Sattler
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Olivia M Teter
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kun Leng
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sayed Hadi Hashemi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jason Hong
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Giovanni Aviles
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Claire D Clelland
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lihong Zhan
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joe C Udeochu
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lay Kodama
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew B Singleton
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Data Tecnica International, LLC, Glen Echo, MD, USA
| | - Justin Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael E Ward
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Faraz Faghri
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Data Tecnica International, LLC, Glen Echo, MD, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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LaNoce E, Dumeng-Rodriguez J, Christian KM. Using 2D and 3D pluripotent stem cell models to study neurotropic viruses. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY 2022; 2:869657. [PMID: 36325520 PMCID: PMC9624474 DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2022.869657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the impact of viral pathogens on the human central nervous system (CNS) has been challenging due to the lack of viable human CNS models for controlled experiments to determine the causal factors underlying pathogenesis. Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and, more recently, cellular reprogramming of adult somatic cells to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide opportunities for directed differentiation to neural cells that can be used to evaluate the impact of known and emerging viruses on neural cell types. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be induced to neural lineages in either two- (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) cultures, each bearing distinct advantages and limitations for modeling viral pathogenesis and evaluating effective therapeutics. Here we review the current state of technology in stem cell-based modeling of the CNS and how these models can be used to determine viral tropism and identify cellular phenotypes to investigate virus-host interactions and facilitate drug screening. We focus on several viruses (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Zika virus (ZIKV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), SARS-CoV-2, West Nile virus (WNV)) to illustrate key advantages, as well as challenges, of PSC-based models. We also discuss how human PSC-based models can be used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapeutic drugs by generating data that are complementary to existing preclinical models. Ultimately, these efforts could facilitate the movement towards personalized medicine and provide patients and physicians with an additional source of information to consider when evaluating available treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma LaNoce
- Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jeriel Dumeng-Rodriguez
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Program, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kimberly M. Christian
- Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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