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Kagan BJ, Gyngell C, Lysaght T, Cole VM, Sawai T, Savulescu J. The technology, opportunities, and challenges of Synthetic Biological Intelligence. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108233. [PMID: 37558186 PMCID: PMC7615149 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108233] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Integrating neural cultures developed through synthetic biology methods with digital computing has enabled the early development of Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI). Recently, key studies have emphasized the advantages of biological neural systems in some information processing tasks. However, neither the technology behind this early development, nor the potential ethical opportunities or challenges, have been explored in detail yet. Here, we review the key aspects that facilitate the development of SBI and explore potential applications. Considering these foreseeable use cases, various ethical implications are proposed. Ultimately, this work aims to provide a robust framework to structure ethical considerations to ensure that SBI technology can be both researched and applied responsibly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher Gyngell
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tamra Lysaght
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Victor M Cole
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tsutomu Sawai
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Julian Savulescu
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Buchner F, Dokuzluoglu Z, Grass T, Rodriguez-Muela N. Spinal Cord Organoids to Study Motor Neuron Development and Disease. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1254. [PMID: 37374039 DOI: 10.3390/life13061254] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that affect the cranial and/or spinal motor neurons (spMNs), spinal sensory neurons and the muscular system. Although they have been investigated for decades, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms; and therefore, efficacious therapies are scarce. Model organisms and relatively simple two-dimensional cell culture systems have been instrumental in our current knowledge of neuromuscular disease pathology; however, in the recent years, human 3D in vitro models have transformed the disease-modeling landscape. While cerebral organoids have been pursued the most, interest in spinal cord organoids (SCOs) is now also increasing. Pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based protocols to generate SpC-like structures, sometimes including the adjacent mesoderm and derived skeletal muscle, are constantly being refined and applied to study early human neuromuscular development and disease. In this review, we outline the evolution of human PSC-derived models for generating spMN and recapitulating SpC development. We also discuss how these models have been applied to exploring the basis of human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we provide an overview of the main challenges to overcome in order to generate more physiologically relevant human SpC models and propose some exciting new perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Buchner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Grass
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Natalia Rodriguez-Muela
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Valerio LSA, Carrick FR, Bedoya L, Sreerama S, Sugaya K. Neural Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for a Xenogeneic Material-Free 3D Neurological Disease Model Neurulation from Pluripotent Cells Using a Human Hydrogel. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:4574-4588. [PMID: 37367039 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45060290] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by synapse and neuronal loss and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and Amyloid β plaques. Despite significant research efforts to understand the late stages of the disease, its etiology remains largely unknown. This is in part because of the imprecise AD models in current use. In addition, little attention has been paid to neural stem cells (NSC), which are the cells responsible for the development and maintenance of brain tissue during an individual's lifespan. Thus, an in vitro 3D human brain tissue model using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived neural cells in human physiological conditions may be an excellent alternative to standard models to investigate AD pathology. Following the differentiation process mimicking development, iPS cells can be turned into NSCs and, ultimately, neural cells. During differentiation, the traditionally used xenogeneic products may alter the cells' physiology and prevent accurate disease pathology modeling. Hence, establishing a xenogeneic material-free cell culture and differentiation protocol is essential. This study investigated the differentiation of iPS cells to neural cells using a novel extracellular matrix derived from human platelet lysates (PL Matrix). We compared the stemness properties and differentiation efficacies of iPS cells in a PL matrix against those in a conventional 3D scaffold made of an oncogenic murine-matrix. Using well-defined conditions without xenogeneic material, we successfully expanded and differentiated iPS cells into NSCs via dual-SMAD inhibition, which regulates the BMP and TGF signaling cascades in a manner closer to human conditions. This in vitro, 3D, xenogeneic-free scaffold will enhance the quality of disease modeling for neurodegenerative disease research, and the knowledge produced could be used in developing more effective translational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Sebastian Alexis Valerio
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
- Institute for Scientific Research and Technology Services (INDICASAT), City of Knowledge 0801, Panama
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur 522510, India
| | - Frederick Robert Carrick
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
- MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Centre for Mental Health Research in Association, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
- Department of Neurology, Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, USA
| | - Lina Bedoya
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Sandeep Sreerama
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Kiminobu Sugaya
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
- Institute for Scientific Research and Technology Services (INDICASAT), City of Knowledge 0801, Panama
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur 522510, India
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Hartmann J, Henschel N, Bartmann K, Dönmez A, Brockerhoff G, Koch K, Fritsche E. Molecular and Functional Characterization of Different BrainSphere Models for Use in Neurotoxicity Testing on Microelectrode Arrays. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091270. [PMID: 37174670 PMCID: PMC10177384 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091270] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The currently accepted methods for neurotoxicity (NT) testing rely on animal studies. However, high costs and low testing throughput hinder their application for large numbers of chemicals. To overcome these limitations, in vitro methods are currently being developed based on human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) that allow higher testing throughput at lower costs. We applied six different protocols to generate 3D BrainSphere models for acute NT evaluation. These include three different media for 2D neural induction and two media for subsequent 3D differentiation resulting in self-organized, organotypic neuron/astrocyte microtissues. All induction protocols yielded nearly 100% NESTIN-positive hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (hiNPCs), though with different gene expression profiles concerning regional patterning. Moreover, gene expression and immunocytochemistry analyses revealed that the choice of media determines neural differentiation patterns. On the functional level, BrainSpheres exhibited different levels of electrical activity on microelectrode arrays (MEA). Spike sorting allowed BrainSphere functional characterization with the mixed cultures consisting of GABAergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic neurons. A test method for acute NT testing, the human multi-neurotransmitter receptor (hMNR) assay, was proposed to apply such MEA-based spike sorting. These models are promising tools not only in toxicology but also for drug development and disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hartmann
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Noah Henschel
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Kristina Bartmann
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Arif Dönmez
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gabriele Brockerhoff
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Katharina Koch
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Exposure to a Pathological Condition May Be Required for the Cells to Secrete Exosomes Containing mtDNA Aberration. J Nucleic Acids 2022; 2022:7960198. [PMID: 35465178 PMCID: PMC9020996 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7960198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes, nanovesicles secreted by all cells, carry out intercellular communication by transmitting biologically active cargo comprising DNA, RNA, and proteins. These biomolecules reflect the status of their parent cells and can be altered by pathological conditions. Therefore, the researchers have been investigating differential sequences and quantities of DNA associated with exosomes as valuable biomarkers of diseases. Exosomes carry different types of DNA molecules, including genomic, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial (mtDNA). The mtDNA aberrations are reported to be a hallmark of diseases involving oxidative stress, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Establishing robust in vitro models comprising appropriate cell lineages is the first step towards investigating disease-specific anomalies and testing therapeutics. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from patients with diseases have been used for this purpose since they can differentiate into various cells. The current study investigated mtDNA aberrations in exosomes secreted by primary cancer cells and neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiated from iPS cells. The primary cancer cells were isolated from surgically removed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tissue, and the iPS cells were produced from control and Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects' B lymphocytes. We detected aberrations in mtDNA associated with exosomes secreted from GBM cells but not from the NSCs. This result indicates that the cells may not secrete exosomes carrying mtDNA aberration without exposure to a pathological condition. Thus, we may need to consider this fact when we use iPS cell-derived cells as an in vitro disease model.
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Ababneh NA, Al-Kurdi B, Jamali F, Awidi A. A comparative study of the capability of MSCs isolated from different human tissue sources to differentiate into neuronal stem cells and dopaminergic-like cells. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13003. [PMID: 35341051 PMCID: PMC8944334 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive neuronal loss and degeneration. The regeneration of neurons is minimal and neurogenesis is limited only to specific parts of the brain. Several clinical trials have been conducted using Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from different sources to establish their safety and efficacy for the treatment of several neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Aim The aim of this study was to provide a comparative view of the capabilities of MSCs, isolated from different human tissue sources to differentiate into neuronal stem cell-like cells (NSCs) and possibly into dopaminergic neural- like cells. Methods Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from human bone marrow, adipose, and Wharton's jelly (WJ) tissue samples. Cells were characterized by flow cytometry for their ability to express the most common MSC markers. The differentiation potential was also assessed by differentiating them into osteogenic and adipogenic cell lineages. To evaluate the capacity of these cells to differentiate towards the neural stem cell-like lineage, cells were cultured in media containing small molecules. Cells were utilized for gene expression and immunofluorescence analysis at different time points. Results Our results indicate that we have successfully isolated MSCs from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and Wharton's jelly. WJ-MSCs showed a slightly higher proliferation rate after 72 hours compared to BM and AT derived MSCs. Gene expression of early neural stem cell markers revealed that WJ-MSCs had higher expression of Nestin and PAX6 compared to BM and AT-MSCs, in addition to LMX expression as an early dopaminergic neural marker. Immunofluorescence analysis also revealed that these cells successfully expressed SOX1, SOX2, Nestin, TUJ1, FOXA2 and TH. Conclusion These results indicate that the protocol utilized has successfully differentiated BM, AT and WJ-MSCs into NSC-like cells. WJ-MSCs possess a higher potential to transdifferentiate into NSC and dopaminergic-like cells. Thus, it might indicate that this protocol can be used to induce MSC into neuronal lineage, which provides an additional or alternative source of cells to be used in the neurological cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidaa A. Ababneh
- Cell Therapy Center (CTC), the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ban Al-Kurdi
- Cell Therapy Center (CTC), the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Fatima Jamali
- Cell Therapy Center (CTC), the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abdalla Awidi
- Cell Therapy Center (CTC), the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan,Hemostasis and Thrombosis Laboratory, School of Medicine, the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan,Department of Hematology and Oncology, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan
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Kofman S, Mohan N, Sun X, Ibric L, Piermarini E, Qiang L. Human mini brains and spinal cords in a dish: Modeling strategies, current challenges, and prospective advances. J Tissue Eng 2022; 13:20417314221113391. [PMID: 35898331 PMCID: PMC9310295 DOI: 10.1177/20417314221113391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered three-dimensional (3D) in vitro and ex vivo neural tissues, also known
as “mini brains and spinal cords in a dish,” can be derived from different types
of human stem cells via several differentiation protocols. In general, human
mini brains are micro-scale physiological systems consisting of mixed
populations of neural progenitor cells, glial cells, and neurons that may
represent key features of human brain anatomy and function. To date, these
specialized 3D tissue structures can be characterized into spheroids, organoids,
assembloids, organ-on-a-chip and their various combinations based on generation
procedures and cellular components. These 3D CNS models incorporate complex
cell-cell interactions and play an essential role in bridging the gap between
two-dimensional human neuroglial cultures and animal models. Indeed, they
provide an innovative platform for disease modeling and therapeutic cell
replacement, especially shedding light on the potential to realize personalized
medicine for neurological disorders when combined with the revolutionary human
induced pluripotent stem cell technology. In this review, we highlight human 3D
CNS models developed from a variety of experimental strategies, emphasize their
advances and remaining challenges, evaluate their state-of-the-art applications
in recapitulating crucial phenotypic aspects of many CNS diseases, and discuss
the role of contemporary technologies in the prospective improvement of their
composition, consistency, complexity, and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Kofman
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neha Mohan
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Larisa Ibric
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emanuela Piermarini
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Krajka V, Naujock M, Pauly MG, Stengel F, Meier B, Stanslowsky N, Klein C, Seibler P, Wegner F, Capetian P. Ventral Telencephalic Patterning Protocols for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:716249. [PMID: 34490265 PMCID: PMC8416478 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.716249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into specific cell types for disease modeling and restorative therapies is a key research agenda and offers the possibility to obtain patient-specific cells of interest for a wide range of diseases. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) play a particular role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s dementia and isolated dystonias. In this work, various directed differentiation protocols based on monolayer neural induction were tested for their effectiveness in promoting a ventral telencephalic phenotype and generating BFCN. Ventralizing factors [i.e., purmorphamine and Sonic hedgehog (SHH)] were applied at different time points, time intervals, and concentrations. In addition, caudal identity was prevented by the use of a small molecule XAV-939 that inhibits the Wnt-pathway. After patterning, gene expression profiles were analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Rostro-ventral patterning is most effective when initiated simultaneously with neural induction. The most promising combination of patterning factors was 0.5 μM of purmorphamine and 1 μM of XAV-939, which induces the highest expression of transcription factors specific for the medial ganglionic eminence, the source of GABAergic inter- and cholinergic neurons in the telencephalon. Upon maturation of cells, the immune phenotype, as well as electrophysiological properties were investigated showing the presence of marker proteins specific for BFCN (choline acetyltransferase, ISL1, p75, and NKX2.1) and GABAergic neurons. Moreover, a considerable fraction of measured cells displayed mature electrophysiological properties. Synaptic boutons containing the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VACHT) could be observed in the vicinity of the cells. This work will help to generate basal forebrain interneurons from hiPSCs, providing a promising platform for modeling neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Krajka
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Martje G Pauly
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Felix Stengel
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Britta Meier
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Philip Seibler
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Philipp Capetian
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Jalink P, Caiazzo M. Brain Organoids: Filling the Need for a Human Model of Neurological Disorder. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:740. [PMID: 34439972 PMCID: PMC8389592 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurological disorders are among the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for almost all onsets of dementia in the elderly, and are known to negatively affect motor ability, mental and cognitive performance, as well as overall wellbeing and happiness. Currently, most neurological disorders go untreated due to a lack of viable treatment options. The reason for this lack of options is s poor understanding of the disorders, primarily due to research models that do not translate well into the human in vivo system. Current models for researching neurological disorders, neurodevelopment, and drug interactions in the central nervous system include in vitro monolayer cell cultures, and in vivo animal models. These models have shortcomings when it comes to translating research about disorder pathology, development, and treatment to humans. Brain organoids are three-dimensional (3D) cultures of stem cell-derived neural cells that mimic the development of the in vivo human brain with high degrees of accuracy. Researchers have started developing these miniature brains to model neurodevelopment, and neuropathology. Brain organoids have been used to model a wide range of neurological disorders, including the complex and poorly understood neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we discuss the brain organoid technology, placing special focus on the different brain organoid models that have been developed, discussing their strengths, weaknesses, and uses in neurological disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Jalink
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, CG 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, CG 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands;
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Oyefeso FA, Muotri AR, Wilson CG, Pecaut MJ. Brain organoids: A promising model to assess oxidative stress-induced central nervous system damage. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:653-670. [PMID: 33942547 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) is one of the most significant propagators of systemic damage with implications for widespread pathologies such as vascular disease, accelerated aging, degenerative disease, inflammation, and traumatic injury. OS can be induced by numerous factors such as environmental conditions, lifestyle choices, disease states, and genetic susceptibility. It is tied to the accumulation of free radicals, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insufficient antioxidant protection, which leads to cell aging and tissue degeneration over time. Unregulated systemic increase in reactive species, which contain harmful free radicals, can lead to diverse tissue-specific OS responses and disease. Studies of OS in the brain, for example, have demonstrated how this state contributes to neurodegeneration and altered neural plasticity. As the worldwide life expectancy has increased over the last few decades, the prevalence of OS-related diseases resulting from age-associated progressive tissue degeneration. Unfortunately, vital translational research studies designed to identify and target disease biomarkers in human patients have been impeded by many factors (e.g., limited access to human brain tissue for research purposes and poor translation of experimental models). In recent years, stem cell-derived three-dimensional tissue cultures known as "brain organoids" have taken the spotlight as a novel model for studying central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In this review, we discuss the potential of brain organoids to model the responses of human neural cells to OS, noting current and prospective limitations. Overall, brain organoids show promise as an innovative translational model to study CNS susceptibility to OS and elucidate the pathophysiology of the aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foluwasomi A Oyefeso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics/Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christopher G Wilson
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD, Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Pecaut
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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Adhya D, Swarup V, Nagy R, Dutan L, Shum C, Valencia-Alarcón EP, Jozwik KM, Mendez MA, Horder J, Loth E, Nowosiad P, Lee I, Skuse D, Flinter FA, Murphy D, McAlonan G, Geschwind DH, Price J, Carroll J, Srivastava DP, Baron-Cohen S. Atypical Neurogenesis in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From Autistic Individuals. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:486-496. [PMID: 32826066 PMCID: PMC7843956 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism is a heterogeneous collection of disorders with a complex molecular underpinning. Evidence from postmortem brain studies have indicated that early prenatal development may be altered in autism. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from individuals with autism with macrocephaly also indicate prenatal development as a critical period for this condition. But little is known about early altered cellular events during prenatal stages in autism. METHODS iPSCs were generated from 9 unrelated individuals with autism without macrocephaly and with heterogeneous genetic backgrounds, and 6 typically developing control individuals. iPSCs were differentiated toward either cortical or midbrain fates. Gene expression and high throughput cellular phenotyping was used to characterize iPSCs at different stages of differentiation. RESULTS A subset of autism-iPSC cortical neurons were RNA-sequenced to reveal autism-specific signatures similar to postmortem brain studies, indicating a potential common biological mechanism. Autism-iPSCs differentiated toward a cortical fate displayed impairments in the ability to self-form into neural rosettes. In addition, autism-iPSCs demonstrated significant differences in rate of cell type assignment of cortical precursors and dorsal and ventral forebrain precursors. These cellular phenotypes occurred in the absence of alterations in cell proliferation during cortical differentiation, differing from previous studies. Acquisition of cell fate during midbrain differentiation was not different between control- and autism-iPSCs. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data indicate that autism-iPSCs diverge from control-iPSCs at a cellular level during early stage of neurodevelopment. This suggests that unique developmental differences associated with autism may be established at early prenatal stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwaipayan Adhya
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Roland Nagy
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia Dutan
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carole Shum
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva P Valencia-Alarcón
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Maria Andreina Mendez
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Horder
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Loth
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paulina Nowosiad
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Lee
- Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Population Policy Practice Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Skuse
- Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Population Policy Practice Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances A Flinter
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Declan Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jack Price
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Carroll
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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12
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Serotonin-specific neurons differentiated from human iPSCs form distinct subtypes with synaptic protein assembly. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2021; 128:225-241. [PMID: 33560471 PMCID: PMC7914246 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02303-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have revolutionized the generation of experimental disease models, but the development of protocols for the differentiation of functionally active neuronal subtypes with defined specification is still in its infancy. While dysfunction of the brain serotonin (5-HT) system has been implicated in the etiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders, investigation of functional human 5-HT specific neurons in vitro has been restricted by technical limitations. We describe an efficient generation of functionally active neurons from hiPSCs displaying 5-HT specification by modification of a previously reported protocol. Furthermore, 5-HT specific neurons were characterized using high-end fluorescence imaging including super-resolution microscopy in combination with electrophysiological techniques. Differentiated hiPSCs synthesize 5-HT, express specific markers, such as tryptophan hydroxylase 2 and 5-HT transporter, and exhibit an electrophysiological signature characteristic of serotonergic neurons, with spontaneous rhythmic activities, broad action potentials and large afterhyperpolarization potentials. 5-HT specific neurons form synapses reflected by the expression of pre- and postsynaptic proteins, such as Bassoon and Homer. The distribution pattern of Bassoon, a marker of the active zone along the soma and extensions of neurons, indicates functionality via volume transmission. Among the high percentage of 5-HT specific neurons (~ 42%), a subpopulation of CDH13 + cells presumably designates dorsal raphe neurons. hiPSC-derived 5-HT specific neuronal cell cultures reflect the heterogeneous nature of dorsal and median raphe nuclei and may facilitate examining the association of serotonergic neuron subpopulations with neuropsychiatric disorders.
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13
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Abdullah MAA, Amini N, Yang L, Paluh JL, Wang J. Multiplexed analysis of neural cytokine signaling by a novel neural cell-cell interaction microchip. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:3980-3995. [PMID: 32945325 PMCID: PMC7606659 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00401d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) are widely applied in pre-clinical and clinical trials as a cell source to promote tissue regeneration in neurodegenerative diseases. Frequently delivered as dissociated cells, aggregates or self-organized rosettes, it is unknown whether disruption of the NSC rosette morphology or method of formation affect signaling profiles of these cells that may impact uniformity of outcomes in cell therapies. Here we generate a neural cell-cell interaction microchip (NCCIM) as an in vitro platform to simultaneously track an informed panel of cytokines and co-evaluate cell morphology and biomarker expression coupled to a sandwich ELISA platform. We apply multiplex in situ tagging technology (MIST) to evaluate ten cytokines (PDGF-AA, GDNF, BDNF, IGF-1, FGF-2, IL-6, BMP-4, CNTF, β-NGF, NT-3) on microchips for EB-derived rosettes, single cell dissociated rosettes and reformed rosette neurospheres. Of the cytokines evaluated, EB-derived rosettes secrete PDGF-AA, GDNF and FGF-2 prominently, whereas this profile is temporarily lost upon dissociation to single cells and in reformed neurospheres two additional cytokines, BDNF and β-NGF, are also secreted. This study on NSC rosettes demonstrates the development, versatility and utility of the NCCIM as a sensitive multiplex detector of cytokine signaling in a high throughput and controlled microenvironment. The NCCIM is expected to provide important new information to refine cell source choices in therapies as well as to support development of informative 2D or 3D in vitro models including areas of neurodegeneration or neuroplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A. A. Abdullah
- Multiplex Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222
| | - Nooshin Amini
- Nanobioscience, State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203
| | - Liwei Yang
- Multiplex Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
| | - Janet L. Paluh
- Nanobioscience, State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203
- Corresponding authors. ;
| | - Jun Wang
- Multiplex Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
- Corresponding authors. ;
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14
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Yao H, Wu W, Cerf I, Zhao HW, Wang J, Negraes PD, Muotri AR, Haddad GG. Methadone interrupts neural growth and function in human cortical organoids. Stem Cell Res 2020; 49:102065. [PMID: 33137567 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.102065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal opioids exposure can lead to both neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborns and neurological deficits later in life. Although opioids have been well studied in general, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which opioids affect human fetal brain development has not been well understood. In this work, we have taken advantage of a human 3D-brain cortical organoid (hCO) that facilitated enormously the investigation of early human brain development. Using imaging, immunofluorescence, multi-electrode array (MEA) and patch clamp recording techniques, we have investigated the effect of methadone, a frequently used opioid during pregnancy, on early neural development, including neuronal growth, neural network activity and synaptic transmission in hCOs. Our results demonstrated that methadone dose-dependently halted the growth of hCOs and induced organoid disintegration after a prolonged exposure. In addition, methadone dose-dependently suppressed the firing of spontaneous action potentials in hCOs and this suppression could be reversed upon methadone withdrawal in hCOs treated with lower dosages. Further investigation using patch clamp whole cell configuration revealed that, at clinically relevant concentrations, methadone decreased the frequency and amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic currents in neurons, indicating a critical role of methadone in weakening synaptic transmission in neural networks in hCOs. In addition, methadone significantly attenuated the voltage-dependent Na+ current in hCOs. We conclude that methadone interrupts neural growth and function in early brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yao
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Wei Wu
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Ines Cerf
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Helen W Zhao
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Juan Wang
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Priscilla D Negraes
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Gabriel G Haddad
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, CA 92123, United States.
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15
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Valerio LSA, Sugaya K. Xeno- and transgene-free reprogramming of mesenchymal stem cells toward the cells expressing neural markers using exosome treatments. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240469. [PMID: 33048978 PMCID: PMC7553345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs), capable of self-renew and differentiate into neural cells, hold promise for use in studies and treatments for neurological diseases. However, current approaches to obtain NSCs from a live brain are risky and invasive, since NSCs reside in the subventricular zone and the in the hippocampus dentate gyrus. Alternatively, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be a more available cell source due to their abundance in tissues and easier to access. However, MSCs are committed to producing mesenchymal tissue and are not capable of spontaneously differentiating into neural cells. Thus, the process of reprogramming of MSCs into neural cells to use in clinical and scientific settings has significantly impacted the advancement of regenerative medicine. Previously, our laboratory reported trans-differentiation of MSCs to neural cells through the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells state, which was produced by overexpression of the embryonic stem cell gene NANOG. In the current study, we demonstrate that treatment with exosomes derived from NSCs makes MSCs capable of expressing neural cell markers bypassing the generation of iPS cells. An epigenetic modifier, decitabine (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine), enhanced the process. This novel Xeno and transgene-free trans-differentiation technology eliminates the issues associated with iPS cells, such as tumorigenesis. Thus, it may accelerate the development of neurodegenerative therapies and in vitro neurological disorder models for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Sebástian Alexis Valerio
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States of America
- Institute for Scientific Research and Technology Services (INDICASAT), Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, India
| | - Kiminobu Sugaya
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States of America
- Institute for Scientific Research and Technology Services (INDICASAT), Panama City, Republic of Panama
- * E-mail:
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16
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MCF7 Spheroid Development: New Insight about Spatio/Temporal Arrangements of TNTs, Amyloid Fibrils, Cell Connections, and Cellular Bridges. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155400. [PMID: 32751344 PMCID: PMC7432950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7) grow in three-dimensional culture as spheroids that represent the structural complexity of avascular tumors. Therefore, spheroids offer a powerful tool for studying cancer development, aggressiveness, and drug resistance. Notwithstanding the large amount of data regarding the formation of MCF7 spheroids, a detailed description of the morpho-functional changes during their aggregation and maturation is still lacking. In this study, in addition to the already established role of gap junctions, we show evidence of tunneling nanotube (TNT) formation, amyloid fibril production, and opening of large stable cellular bridges, thus reporting the sequential events leading to MCF7 spheroid formation. The variation in cell phenotypes, sustained by dynamic expression of multiple proteins, leads to complex networking among cells similar to the sequence of morphogenetic steps occurring in embryogenesis/organogenesis. On the basis of the observation that early events in spheroid formation are strictly linked to the redox homeostasis, which in turn regulate amyloidogenesis, we show that the administration of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger that reduces the capability of cells to produce amyloid fibrils, significantly affects their ability to aggregate. Moreover, cells aggregation events, which exploit the intrinsic adhesiveness of amyloid fibrils, significantly decrease following the administration during the early aggregation phase of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), an amyloid degrading enzyme.
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17
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Visualizing the Synaptic and Cellular Ultrastructure in Neurons Differentiated from Human Induced Neural Stem Cells-An Optimized Protocol. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051708. [PMID: 32131546 PMCID: PMC7084184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The size of the synaptic subcomponents falls below the limits of visible light microscopy. Despite new developments in advanced microscopy techniques, the resolution of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) remains unsurpassed. The requirements of tissue preservation are very high, and human post mortem material often does not offer adequate quality. However, new reprogramming techniques that generate human neurons in vitro provide samples that can easily fulfill these requirements. The objective of this study was to identify the culture technique with the best ultrastructural preservation in combination with the best embedding and contrasting technique for visualizing neuronal elements. Two induced neural stem cell lines derived from healthy control subjects underwent differentiation either adherent on glass coverslips, embedded in a droplet of highly concentrated Matrigel, or as a compact neurosphere. Afterward, they were fixed using a combination of glutaraldehyde (GA) and paraformaldehyde (PFA) followed by three approaches (standard stain, Ruthenium red stain, high contrast en-bloc stain) using different combinations of membrane enhancing and contrasting steps before ultrathin sectioning and imaging by TEM. The compact free-floating neurospheres exhibited the best ultrastructural preservation. High-contrast en-bloc stain offered particularly sharp staining of membrane structures and the highest quality visualization of neuronal structures. In conclusion, compact neurospheres growing under free-floating conditions in combination with a high contrast en-bloc staining protocol, offer the optimal preservation and contrast with a particular focus on visualizing membrane structures as required for analyzing synaptic structures.
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18
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Guo NN, Liu LP, Zheng YW, Li YM. Inducing human induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation through embryoid bodies: A practical and stable approach. World J Stem Cells 2020; 12:25-34. [PMID: 32110273 PMCID: PMC7031760 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i1.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are invaluable resources for producing high-quality differentiated cells in unlimited quantities for both basic research and clinical use. They are particularly useful for studying human disease mechanisms in vitro by making it possible to circumvent the ethical issues of human embryonic stem cell research. However, significant limitations exist when using conventional flat culturing methods especially concerning cell expansion, differentiation efficiency, stability maintenance and multicellular 3D structure establishment, differentiation prediction. Embryoid bodies (EBs), the multicellular aggregates spontaneously generated from iPSCs in the suspension system, might help to address these issues. Due to the unique microenvironment and cell communication in EB structure that a 2D culture system cannot achieve, EBs have been widely applied in hiPSC-derived differentiation and show significant advantages especially in scaling up culturing, differentiation efficiency enhancement, ex vivo simulation, and organoid establishment. EBs can potentially also be used in early prediction of iPSC differentiation capability. To improve the stability and feasibility of EB-mediated differentiation and generate high quality EBs, critical factors including iPSC pluripotency maintenance, generation of uniform morphology using micro-pattern 3D culture systems, proper cellular density inoculation, and EB size control are discussed on the basis of both published data and our own laboratory experiences. Collectively, the production of a large quantity of homogeneous EBs with high quality is important for the stability and feasibility of many PSCs related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Ning Guo
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li-Ping Liu
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yun-Wen Zheng
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba Faculty of Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa 234-0006, Japan
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yu-Mei Li
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
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19
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Yang S, Cao Z, Zhu J, Zhang Z, Zhao H, Zhao L, Sun X, Wang X. In Vitro Monolayer Culture of Dispersed Neural Stem Cells on the E-Cadherin-Based Substrate with Long-Term Stemness Maintenance. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:18136-18146. [PMID: 31720516 PMCID: PMC6843705 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b02053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) play an important role in neural tissue engineering because of their capacity of self-renewal and differentiation to multiple cell lineages. The in vitro conventional neurosphere culture protocol has some limitations such as limited nutrition and oxygen penetration and distribution causing the heterogeneity of cells inside, inaccessibility of internal cells, and inhomogeneous cellular morphology and properties. As a result, cultivation as a monolayer is a better way to study NSCs and obtain a homogeneous cell population. The cadherins are a classical family of homophilic cell adhesion molecules mediating cell-cell adhesion. Here, we used a recombinant human E-cadherin mouse IgG Fc chimera protein that self-assembles on a hydrophobic polystyrene surface via hydrophobic interaction to obtain an E-cadherin-coated culture plate (ECP). The rat fetal NSCs were cultured on the ECP and routine tissue culture plate (TCP) from passage 2 to passage 5. NSCs on TCP formed uniform floating neurospheres and grew up over time, while cells on the ECP adhered on the bottom of the plate and exhibited individual cells with scattering morphology, forming intercellular connections between cells. The cell proliferation and differentiation behaviors that were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay (CCK-8), immunofluorescence staining, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed NSCs could maintain the capacity for self-renewal and ability to differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes after the long-term in vitro cell culture and passaging. Therefore, our study indicated that hE-cad-Fc could provide a homogeneous environment for individual cells in monolayer conditions to maintain the capacity of self-renewal and differentiation by mimicking the cell-cell interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Yang
- State
Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory
of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zheng Cao
- State
Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory
of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jinjin Zhu
- Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College
of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw
Institute of Clinical Medicine of Zhejiang University, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory
of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - He Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory
of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lingyun Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory
of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaodan Sun
- State
Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory
of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiumei Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory
of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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20
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Fernandes S, Vinnakota R, Kumar J, Kale V, Limaye L. Improved neural differentiation of normal and abnormal induced pluripotent stem cell lines in the presence of valproic acid. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2019; 13:1482-1496. [PMID: 31148385 DOI: 10.1002/term.2904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
During the generation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from cord blood CD34+ cells, a line having complete trisomy of Chromosome 1 and deletion of q23 to qTer of Chromosome 11 was accidentally developed in our lab. The abnormality was consistently detected even at higher passages. These chromosomal anomalies are known to manifest neurological developmental defects. In order to examine if such defects occur during in vitro differentiation of the cell line, we set up a protocol for neural differentiation. Valproic acid (VPA) was earlier reported by us to enhance neural differentiation of placental mesenchymal stem cells. Here, we induced normal and abnormal iPSC lines to neural lineage with/without VPA. Neural differentiation was observed in all four sets, but for both the iPSCs lines, VPA sets performed better. The characteristics tested were morphology, neural filament length, detection of neural markers, and electrophysiology. In summary, the karyotypically abnormal line exhibited efficient neural differentiation. This iPSC line may serve as a useful tool to study abnormalities associated with trisomy 1 and deletion of q23 to qTer of Chromosome 11.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Fernandes
- Stem Cell Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | - Rajesh Vinnakota
- Structural Biology Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | - Janesh Kumar
- Structural Biology Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | - Vaijayanti Kale
- Stem Cell Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India.,Symbiosis Centre for Stem Cell Research, Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Pune, India
| | - Lalita Limaye
- Stem Cell Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
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21
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de Leeuw S, Tackenberg C. Alzheimer's in a dish - induced pluripotent stem cell-based disease modeling. Transl Neurodegener 2019; 8:21. [PMID: 31338163 PMCID: PMC6624934 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-019-0161-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Since the discovery of the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technique more than a decade ago, extensive progress has been made to develop clinically relevant cell culture systems. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, accounting for approximately two thirds of all cases of dementia. The massively increasing number of affected individuals explains the major interest of research in this disease as well as the strong need for better understanding of disease mechanisms. Main body IPSC-derived neural cells have been widely used to recapitulating key aspects of AD. In this Review we highlight the progress made in studying AD pathophysiology and address the currently available techniques, such as specific differentiation techniques for AD-relevant cell types as well as 2D and 3D cultures. Finally, we critically discuss the key challenges and future directions of this field and how some of the major limitations of the iPSC technique may be overcome. Conclusion Stem cell-based disease models have the potential to induce a paradigm shift in biomedical research. In particular, the combination of the iPSC technology with recent advances in gene editing or 3D cell cultures represents a breakthrough for in vitro disease modeling and provides a platform for a better understanding of disease mechanisms in human cells and the discovery of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherida de Leeuw
- 1Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.,2Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Tackenberg
- 1Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.,2Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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22
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Choe C, Kim H, Min S, Park S, Seo J, Roh S. SOX2, a stemness gene, induces progression of NSCLC A549 cells toward anchorage-independent growth and chemoresistance to vinblastine. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:6197-6207. [PMID: 30288055 PMCID: PMC6163012 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s175810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is difficult to treat successfully. This intractability is mainly due to the cancer progressing through invasion, metastasis, chemotherapeutic resistance and relapse. Stemness has been linked to the various steps of cancer progression in a variety of tumors, yet little is known regarding its role in NSCLC. Purpose In this study, we sought to determine the role of SOX2, a master regulator of pluripotency, in the growth of extracellular matrix (ECM)-detached cells during cancer progression. Methods We established a three-dimensional (3D) Poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (poly-HEMA) culture of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) A549 cells as an ECM-detached cell growth model and examined the role of stemness genes using siRNA and small molecule inhibitor in comparison to standard two dimensional (2D) culture. Results In poly-HEMA culture, A549 cells formed substratum-detached spheroids with characteristics of intermediate epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and exhibited greater expression of SOX2 than did control 2D cells. Knockdown of SOX2 markedly suppressed the growth of A549 cell aggregates in poly-HEMA culture conditions and furthermore increased their sensitivity to the anticancer drug vinblastine with concomitant downregulation of the activity of the anti-apoptotic AKT kinase. Interestingly, a small molecule, RepSox, which replaces SOX2, stimulated A549 cell growth in poly-HEMA 3D culture condition. Conclusion Our findings strongly indicate that SOX2 contributes to anchorage-independent growth and chemoresistance via its downstream signaling mediator AKT kinase during the disease progression of NSCLC. SOX2 may therefore be an invaluable therapeutic target of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungyoul Choe
- Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,
| | - Hyewon Kim
- Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Embryo Biotechnology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,
| | - Sol Min
- Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Embryo Biotechnology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,
| | - Sangkyu Park
- Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Embryo Biotechnology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, .,Biomedical Research Institute, NeoRegen Biotech Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jeongmin Seo
- Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Embryo Biotechnology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, .,Biomedical Research Institute, NeoRegen Biotech Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Sangho Roh
- Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Embryo Biotechnology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,
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