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Eilenberger C, Rothbauer M, Brandauer K, Spitz S, Ehmoser EK, Küpcü S, Ertl P. Screening for Best Neuronal-Glial Differentiation Protocols of Neuralizing Agents Using a Multi-Sized Microfluidic Embryoid Body Array. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020339. [PMID: 35214071 PMCID: PMC8878393 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020339] [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: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell technology and embryonic stem cell models are of great interest in biomedical research since they provide deeper insights into, e.g., neurogenesis and early mammalian brain development. Despite their great scientific potential, the reliable establishment of three-dimensional embryoid bodies (EBs) remains a major challenge, and the current lack of standardization and comparability is still limiting a broader application and translation of stem cell technology. Among others, a vital aspect for the reliable formation of EBs is optimizing differentiation protocols since organized differentiation is influenced by soluble inducers and EB size. A microfluidic biochip array was employed to automate cell loading and optimize directed neuronal and astrocytic differentiation protocols using murine P19 embryoid bodies to facilitate reliable embryonic stem cell differentiation. Our gravity-driven microfluidic size-controlled embryoid body-on-a-chip system allows (a) the robust operation and cultivation of up to 90 EBs in parallel and (b) the reproducible generation of five increasing sizes ranging from 300 µm to 1000 µm diameters. A comparative study adds two differentiation-inducers such as retinoic acid and EC23 to size-controlled embryoid bodies to identify the optimal differentiation protocol. Our study revealed a 1.4 to 1.9-fold higher neuron and astrocyte expression in larger embryoid bodies (above 750 µm) over smaller-sized EBs (below 450 µm), thus highlighting the importance of EB size in the establishment of robust neurodevelopmental in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Eilenberger
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (K.B.); (S.S.); (P.E.)
- Correspondence: (C.E.); (M.R.)
| | - Mario Rothbauer
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (K.B.); (S.S.); (P.E.)
- Orthopedic Microsystems, Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic Biology, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: (C.E.); (M.R.)
| | - Konstanze Brandauer
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (K.B.); (S.S.); (P.E.)
| | - Sarah Spitz
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (K.B.); (S.S.); (P.E.)
| | - Eva-Kathrin Ehmoser
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Synthetic Bioarchitectures, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (E.-K.E.); (S.K.)
| | - Seta Küpcü
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Synthetic Bioarchitectures, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (E.-K.E.); (S.K.)
| | - Peter Ertl
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (K.B.); (S.S.); (P.E.)
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2
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Akhtar BM, Bhatia P, Acharya S, Sharma S, Sharma Y, Aswathy BS, Ganapathy K, Vasudevan A, Raghu P. A human stem cell resource to decipher the biochemical and cellular basis of neurodevelopmental defects in Lowe Syndrome. Biol Open 2022; 11:274000. [PMID: 35023542 PMCID: PMC8822356 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human brain development is a complex process where multiple cellular and developmental events are coordinated to generate normal structure and function. Alteration in any of these events can impact brain development, manifesting clinically as neurodevelopmental disorders. Human genetic disorders of lipid metabolism often present with features of altered brain function. Lowe syndrome (LS) is an X-linked recessive disease with features of altered brain function. LS results from mutations in OCRL1, which encodes a phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase enzyme. However, the cellular mechanisms by which loss of OCRL1 leads to brain defects remain unknown. Human brain development involves several cellular and developmental features not conserved in other species and understanding such mechanisms remains a challenge. Rodent models of LS have been generated but failed to recapitulate features of the human disease. Here we describe the generation of human stem cell lines from LS patients. Further, we present biochemical characterization of lipid metabolism in patient cell lines and demonstrate their use as a ‘disease-in-a-dish’ model for understanding the mechanism by which loss of OCRL1 leads to altered cellular and physiological brain development. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: A human iPSC resource to study the cellular basis of neurodevelopmental defects in Lowe syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal M Akhtar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru-560065, India
| | - Priyanka Bhatia
- Brain Development and Disease Mechanisms, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bengaluru-560065, India
| | - Shubhra Acharya
- Brain Development and Disease Mechanisms, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bengaluru-560065, India
| | - Sanjeev Sharma
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru-560065, India
| | - Yojet Sharma
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru-560065, India
| | - B S Aswathy
- Brain Development and Disease Mechanisms, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bengaluru-560065, India
| | - Kavina Ganapathy
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru-560065, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Center for Post Graduate Studies, School of Sciences, Jain University, Bangalore-560027, India
| | - Anil Vasudevan
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru-560034, India
| | - Padinjat Raghu
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru-560065, India.,Brain Development and Disease Mechanisms, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bengaluru-560065, India
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3
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Autar K, Guo X, Rumsey JW, Long CJ, Akanda N, Jackson M, Narasimhan NS, Caneus J, Morgan D, Hickman JJ. A functional hiPSC-cortical neuron differentiation and maturation model and its application to neurological disorders. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 17:96-109. [PMID: 34942087 PMCID: PMC8758945 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.11.009] [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: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The maturation and functional characteristics of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-cortical neurons has not been fully documented. This study developed a phenotypic model of hiPSC-derived cortical neurons, characterized their maturation process, and investigated its application for disease modeling with the integration of multi-electrode array (MEA) technology. Immunocytochemistry analysis indicated early-stage neurons (day 21) were simultaneously positive for both excitatory (vesicular glutamate transporter 1 [VGlut1]) and inhibitory (GABA) markers, while late-stage cultures (day 40) expressed solely VGlut1, indicating a purely excitatory phenotype without containing glial cells. This maturation process was further validated utilizing patch clamp and MEA analysis. Particularly, induced long-term potentiation (LTP) successfully persisted for 1 h in day 40 cultures, but only achieved LTP in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin in day 21 cultures. This system was also applied to epilepsy modeling utilizing bicuculline and its correction utilizing the anti-epileptic drug valproic acid. Characterization of human cortical neuronal differentiation to a mature phenotype Microelectrode evaluation of development from a mixed to pure excitatory population Utilization of defined culture stage to create an epilepsy model Manipulation of immaturity with inhibitors for maintaining long-term potentiation
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaveena Autar
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Xiufang Guo
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - John W Rumsey
- Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Christopher J Long
- Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Nesar Akanda
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Max Jackson
- Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | | | - Julbert Caneus
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Dave Morgan
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids Research Center, 400 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - James J Hickman
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA; Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA.
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4
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Unterholzner J, Millischer V, Wotawa C, Sawa A, Lanzenberger R. Making Sense of Patient-Derived iPSCs, Transdifferentiated Neurons, Olfactory Neuronal Cells, and Cerebral Organoids as Models for Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:759-775. [PMID: 34216465 PMCID: PMC8538891 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The improvement of experimental models for disorders requires a constant approximation towards the dysregulated tissue. In psychiatry, where an impairment of neuronal structure and function is assumed to play a major role in disease mechanisms and symptom development, this approximation is an ongoing process implicating various fields. These include genetic, animal, and post-mortem studies. To test hypotheses generated through these studies, in vitro models using non-neuronal cells such as fibroblasts and lymphocytes have been developed. For brain network disorders, cells with neuronal signatures would, however, represent a more adequate tissue. Considering the limited accessibility of brain tissue, research has thus turned towards neurons generated from induced pluripotent stem cells as well as directly induced neurons, cerebral organoids, and olfactory neuroepithelium. Regarding the increasing importance and amount of research using these neuronal cells, this review aims to provide an overview of all these models to make sense of the current literature. The development of each model system and its use as a model for the various psychiatric disorder categories will be laid out. Also, advantages and limitations of each model will be discussed, including a reflection on implications and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Unterholzner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Vincent Millischer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria,Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christoph Wotawa
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Akira Sawa
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA,Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria,Correspondence: Prof. Rupert Lanzenberger, MD, PD, NEUROIMAGING LABS (NIL) - PET, MRI, EEG, TMS & Chemical Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria ()
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5
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Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathophysiology and Opportunities for Pharmacological Intervention. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:5021694. [PMID: 33274002 PMCID: PMC7683149 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5021694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or Charcot disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons (MNs) and leads to death within 2–5 years of diagnosis, without any effective therapy available. Although the pathological mechanisms leading to ALS are still unknown, a wealth of evidence indicates that an excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production associated with an inefficient antioxidant defense represents an important pathological feature in ALS. Substantial evidence indicates that oxidative stress (OS) is implicated in the loss of MNs and in mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing decisively to neurodegeneration in ALS. Although the modulation of OS represents a promising approach to protect MNs from degeneration, the fact that several antioxidants with beneficial effects in animal models failed to show any therapeutic benefit in patients raises several questions that should be analyzed. Using specific queries for literature search on PubMed, we review here the role of OS-related mechanisms in ALS, including the involvement of altered mitochondrial function with repercussions in neurodegeneration. We also describe antioxidant compounds that have been mostly tested in preclinical and clinical trials of ALS, also describing their respective mechanisms of action. While the description of OS mechanism in the different mutations identified in ALS has as principal objective to clarify the contribution of OS in ALS, the description of positive and negative outcomes for each antioxidant is aimed at paving the way for novel opportunities for intervention. In conclusion, although antioxidant strategies represent a very promising approach to slow the progression of the disease, it is of utmost need to invest on the characterization of OS profiles representative of each subtype of patient, in order to develop personalized therapies, allowing to understand the characteristics of antioxidants that have beneficial effects on different subtypes of patients.
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Mittal K, Schrenk-Siemens K. Lessons from iPSC research: Insights on peripheral nerve disease. Neurosci Lett 2020; 738:135358. [PMID: 32898616 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
With the publication of their breakthrough discovery describing the induction of pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from mouse and human fibroblasts, Takahashi and Yamanaka have changed the scientific landscape. The possibility of deriving human pluripotent stem cells from almost any somatic cell has provided the unprecedented opportunity to study specific hereditary diseases in human cells. In the context of diseases affecting peripheral nerves, iPSC platforms are now being increasingly utilized to investigate the underlying pathology as well as regenerative strategies. Peripheral neuropathies result in peripheral nerve damage, leading to - among other things - the degeneration of affected nerve fibers accompanied by severe sensory, motor and autonomic symptoms, often including intense pain. The generation of iPSCs from hereditary forms of peripheral neuropathies and their directed differentiation into cell types most affected by the disease can be instrumental to better understanding the pathological mechanisms underlying these disorders and to investigating cell replacement strategies for repair. In this minireview, we highlight studies that have used iPSCs to investigate the therapeutic potential of iPSC-derived Schwann cell-like cells for nerve regeneration, as well as studies using patient iPSC derivatives to investigate their contribution to disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Mittal
- Department of Anatomy, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katrin Schrenk-Siemens
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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7
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We review the ways in which stem cells are used in psychiatric disease research, including the related advances in gene editing and directed cell differentiation. RECENT FINDINGS The recent development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies has created new possibilities for the study of psychiatric disease. iPSCs can be derived from patients or controls and differentiated to an array of neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. Their genomes can be edited as desired, and they can be assessed for a variety of phenotypes. This makes them especially interesting for studying genetic variation, which is particularly useful today now that our knowledge on the genetics of psychiatric disease is quickly expanding. The recent advances in cell engineering have led to powerful new methods for studying psychiatric illness including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism. There is a wide array of possible applications as illustrated by the many examples from the literature, most of which are cited here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debamitra Das
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kyra Feuer
- Predoctoral Training Program in Human Genetics, Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marah Wahbeh
- Predoctoral Training Program in Human Genetics, Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dimitrios Avramopoulos
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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8
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Kwak TH, Kang JH, Hali S, Kim J, Kim KP, Park C, Lee JH, Ryu HK, Na JE, Jo J, Je HS, Ng HH, Kwon J, Kim NH, Hong KH, Sun W, Chung CH, Rhyu IJ, Han DW. Generation of homogeneous midbrain organoids with in vivo-like cellular composition facilitates neurotoxin-based Parkinson's disease modeling. Stem Cells 2020; 38:727-740. [PMID: 32083763 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the generation of midbrain-like organoids (MOs) from human pluripotent stem cells. However, the low efficiency of MO generation and the relatively immature and heterogeneous structures of the MOs hinder the translation of these organoids from the bench to the clinic. Here we describe the robust generation of MOs with homogeneous distribution of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. Our MOs contain not only mDA neurons but also other neuronal subtypes as well as functional glial cells, including astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, our MOs exhibit mDA neuron-specific cell death upon treatment with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, indicating that MOs could be a proper human model system for studying the in vivo pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Our optimized conditions for producing homogeneous and mature MOs might provide an advanced patient-specific platform for in vitro disease modeling as well as for drug screening for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Hwan Kwak
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Kang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sai Hali
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee-Pyo Kim
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Chanhyeok Park
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Humanized Pig Research Center (SRC), Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Kyun Ryu
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Eun Na
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghyun Jo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Hyunsoo Shawn Je
- Signature Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huck-Hui Ng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeongwoo Kwon
- Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Hyung Kim
- Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon Ho Hong
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Humanized Pig Research Center (SRC), Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi Hye Chung
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Im Joo Rhyu
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Wook Han
- School of Biotechnology and Healthcare, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Organoids, Organ-Tech Co., Ltd., Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea
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9
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Sharma Y, Saha S, Joseph A, Krishnan H, Raghu P. In vitro human stem cell derived cultures to monitor calcium signaling in neuronal development and function. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 5:16. [PMID: 32195361 PMCID: PMC7076282 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15626.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of the human brain involves multiple cellular processes including cell division, migration, and dendritic growth. These processes are triggered by developmental cues and lead to interactions of neurons and glial cells to derive the final complex organization of the brain. Developmental cues are transduced into cellular processes through the action of multiple intracellular second messengers including calcium. Calcium signals in cells are shaped by large number of proteins and mutations in several of these have been reported in human patients with brain disorders. However, the manner in which such mutations impact human brain development in vivo remains poorly understood. A key limitation in this regard is the need for a model system in which calcium signaling can be studied in neurons of patients with specific brain disorders. Here we describe a protocol to differentiate human neural stem cells into cortical neuronal networks that can be maintained as live cultures up to 120 days in a dish. Our protocol generates a 2D in vitro culture that exhibits molecular features of several layers of the human cerebral cortex. Using fluorescence imaging of intracellular calcium levels, we describe the development of neuronal activity as measured by intracellular calcium transients during development in vitro. These transients were dependent on the activity of voltage gated calcium channels and were abolished by blocking sodium channel activity. Using transcriptome analysis, we describe the full molecular composition of such cultures following differentiation in vitro thus offering an insight into the molecular basis of activity. Our approach will facilitate the understanding of calcium signaling defects during cortical neuron development in patients with specific brain disorders and a mechanistic analysis of these defects using genetic manipulations coupled with cell biological and physiological analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yojet Sharma
- Cellular Organization and Signalling, National Centre for Biological Sciences - TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
| | - Sankhanil Saha
- Cellular Organization and Signalling, National Centre for Biological Sciences - TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
| | - Annu Joseph
- Cellular Organization and Signalling, National Centre for Biological Sciences - TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
| | - Harini Krishnan
- Cellular Organization and Signalling, National Centre for Biological Sciences - TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
| | - Padinjat Raghu
- Cellular Organization and Signalling, National Centre for Biological Sciences - TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
- Brain Development and Disease Mechanisms, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
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Raghu P, Joseph A, Krishnan H, Singh P, Saha S. Phosphoinositides: Regulators of Nervous System Function in Health and Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:208. [PMID: 31507376 PMCID: PMC6716428 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoinositides, the seven phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol have emerged as regulators of key sub-cellular processes such as membrane transport, cytoskeletal function and plasma membrane signaling in eukaryotic cells. All of these processes are also present in the cells that constitute the nervous system of animals and in this setting too, these are likely to tune key aspects of cell biology in relation to the unique structure and function of neurons. Phosphoinositides metabolism and function are mediated by enzymes and proteins that are conserved in evolution, and analysis of knockouts of these in animal models implicate this signaling system in neural function. Most recently, with the advent of human genome analysis, mutations in genes encoding components of the phosphoinositide signaling pathway have been implicated in human diseases although the cell biological basis of disease phenotypes in many cases remains unclear. In this review we evaluate existing evidence for the involvement of phosphoinositide signaling in human nervous system diseases and discuss ways of enhancing our understanding of the role of this pathway in the human nervous system's function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padinjat Raghu
- National Centre for Biological Sciences-TIFR, Bengaluru, India
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11
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Russo FB, Brito A, de Freitas AM, Castanha A, de Freitas BC, Beltrão-Braga PCB. The use of iPSC technology for modeling Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 130:104483. [PMID: 31129084 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that influence social skills, involving communication, interaction, and behavior, usually with repetitive and restrictive manners. Due to the variety of genes involved in ASDs and several possible environmental factors influence, there is still no answer to what really causes syndromic and non-syndromic types of ASDs, usually affecting each individual in a unique way. However, we know that the mechanism underlying ASDs involves brain functioning. The human brain is a complex structure composed of close to 100 billion cells, which is a big challenge to study counting just with post mortem tissue investigation or genetic approaches. Therefore, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) technology has been used as a tool to produce viable cells for understanding a working brain. Taking advantage of patient-derived stem cells, researchers are now able to generate neurons, glial cells and brain organoids in vitro to model ASDs. In this review we report data from different studies showing how iPSCs have been a critical tool to study the different phenotypes of ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiele Baldino Russo
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Anita Brito
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Andrelissa Castanha
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Beatriz C de Freitas
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Patricia Cristina Baleeiro Beltrão-Braga
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Obstetrics, School of Arts Sciences and Humanities, São Paulo, SP 03828-000, Brazil.
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12
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Logan S, Arzua T, Canfield SG, Seminary ER, Sison SL, Ebert AD, Bai X. Studying Human Neurological Disorders Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: From 2D Monolayer to 3D Organoid and Blood Brain Barrier Models. Compr Physiol 2019; 9:565-611. [PMID: 30873582 PMCID: PMC6705133 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c180025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurological disorders have emerged as a predominant healthcare concern in recent years due to their severe consequences on quality of life and prevalence throughout the world. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these diseases and the interactions between different brain cell types is essential for the development of new therapeutics. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are invaluable tools for neurological disease modeling, as they have unlimited self-renewal and differentiation capacity. Mounting evidence shows: (i) various brain cells can be generated from iPSCs in two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures; and (ii) further advances in 3D culture systems have led to the differentiation of iPSCs into organoids with multiple brain cell types and specific brain regions. These 3D organoids have gained widespread attention as in vitro tools to recapitulate complex features of the brain, and (iii) complex interactions between iPSC-derived brain cell types can recapitulate physiological and pathological conditions of blood-brain barrier (BBB). As iPSCs can be generated from diverse patient populations, researchers have effectively applied 2D, 3D, and BBB models to recapitulate genetically complex neurological disorders and reveal novel insights into molecular and genetic mechanisms of neurological disorders. In this review, we describe recent progress in the generation of 2D, 3D, and BBB models from iPSCs and further discuss their limitations, advantages, and future ventures. This review also covers the current status of applications of 2D, 3D, and BBB models in drug screening, precision medicine, and modeling a wide range of neurological diseases (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, brain injury, and neuropsychiatric disorders). © 2019 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 9:565-611, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Logan
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Thiago Arzua
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Scott G. Canfield
- Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology, IU School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN, USA
| | - Emily R. Seminary
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Samantha L. Sison
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Allison D. Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Xiaowen Bai
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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13
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Cellular Phenotypes in Human iPSC-Derived Neurons from a Genetic Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cell Rep 2018; 21:2678-2687. [PMID: 29212016 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A deletion or duplication in the 16p11.2 region is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. In addition to clinical characteristics, carriers of the 16p11.2 copy-number variant (CNV) manifest opposing neuroanatomical phenotypes-e.g., macrocephaly in deletion carriers (16pdel) and microcephaly in duplication carriers (16pdup). Using fibroblasts obtained from 16pdel and 16pdup carriers, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiated them into neurons to identify causal cellular mechanisms underlying neurobiological phenotypes. Our study revealed increased soma size and dendrite length in 16pdel neurons and reduced neuronal size and dendrite length in 16pdup neurons. The functional properties of iPSC-derived neurons corroborated aspects of these contrasting morphological differences that may underlie brain size. Interestingly, both 16pdel and 16pdup neurons displayed reduced synaptic density, suggesting that distinct mechanisms may underlie brain size and neuronal connectivity at this locus.
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Russo FB, Freitas BC, Pignatari GC, Fernandes IR, Sebat J, Muotri AR, Beltrão-Braga PCB. Modeling the Interplay Between Neurons and Astrocytes in Autism Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:569-578. [PMID: 29129319 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with unclear etiology and imprecise genetic causes. The main goal of this work was to investigate neuronal connectivity and the interplay between neurons and astrocytes from individuals with nonsyndromic ASD using induced pluripotent stem cells. METHODS Induced pluripotent stem cells were derived from a clinically well-characterized cohort of three individuals with nonsyndromic ASD sharing common behaviors and three control subjects, two clones each. We generated mixed neural cultures analyzing synaptogenesis and neuronal activity using a multielectrode array platform. Furthermore, using an enriched astrocyte population, we investigated their role in neuronal maintenance. RESULTS ASD-derived neurons had a significant decrease in synaptic gene expression and protein levels, glutamate neurotransmitter release, and, consequently, reduced spontaneous firing rate. Based on co-culture experiments, we observed that ASD-derived astrocytes interfered with proper neuronal development. In contrast, control-derived astrocytes rescued the morphological neuronal phenotype and synaptogenesis defects from ASD neuronal co-cultures. Furthermore, after identifying interleukin-6 secretion from astrocytes in individuals with ASD as a possible culprit for neural defects, we were able to increase synaptogenesis by blocking interleukin-6 levels. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal the contribution of astrocytes to neuronal phenotype and confirm previous studies linking interleukin-6 and autism, suggesting potential novel therapeutic pathways for a subtype of individuals with ASD. This is the first report demonstrating that glial dysfunctions could contribute to nonsyndromic autism pathophysiology using induced pluripotent stem cells modeling disease technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiele Baldino Russo
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Camille Freitas
- Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Graciela Conceição Pignatari
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabella Rodrigues Fernandes
- Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Jonathan Sebat
- Department of Psychiatry, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Alysson Renato Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Patricia Cristina Baleeiro Beltrão-Braga
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Obstetrics, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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15
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Stacey P, Wassermann AM, Kammonen L, Impey E, Wilbrey A, Cawkill D. Plate-Based Phenotypic Screening for Pain Using Human iPSC-Derived Sensory Neurons. SLAS DISCOVERY 2018; 23:585-596. [PMID: 29547351 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218764678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Screening against a disease-relevant phenotype to identify compounds that change the outcome of biological pathways, rather than just the activity of specific targets, offers an alternative approach to find modulators of disease characteristics. However, in pain research, use of in vitro phenotypic screens has been impeded by the challenge of sourcing relevant neuronal cell types in sufficient quantity and developing functional end-point measurements with a direct disease link. To overcome these hurdles, we have generated human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived sensory neurons at a robust production scale using the concept of cryopreserved "near-assay-ready" cells to decouple complex cell production from assay development and screening. hiPSC sensory neurons have then been used for development of a 384-well veratridine-evoked calcium flux assay. This functional assay of neuronal excitability was validated for phenotypic relevance to pain and other hyperexcitability disorders through screening a small targeted validation compound subset. A 2700-compound chemogenomics screen was then conducted to profile the range of target-based mechanisms able to inhibit veratridine-evoked excitability. This report presents the assay development, validation, and screening data. We conclude that high-throughput-compatible pain-relevant phenotypic screening with hiPSC sensory neurons is feasible and ready for application for the identification of new targets, pathways, mechanisms of action, and compounds for modulating neuronal excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Stacey
- 1 Pfizer Neusentis, Great Abington, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | | | | | - Emma Impey
- 1 Pfizer Neusentis, Great Abington, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Anna Wilbrey
- 1 Pfizer Neusentis, Great Abington, Cambridgeshire, UK
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16
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Rybová J, Ledvinová J, Sikora J, Kuchař L, Dobrovolný R. Neural cells generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells as a model of CNS involvement in mucopolysaccharidosis type II. J Inherit Metab Dis 2018; 41:221-229. [PMID: 29168031 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-017-0108-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPSII) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) gene (IDS, Xq28). MPSII is characterized by skeletal deformities, hearing loss, airway obstruction, hepatosplenomegaly, cardiac valvular disease, and progressive neurological impairment. At the cellular level, IDS deficiency leads to lysosomal storage of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), dominated by accumulation of dermatan and heparan sulfates. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) represent an alternative system that complements the available MPSII murine model. Herein we report on the reprogramming of peripheral white blood cells from male and female MPSII patients into iPSC using a non-integrating protocol based on the Sendai virus vector system. We differentiated the iPSC lines into IDS deficient and GAG accumulating β-Tubulin III+ neurons, GFAP+ astrocytes, and CNPase+ oligodendrocytes. The lysosomal system in these cells displayed structural abnormalities reminiscent of those previously found in patient tissues and murine IDS deficient neuronal stem cells. Furthermore, quantitative determination of GAGs revealed a moderate increase in GAG levels in IDS deficient neurons and glia. We also tested the effects of recombinant IDS and found that the exogenous enzyme was internalized from the culture media and partially decreased the intracellular GAG levels in iPSC-derived neural cells; however, it failed to completely prevent accumulation of GAGs. In summary, we demonstrate that this human iPSC based model expresses the cellular and biochemical features of MPSII, and thus represents a useful experimental tool for further pathogenesis studies as well as therapy development and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitka Rybová
- Rare Diseases Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague, 12808, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Ledvinová
- Rare Diseases Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague, 12808, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Sikora
- Rare Diseases Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague, 12808, Czech Republic
- Institute of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Kuchař
- Rare Diseases Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague, 12808, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Dobrovolný
- Rare Diseases Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 2, Prague, 12808, Czech Republic.
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17
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George AJ, Hoffiz YC, Charles AJ, Zhu Y, Mabb AM. A Comprehensive Atlas of E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Mutations in Neurological Disorders. Front Genet 2018; 9:29. [PMID: 29491882 PMCID: PMC5817383 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination is a posttranslational modification that plays an integral part in mediating diverse cellular functions. The process of protein ubiquitination requires an enzymatic cascade that consists of a ubiquitin activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2) and an E3 ubiquitin ligase (E3). There are an estimated 600-700 E3 ligase genes representing ~5% of the human genome. Not surprisingly, mutations in E3 ligase genes have been observed in multiple neurological conditions. We constructed a comprehensive atlas of disrupted E3 ligase genes in common (CND) and rare neurological diseases (RND). Of the predicted and known human E3 ligase genes, we found ~13% were mutated in a neurological disorder with 83 total genes representing 70 different types of neurological diseases. Of the E3 ligase genes identified, 51 were associated with an RND. Here, we provide an updated list of neurological disorders associated with E3 ligase gene disruption. We further highlight research in these neurological disorders and discuss the advanced technologies used to support these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene J. George
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yarely C. Hoffiz
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Ying Zhu
- Creative Media Industries Institute & Department of Computer Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Angela M. Mabb
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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18
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Miniarikova J, Evers MM, Konstantinova P. Translation of MicroRNA-Based Huntingtin-Lowering Therapies from Preclinical Studies to the Clinic. Mol Ther 2018; 26:947-962. [PMID: 29503201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The single mutation underlying the fatal neuropathology of Huntington's disease (HD) is a CAG triplet expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which gives rise to a toxic mutant HTT protein. There have been a number of not yet successful therapeutic advances in the treatment of HD. The current excitement in the HD field is due to the recent development of therapies targeting the culprit of HD either at the DNA or RNA level to reduce the overall mutant HTT protein. In this review, we briefly describe short-term and long-term HTT-lowering strategies targeting HTT transcripts. One of the most advanced HTT-lowering strategies is a microRNA (miRNA)-based gene therapy delivered by a single administration of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to the HD patient. We outline the outcome measures for the miRNA-based HTT-lowering therapy in the context of preclinical evaluation in HD animal and cell models. We highlight the strengths and ongoing queries of the HTT-lowering gene therapy as an HD intervention with a potential disease-modifying effect. This review provides a perspective on the fast-developing HTT-lowering therapies for HD and their translation to the clinic based on existing knowledge in preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Miniarikova
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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19
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Sukoff Rizzo SJ, Crawley JN. Behavioral Phenotyping Assays for Genetic Mouse Models of Neurodevelopmental, Neurodegenerative, and Psychiatric Disorders. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2017; 5:371-389. [PMID: 28199172 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Animal models offer heuristic research tools to understand the causes of human diseases and to identify potential treatments. With rapidly evolving genetic engineering technologies, mutations identified in a human disorder can be generated in the mouse genome. Phenotypic outcomes of the mutation are then explicated to confirm hypotheses about causes and to discover effective therapeutics. Most neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders are diagnosed primarily by their prominent behavioral symptoms. Mouse behavioral assays analogous to the human symptoms have been developed to analyze the consequences of mutations and to evaluate proposed therapeutics preclinically. Here we describe the range of mouse behavioral tests available in the established behavioral neuroscience literature, along with examples of their translational applications. Concepts presented have been successfully used in other species, including flies, worms, fish, rats, pigs, and nonhuman primates. Identical strategies can be employed to test hypotheses about environmental causes and gene × environment interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacqueline N Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817;
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20
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Use of Human Neurons Derived via Cellular Reprogramming Methods to Study Host-Parasite Interactions of Toxoplasma gondii in Neurons. Cells 2017; 6:cells6040032. [PMID: 28946615 PMCID: PMC5755492 DOI: 10.3390/cells6040032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite, with approximately one-third of the worlds' population chronically infected. In chronically infected individuals, the parasite resides in tissue cysts in neurons in the brain. The chronic infection in immunocompetant individuals has traditionally been considered to be asymptomatic, but increasing evidence indicates that chronic infection is associated with diverse neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, cryptogenic epilepsy, and Parkinson's Disease. The mechanisms by which the parasite exerts affects on behavior and other neuronal functions are not understood. Human neurons derived from cellular reprogramming methods offer the opportunity to develop better human neuronal models to study T. gondii in neurons. Results from two studies using human neurons derived via cellular reprogramming methods indicate these human neuronal models provide better in vitro models to study the effects of T. gondii on neurons and neurological functions. In this review, an overview of the current neural reprogramming methods will be given, followed by a summary of the studies using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons and induced neurons (iNs) to study T. gondii in neurons. The potential of these neural reprogramming methods for further study of the host-parasite interactions of T. gondii in neurons will be discussed.
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21
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Bal-Price A, Meek MEB. Adverse outcome pathways: Application to enhance mechanistic understanding of neurotoxicity. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 179:84-95. [PMID: 28529068 PMCID: PMC5869951 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments have prompted the transition of empirically based testing of late stage toxicity in animals for a range of different endpoints including neurotoxicity to more efficient and predictive mechanistically based approaches with greater emphasis on measurable key events early in the progression of disease. The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) has been proposed as a simplified organizational construct to contribute to this transition by linking molecular initiating events and earlier (more predictive) key events at lower levels of biological organization to disease outcomes. As such, AOPs are anticipated to facilitate the compilation of information to increase mechanistic understanding of pathophysiological pathways that are responsible for human disease. In this review, the sequence of key events resulting in adverse outcome (AO) defined as parkinsonian motor impairment and learning and memory deficit in children, triggered by exposure to environmental chemicals has been briefly described using the AOP framework. These AOPs follow convention adopted in an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) AOP development program, publically available, to permit tailored application of AOPs for a range of different purposes. Due to the complexity of disease pathways, including neurodegenerative disorders, a specific symptom of the disease (e.g. parkinsonian motor deficit) is considered as the AO in a developed AOP. Though the description is necessarily limited by the extent of current knowledge, additional characterization of involved pathways through description of related AOPs interlinked into networks for the same disease has potential to contribute to more holistic and mechanistic understanding of the pathophysiological pathways involved, possibly leading to the mechanism-based reclassification of diseases, thus facilitating more personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials, Ispra, Italy.
| | - M E Bette Meek
- McLaughlin Centre for Risk Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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22
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Li YC, Zhu K, Young TH. Induced pluripotent stem cells, form in vitro tissue engineering to in vivo allogeneic transplantation. J Thorac Dis 2017; 9:455-459. [PMID: 28449443 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017.02.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Li
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kai Zhu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tai-Horng Young
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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23
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The Role of Noncoding RNAs in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: The Case of Rett Syndrome. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 978:23-37. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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24
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Vagaska B, Ferretti P. Toward modeling the human nervous system in a dish: recent progress and outstanding challenges. Regen Med 2016; 12:15-23. [PMID: 27900887 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2016-0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying the cellular and molecular bases governing development, and normal and abnormal functions of the human CNS is hampered by its complexity and the very limited possibility of experimentally manipulating it in vivo. Development of 3D, tissue-like culture systems offers much promise for boosting our understanding of human neural development, birth defects, neurodegenerative diseases and neural injury, and for providing platforms that will more accurately predict efficacy of putative therapeutic compounds and assess responses to potentially neurotoxic agents. Although novel technological developments and a more interdisciplinary approach to modeling the human CNS are accelerating the pace of discovery, increasing the complexity of in vitro systems increases the ordeals to be overcome to establish highly reproducible models amenable to quantitative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Vagaska
- Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Patrizia Ferretti
- Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
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25
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Brigida AL, Siniscalco D. Induced pluripotent stem cells as a cellular model for studying Down Syndrome. J Stem Cells Regen Med 2016; 12:54-60. [PMID: 28096629 PMCID: PMC5227104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS), or Trisomy 21 Syndrome, is one of the most common genetic diseases. It is a chromosomal abnormality caused by a duplication of chromosome 21. DS patients show the presence of a third copy (or a partial third copy) of chromosome 21 (trisomy), as result of meiotic errors. These patients suffer of many health problems, such as intellectual disability, congenital heart disease, duodenal stenosis, Alzheimer's disease, leukemia, immune system deficiencies, muscle hypotonia and motor disorders. About one in 1000 babies born each year are affected by DS. Alterations in the dosage of genes located on chromosome 21 (also called HSA21) are responsible for the DS phenotype. However, the molecular pathogenic mechanisms of DS triggering are still not understood; newest evidences suggest the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms. For obvious ethical reasons, studies performed on DS patients, as well as on human trisomic tissues are limited. Some authors have proposed mouse models of this syndrome. However, not all the features of the syndrome are represented. Stem cells are considered the future of molecular and regenerative medicine. Several types of stem cells could provide a valid approach to offer a potential treatment for some untreatable human diseases. Stem cells also represent a valid system to develop new cell-based drugs and/or a model to study molecular disease pathways. Among stem cell types, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells offer some advantages for cell and tissue replacement, engineering and studying: self-renewal capacity, pluripotency and ease of accessibility to donor tissues. These cells can be reprogrammed into completely different cellular types. They are derived from adult somatic cells via reprogramming with ectopic expression of four transcription factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4; or, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28). By reprogramming cells from DS patients, it is possible to obtain new tissue with the same genetic background, offering a valuable tool for studying this genetic disease and to design customized patient-specific stem cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lisa Brigida
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Dario Siniscalco
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138 Napoli, Italy.
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26
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Brigida AL, Siniscalco D. Induced pluripotent stem cells as a cellular model for studying Down Syndrome. J Stem Cells Regen Med 2016. [PMID: 28096629 PMCID: PMC5227104 DOI: 10.46582/jsrm.1202009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS), or Trisomy 21 Syndrome, is one of the most common genetic diseases. It is a chromosomal abnormality caused by a duplication of chromosome 21. DS patients show the presence of a third copy (or a partial third copy) of chromosome 21 (trisomy), as result of meiotic errors. These patients suffer of many health problems, such as intellectual disability, congenital heart disease, duodenal stenosis, Alzheimer’s disease, leukemia, immune system deficiencies, muscle hypotonia and motor disorders. About one in 1000 babies born each year are affected by DS. Alterations in the dosage of genes located on chromosome 21 (also called HSA21) are responsible for the DS phenotype. However, the molecular pathogenic mechanisms of DS triggering are still not understood; newest evidences suggest the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms. For obvious ethical reasons, studies performed on DS patients, as well as on human trisomic tissues are limited. Some authors have proposed mouse models of this syndrome. However, not all the features of the syndrome are represented. Stem cells are considered the future of molecular and regenerative medicine. Several types of stem cells could provide a valid approach to offer a potential treatment for some untreatable human diseases. Stem cells also represent a valid system to develop new cell-based drugs and/or a model to study molecular disease pathways. Among stem cell types, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells offer some advantages for cell and tissue replacement, engineering and studying: self-renewal capacity, pluripotency and ease of accessibility to donor tissues. These cells can be reprogrammed into completely different cellular types. They are derived from adult somatic cells via reprogramming with ectopic expression of four transcription factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4; or, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28). By reprogramming cells from DS patients, it is possible to obtain new tissue with the same genetic background, offering a valuable tool for studying this genetic disease and to design customized patient-specific stem cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lisa Brigida
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Dario Siniscalco
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138 Napoli, Italy
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Kaisar MA, Sajja RK, Prasad S, Abhyankar VV, Liles T, Cucullo L. New experimental models of the blood-brain barrier for CNS drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 12:89-103. [PMID: 27782770 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2017.1253676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic biological interface which actively controls the passage of substances between the blood and the central nervous system (CNS). From a biological and functional standpoint, the BBB plays a crucial role in maintaining brain homeostasis inasmuch that deterioration of BBB functions are prodromal to many CNS disorders. Conversely, the BBB hinders the delivery of drugs targeting the brain to treat a variety of neurological diseases. Area covered: This article reviews recent technological improvements and innovation in the field of BBB modeling including static and dynamic cell-based platforms, microfluidic systems and the use of stem cells and 3D printing technologies. Additionally, the authors laid out a roadmap for the integration of microfluidics and stem cell biology as a holistic approach for the development of novel in vitro BBB platforms. Expert opinion: Development of effective CNS drugs has been hindered by the lack of reliable strategies to mimic the BBB and cerebrovascular impairments in vitro. Technological advancements in BBB modeling have fostered the development of highly integrative and quasi- physiological in vitro platforms to support the process of drug discovery. These advanced in vitro tools are likely to further current understanding of the cerebrovascular modulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad A Kaisar
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo , TX , USA
| | - Ravi K Sajja
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo , TX , USA
| | - Shikha Prasad
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo , TX , USA
| | - Vinay V Abhyankar
- c Biological Microsystems Division at The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute , Fort Worth , TX , USA
| | - Taylor Liles
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo , TX , USA
| | - Luca Cucullo
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo , TX , USA.,b Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo , TX , USA
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Towards a 21st-century roadmap for biomedical research and drug discovery: consensus report and recommendations. Drug Discov Today 2016; 22:327-339. [PMID: 27989722 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Decades of costly failures in translating drug candidates from preclinical disease models to human therapeutic use warrant reconsideration of the priority placed on animal models in biomedical research. Following an international workshop attended by experts from academia, government institutions, research funding bodies, and the corporate and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sectors, in this consensus report, we analyse, as case studies, five disease areas with major unmet needs for new treatments. In view of the scientifically driven transition towards a human pathways-based paradigm in toxicology, a similar paradigm shift appears to be justified in biomedical research. There is a pressing need for an approach that strategically implements advanced, human biology-based models and tools to understand disease pathways at multiple biological scales. We present recommendations to help achieve this.
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Microfabric Vessels for Embryoid Body Formation and Rapid Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31063. [PMID: 27507707 PMCID: PMC4978968 DOI: 10.1038/srep31063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Various scalable three-dimensional culture systems for regenerative medicine using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been developed to date. However, stable production of hiPSCs with homogeneous qualities still remains a challenge. Here, we describe a novel and simple embryoid body (EB) formation system using unique microfabricated culture vessels. Furthermore, this culture system is useful for high throughput EB formation and rapid generation of differentiated cells such as neural stem cells (NSCs) from hiPSCs. The period of NSC differentiation was significantly shortened under high EB density culture conditions. Simultaneous mass production of a pure population of NSCs was possible within 4 days. These results indicate that the novel culture system might not only become a unique tool to obtain new insights into developmental biology based on human stem cells, but also provide an important tractable platform for efficient and stable production of NSCs for clinical applications.
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