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Cuní-López C, Stewart R, Oikari LE, Nguyen TH, Roberts TL, Sun Y, Guo CC, Lupton MK, White AR, Quek H. Advanced patient-specific microglia cell models for pre-clinical studies in Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:50. [PMID: 38365833 PMCID: PMC10870454 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03037-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder with a rapidly increasing prevalence worldwide. Current approaches targeting hallmark pathological features of AD have had no consistent clinical benefit. Neuroinflammation is a major contributor to neurodegeneration and hence, microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, are an attractive target for potentially more effective therapeutic strategies. However, there is no current in vitro model system that captures AD patient-specific microglial characteristics using physiologically relevant and experimentally flexible culture conditions. METHODS To address this shortcoming, we developed novel 3D Matrigel-based monocyte-derived microglia-like cell (MDMi) mono-cultures and co-cultures with neuro-glial cells (ReNcell VM). We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) analysis to compare the transcriptomic signatures of MDMi between model systems (2D, 3D and 3D co-culture) and against published human microglia datasets. To demonstrate the potential of MDMi for use in personalized pre-clinical strategies, we generated and characterized MDMi models from sixteen AD patients and matched healthy controls, and profiled cytokine responses upon treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs (dasatinib and spiperone). RESULTS MDMi in 3D exhibited a more branched morphology and longer survival in culture compared to 2D. scRNAseq uncovered distinct MDMi subpopulations that exhibit higher functional heterogeneity and best resemble human microglia in 3D co-culture. AD MDMi in 3D co-culture showed altered cell-to-cell interactions, growth factor and cytokine secretion profiles and responses to amyloid-β. Drug testing assays revealed patient- and model-specific cytokine responses. CONCLUSION Our study presents a novel, physiologically relevant and AD patient-specific 3D microglia cell model that opens avenues towards improving personalized drug development strategies in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cuní-López
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Romal Stewart
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane City, QLD, 4029, Australia
| | - Lotta E Oikari
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Tam Hong Nguyen
- Scientific Services, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Tara L Roberts
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane City, QLD, 4029, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research and School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia
| | - Yifan Sun
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Christine C Guo
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL, 32502, USA
| | - Michelle K Lupton
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Anthony R White
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
| | - Hazel Quek
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000, Australia.
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