51
|
Silva MC, Nandi G, Haggarty SJ. Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Cortical Neurons to Advance Precision Medicine. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2429:143-174. [PMID: 35507160 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1979-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A major obstacle in studying human central nervous system (CNS) diseases is inaccessibility to the affected tissue and cells. Even in limited cases where tissue is available through surgical interventions, differentiated neurons cannot be maintained for extended time frames, which is prohibitive for experimental repetition and scalability. Advances in methodologies for reprogramming human somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and directed differentiation of human neurons in culture now allow access to physiological and disease relevant cell types. In particular, patient iPSC-derived neurons represent unique ex vivo neuronal networks that allow investigating disease genetic and molecular pathways in physiologically accurate cellular microenvironments, importantly recapitulating molecular and cellular phenotypic aspects of disease. Generation of functional neural cells from iPSCs relies on manipulation of culture formats in the presence of specific factors that promote the conversion of pluripotent stem cells into neurons. To this end, several experimental protocols have been developed. Direct differentiation of stem cells into post-mitotic neurons is usually associated with low throughput, low yield, and high technical variability. Instead, methods relying on expansion of the intermediate neural progenitor cells (NPCs) show incredible potential for posterior generation of suitable neuronal cultures for cellular and biochemical assays, as well as drug screening. NPCs are expandable, self-renewable multipotent cells that can differentiate into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and electrically active neurons. Here, we describe a protocol for generating iPSC-derived NPCs via formation of neural aggregates and selection of NPC precursor neural rosettes, followed by a simple and reproducible method for generating a mixed population of cortical-like neurons through growth factor withdrawal. Implementation of this protocol has the potential to advance the goals of precision medicine research for both neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Catarina Silva
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ghata Nandi
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen J Haggarty
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Direct neuronal reprogramming: Fast forward from new concepts toward therapeutic approaches. Neuron 2021; 110:366-393. [PMID: 34921778 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Differentiated cells have long been considered fixed in their identity. However, about 20 years ago, the first direct conversion of glial cells into neurons in vitro opened the field of "direct neuronal reprogramming." Since then, neuronal reprogramming has achieved the generation of fully functional, mature neurons with remarkable efficiency, even in diseased brain environments. Beyond their clinical implications, these discoveries provided basic insights into crucial mechanisms underlying conversion of specific cell types into neurons and maintenance of neuronal identity. Here we discuss such principles, including the importance of the starter cell for shaping the outcome of neuronal reprogramming. We further highlight technical concerns for in vivo reprogramming and propose a code of conduct to avoid artifacts and pitfalls. We end by pointing out next challenges for development of less invasive cell replacement therapies for humans.
Collapse
|
53
|
Yu H, Commander CW, Stavas JM. Stem Cell-Based Therapies: What Interventional Radiologists Need to Know. Semin Intervent Radiol 2021; 38:523-534. [PMID: 34853498 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
As the basic units of biological organization, stem cells and their progenitors are essential for developing and regenerating organs and tissue systems using their unique self-renewal capability and differentiation potential into multiple cell lineages. Stem cells are consistently present throughout the entire human development, from the zygote to adulthood. Over the past decades, significant efforts have been made in biology, genetics, and biotechnology to develop stem cell-based therapies using embryonic and adult autologous or allogeneic stem cells for diseases without therapies or difficult to treat. Stem cell-based therapies require optimum administration of stem cells into damaged organs to promote structural regeneration and improve function. Maximum clinical efficacy is highly dependent on the successful delivery of stem cells to the target tissue. Direct image-guided locoregional injections into target tissues offer an option to increase therapeutic outcomes. Interventional radiologists have the opportunity to perform a key role in delivering stem cells more efficiently using minimally invasive techniques. This review discusses the types and sources of stem cells and the current clinical applications of stem cell-based therapies. In addition, the regulatory considerations, logistics, and potential roles of interventional Radiology are also discussed with the review of the literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Yu
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,ProKidney LLC, Winston Salem, North Carolina
| | - Clayton W Commander
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Joseph M Stavas
- Department of Radiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Leal-Galicia P, Chávez-Hernández ME, Mata F, Mata-Luévanos J, Rodríguez-Serrano LM, Tapia-de-Jesús A, Buenrostro-Jáuregui MH. Adult Neurogenesis: A Story Ranging from Controversial New Neurogenic Areas and Human Adult Neurogenesis to Molecular Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11489. [PMID: 34768919 PMCID: PMC8584254 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation of new neurons in the adult brain is a currently accepted phenomenon. Over the past few decades, the subventricular zone and the hippocampal dentate gyrus have been described as the two main neurogenic niches. Neurogenic niches generate new neurons through an asymmetric division process involving several developmental steps. This process occurs throughout life in several species, including humans. These new neurons possess unique properties that contribute to the local circuitry. Despite several efforts, no other neurogenic zones have been observed in many years; the lack of observation is probably due to technical issues. However, in recent years, more brain niches have been described, once again breaking the current paradigms. Currently, a debate in the scientific community about new neurogenic areas of the brain, namely, human adult neurogenesis, is ongoing. Thus, several open questions regarding new neurogenic niches, as well as this phenomenon in adult humans, their functional relevance, and their mechanisms, remain to be answered. In this review, we discuss the literature and provide a compressive overview of the known neurogenic zones, traditional zones, and newly described zones. Additionally, we will review the regulatory roles of some molecular mechanisms, such as miRNAs, neurotrophic factors, and neurotrophins. We also join the debate on human adult neurogenesis, and we will identify similarities and differences in the literature and summarize the knowledge regarding these interesting topics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Perla Leal-Galicia
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (M.E.C.-H.); (F.M.); (J.M.-L.); (L.M.R.-S.); (A.T.-d.-J.)
| | - María Elena Chávez-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (M.E.C.-H.); (F.M.); (J.M.-L.); (L.M.R.-S.); (A.T.-d.-J.)
| | - Florencia Mata
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (M.E.C.-H.); (F.M.); (J.M.-L.); (L.M.R.-S.); (A.T.-d.-J.)
| | - Jesús Mata-Luévanos
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (M.E.C.-H.); (F.M.); (J.M.-L.); (L.M.R.-S.); (A.T.-d.-J.)
| | - Luis Miguel Rodríguez-Serrano
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (M.E.C.-H.); (F.M.); (J.M.-L.); (L.M.R.-S.); (A.T.-d.-J.)
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de la Alimentación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Tapia-de-Jesús
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (M.E.C.-H.); (F.M.); (J.M.-L.); (L.M.R.-S.); (A.T.-d.-J.)
| | - Mario Humberto Buenrostro-Jáuregui
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico; (M.E.C.-H.); (F.M.); (J.M.-L.); (L.M.R.-S.); (A.T.-d.-J.)
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Han F, Liu Y, Huang J, Zhang X, Wei C. Current Approaches and Molecular Mechanisms for Directly Reprogramming Fibroblasts Into Neurons and Dopamine Neurons. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:738529. [PMID: 34658841 PMCID: PMC8515543 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.738529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is mainly caused by specific degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons) in the substantia nigra of the middle brain. Over the past two decades, transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) from fetal brain-derived neural stem cells (fNSCs), human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has been shown to improve the symptoms of motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) animal models and PD patients significantly. However, there are ethical concerns with fNSCs and hESCs and there is an issue of rejection by the immune system, and the iPSCs may involve tumorigenicity caused by the integration of the transgenes. Recent studies have shown that somatic fibroblasts can be directly reprogrammed to NSCs, neurons, and specific dopamine neurons. Directly induced neurons (iN) or induced DA neurons (iDANs) from somatic fibroblasts have several advantages over iPSC cells. The neurons produced by direct transdifferentiation do not pass through a pluripotent state. Therefore, direct reprogramming can generate patient-specific cells, and it can overcome the safety problems of rejection by the immune system and teratoma formation related to hESCs and iPSCs. However, there are some critical issues such as the low efficiency of direct reprogramming, biological functions, and risks from the directly converted neurons, which hinder their clinical applications. Here, the recent progress in methods, mechanisms, and future challenges of directly reprogramming somatic fibroblasts into neurons or dopamine neurons were summarized to speed up the clinical translation of these directly converted neural cells to treat PD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabin Han
- Innovation Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, China.,The Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Liaocheng University/Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Yanming Liu
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, China.,The Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Liaocheng University/Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| | - Jin Huang
- Laboratory of Basic Medical Research, Medical Centre of PLA Strategic Support Force, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Chuanfei Wei
- The Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Liaocheng University/Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, China
| |
Collapse
|
56
|
Samoilova EM, Belopasov VV, Baklaushev VP. Transcription Factors of Direct Neuronal Reprogramming in Ontogenesis and Ex Vivo. Mol Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893321040087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|
57
|
Cirnaru MD, Song S, Tshilenge KT, Corwin C, Mleczko J, Galicia Aguirre C, Benlhabib H, Bendl J, Apontes P, Fullard J, Creus-Muncunill J, Reyahi A, Nik AM, Carlsson P, Roussos P, Mooney SD, Ellerby LM, Ehrlich ME. Unbiased identification of novel transcription factors in striatal compartmentation and striosome maturation. eLife 2021; 10:e65979. [PMID: 34609283 PMCID: PMC8492065 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Many diseases are linked to dysregulation of the striatum. Striatal function depends on neuronal compartmentation into striosomes and matrix. Striatal projection neurons are GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs), subtyped by selective expression of receptors, neuropeptides, and other gene families. Neurogenesis of the striosome and matrix occurs in separate waves, but the factors regulating compartmentation and neuronal differentiation are largely unidentified. We performed RNA- and ATAC-seq on sorted striosome and matrix cells at postnatal day 3, using the Nr4a1-EGFP striosome reporter mouse. Focusing on the striosome, we validated the localization and/or role of Irx1, Foxf2, Olig2, and Stat1/2 in the developing striosome and the in vivo enhancer function of a striosome-specific open chromatin region 4.4 Kb downstream of Olig2. These data provide novel tools to dissect and manipulate the networks regulating MSN compartmentation and differentiation, including in human iPSC-derived striatal neurons for disease modeling and drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Daniela Cirnaru
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Sicheng Song
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | | | - Chuhyon Corwin
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Justyna Mleczko
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Houda Benlhabib
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Jaroslav Bendl
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Pasha Apontes
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - John Fullard
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Jordi Creus-Muncunill
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Azadeh Reyahi
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Ali M Nik
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Peter Carlsson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Panos Roussos
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 2 South)BronxUnited States
| | - Sean D Mooney
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | | | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Mertens J, Herdy JR, Traxler L, Schafer ST, Schlachetzki JCM, Böhnke L, Reid DA, Lee H, Zangwill D, Fernandes DP, Agarwal RK, Lucciola R, Zhou-Yang L, Karbacher L, Edenhofer F, Stern S, Horvath S, Paquola ACM, Glass CK, Yuan SH, Ku M, Szücs A, Goldstein LSB, Galasko D, Gage FH. Age-dependent instability of mature neuronal fate in induced neurons from Alzheimer's patients. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:1533-1548.e6. [PMID: 33910058 PMCID: PMC8423435 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) exclusively affects elderly people. Using direct conversion of AD patient fibroblasts into induced neurons (iNs), we generated an age-equivalent neuronal model. AD patient-derived iNs exhibit strong neuronal transcriptome signatures characterized by downregulation of mature neuronal properties and upregulation of immature and progenitor-like signaling pathways. Mapping iNs to longitudinal neuronal differentiation trajectory data demonstrated that AD iNs reflect a hypo-mature neuronal identity characterized by markers of stress, cell cycle, and de-differentiation. Epigenetic landscape profiling revealed an underlying aberrant neuronal state that shares similarities with malignant transformation and age-dependent epigenetic erosion. To probe for the involvement of aging, we generated rejuvenated iPSC-derived neurons that showed no significant disease-related transcriptome signatures, a feature that is consistent with epigenetic clock and brain ontogenesis mapping, which indicate that fibroblast-derived iNs more closely reflect old adult brain stages. Our findings identify AD-related neuronal changes as age-dependent cellular programs that impair neuronal identity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Mertens
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Neural Aging Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology, CMBI, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.
| | - Joseph R Herdy
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Neural Aging Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology, CMBI, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Larissa Traxler
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Neural Aging Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology, CMBI, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
| | - Simon T Schafer
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Johannes C M Schlachetzki
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lena Böhnke
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Neural Aging Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology, CMBI, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
| | - Dylan A Reid
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hyungjun Lee
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dina Zangwill
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Diana P Fernandes
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ravi K Agarwal
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Raffaella Lucciola
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lucia Zhou-Yang
- Neural Aging Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology, CMBI, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
| | - Lukas Karbacher
- Neural Aging Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology, CMBI, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
| | - Frank Edenhofer
- Department of Genomics, Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Molecular Biology, CMBI, Institute of Molecular Biology and CMBI, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
| | - Shani Stern
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Apua C M Paquola
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher K Glass
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shauna H Yuan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Department of Neurology, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Manching Ku
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Attila Szücs
- Neuronal Cell Biology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lawrence S B Goldstein
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Douglas Galasko
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Fred H Gage
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
Liu S, Striebel J, Pasquini G, Ng AHM, Khoshakhlagh P, Church GM, Busskamp V. Neuronal Cell-type Engineering by Transcriptional Activation. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:715697. [PMID: 34713262 PMCID: PMC8525383 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.715697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene activation with the CRISPR-Cas system has great implications in studying gene function, controlling cellular behavior, and modulating disease progression. In this review, we survey recent studies on targeted gene activation and multiplexed screening for inducing neuronal differentiation using CRISPR-Cas transcriptional activation (CRISPRa) and open reading frame (ORF) expression. Critical technical parameters of CRISPRa and ORF-based strategies for neuronal programming are presented and discussed. In addition, recent progress on in vivo applications of CRISPRa to the nervous system are highlighted. Overall, CRISPRa represents a valuable addition to the experimental toolbox for neuronal cell-type programming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Songlei Liu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Johannes Striebel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Giovanni Pasquini
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | | | - George M. Church
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
- GC Therapeutics, Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Volker Busskamp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Wang Y, Zhang X, Chen F, Song N, Xie J. In vivo Direct Conversion of Astrocytes to Neurons Maybe a Potential Alternative Strategy for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:689276. [PMID: 34408642 PMCID: PMC8366583 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.689276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Partly because of extensions in lifespan, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing, while there is no effective approach to slow or prevent neuronal degeneration. As we all know, neurons cannot self-regenerate and may not be replaced once being damaged or degenerated in human brain. Astrocytes are widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) and proliferate once CNS injury or neurodegeneration occur. Actually, direct reprogramming astrocytes into functional neurons has been attracting more and more attention in recent years. Human astrocytes can be successfully converted into neurons in vitro. Notably, in vivo direct reprogramming of astrocytes into functional neurons were achieved in the adult mouse and non-human primate brains. In this review, we briefly summarized in vivo direct reprogramming of astrocytes into functional neurons as regenerative strategies for CNS diseases, mainly focusing on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Huntington’s disease (HD). We highlight and outline the advantages and challenges of direct neuronal reprogramming from astrocytes in vivo for future neuroregenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youcui Wang
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoqin Zhang
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Fenghua Chen
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ning Song
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Junxia Xie
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, School of Basic Medicine, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Vasan L, Park E, David LA, Fleming T, Schuurmans C. Direct Neuronal Reprogramming: Bridging the Gap Between Basic Science and Clinical Application. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:681087. [PMID: 34291049 PMCID: PMC8287587 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.681087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming is an innovative new technology that involves the conversion of somatic cells to induced neurons (iNs) without passing through a pluripotent state. The capacity to make new neurons in the brain, which previously was not achievable, has created great excitement in the field as it has opened the door for the potential treatment of incurable neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries such as stroke. These neurological disorders are associated with frank neuronal loss, and as new neurons are not made in most of the adult brain, treatment options are limited. Developmental biologists have paved the way for the field of direct neuronal reprogramming by identifying both intrinsic cues, primarily transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs, and extrinsic cues, including growth factors and other signaling molecules, that induce neurogenesis and specify neuronal subtype identities in the embryonic brain. The striking observation that postmitotic, terminally differentiated somatic cells can be converted to iNs by mis-expression of TFs or miRNAs involved in neural lineage development, and/or by exposure to growth factors or small molecule cocktails that recapitulate the signaling environment of the developing brain, has opened the door to the rapid expansion of new neuronal reprogramming methodologies. Furthermore, the more recent applications of neuronal lineage conversion strategies that target resident glial cells in situ has expanded the clinical potential of direct neuronal reprogramming techniques. Herein, we present an overview of the history, accomplishments, and therapeutic potential of direct neuronal reprogramming as revealed over the last two decades.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmy Vasan
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Biological Sciences Platform, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eunjee Park
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Biological Sciences Platform, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Luke Ajay David
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Biological Sciences Platform, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Taylor Fleming
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Biological Sciences Platform, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carol Schuurmans
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Biological Sciences Platform, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Monk R, Connor B. Cell Reprogramming to Model Huntington's Disease: A Comprehensive Review. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071565. [PMID: 34206228 PMCID: PMC8306243 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive decline of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric functions. HD results from an autosomal dominant mutation that causes a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion and the production of mutant Huntingtin protein (mHTT). This results in the initial selective and progressive loss of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum before progressing to involve the whole brain. There are currently no effective treatments to prevent or delay the progression of HD as knowledge into the mechanisms driving the selective degeneration of MSNs has been hindered by a lack of access to live neurons from individuals with HD. The invention of cell reprogramming provides a revolutionary technique for the study, and potential treatment, of neurological conditions. Cell reprogramming technologies allow for the generation of live disease-affected neurons from patients with neurological conditions, becoming a primary technique for modelling these conditions in vitro. The ability to generate HD-affected neurons has widespread applications for investigating the pathogenesis of HD, the identification of new therapeutic targets, and for high-throughput drug screening. Cell reprogramming also offers a potential autologous source of cells for HD cell replacement therapy. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of cell reprogramming to model HD and a discussion on recent advancements in cell reprogramming technologies that will benefit the HD field.
Collapse
|
63
|
Monk R, Lee K, Jones KS, Connor B. Directly reprogrammed Huntington's disease neural precursor cells generate striatal neurons exhibiting aggregates and impaired neuronal maturation. STEM CELLS (DAYTON, OHIO) 2021; 39:1410-1422. [PMID: 34028139 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of striatal medium spiny neurons. Using a highly efficient protocol for direct reprogramming of adult human fibroblasts with chemically modified mRNA, we report the first generation of HD induced neural precursor cells (iNPs) expressing striatal lineage markers that differentiated into DARPP32+ neurons from individuals with adult-onset HD (41-57 CAG). While no transcriptional differences between normal and HD reprogrammed neurons were detected by NanoString nCounter analysis, a subpopulation of HD reprogrammed neurons contained ubiquitinated polyglutamine aggregates. Importantly, reprogrammed HD neurons exhibited impaired neuronal maturation, displaying altered neurite morphology and more depolarized resting membrane potentials. Reduced BDNF protein expression in reprogrammed HD neurons correlated with increased CAG repeat lengths and earlier symptom onset. This model represents a platform for investigating impaired neuronal maturation and screening for neuronal maturation modifiers to treat HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Monk
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kevin Lee
- Department of Physiology, Centre for Brain Research, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kathryn S Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bronwen Connor
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
MiR-124 synergism with ELAVL3 enhances target gene expression to promote neuronal maturity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2015454118. [PMID: 34031238 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015454118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuron-enriched microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-9/9* and miR-124 (miR-9/9*-124), direct cell fate switching of human fibroblasts to neurons when ectopically expressed by repressing antineurogenic genes. How these miRNAs function after the repression of fibroblast genes for neuronal fate remains unclear. Here, we identified targets of miR-9/9*-124 as reprogramming cells activate the neuronal program and reveal the role of miR-124 that directly promotes the expression of its target genes associated with neuronal development and function. The mode of miR-124 as a positive regulator is determined by the binding of both AGO and a neuron-enriched RNA-binding protein, ELAVL3, to target transcripts. Although existing literature indicates that miRNA-ELAVL family protein interaction can result in either target gene up-regulation or down-regulation in a context-dependent manner, we specifically identified neuronal ELAVL3 as the driver for miR-124 target gene up-regulation in neurons. In primary human neurons, repressing miR-124 and ELAVL3 led to the down-regulation of genes involved in neuronal function and process outgrowth and cellular phenotypes of reduced inward currents and neurite outgrowth. Our results highlight the synergistic role between miR-124 and RNA-binding proteins to promote target gene regulation and neuronal function.
Collapse
|
65
|
Islam MS, Azim F, Saju H, Zargaran A, Shirzad M, Kamal M, Fatema K, Rehman S, Azad MAM, Ebrahimi-Barough S. Pesticides and Parkinson's disease: Current and future perspective. J Chem Neuroanat 2021; 115:101966. [PMID: 33991619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2021.101966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Inappropriate use of pesticides has globally exposed mankind to a number of health hazards. Still their production is rising at the rate of 11 % annually and, has already exceeded more than 5 million tons in 2000 (FAO 2017). Plenty of available data reveals that pesticides exposures through agricultural use and food-preservative residue consumption may lead to neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive motor impairment and a neurodegenerative disorder, considered as the leading source of motor disability. Pesticides strongly inhibit mitochondrial Complex-I, causing mitochondrial dysfunction and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), thus leading to pathophysiologic implications of PD. Current medical treatment strategies, including pharmacotherapeutics and supportive therapies can only provide symptomatic relief. While complementary and alternative medicines including traditional medicine or acupuncture are considered as beneficial ways of treatment with significant clinical effect. Medically non-responding cases can be treated by surgical means, 'Deep Brain Stimulation'. Cell therapy is also an emerging and promising technology for disease modeling and drug development in PD. Their main aim is to replace and/or support the lost and dying dopaminergic neurons in the SN. Recently I/II clinical phase trial (Japan) have used dopaminergic progenitors generated from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells which can unveil a successful cell therapy to treat PD symptoms efficiently. This review focuses on PD caused by pesticides use, current treatment modalities, and ongoing research updates. Since PD is not a cell-autonomous disease rather caused by multiple factors, a combinatorial therapeutic approach may address not only the motor-related symptoms but also non-motor cognitive-behavioral issues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Shahidul Islam
- Dept. of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
| | - Fazli Azim
- Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran; IHITC: Isolation Hospital & Infection Treatment Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Hedaeytullah Saju
- School of Persian Medicine (Traditional Medicine), Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Arman Zargaran
- School of Persian Medicine (Traditional Medicine), Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Meysam Shirzad
- School of Persian Medicine (Traditional Medicine), Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mostofa Kamal
- Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Kaniz Fatema
- National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital (NICVD), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Sumbul Rehman
- Faculty of Unani Medicine, Department of Ilmul Advia (Unani Pharmacology), Aligarh Muslim University, India.
| | - M A Momith Azad
- Dept of Research & Product Development (Natural Medicine), The IBN SINA Pharma Ltd, Bangladesh.
| | - Somayeh Ebrahimi-Barough
- Dept. of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
Advances in Regeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells and Optic Nerves. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094616. [PMID: 33924833 PMCID: PMC8125313 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder due to the dysfunction of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). RGCs function as the only output neurons conveying the detected light information from the retina to the brain, which is a bottleneck of vision formation. RGCs in mammals cannot regenerate if injured, and RGC subtypes differ dramatically in their ability to survive and regenerate after injury. Recently, novel RGC subtypes and markers have been uncovered in succession. Meanwhile, apart from great advances in RGC axon regeneration, some degree of experimental RGC regeneration has been achieved by the in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells or in vivo somatic cell reprogramming, which provides insights into the future therapy of myriad neurodegenerative disorders. Further approaches to the combination of different factors will be necessary to develop efficacious future therapeutic strategies to promote ultimate axon and RGC regeneration and functional vision recovery following injury.
Collapse
|
67
|
Beatriz M, Lopes C, Ribeiro ACS, Rego ACC. Revisiting cell and gene therapies in Huntington's disease. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:1744-1762. [PMID: 33881180 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative movement disorders, such as Huntington's disease (HD), share a progressive and relentless course with increasing motor disability, linked with neuropsychiatric impairment. These diseases exhibit diverse pathophysiological processes and are a topic of intense experimental and clinical research due to the lack of therapeutic options. Restorative therapies are promising approaches with the potential to restore brain circuits. However, there were less compelling results in the few clinical trials. In this review, we discuss cell replacement therapies applied to animal models and HD patients. We thoroughly describe the initial trials using fetal neural tissue transplantation and recent approaches based on alternative cell sources tested in several animal models. Stem cells were shown to generate the desired neuron phenotype and/or provide growth factors to the degenerating host cells. Besides, genetic approaches such as RNA interference and the CRISPR/Cas9 system have been studied in animal models and human-derived cells. New genetic manipulations have revealed the capability to control or counteract the effect of human gene mutations as described by the use of antisense oligonucleotides in a clinical trial. In HD, innovative strategies are at forefront of human testing and thus other brain genetic diseases may follow similar therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Beatriz
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra - Polo I, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carla Lopes
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra - Polo I, Coimbra, Portugal.,IIIUC-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra - Polo II, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Ana Cristina Carvalho Rego
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra - Polo I, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra - Polo III, Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
68
|
Latoszek E, Czeredys M. Molecular Components of Store-Operated Calcium Channels in the Regulation of Neural Stem Cell Physiology, Neurogenesis, and the Pathology of Huntington's Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:657337. [PMID: 33869222 PMCID: PMC8047111 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.657337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the major Ca2+ signaling pathways is store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), which is responsible for Ca2+ flow into cells in response to the depletion of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores. SOCE and its molecular components, including stromal interaction molecule proteins, Orai Ca2+ channels, and transient receptor potential canonical channels, are involved in the physiology of neural stem cells and play a role in their proliferation, differentiation, and neurogenesis. This suggests that Ca2+ signaling is an important player in brain development. Huntington’s disease (HD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) protein, characterized by the loss of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum. However, recent research has shown that HD is also a neurodevelopmental disorder and Ca2+ signaling is dysregulated in HD. The relationship between HD pathology and elevations of SOCE was demonstrated in different cellular and mouse models of HD and in induced pluripotent stem cell-based GABAergic MSNs from juvenile- and adult-onset HD patient fibroblasts. The present review discusses the role of SOCE in the physiology of neural stem cells and its dysregulation in HD pathology. It has been shown that elevated expression of STIM2 underlying the excessive Ca2+ entry through store-operated calcium channels in induced pluripotent stem cell-based MSNs from juvenile-onset HD. In the light of the latest findings regarding the role of Ca2+ signaling in HD pathology we also summarize recent progress in the in vitro differentiation of MSNs that derive from different cell sources. We discuss advances in the application of established protocols to obtain MSNs from fetal neural stem cells/progenitor cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and induced neural stem cells and the application of transdifferentiation. We also present recent progress in establishing HD brain organoids and their potential use for examining HD pathology and its treatment. Moreover, the significance of stem cell therapy to restore normal neural cell function, including Ca2+ signaling in the central nervous system in HD patients will be considered. The transplantation of MSNs or their precursors remains a promising treatment strategy for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Latoszek
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Czeredys
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
69
|
Challagundla N, Agrawal-Rajput R. microRNAs (miR 9, 124, 155 and 224) transdifferentiate mouse macrophages to neurons. Exp Cell Res 2021; 402:112563. [PMID: 33757809 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Development is an irreversible process of differentiating the undifferentiated cells to functional cells. Brain development involves generation of cells with varied phenotype and functions, which is limited during adulthood, stress, damage/degeneration. Cellular reprogramming makes differentiation reversible process with reprogramming somatic/stem cells to alternative fate with/without stem cells. Exogenously expressed transcription factors or small molecule inhibitors have driven reprogramming of stem/somatic cells to neurons providing alternative approach for pre-clinical/clinical testing and therapeutics. Here in, we report a novel approach of microRNA (miR)- induced trans-differentiation of macrophages (CD11b high) to induced neuronal cells (iNCs) (neuronal markershigh- Nestin, Nurr1, Map2, NSE, Tubb3 and Mash1) without exogenous use of transcription factors. miR 9, 124, 155 and 224 successfully transdifferentiated macrophages to neurons with transient stem cell-like phenotype. We report trans differentiation efficacy 18% and 21% with miR 124 and miR 155. in silico(String 10.0, miR gator, mESAdb, TargetScan 7.0) and experimental analysis indicate that the reprogramming involves alteration of pluripotencygenes like Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, Nanog and pluripotency miR, miR 302. iNCs also shifted to G0 phase indicating manipulation of cell cycle by these miRs. Further, CD133+ intermediate cells obtained during current protocol could be differentiated to iNCs using miRs. The syanpsin+ neurons were functionally active and displayed intracellular Ca+2 evoke on activation. miRs could also transdifferentiate bone marrow-derived macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells to neuronal cells. The current protocol could be employed for direct in vivo reprogramming of macrophages to neurons without teratoma formation for transplantation and clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Challagundla
- Immunology Lab,Indian Institute of Advanced Research [IIAR], Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382427, India.
| | - Reena Agrawal-Rajput
- Immunology Lab,Indian Institute of Advanced Research [IIAR], Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382427, India.
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Luginbühl J, Kouno T, Nakano R, Chater TE, Sivaraman DM, Kishima M, Roudnicky F, Carninci P, Plessy C, Shin JW. Decoding Neuronal Diversification by Multiplexed Single-cell RNA-Seq. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:810-824. [PMID: 33711266 PMCID: PMC8072034 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular reprogramming is driven by a defined set of transcription factors; however, the regulatory logic that underlies cell-type specification and diversification remains elusive. Single-cell RNA-seq provides unprecedented coverage to measure dynamic molecular changes at the single-cell resolution. Here, we multiplex and ectopically express 20 pro-neuronal transcription factors in human dermal fibroblasts and demonstrate a widespread diversification of neurons based on cell morphology and canonical neuronal marker expressions. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals diverse and distinct neuronal subtypes, including reprogramming processes that strongly correlate with the developing brain. Gene mapping of 20 exogenous pro-neuronal transcription factors further unveiled key determinants responsible for neuronal lineage specification and a regulatory logic dictating neuronal diversification, including glutamatergic and cholinergic neurons. The multiplex scRNA-seq approach is a robust and scalable approach to elucidate lineage and cellular specification across various biological systems. Multiplexed scRNA-seq approach reveals combinations of genes to induce neuronal diversification Neuronal diversification is deterministic early in the reprogramming process PAX6 drives induced neurons away from fibroblasts
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Luginbühl
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Division of Genomic Technologies, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Kouno
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Division of Genomic Technologies, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Rei Nakano
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; Nihon University, College of Bioresource Sciences, Laboratory of Veterinary Radiology, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Thomas E Chater
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako-Shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Divya M Sivaraman
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Division of Genomic Technologies, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Department of Pathology, Thiruvananthapuram 695-011, Kerala, India
| | - Mami Kishima
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Division of Genomic Technologies, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Filip Roudnicky
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Piero Carninci
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Division of Genomic Technologies, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Charles Plessy
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Division of Genomic Technologies, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Jay W Shin
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Division of Genomic Technologies, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
71
|
Mollinari C, Merlo D. Direct Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to Neurons: Pros and Cons of Chemical Approach. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:1330-1336. [PMID: 33666839 PMCID: PMC8084785 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03282-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Translating successful preclinical research in neurodegenerative diseases into clinical practice has been difficult. The preclinical disease models used for testing new drugs not always appear predictive of the effects of the agents in the human disease state. Human induced pluripotent stem cells, obtained by reprogramming of adult somatic cells, represent a powerful system to study the molecular mechanisms of the disease onset and pathogenesis. However, these cells require a long time to differentiate into functional neural cells and the resetting of epigenetic information during reprogramming, might miss the information imparted by age. On the contrary, the direct conversion of somatic cells to neuronal cells is much faster and more efficient, it is safer for cell therapy and allows to preserve the signatures of donors’ age. Direct reprogramming can be induced by lineage-specific transcription factors or chemical cocktails and represents a powerful tool for modeling neurological diseases and for regenerative medicine. In this Commentary we present and discuss strength and weakness of several strategies for the direct cellular reprogramming from somatic cells to generate human brain cells which maintain age‐related features. In particular, we describe and discuss chemical strategy for cellular reprogramming as it represents a valuable tool for many applications such as aged brain modeling, drug screening and personalized medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Mollinari
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Daniela Merlo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Braun SMG, Petrova R, Tang J, Krokhotin A, Miller EL, Tang Y, Panagiotakos G, Crabtree GR. BAF subunit switching regulates chromatin accessibility to control cell cycle exit in the developing mammalian cortex. Genes Dev 2021; 35:335-353. [PMID: 33602870 PMCID: PMC7919417 DOI: 10.1101/gad.342345.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
mSWI/SNF or BAF chromatin regulatory complexes are dosage-sensitive regulators of human neural development frequently mutated in autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. Cell cycle exit and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells is accompanied by BAF subunit switching to generate neuron-specific nBAF complexes. We manipulated the timing of BAF subunit exchange in vivo and found that early loss of the npBAF subunit BAF53a stalls the cell cycle to disrupt neurogenesis. Loss of BAF53a results in decreased chromatin accessibility at specific neural transcription factor binding sites, including the pioneer factors SOX2 and ASCL1, due to Polycomb accumulation. This results in repression of cell cycle genes, thereby blocking cell cycle progression and differentiation. Cell cycle block upon Baf53a deletion could be rescued by premature expression of the nBAF subunit BAF53b but not by other major drivers of proliferation or differentiation. WNT, EGF, bFGF, SOX2, c-MYC, or PAX6 all fail to maintain proliferation in the absence of BAF53a, highlighting a novel mechanism underlying neural progenitor cell cycle exit in the continued presence of extrinsic proliferative cues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon M G Braun
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ralitsa Petrova
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Jiong Tang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
- Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138667, Singapore
| | - Andrey Krokhotin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
| | - Erik L Miller
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
| | - Yitai Tang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
| | - Georgia Panagiotakos
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Gerald R Crabtree
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
73
|
Pan L, Feigin A. Huntington's Disease: New Frontiers in Therapeutics. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2021; 21:10. [PMID: 33586075 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-021-01093-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article describes and discusses new potential disease-modifying therapies for Huntington's disease that are currently in human clinical trials as well as promising new therapies in preclinical development. RECENT FINDINGS Multiple potential disease-modifying therapeutics for HD are in active development, including direct DNA/gene therapies, RNA modulation, and therapies targeted at aberrant downstream pathways. The etiology of Huntington's disease (HD) is well-known as an abnormally expanded trinucleotide repeat within the huntingtin gene. However, the pathogenesis downstream of the mutant huntingtin gene is complex, involving multiple toxic pathways, including abnormal protein fragmentation and neuroinflammation. The current treatment of HD focuses largely on symptomatic management. This article discusses new, potential disease-modifying therapies that are currently in human clinical trials and preclinical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Pan
- Department of Neurology, The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders, NYU Langone Health, 222 East 41st Street - 13th Floor, New York, USA.
| | - Andrew Feigin
- Department of Neurology, The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders, NYU Langone Health, 222 East 41st Street - 13th Floor, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Balakrishnan A, Belfiore L, Chu TH, Fleming T, Midha R, Biernaskie J, Schuurmans C. Insights Into the Role and Potential of Schwann Cells for Peripheral Nerve Repair From Studies of Development and Injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 13:608442. [PMID: 33568974 PMCID: PMC7868393 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.608442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries arising from trauma or disease can lead to sensory and motor deficits and neuropathic pain. Despite the purported ability of the peripheral nerve to self-repair, lifelong disability is common. New molecular and cellular insights have begun to reveal why the peripheral nerve has limited repair capacity. The peripheral nerve is primarily comprised of axons and Schwann cells, the supporting glial cells that produce myelin to facilitate the rapid conduction of electrical impulses. Schwann cells are required for successful nerve regeneration; they partially “de-differentiate” in response to injury, re-initiating the expression of developmental genes that support nerve repair. However, Schwann cell dysfunction, which occurs in chronic nerve injury, disease, and aging, limits their capacity to support endogenous repair, worsening patient outcomes. Cell replacement-based therapeutic approaches using exogenous Schwann cells could be curative, but not all Schwann cells have a “repair” phenotype, defined as the ability to promote axonal growth, maintain a proliferative phenotype, and remyelinate axons. Two cell replacement strategies are being championed for peripheral nerve repair: prospective isolation of “repair” Schwann cells for autologous cell transplants, which is hampered by supply challenges, and directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells or lineage conversion of accessible somatic cells to induced Schwann cells, with the potential of “unlimited” supply. All approaches require a solid understanding of the molecular mechanisms guiding Schwann cell development and the repair phenotype, which we review herein. Together these studies provide essential context for current efforts to design glial cell-based therapies for peripheral nerve regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Balakrishnan
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren Belfiore
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tak-Ho Chu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Taylor Fleming
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rajiv Midha
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jeff Biernaskie
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Carol Schuurmans
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
75
|
Monk R, Connor B. Cell Replacement Therapy for Huntington's Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1266:57-69. [PMID: 33105495 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-4370-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder which is characterised by a triad of highly debilitating motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. While cell death occurs in many brain regions, GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum experience preferential and extensive degeneration. Unlike most neurodegenerative disorders, HD is caused by a single genetic mutation resulting in a CAG repeat expansion and the production of a mutant Huntingtin protein (mHTT). Despite identifying the mutation causative of HD in 1993, there are currently no disease-modifying treatments for HD. One potential strategy for the treatment of HD is the development of cell-based therapies. Cell-based therapies aim to restore neuronal circuitry and function by replacing lost neurons, as well as providing neurotropic support to prevent further degeneration. In order to successfully restore basal ganglia functioning in HD, cell-based therapies would need to reconstitute the complex signalling network disrupted by extensive MSN degeneration. This chapter will discuss the potential use of foetal tissue grafts, pluripotent stem cells, neural stem cells, and somatic cell reprogramming to develop cell-based therapies for treating HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Monk
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, SMS, FMHS, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bronwen Connor
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, SMS, FMHS, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| |
Collapse
|
76
|
Cates K, McCoy MJ, Kwon JS, Liu Y, Abernathy DG, Zhang B, Liu S, Gontarz P, Kim WK, Chen S, Kong W, Ho JN, Burbach KF, Gabel HW, Morris SA, Yoo AS. Deconstructing Stepwise Fate Conversion of Human Fibroblasts to Neurons by MicroRNAs. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:127-140.e9. [PMID: 32961143 PMCID: PMC7796891 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cell-fate conversion generally requires reprogramming effectors to both introduce fate programs of the target cell type and erase the identity of starting cell population. Here, we reveal insights into the activity of microRNAs miR-9/9∗ and miR-124 (miR-9/9∗-124) as reprogramming agents that orchestrate direct conversion of human fibroblasts into motor neurons by first eradicating fibroblast identity and promoting uniform transition to a neuronal state in sequence. We identify KLF-family transcription factors as direct target genes for miR-9/9∗-124 and show their repression is critical for erasing fibroblast fate. Subsequent gain of neuronal identity requires upregulation of a small nuclear RNA, RN7SK, which induces accessibilities of chromatin regions and neuronal gene activation to push cells to a neuronal state. Our study defines deterministic components in the microRNA-mediated reprogramming cascade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kitra Cates
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Program in Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Matthew J McCoy
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Program in Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ji-Sun Kwon
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yangjian Liu
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Daniel G Abernathy
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Program in Developmental, Regenerative, and Stem Cell Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shaopeng Liu
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Paul Gontarz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Woo Kyung Kim
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shawei Chen
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Wenjun Kong
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joshua N Ho
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Program in Developmental, Regenerative, and Stem Cell Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kyle F Burbach
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Program in Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Harrison W Gabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Samantha A Morris
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
77
|
Lee J, Cho Y. Potential roles of stem cell marker genes in axon regeneration. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:1-7. [PMID: 33446881 PMCID: PMC8080715 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-00553-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Axon regeneration is orchestrated by many genes that are differentially expressed in response to injury. Through a comparative analysis of gene expression profiling, injury-responsive genes that are potential targets for understanding the mechanisms underlying regeneration have been revealed. As the efficiency of axon regeneration in both the peripheral and central nervous systems can be manipulated, we suggest that identifying regeneration-associated genes is a promising approach for developing therapeutic applications in vivo. Here, we review the possible roles of stem cell marker- or stemness-related genes in axon regeneration to gain a better understanding of the regeneration mechanism and to identify targets that can enhance regenerative capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinyoung Lee
- Laboratory of Axon Regeneration & Degeneration, Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongcheol Cho
- Laboratory of Axon Regeneration & Degeneration, Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
78
|
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), miR-9/9*, and miR-124 (miR-9/9*-124) display fate-reprogramming activities when ectopically expressed in human fibroblasts by erasing the fibroblast identity and evoking a pan-neuronal state. In contrast to induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons, miRNA-induced neurons (miNs) retain the biological age of the starting fibroblasts through direct fate conversion and thus provide a human neuron-based platform to study cellular properties inherent in aged neurons and model adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders using patient-derived cells. Furthermore, expression of neuronal subtype-specific transcription factors in conjunction with miR-9/9*-124 guides the miNs to distinct neuronal fates, a feature critical for modeling disorders that affect specific neuronal subtypes. Here, we describe the miR-9/9*-124-based neuronal reprogramming protocols for the generation of several disease-relevant neuronal subtypes: striatal medium spiny neurons, cortical neurons, and spinal cord motor neurons.
Collapse
|
79
|
Xiang Z, Xu L, Liu M, Wang Q, Li W, Lei W, Chen G. Lineage tracing of direct astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in the mouse cortex. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:750-756. [PMID: 33063738 PMCID: PMC8067918 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.295925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regenerating functional new neurons in the adult mammalian central nervous system has been proven to be very challenging due to the inability of neurons to divide and repopulate themselves after neuronal loss. Glial cells, on the other hand, can divide and repopulate themselves under injury or diseased conditions. We have previously reported that ectopic expression of NeuroD1 in dividing glial cells can directly convert them into neurons. Here, using astrocytic lineage-tracing reporter mice (Aldh1l1-CreERT2 mice crossing with Ai14 mice), we demonstrate that lineage-traced astrocytes can be successfully converted into NeuN-positive neurons after expressing NeuroD1 through adeno-associated viruses. Retroviral expression of NeuroD1 further confirms that dividing glial cells can be converted into neurons. Importantly, we demonstrate that for in vivo cell conversion study, using a safe level of adeno-associated virus dosage (1010–1012 gc/mL, 1 µL) in the rodent brain is critical to avoid artifacts caused by toxic dosage, such as that used in a recent bioRxiv study (2 × 1013 gc/mL, 1 µL, mouse cortex). For therapeutic purpose under injury or diseased conditions, or for non-human primate studies, adeno-associated virus dosage needs to be optimized through a series of dose-finding experiments. Moreover, for future in vivo glia-to-neuron conversion studies, we recommend that the adeno-associated virus results are further verified with retroviruses that mainly express transgenes in dividing glial cells in order to draw solid conclusions. The study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Jinan University, China (approval No. IACUC-20180330-06) on March 30, 2018.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zongqin Xiang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration; Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Liang Xu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Minhui Liu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qingsong Wang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wen Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wenliang Lei
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gong Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
80
|
D’Souza GX, Rose SE, Knupp A, Nicholson DA, Keene CD, Young JE. The application of in vitro-derived human neurons in neurodegenerative disease modeling. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:124-140. [PMID: 32170790 PMCID: PMC7487003 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The development of safe and effective treatments for age-associated neurodegenerative disorders is an on-going challenge faced by the scientific field. Key to the development of such therapies is the appropriate selection of modeling systems in which to investigate disease mechanisms and to test candidate interventions. There are unique challenges in the development of representative laboratory models of neurodegenerative diseases, including the complexity of the human brain, the cumulative and variable contributions of genetic and environmental factors over the course of a lifetime, inability to culture human primary neurons, and critical central nervous system differences between small animal models and humans. While traditional rodent models have advanced our understanding of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, key divergences such as the species-specific genetic background can limit the application of animal models in many cases. Here we review in vitro human neuronal systems that employ stem cell and reprogramming technology and their application to a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, we compare human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons to directly converted, or transdifferentiated, induced neurons, as both model systems can take advantage of patient-derived human tissue to produce neurons in culture. We present recent technical developments using these two modeling systems, as well as current limitations to these systems, with the aim of advancing investigation of neuropathogenic mechanisms using these models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gary X. D’Souza
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shannon E. Rose
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Allison Knupp
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Daniel A. Nicholson
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica E. Young
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
81
|
Bcl-2-Assisted Reprogramming of Mouse Astrocytes and Human Fibroblasts into Induced Neurons. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2352:57-71. [PMID: 34324180 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1601-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming is a promising strategy to generate various types of neurons that are, otherwise, inaccessible for researchers. However, the efficiency of neuronal conversion is highly dependent on the transcription factor used, the identity of the initial cells to convert, their species' background, and the neuronal subtype to which cells will convert. Regardless of these conditioning factors, the apoptotic regulator Bcl-2 acts as a pan-neuronal reprogramming enhancer. Bcl-2 mediates its effect in reprogramming by preventing an overshot of oxidative stress during the acquisition of a neuronal oxidative metabolism, thus reducing cell death by ferroptosis and facilitating the phenotypic conversion. In this chapter, we outline two methods to obtain either mouse or human neurons derived from postnatal astrocytes and skin fibroblasts, respectively. The overall reprogramming strategy is based on the co-expression of Bcl-2 and the transcription factor Neurog2 that produces mostly excitatory neurons. However, the method can be easily adapted to achieve alternative neuronal subtypes by using additional transcription factors, such as Isl1 for motor neurons. Therefore, our approaches provide solid but flexible platforms to obtain human and mouse induced neurons in vitro that can be applied to basic or translational research.
Collapse
|
82
|
He L, Chen Z, Peng L, Tang B, Jiang H. Human stem cell models of polyglutamine diseases: Sources for disease models and cell therapy. Exp Neurol 2020; 337:113573. [PMID: 33347831 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders involving expanded CAG repeats in pathogenic genes that are translated into extended polyQ tracts and lead to progressive neuronal degeneration in the affected brain. To date, there is no effective therapy for these diseases. Due to the complex pathologic mechanisms of these diseases, intensive research on the pathogenesis of their progression and potential treatment strategies is being conducted. However, animal models cannot recapitulate all aspects of neuronal degeneration. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), can be used to study the pathological mechanisms of polyQ diseases, and the ability of autologous stem cell transplantation to treat these diseases. Differentiated PSCs, neuronal precursor cells/neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are valuable resources for preclinical and clinical cell transplantation therapies. Here, we discuss diverse stem cell models and their ability to generate neurons involved in polyQ diseases, such as medium spiny neurons (MSNs), cortical neurons, cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) and motor neurons. In addition, we discuss potential therapeutic approaches, including stem cell replacement therapy and gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lang He
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Linliu Peng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
83
|
Puls B, Ding Y, Zhang F, Pan M, Lei Z, Pei Z, Jiang M, Bai Y, Forsyth C, Metzger M, Rana T, Zhang L, Ding X, Keefe M, Cai A, Redilla A, Lai M, He K, Li H, Chen G. Regeneration of Functional Neurons After Spinal Cord Injury via in situ NeuroD1-Mediated Astrocyte-to-Neuron Conversion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:591883. [PMID: 33425896 PMCID: PMC7793709 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.591883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [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: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to impaired motor and sensory functions, partially because the injury-induced neuronal loss cannot be easily replenished through endogenous mechanisms. In vivo neuronal reprogramming has emerged as a novel technology to regenerate neurons from endogenous glial cells by forced expression of neurogenic transcription factors. We have previously demonstrated successful astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in mouse brains with injury or Alzheimer's disease by overexpressing a single neural transcription factor NeuroD1. Here we demonstrate regeneration of spinal cord neurons from reactive astrocytes after SCI through AAV NeuroD1-based gene therapy. We find that NeuroD1 converts reactive astrocytes into neurons in the dorsal horn of stab-injured spinal cord with high efficiency (~95%). Interestingly, NeuroD1-converted neurons in the dorsal horn mostly acquire glutamatergic neuronal subtype, expressing spinal cord-specific markers such as Tlx3 but not brain-specific markers such as Tbr1, suggesting that the astrocytic lineage and local microenvironment affect the cell fate after conversion. Electrophysiological recordings show that the NeuroD1-converted neurons can functionally mature and integrate into local spinal cord circuitry by displaying repetitive action potentials and spontaneous synaptic responses. We further show that NeuroD1-mediated neuronal conversion can occur in the contusive SCI model with a long delay after injury, allowing future studies to further evaluate this in vivo reprogramming technology for functional recovery after SCI. In conclusion, this study may suggest a paradigm shift from classical axonal regeneration to neuronal regeneration for spinal cord repair, using in vivo astrocyte-to-neuron conversion technology to regenerate functional new neurons in the gray matter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Puls
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Fengyu Zhang
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Mengjie Pan
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Zhuofan Lei
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Zifei Pei
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Mei Jiang
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Yuting Bai
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Cody Forsyth
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Morgan Metzger
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Tanvi Rana
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Xiaoyun Ding
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Matthew Keefe
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Alice Cai
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Austin Redilla
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Michael Lai
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Kevin He
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Hedong Li
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Gong Chen
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
84
|
Villalón-García I, Álvarez-Córdoba M, Suárez-Rivero JM, Povea-Cabello S, Talaverón-Rey M, Suárez-Carrillo A, Munuera-Cabeza M, Sánchez-Alcázar JA. Precision Medicine in Rare Diseases. Diseases 2020; 8:diseases8040042. [PMID: 33202892 PMCID: PMC7709101 DOI: 10.3390/diseases8040042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare diseases are those that have a low prevalence in the population (less than 5 individuals per 10,000 inhabitants). However, infrequent pathologies affect a large number of people, since according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 7000 rare diseases that affect 7% of the world’s population. Many patients with rare diseases have suffered the consequences of what is called the diagnostic odyssey, that is, extensive and prolonged serial tests and clinical visits, sometimes for many years, all with the hope of identifying the etiology of their disease. For patients with rare diseases, obtaining the genetic diagnosis can mean the end of the diagnostic odyssey, and the beginning of another, the therapeutic odyssey. This scenario is especially challenging for the scientific community, since more than 90% of rare diseases do not currently have an effective treatment. This therapeutic failure in rare diseases means that new approaches are necessary. Our research group proposes that the use of precision or personalized medicine techniques can be an alternative to find potential therapies in these diseases. To this end, we propose that patients’ own cells can be used to carry out personalized pharmacological screening for the identification of potential treatments.
Collapse
|
85
|
Malankhanova T, Suldina L, Grigor’eva E, Medvedev S, Minina J, Morozova K, Kiseleva E, Zakian S, Malakhova A. A Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Isogenic Model of Huntington's Disease Based on Neuronal Cells Has Several Relevant Phenotypic Abnormalities. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10040215. [PMID: 33182269 PMCID: PMC7712151 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040215] [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: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG triplet expansion in the first exon of the HTT gene. Here we report the introduction of an HD mutation into the genome of healthy human embryonic fibroblasts through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination. We verified the specificity of the created HTT-editing system and confirmed the absence of undesirable genomic modifications at off-target sites. We showed that both mutant and control isogenic induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived by reprogramming of the fibroblast clones can be differentiated into striatal medium spiny neurons. We next demonstrated phenotypic abnormalities in the mutant iPSC-derived neural cells, including impaired neural rosette formation and increased sensitivity to growth factor withdrawal. Moreover, using electron microscopic analysis, we detected a series of ultrastructural defects in the mutant neurons, which did not contain huntingtin aggregates, suggesting that these defects appear early in HD development. Thus, our study describes creation of a new isogenic iPSC-based cell system that models HD and recapitulates HD-specific disturbances in the mutant cells, including some ultrastructural features implemented for the first time.
Collapse
|
86
|
Galagali H, Kim JK. The multifaceted roles of microRNAs in differentiation. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 67:118-140. [PMID: 33152557 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major drivers of cell fate specification and differentiation. The post-transcriptional regulation of key molecular factors by microRNAs contributes to the progression of embryonic and postembryonic development in several organisms. Following the discovery of lin-4 and let-7 in Caenorhabditis elegans and bantam microRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster, microRNAs have emerged as orchestrators of cellular differentiation and developmental timing. Spatiotemporal control of microRNAs and associated protein machinery can modulate microRNA activity. Additionally, adaptive modulation of microRNA expression and function in response to changing environmental conditions ensures that robust cell fate specification during development is maintained. Herein, we review the role of microRNAs in the regulation of differentiation during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Himani Galagali
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - John K Kim
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
87
|
Human Autopsy-Derived Scalp Fibroblast Biobanking for Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disease Research. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112383. [PMID: 33143239 PMCID: PMC7692621 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Arizona Study of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders/Brain and Body Donation Program at Banner Sun Health Research Institute (BSHRI) is a longitudinal clinicopathological study with a current enrollment of more than 900 living subjects for aging and neurodegenerative disease research. Annual clinical assessments are done by cognitive and movement neurologists and neuropsychologists. Brain and body tissues are collected at a median postmortem interval of 3.0 h for neuropathological diagnosis and banking. Since 2018, the program has undertaken banking of scalp fibroblasts derived from neuropathologically characterized donors with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we describe the procedure development and cell characteristics from 14 male and 15 female donors (mean ± SD of age: 83.6 ± 12.2). Fibroblasts from explant cultures were banked at passage 3. The results of mRNA analysis showed positive expression of fibroblast activation protein, vimentin, fibronectin, and THY1 cell surface antigen. We also demonstrated that the banked fibroblasts from a postmortem elderly donor were successfully reprogramed to human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Taken together, we have demonstrated the successful establishment of a human autopsy-derived fibroblast banking program. The cryogenically preserved cells are available for request at the program website of the BSHRI.
Collapse
|
88
|
Suzuki F, Okuno M, Tanaka T, Sanuki R. Overexpression of neural miRNAs miR-9/9* and miR-124 suppresses differentiation to Müller glia and promotes differentiation to neurons in mouse retina in vivo. Genes Cells 2020; 25:741-752. [PMID: 32979863 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate gene expression and modulate cellular differentiation. MicroRNA-9/9* (miR-9/9*) and microRNA-124 (miR-124) are highly expressed in the central nervous system. In vivo function of miR-9/9* and miR-124 has been investigated in detail, whereas there remain some discrepancies regarding neural development. To this end, we electroporated miR-9/9*, miR-124 or miR-9/9*/124 expression plasmids into neonatal retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) in vivo and analyzed the fate of electroporated cells. Both miR-9/9* and miR-124 reduced the number of SOX9- and GS-positive cells and increased that of TUBB3-positive cells in the postnatal day 14 retina. No major effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of the electroporated cells were detected at least postnatal day 3. These indicated that miR-9/9* and miR-124 influence the cell fate of glial cells, thereby inducing their differentiation into neurons. Moreover, we found this cell fate modulation was occurred in RPCs indicating high-level expression of miRNA, but not in the low level. Our results strongly suggest that high-level miRNA overexpression is essential for directing cell fate by miR-9/9* and miR-124 interference.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fumiko Suzuki
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mariko Okuno
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoya Tanaka
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Rikako Sanuki
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
89
|
Jin T, Gu J, Xia H, Chen H, Xu X, Li Z, Yue Y, Gui Y. Differential Expression of microRNA Profiles and Wnt Signals in Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes During Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 39:2143-2153. [PMID: 33064572 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2020.5931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of secreted exosomes during dopaminergic (DA) neuron differentiation is still unknown. To investigate the roles of exosomes in DA neuron fate specification, we profiled exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) during DA neuron differentiation of epiblast-derived stem cells (EpiSCs). There were 26 miRNAs differentially expressed (relative fold >2, p < 0.05) in EpiSC-derived exosomes at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days of DA epiblast differentiation. Among them, 23 exosomic miRNAs were significantly increased, including miR-124, miR-132, miR-133b, miR-218, miR-9, miR-34b, miR-34c, and miR-135a2, while three exosomic miRNAs (miR-214, miR-7a, and miR-302b) were decreased, when compared with control samples. Bioinformatics analysis by DIANA-mirPath demonstrated that extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, FoxO signaling pathway, DA synapse, Wnt signaling pathway, GABAergic synapse, and neurotrophin signaling pathway were significantly enriched in DA differentiation-related miRNA signature (all p-values <0.012). Furthermore, messenger RNAs for nine DA neuronal markers tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), Nr4a2, Pitx3, Drd1a, Lmx1a, Lmx1b, Foxa1, Dmrt5, and Slc18a2 were significantly increased expressed over time in exosomes derived from differentiated EpiSCs. Interestingly, adding with exosomes derived from EpiSC induction experiment resulted in a twofold increase of TH-positive neurons production (35% vs. 17%, p < 0.01) during DA neuronal differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In summary, our results suggested exosomal miRNAs are potential regulators of DA neuron differentiation. More importantly, EpiSC-derived exosomes could promote the generation of DA neuron differentiation from ESCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jin
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiachen Gu
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongbo Xia
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Fuyang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huimin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Xiaomin Xu
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongshan Li
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yumei Yue
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaxing Gui
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
90
|
Xu Z, Su S, Zhou S, Yang W, Deng X, Sun Y, Li L, Li Y. How to reprogram human fibroblasts to neurons. Cell Biosci 2020; 10:116. [PMID: 33062254 PMCID: PMC7549215 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-020-00476-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Destruction and death of neurons can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. One possible way to treat neurodegenerative diseases and damage of the nervous system is replacing damaged and dead neurons by cell transplantation. If new neurons can replace the lost neurons, patients may be able to regain the lost functions of memory, motor, and so on. Therefore, acquiring neurons conveniently and efficiently is vital to treat neurological diseases. In recent years, studies on reprogramming human fibroblasts into neurons have emerged one after another, and this paper summarizes all these studies. Scientists find small molecules and transcription factors playing a crucial role in reprogramming and inducing neuron production. At the same time, both the physiological microenvironment in vivo and the physical and chemical factors in vitro play an essential role in the induction of neurons. Therefore, this paper summarized and analyzed these relevant factors. In addition, due to the unique advantages of physical factors in the process of reprogramming human fibroblasts into neurons, such as safe and minimally invasive, it has a more promising application prospect. Therefore, this paper also summarizes some successful physical mechanisms of utilizing fibroblasts to acquire neurons, which will provide new ideas for somatic cell reprogramming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziran Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China
| | - Shengnan Su
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, Changchun, 130041 China
| | - Siyan Zhou
- Department of Stomatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China
| | - Wentao Yang
- Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Deng
- Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China
| | - Yingying Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China.,Department of Stomatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China
| | - Lisha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China
| | - Yulin Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
91
|
Nolbrant S, Giacomoni J, Hoban DB, Bruzelius A, Birtele M, Chandler-Militello D, Pereira M, Ottosson DR, Goldman SA, Parmar M. Direct Reprogramming of Human Fetal- and Stem Cell-Derived Glial Progenitor Cells into Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:869-882. [PMID: 32976765 PMCID: PMC7562948 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) are promising cellular substrates to explore for the in situ production of new neurons for brain repair. Proof of concept for direct neuronal reprogramming of glial progenitors has been obtained in mouse models in vivo, but conversion using human cells has not yet been demonstrated. Such studies have been difficult to perform since hGPCs are born late during human fetal development, with limited accessibility for in vitro culture. In this study, we show proof of concept of hGPC conversion using fetal cells and also establish a renewable and reproducible stem cell-based hGPC system for direct neural conversion in vitro. Using this system, we have identified optimal combinations of fate determinants for the efficient dopaminergic (DA) conversion of hGPCs, thereby yielding a therapeutically relevant cell type that selectively degenerates in Parkinson's disease. The induced DA neurons show a progressive, subtype-specific phenotypic maturation and acquire functional electrophysiological properties indicative of DA phenotype. Human glial progenitors (hGPCs) can be directly converted into functional neurons Specific transcription factor combinations result in dopaminergic conversion Reprogrammed neurons show subtype-specific and functional maturation over time
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Nolbrant
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, and Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jessica Giacomoni
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, and Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Deirdre B Hoban
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, and Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Andreas Bruzelius
- Regenerative Neurophysiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marcella Birtele
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, and Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Devin Chandler-Militello
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine and Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Maria Pereira
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, and Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniella Rylander Ottosson
- Regenerative Neurophysiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Steven A Goldman
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine and Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark; Neuroscience Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Malin Parmar
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, and Lund Stem Cell Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
92
|
Pfaff D, Barbas H. Mechanisms for the Approach/Avoidance Decision Applied to Autism. Trends Neurosci 2020; 42:448-457. [PMID: 31253250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
As a neurodevelopmental disorder with serious lifelong consequences, autism has received considerable attention from neuroscientists and geneticists. We present a hypothesis of mechanisms plausibly affected during brain development in autism, based on neural pathways that are associated with social behavior and connect the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the basal ganglia (BG). We consider failure of social approach in autism as a special case of imbalance in the fundamental dichotomy between behavioral approach and avoidance. Differential combinations of genes mutated, differences in the timing of their impact during development, and graded degrees of hormonal influences may help explain the heterogeneity in symptomatology in autism and predominance in boys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donald Pfaff
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA.
| | - Helen Barbas
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
93
|
Silva MC, Haggarty SJ. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived models and drug screening in CNS precision medicine. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1471:18-56. [PMID: 30875083 PMCID: PMC8193821 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Development of effective therapeutics for neurological disorders has historically been challenging partly because of lack of accurate model systems in which to investigate disease etiology and test new therapeutics at the preclinical stage. Human stem cells, particularly patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) upon differentiation, have the ability to recapitulate aspects of disease pathophysiology and are increasingly recognized as robust scalable systems for drug discovery. We review advances in deriving cellular models of human central nervous system (CNS) disorders using iPSCs along with strategies for investigating disease-relevant phenotypes, translatable biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. Given their potential to identify novel therapeutic targets and leads, we focus on phenotype-based, small-molecule screens employing human stem cell-derived models. Integrated efforts to assemble patient iPSC-derived cell models with deeply annotated clinicopathological data, along with molecular and drug-response signatures, may aid in the stratification of patients, diagnostics, and clinical trial success, shifting translational science and precision medicine approaches. A number of remaining challenges, including the optimization of cost-effective, large-scale culture of iPSC-derived cell types, incorporation of aging into neuronal models, as well as robustness and automation of phenotypic assays to support quantitative drug efficacy, toxicity, and metabolism testing workflows, are covered. Continued advancement of the field is expected to help fully humanize the process of CNS drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Catarina Silva
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
| | - Stephen J. Haggarty
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
94
|
Cardoso T, Lévesque M. Toward Generating Subtype-Specific Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons in vitro. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:443. [PMID: 32626706 PMCID: PMC7311634 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesencephalic dopaminergic (mDA) neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have proven to be pivotal for disease modeling studies and as a source of transplantable tissue for regenerative therapies in Parkinson's disease (PD). Current differentiation protocols can generate standardized and reproducible cell products of dopaminergic neurons that elicit the characteristic transcriptional profile of ventral midbrain. Nonetheless, dopamine neurons residing in the mesencephalon comprise distinct groups of cells within diffusely defined anatomical boundaries and with distinct functional, electrophysiological, and molecular properties. Here we review recent single cell sequencing studies that are shedding light on the neuronal heterogeneity within the mesencephalon and discuss how resolving the complex molecular profile of distinct sub-populations within this region could help refine patterning and quality control assessment of PSC-derived mDA neurons to subtype-specificity in vitro. In turn, such advances would have important impact in improving cell replacement therapy, disease mechanistic studies and drug screening in PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Cardoso
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Lévesque
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
95
|
Neuronal Reprogramming for Tissue Repair and Neuroregeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124273. [PMID: 32560072 PMCID: PMC7352898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell and cell reprogramming technology represent a rapidly growing field in regenerative medicine. A number of novel neural reprogramming methods have been established, using pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) or direct reprogramming, to efficiently derive specific neuronal cell types for therapeutic applications. Both in vitro and in vivo cellular reprogramming provide diverse therapeutic pathways for modeling neurological diseases and injury repair. In particular, the retina has emerged as a promising target for clinical application of regenerative medicine. Herein, we review the potential of neuronal reprogramming to develop regenerative strategy, with a particular focus on treating retinal degenerative diseases and discuss future directions and challenges in the field.
Collapse
|
96
|
Yavarpour-Bali H, Ghasemi-Kasman M, Shojaei A. Direct reprogramming of terminally differentiated cells into neurons: A novel and promising strategy for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 98:109820. [PMID: 31743695 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Glial activation is a common pathological process of the central nervous system (CNS) in disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several approaches have been used to reduce the number of activated astrocytes and microglia in damaged areas. In recent years, various kinds of fully differentiated cells have been successfully reprogrammed to a desired type of cell in lesion areas. Interestingly, internal glial cells, including astrocytes and NG2 positive cells, were efficiently converted to neuroblasts and neurons by overexpression of some transcription factors (TFs) or microRNAs (miRNAs). Notably, some specific subtypes of neurons have been achieved by in vivo reprogramming and the resulting neurons were successfully integrated into local neuronal circuits. Furthermore, somatic cells from AD patients have been converted to functional neurons. Although direct reprogramming of a patient's own internal cells has revolutionized regenerative medicine, but there are some major obstacles that should be examined before using these induced cells in clinical therapies. In the present review article, we aim to discuss the current studies on in vitro and in vivo reprogramming of somatic cells to neurons using TFs, miRNAs or small molecules in healthy and AD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Maryam Ghasemi-Kasman
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | - Amir Shojaei
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
97
|
Wu Z, Parry M, Hou XY, Liu MH, Wang H, Cain R, Pei ZF, Chen YC, Guo ZY, Abhijeet S, Chen G. Gene therapy conversion of striatal astrocytes into GABAergic neurons in mouse models of Huntington's disease. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1105. [PMID: 32107381 PMCID: PMC7046613 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14855-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by Huntingtin (Htt) gene mutation resulting in the loss of striatal GABAergic neurons and motor functional deficits. We report here an in vivo cell conversion technology to reprogram striatal astrocytes into GABAergic neurons in both R6/2 and YAC128 HD mouse models through AAV-mediated ectopic expression of NeuroD1 and Dlx2 transcription factors. We found that the astrocyte-to-neuron (AtN) conversion rate reached 80% in the striatum and >50% of the converted neurons were DARPP32+ medium spiny neurons. The striatal astrocyte-converted neurons showed action potentials and synaptic events, and projected their axons to the targeted globus pallidus and substantia nigra in a time-dependent manner. Behavioral analyses found that NeuroD1 and Dlx2-treated R6/2 mice showed a significant extension of life span and improvement of motor functions. This study demonstrates that in vivo AtN conversion may be a disease-modifying gene therapy to treat HD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wu
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Matthew Parry
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Xiao-Yi Hou
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Min-Hui Liu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rachel Cain
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Zi-Fei Pei
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Yu-Chen Chen
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Zi-Yuan Guo
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sambangi Abhijeet
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Gong Chen
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. .,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
98
|
|
99
|
Ishikawa M, Aoyama T, Shibata S, Sone T, Miyoshi H, Watanabe H, Nakamura M, Morota S, Uchino H, Yoo AS, Okano H. miRNA-Based Rapid Differentiation of Purified Neurons from hPSCs Advancestowards Quick Screening for Neuronal Disease Phenotypes In Vitro. Cells 2020; 9:E532. [PMID: 32106535 PMCID: PMC7140514 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Obtaining differentiated cells with high physiological functions by an efficient, but simple and rapid differentiation method is crucial for modeling neuronal diseases in vitro using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Currently, methods involving the transient expression of one or a couple of transcription factors have been established as techniques for inducing neuronal differentiation in a rapid, single step. It has also been reported that microRNAs can function as reprogramming effectors for directly reprogramming human dermal fibroblasts to neurons. In this study, we tested the effect of adding neuronal microRNAs, miRNA-9/9*, and miR-124 (miR-9/9*-124), for the neuronal induction method of hPSCs using Tet-On-driven expression of the Neurogenin2 gene (Ngn2), a proneural factor. While it has been established that Ngn2 can facilitate differentiation from pluripotent stem cells into neurons with high purity due to its neurogenic effect, a long or indefinite time is required for neuronal maturation with Ngn2 misexpression alone. With the present method, the cells maintained a high neuronal differentiation rate while exhibiting increased gene expression of neuronal maturation markers, spontaneous calcium oscillation, and high electrical activity with network bursts as assessed by a multipoint electrode system. Moreover, when applying this method to iPSCs from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with presenilin-1 (PS1) or presenilin-2 (PS2) mutations, cellular phenotypes such as increased amount of extracellular secretion of amyloid β42, abnormal oxygen consumption, and increased reactive oxygen species in the cells were observed in a shorter culture period than those previously reported. Therefore, it is strongly anticipated that the induction method combining Ngn2 and miR-9/9*-124 will enable more rapid and simple screening for various types of neuronal disease phenotypes and promote drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuru Ishikawa
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takeshi Aoyama
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shoichiro Shibata
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Takefumi Sone
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Miyoshi
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Watanabe
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mari Nakamura
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Saori Morota
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Uchino
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
100
|
Neural In Vitro Models for Studying Substances Acting on the Central Nervous System. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2020; 265:111-141. [PMID: 32594299 DOI: 10.1007/164_2020_367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Animal models have been greatly contributing to our understanding of physiology, mechanisms of diseases, and toxicity. Yet, their limitations due to, e.g., interspecies variation are reflected in the high number of drug attrition rates, especially in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Therefore, human-based neural in vitro models for studying safety and efficacy of substances acting on the CNS are needed. Human iPSC-derived cells offer such a platform with the unique advantage of reproducing the "human context" in vitro by preserving the genetic and molecular phenotype of their donors. Guiding the differentiation of hiPSC into cells of the nervous system and combining them in a 2D or 3D format allows to obtain complex models suitable for investigating neurotoxicity or brain-related diseases with patient-derived cells. This chapter will give an overview over stem cell-based human 2D neuronal and mixed neuronal/astrocyte models, in vitro cultures of microglia, as well as CNS disease models and considers new developments in the field, more specifically the use of brain organoids and 3D bioprinted in vitro models for safety and efficacy evaluation.
Collapse
|