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Current and future applications of induced pluripotent stem cell-based models to study pathological proteins in neurodegenerative disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2685-2706. [PMID: 33495544 PMCID: PMC8505258 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00999-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders emerge from the failure of intricate cellular mechanisms, which ultimately lead to the loss of vulnerable neuronal populations. Research conducted across several laboratories has now provided compelling evidence that pathogenic proteins can also contribute to non-cell autonomous toxicity in several neurodegenerative contexts, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases as well as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Given the nearly ubiquitous nature of abnormal protein accumulation in such disorders, elucidating the mechanisms and routes underlying these processes is essential to the development of effective treatments. To this end, physiologically relevant human in vitro models are critical to understand the processes surrounding uptake, release and nucleation under physiological or pathological conditions. This review explores the use of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to study prion-like protein propagation in neurodegenerative diseases, discusses advantages and limitations of this model, and presents emerging technologies that, combined with the use of iPSC-based models, will provide powerful model systems to propel fundamental research forward.
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Chen TH. Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in spinal muscular atrophy. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2020; 13:1756286420979954. [PMID: 33488772 PMCID: PMC7768327 DOI: 10.1177/1756286420979954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant death, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective loss of particular groups of motor neurons (MNs) in the anterior horn of the spinal cord with progressive muscle wasting. SMA is caused by a deficiency of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein due to a homozygous deletion or mutation of the SMN1 gene. However, the molecular mechanisms whereby the SMN complex regulates MN functions are not fully elucidated. Emerging studies on SMA pathogenesis have turned the attention of researchers to RNA metabolism, given that increasingly identified SMN-associated modifiers are involved in both coding and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) processing. Among various ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are the most studied in terms of regulation of posttranscriptional gene expression. Recently, the discovery that miRNAs are critical to MN function and survival led to the study of dysregulated miRNAs in SMA pathogenesis. Circulating miRNAs have drawn attention as a readily available biomarker due to their property of being clinically detectable in numerous human biofluids through non-invasive approaches. As there are recent promising findings from novel miRNA-based medicines, this article presents an extensive review of the most up-to-date studies connecting specific miRNAs to SMA pathogenesis and the potential applications of miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Heng Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, School of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
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Nemoto A, Kobayashi R, Yoshimatsu S, Sato Y, Kondo T, Yoo AS, Shiozawa S, Okano H. Direct Neuronal Reprogramming of Common Marmoset Fibroblasts by ASCL1, microRNA-9/9*, and microRNA-124 Overexpression. Cells 2020; 10:E6. [PMID: 33375083 PMCID: PMC7822173 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has attracted considerable attention, especially in the biomedical science and neuroscience research fields, because of its potential to recapitulate the complex and multidimensional phenotypes of human diseases, and several neurodegenerative transgenic models have been reported. However, there remain several issues as (i) it takes years to generate late-onset disease models, and (ii) the onset age and severity of phenotypes can vary among individuals due to differences in genetic background. In the present study, we established an efficient and rapid direct neuronal induction method (induced neurons; iNs) from embryonic and adult marmoset fibroblasts to investigate cellular-level phenotypes in the marmoset brain in vitro. We overexpressed reprogramming effectors, i.e., microRNA-9/9*, microRNA-124, and Achaete-Scute family bHLH transcription factor 1, in fibroblasts with a small molecule cocktail that facilitates neuronal induction. The resultant iNs from embryonic and adult marmoset fibroblasts showed neuronal characteristics within two weeks, including neuron-specific gene expression and spontaneous neuronal activity. As directly reprogrammed neurons have been shown to model neurodegenerative disorders, the neuronal reprogramming of marmoset fibroblasts may offer new tools for investigating neurological phenotypes associated with disease progression in non-human primate neurological disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akisa Nemoto
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (A.N.); (R.K.); (S.Y.); (T.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Reona Kobayashi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (A.N.); (R.K.); (S.Y.); (T.K.); (S.S.)
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan;
| | - Sho Yoshimatsu
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (A.N.); (R.K.); (S.Y.); (T.K.); (S.S.)
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan;
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yuta Sato
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan;
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kondo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (A.N.); (R.K.); (S.Y.); (T.K.); (S.S.)
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan;
| | - Andrew S. Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Seiji Shiozawa
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (A.N.); (R.K.); (S.Y.); (T.K.); (S.S.)
- Institute of Animal Experimentation, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (A.N.); (R.K.); (S.Y.); (T.K.); (S.S.)
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan;
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Wang NB, Beitz AM, Galloway KE. Engineering cell fate: Applying synthetic biology to cellular reprogramming. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24:18-31. [PMID: 36330198 PMCID: PMC9629175 DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cellular reprogramming drives cells from one stable identity to a new cell fate. By generating a diversity of previously inaccessible cell types from diverse genetic backgrounds, cellular reprogramming is rapidly transforming how we study disease. However, low efficiency and limited maturity have limited the adoption of in vitro-derived cellular models. To overcome these limitations and improve mechanistic understanding of cellular reprogramming, a host of synthetic biology tools have been deployed. Recent synthetic biology approaches have advanced reprogramming by tackling three significant challenges to reprogramming: delivery of reprogramming factors, epigenetic roadblocks, and latent donor identity. In addition, emerging insight from the molecular systems biology of reprogramming reveal how systems-level drivers of reprogramming can be harnessed to further advance reprogramming technologies. Furthermore, recently developed synthetic biology tools offer new modes for engineering cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan B Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, 25 Ames St., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Adam M Beitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, 25 Ames St., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Kate E Galloway
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, 25 Ames St., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Franco A, Dang X, Walton EK, Ho JN, Zablocka B, Ly C, Miller TM, Baloh RH, Shy ME, Yoo AS, Dorn GW. Burst mitofusin activation reverses neuromuscular dysfunction in murine CMT2A. eLife 2020; 9:61119. [PMID: 33074106 PMCID: PMC7655101 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Charcot–Marie-Tooth disease type 2A (CMT2A) is an untreatable childhood peripheral neuropathy caused by mutations of the mitochondrial fusion protein, mitofusin (MFN) 2. Here, pharmacological activation of endogenous normal mitofusins overcame dominant inhibitory effects of CMT2A mutants in reprogrammed human patient motor neurons, reversing hallmark mitochondrial stasis and fragmentation independent of causal MFN2 mutation. In mice expressing human MFN2 T105M, intermittent mitofusin activation with a small molecule, MiM111, normalized CMT2A neuromuscular dysfunction, reversed pre-treatment axon and skeletal myocyte atrophy, and enhanced axon regrowth by increasing mitochondrial transport within peripheral axons and promoting in vivo mitochondrial localization to neuromuscular junctional synapses. MiM111-treated MFN2 T105M mouse neurons exhibited accelerated primary outgrowth and greater post-axotomy regrowth, linked to enhanced mitochondrial motility. MiM111 is the first pre-clinical candidate for CMT2A. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2A is a rare genetic childhood disease where dying back of nerve cells leads to muscle loss in the arms and legs, causing permanent disability. There is no known treatment. In this form of CMT, mutations in a protein called mitofusin 2 damage structures inside cells known as mitochondria. Mitochondria generate most of the chemical energy to power a cell, but when mitofusin 2 is mutated, the mitochondria are less healthy and are unable to move within the cell, depriving the cells of energy. This particularly causes problems in the long nerve cells that stretch from the spinal cord to the arm and leg muscles. Now, Franco, Dang et al. wanted to see whether re-activating mitofusin 2 could correct the damage to the mitochondria and restore the nerve connections to the muscles. The researchers tested a new class of drug called a mitofusin activator on nerve cells grown in the laboratory after being taken from people suffering from CMT2A, and also from a mouse model of the disease. Mitofusin activators improved the structure, fitness and movement of mitochondria in both human and mice nerve cells. Franco, Dang et al. then tested the drug in the mice with a CMT2A mutation and found that it could also stimulate nerves to regrow and so reverse muscle loss and weakness. This is the first time scientists have succeeded to reverse the effects of CMT2A in nerve cells of mice and humans. However, these drugs will still need to go through extensive testing in clinical trials before being made widely available to patients. If approved, mitofusin activators may also be beneficial for patients suffering from other genetic conditions that damage mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Franco
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacogenomics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States
| | - Xiawei Dang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacogenomics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States.,Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Emily K Walton
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacogenomics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States
| | - Joshua N Ho
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States.,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Barbara Zablocka
- Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Cindy Ly
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States
| | - Robert H Baloh
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Michael E Shy
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States.,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Gerald W Dorn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacogenomics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, United States
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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.
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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
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57
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The roles of MicroRNAs in neural regenerative medicine. Exp Neurol 2020; 332:113394. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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58
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Habekost M, Jørgensen AL, Qvist P, Denham M. MicroRNAs and Ascl1 facilitate direct conversion of porcine fibroblasts into induced neurons. Stem Cell Res 2020; 48:101984. [PMID: 32971463 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.101984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct neuronal conversion describes the process of generating induced neurons from somatic cells such as fibroblasts by overexpressing cell type-specific transcription factors, microRNAs or by culturing in the presence of small molecules. This was first achieved by expressing Brn2, Ascl1 and Myt1L in mouse fibroblasts, and was later achieved in human cells by the inclusion of additional factors such as NeuroD1. Here, we present the first protocol for directly converting porcine fibroblasts into induced neurons. We used lentivirus-mediated delivery of previously identified neuron-specifying transcription factors and microRNAs and evaluated morphology and neuron marker expression after ten days of conversion. We found that Ascl1 and microRNAs, miR-9/9* and miR-124 together generated more neuronal cells than other conditions tested. The porcine induced neurons expressed common mature markers such as MAP2 and Synaptophysin after four weeks of conversion. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that fibroblast-specific signatures were silenced early in the conversion process, while the neuron-specific genes became more abundant during conversion. We generated a heterogeneous population of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Habekost
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark; Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Per Qvist
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark; Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark; Centre for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark; Centre for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, CGPM, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mark Denham
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark; Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark.
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59
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Carter JL, Halmai JANM, Fink KD. The iNs and Outs of Direct Reprogramming to Induced Neurons. Front Genome Ed 2020; 2:7. [PMID: 34713216 PMCID: PMC8525349 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2020.00007] [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: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding of cell-type specific transcription factors has promoted progress in methods for cellular reprogramming, such as directly reprogramming somatic cells to induced neurons (iN). Methods for direct reprogramming require neuronal-fate determining gene activation via neuron-specific microRNAs, chemical modulation of key neuronal signaling pathways or overexpression via viral vectors, with some reprogramming strategies requiring a combination of these methods to induce the neuronal-cell fate. These methods have been employed in a multitude of cell types, including fibroblasts, hepatocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear, and T cells. The ability to create iN from skin biopsies and blood samples coupled with recent advancements in artificially inducing age- and disease-associated phenotypes are accelerating the development of disease models for late-onset neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review how activation of the neuronal transcriptome alters the epigenetic landscape of the donor cell to facilitate reprogramming to neurons. We also discuss the advantages of using DNA binding domains such as CRISPR/dCas9 to overcome epigenetic barriers to induce neuronal-cell fate by activating endogenous neuronal cell-fate determining genes.
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60
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Rzhanova LA, Kuznetsova AV, Aleksandrova MA. Reprogramming of Differentiated Mammalian and Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium: Current Achievements and Prospects. Russ J Dev Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062360420040062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Impairment of the homeostatic and functional integrity of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the main cause of some degenerative diseases of the human eye, which are accompanied by loss of eyesight. Despite the significant progress made over the past decades in the development of new methods for treatment for this pathology, there are still several complications when using surgical methods for correction of eyesight and so far insurmountable limitations in the applications of modern approaches, such as gene therapy and genetic engineering. One of the promising approaches to the treatment of degenerative diseases of the retina may be an approach based on the application of regenerative capacities of its endogenous cells with high plasticity, in particular, of RPE cells and Müller glia. Currently, vertebrate RPE cells are of great interest as a source of new photoreceptors and other neurons in the degrading retina in vivo. In this regard, the possibilities of their direct reprogramming by genetic, epigenetic, and chemical methods and their combination are being investigated. This review focuses on research in gene-directed reprogramming of vertebrate RPE cells into retinal neurons, with detailed analysis of the genes used as the main reprogramming factors, comparative analysis, and extrapolation of experimental data from animals to humans. Also, this review covers studies on the application of alternative approaches to gene-directed reprogramming, such as chemical-mediated reprogramming with the use of cocktails of therapeutic low-molecular-weight compounds and microRNAs. In general, the research results indicate the complexity of the process for direct reprogramming of human RPE cells into retinal neurons. However, taking into account the results of direct reprogramming of vertebrate cells and the accessibility of human RPE cells for various vectors that deliver a variety of molecules to cells, such as transcription factors, chimeric endonucleases, recombinant proteins, and low-weight molecular compounds, the most optimal combination of factors for the successful conversion of human RPE cells to retinal neurons can be suggested.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Orouji E, Peitsch WK, Orouji A, Houben R, Utikal J. Unique Role of Histone Methyltransferase PRDM8 in the Tumorigenesis of Virus-Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12041057. [PMID: 32344701 PMCID: PMC7226539 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12041057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a deadly skin cancer, and about 80% of its cases have been shown to harbor integrated Merkel polyomavirus in the tumor cell genome. Viral oncoproteins expressed in the tumor cells are considered as the oncogenic factors of these virus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma (VP-MCC). In contrast, the molecular pathogenesis of virus-negative MCC (VN-MCC) is less well understood. Using gene expression analysis of MCC cell lines, we found histone methyltransferase PRDM8 to be elevated in VN-MCC. This finding was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of MCC tumors, revealing that increased PRDM8 expression in VN-MCC is also associated with increased H3K9 methylation. CRISPR-mediated silencing of PRDM8 in MCC cells further supported the histone methylating role of this protein in VN-MCC. We also identified miR-20a-5p as a negative regulator of PRDM8. Taken together, our findings provide insights into the role of PRDM8 as a histone methyltransferase in VN-MCC tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Orouji
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Correspondence: (E.O.); (J.U.); Tel.: +1-(917)647-2202 (E.O.); +49-(621)383-4461 (J.U.)
| | - Wiebke K. Peitsch
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Dermatology and Phlebology, Vivantes Klinikum im Friedrichshain, 10249 Berlin, Germany
| | - Azadeh Orouji
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Utikal
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Correspondence: (E.O.); (J.U.); Tel.: +1-(917)647-2202 (E.O.); +49-(621)383-4461 (J.U.)
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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.
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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
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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.
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Spadafora C. Transgenerational epigenetic reprogramming of early embryos: a mechanistic model. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2020; 6:dvaa009. [PMID: 32704385 PMCID: PMC7368376 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The notion that epigenetic information can be transmitted across generations is supported by mounting waves of data, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, a model is proposed which combines different lines of experimental evidence. First, it has been shown that somatic tissues exposed to stressing stimuli release circulating RNA-containing extracellular vesicles; second, epididymal spermatozoa can take up, internalize and deliver the RNA-containing extracellular vesicles to oocytes at fertilization; third, early embryos can process RNA-based information. These elements constitute the building blocks upon which the model is built. The model proposes that a continuous stream of epigenetic information flows from parental somatic tissues to the developing embryos. The flow can cross the Weismann barrier, is mediated by circulating vesicles and epididymal spermatozoa, and has the potential to generate epigenetic traits that are then stably acquired in the offspring. In a broader perspective, it emerges that a natural 'assembly line' operates continuously, aiming at passing the parental epigenetic blueprint in growing embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Spadafora
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council (CNR), 100 Via del Fosso del Cavaliere, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence address. Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council (CNR), 100 Via del Fosso del Cavaliere, 00133 Rome, Italy. Tel: +39 0649917536; Fax: +39 064457529; E-mail: ;
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HORISAWA K, SUZUKI A. Direct cell-fate conversion of somatic cells: Toward regenerative medicine and industries. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2020; 96:131-158. [PMID: 32281550 PMCID: PMC7247973 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.96.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cells of multicellular organisms have diverse characteristics despite having the same genetic identity. The distinctive phenotype of each cell is determined by molecular mechanisms such as epigenetic changes that occur throughout the lifetime of an individual. Recently, technologies that enable modification of the fate of somatic cells have been developed, and the number of studies using these technologies has increased drastically in the last decade. Various cell types, including neuronal cells, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes, have been generated using these technologies. Although most direct reprogramming methods employ forced transduction of a defined sets of transcription factors to reprogram cells in a manner similar to induced pluripotent cell technology, many other strategies, such as methods utilizing chemical compounds and microRNAs to change the fate of somatic cells, have also been developed. In this review, we summarize transcription factor-based reprogramming and various other reprogramming methods. Additionally, we describe the various industrial applications of direct reprogramming technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi HORISAWA
- Division of Organogenesis and Regeneration, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Atsushi SUZUKI
- Division of Organogenesis and Regeneration, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Correspondence should be addressed: A. Suzuki, Division of Organogenesis and Regeneration, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan (e-mail: )
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Li R, Zhao K, Ruan Q, Meng C, Yin F. The transcription factor Foxd3 induces spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury by potentiating microRNA-214-dependent inhibition of Kcnk2. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:118-129. [PMID: 31959866 PMCID: PMC7000395 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-019-0370-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury after surgical repair of the thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta is a devastating complication that is associated with pathological changes, including inflammation, edema, and nerve cell damage. Recently, microRNA (miRNA)-modulated control of spinal cord injury has been actively investigated. This study aims to clarify the regulatory effect of miR-214-mediated inhibition of Kcnk2 following spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury (SCII) and the possible underlying mechanisms. SCII was induced in rats by occluding the aortic arch followed by reperfusion. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments were conducted to explore the modulatory effects of Foxd3, miR-214 and Kcnk2 on PC12 cells under hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) conditions. MiR-214 and Kcnk2 were poorly expressed, while Foxd3 was highly expressed in the rat spinal cord tissues and H/R-treated PC12 cells. Kcnk2 overexpression enhanced the viability and inhibited the apoptosis of the H/R-treated PC12 cells. Notably, Foxd3 activated miR-214, and miR-214 targeted Kcnk2. In addition, upregulation of Kcnk2 or knockdown of Foxd3 promoted the cell viability and reduced the apoptosis of the H/R-treated PC12 cells. Overall, our study identified a novel mechanism of Foxd3/miR-214/Kcnk2 involving SCII, suggesting that either Foxd3 or miR-214 may be a novel target for the treatment of SCII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, P.R. China
| | - Kunchi Zhao
- Department of Spine Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, P.R. China
| | - Qing Ruan
- Department of Spine Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, P.R. China
| | - Chunyang Meng
- Department of Spine Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, P.R. China
| | - Fei Yin
- Department of Spine Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, P.R. China.
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Aravantinou-Fatorou K, Thomaidou D. In Vitro Direct Reprogramming of Mouse and Human Astrocytes to Induced Neurons. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2155:41-61. [PMID: 32474866 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0655-1_4] [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: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming, rewiring the epigenetic and transcriptional network of a differentiated cell type to neuron, apart from being a very promising approach for the treatment of brain injury and neurodegeneration, also offers a prime opportunity to investigate the molecular underpinnings of neuronal cell fate determination, as the precise molecular mechanisms that establish neuronal fate and diversity at the transcriptional and epigenetic level are incompletely understood. Recent studies from a number of groups, including ours, have shown that astrocytes can be directly reprogrammed into functional neurons in vitro and in vivo following ectopic overexpression of combinations of transcription factors, neurogenic proteins, miRNAs, and small chemical molecules.In this chapter we describe the protocols for in vitro converting primary cortical astrocytes of mouse and human origin to induced neurons, through forced expression of two neurogenic molecules, either each one alone or in combination: the master regulatory bHLH proneural transcription factor NEUROGENIN-2 (NEUROG2) and the neurogenic protein CEND1. Forced expression of each one of the two neurogenic proteins in primary astrocytes via retroviral gene transfer results in their direct conversion to subtype-specific induced neurons, while simultaneous coexpression of both molecules drives them predominantly toward acquisition of a neural precursor cell (NPC) state. Although mouse and human astrocytes exhibit differences in their reprogramming rate and particular characteristics, they can both get efficiently in vitro transdifferentiated to NPCs and induced neurons upon NEUROG2 or/and CEND1 forced expression using the reprogramming protocols described in the chapter, presenting valuable cellular platforms for mechanistic studies and in vivo applications to restore neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Aravantinou-Fatorou
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Thomaidou
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece.
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70
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Liu Y, Li Y, Ni J, Shu Y, Wang H, Hu T. MiR-124 attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury via inhibiting p66Shc-mediated oxidative stress. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 521:420-426. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.10.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Traxler L, Edenhofer F, Mertens J. Next-generation disease modeling with direct conversion: a new path to old neurons. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:3316-3337. [PMID: 31715002 PMCID: PMC6907729 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Within just over a decade, human reprogramming-based disease modeling has developed from a rather outlandish idea into an essential part of disease research. While iPSCs are a valuable tool for modeling developmental and monogenetic disorders, their rejuvenated identity poses limitations for modeling age-associated diseases. Direct cell-type conversion of fibroblasts into induced neurons (iNs) circumvents rejuvenation and preserves hallmarks of cellular aging. iNs are thus advantageous for modeling diseases that possess strong age-related and epigenetic contributions and can complement iPSC-based strategies for disease modeling. In this review, we provide an overview of the state of the art of direct iN conversion and describe the key epigenetic, transcriptomic, and metabolic changes that occur in converting fibroblasts. Furthermore, we summarize new insights into this fascinating process, particularly focusing on the rapidly changing criteria used to define and characterize in vitro-born human neurons. Finally, we discuss the unique features that distinguish iNs from other reprogramming-based neuronal cell models and how iNs are relevant to disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Traxler
- Department of GenomicsStem Cell Biology & Regenerative MedicineInstitute of Molecular Biology & CMBILeopold‐Franzens‐University InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Laboratory of GeneticsThe Salk Institute for Biological StudiesLa JollaCAUSA
| | - Frank Edenhofer
- Department of GenomicsStem Cell Biology & Regenerative MedicineInstitute of Molecular Biology & CMBILeopold‐Franzens‐University InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Jerome Mertens
- Department of GenomicsStem Cell Biology & Regenerative MedicineInstitute of Molecular Biology & CMBILeopold‐Franzens‐University InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
- Laboratory of GeneticsThe Salk Institute for Biological StudiesLa JollaCAUSA
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72
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Hawrot J, Imhof S, Wainger BJ. Modeling cell-autonomous motor neuron phenotypes in ALS using iPSCs. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104680. [PMID: 31759135 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an aggressive and uniformly fatal degenerative disease of the motor nervous system. In order to understand underlying disease mechanisms, researchers leverage a host of in vivo and in vitro models, including yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, and more recently, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from ALS patients. While mouse models have been the main workhorse of preclinical ALS research, the development of iPSCs provides a new opportunity to explore molecular phenotypes of ALS within human cells. Importantly, this technology enables modeling of both familial and sporadic ALS in the relevant human genetic backgrounds, as well as a personalized or targeted approach to therapy development. Harnessing these powerful tools requires addressing numerous challenges, including different variance components associated with iPSCs and motor neurons as well as concomitant limits of reductionist approaches. In order to overcome these obstacles, optimization of protocols and assays, confirmation of phenotype robustness at scale, and validation of findings in human tissue and genetics will cement the role for iPSC models as a valuable complement to animal models in ALS and more broadly among neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hawrot
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sophie Imhof
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Brian J Wainger
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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73
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Chen TH, Chen JA. Multifaceted roles of microRNAs: From motor neuron generation in embryos to degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy. eLife 2019; 8:50848. [PMID: 31738166 PMCID: PMC6861003 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Two crucial questions in neuroscience are how neurons establish individual identity in the developing nervous system and why only specific neuron subtypes are vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. In the central nervous system, spinal motor neurons serve as one of the best-characterized cell types for addressing these two questions. In this review, we dissect these questions by evaluating the emerging role of regulatory microRNAs in motor neuron generation in developing embryos and their potential contributions to neurodegenerative diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Given recent promising results from novel microRNA-based medicines, we discuss the potential applications of microRNAs for clinical assessments of SMA disease progression and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Heng Chen
- PhD Program in Translational Medicine, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jun-An Chen
- PhD Program in Translational Medicine, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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Yang S, Wu S, Fifita J, McCann E, Fat SCM, Galper J, Freckleton S, Zhang KY, Blair IP. Theme 3 In vitro experimental models. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 20:135-159. [PMID: 31702460 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1646991] [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: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: Ongoing disease gene discoveries continue to drive our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying ALS. Causative genes from 60% of ALS families have been identified using modern genetic techniques, but the causal gene defect is yet to be identified in the remaining 40% of families. These remaining families often do not follow true Mendelian inheritance patterns and are challenging to solve using traditional genetic analysis alone. In vitro and in vivo studies have become critical in assessing and validating these ALS candidate genes.Objectives: In this study, we aim to develop and validate the utility of an in vitro functional pipeline for the discovery and validation of novel ALS candidate genes.Methods: A panel of cell based-assays were applied to candidate genes to examine the presence/absence of known ALS pathologies in cell lines as well as human autopsy tissues. These include immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and western blotting to study toxicity, neuronal inclusion formation, interaction with TDP-43, aberrant protein degradation and accumulation in detergent-insoluble cellular fractions. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were also used to examine if candidates were present in neuronal inclusions from ALS patient spinal cord tissues.Results: The in vitro pipeline was applied to five candidate genes from an ALS family that is negative for known ALS gene mutations. Two candidates were prioritized as top candidates based on their capacity to induce known ALS cellular pathologies. In transfected cells, the variants in these two genes caused a significantly higher toxicity than wild type, formed detergent insoluble inclusions and was able to co-aggregate with TDP-43 in neuronal cells. The variants have also led to protein degradation defects. One of the candidates also co-localised with TDP-43-positive neuronal inclusions in sporadic ALS patient post-mortem tissues, a signature pathology of ALS.Discussion and conclusions: We have demonstrated the utility of a functional prioritization pipeline and successfully prioritized two novel candidate ALS genes. These genes, and its associated pathways, will be further investigated through the development of animal models to establish if there is support for its role in ALS. New ALS genes offer fresh diagnostic and therapeutic targets and tools for the generation of novel animal models to better understand disease biology and offer preclinical testing of candidate treatments for ALS in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Yang
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sharlynn Wu
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jennifer Fifita
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily McCann
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sandrine Chan Moi Fat
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jasmin Galper
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sarah Freckleton
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kathrine Y Zhang
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Zajdel M, Rymkiewicz G, Sromek M, Cieslikowska M, Swoboda P, Kulinczak M, Goryca K, Bystydzienski Z, Blachnio K, Ostrowska B, Borysiuk A, Druzd-Sitek A, Walewski J, Chechlinska M, Siwicki JK. Tumor and Cerebrospinal Fluid microRNAs in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphomas. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1647. [PMID: 31731456 PMCID: PMC6895823 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare, highly aggressive, extranodal form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, predominantly diagnosed as primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system (CNS DLBCL). Fast and precise diagnosis of PCNSL is critical yet challenging. microRNAs, important regulators in physiology and pathology are potential biomarkers. In 131 patients with CNS DLBCL and with non-malignant brain lesions (n-ML), miR-21, miR-19b and miR-92a, miR-155, miR-196b, miR-let-7b, miR-125b, and miR-9 were examined by RT-qPCR in brain biopsy samples (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, FFPET; CNS DLBCL, n = 52; n-ML, n = 42) and cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF; CNS DLBCL, n = 30; n-ML, n = 23) taken for routine diagnosis. FFPET samples were split into study and validation sets. Significantly higher CSF levels of miR-21, miR-19b, and miR-92a were identified in PCNSL but not in n-ML, and differentiated PCNSL from n-ML with 63.33% sensitivity and 80.77% specificity. In FFPETs, miR-155 and miR-196b were significantly overexpressed and miR-let-7b, miR-125b, and miR-9 were downregulated in PCNSL as compared to n-ML. Combined miR-155 and miR-let-7b expression levels in FFPETs discriminated PCNSL and n-ML with a 97% accuracy. In conclusion, tissue miR-155, miR-196b, miR-9, miR-125b, and miR-let-7b expression profiles differentiate PCNSL from n-ML. PCNSL CSFs and the relevant biopsy samples are characterized by specific, different microRNA profiles. A logistic regression model is proposed to discriminate between PCNSL and non-malignant brain lesions. None of the examined microRNAs influenced overall survival of PCNSL patients. Further ongoing developments involve next generation sequencing-based profiling of biopsy and CSF samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michalina Zajdel
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.Z.)
| | - Grzegorz Rymkiewicz
- Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (G.R.)
| | - Maria Sromek
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.Z.)
| | - Maria Cieslikowska
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.Z.)
| | - Pawel Swoboda
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.Z.)
| | - Mariusz Kulinczak
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.Z.)
| | - Krzysztof Goryca
- Department of Medical Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
- Core Facilities CeNT, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Bystydzienski
- Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (G.R.)
| | - Katarzyna Blachnio
- Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (G.R.)
| | - Beata Ostrowska
- Department of Lymphoid Malignancies, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anita Borysiuk
- Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (G.R.)
| | - Agnieszka Druzd-Sitek
- Department of Lymphoid Malignancies, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Walewski
- Department of Lymphoid Malignancies, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Chechlinska
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.Z.)
| | - Jan Konrad Siwicki
- Department of Immunology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute—Oncology Center, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.Z.)
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Birtele M, Sharma Y, Kidnapillai S, Lau S, Stoker TB, Barker RA, Rylander Ottosson D, Drouin‐Ouellet J, Parmar M. Dual modulation of neuron‐specific microRNAs and the REST complex promotes functional maturation of human adult induced neurons. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:3370-3380. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Birtele
- Department of Experimental Medical Science Wallenberg Neuroscience Center Division of Neurobiology Lund Stem Cell Center Lund University Sweden
| | - Yogita Sharma
- Department of Experimental Medical Science Wallenberg Neuroscience Center Division of Neurobiology Lund Stem Cell Center Lund University Sweden
| | | | - Shong Lau
- Department of Experimental Medical Science Wallenberg Neuroscience Center Division of Neurobiology Lund Stem Cell Center Lund University Sweden
| | - Thomas B. Stoker
- Department of Experimental Medical Science Wallenberg Neuroscience Center Division of Neurobiology Lund Stem Cell Center Lund University Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience and WT‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute University of Cambridge UK
| | - Roger A. Barker
- Department of Experimental Medical Science Wallenberg Neuroscience Center Division of Neurobiology Lund Stem Cell Center Lund University Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience and WT‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute University of Cambridge UK
| | - Daniella Rylander Ottosson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science Wallenberg Neuroscience Center Division of Neurobiology Lund Stem Cell Center Lund University Sweden
- Regenerative Neurophysiology BMC Lund University Sweden
| | | | - Malin Parmar
- Department of Experimental Medical Science Wallenberg Neuroscience Center Division of Neurobiology Lund Stem Cell Center Lund University Sweden
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77
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Yang G, Shcheglovitov A. Probing disrupted neurodevelopment in autism using human stem cell-derived neurons and organoids: An outlook into future diagnostics and drug development. Dev Dyn 2019; 249:6-33. [PMID: 31398277 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction, repetitive or restrictive behaviors, and problems with speech. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 68 children in the US is diagnosed with ASDs. Although ASD-related diagnostics and the knowledge of ASD-associated genetic abnormalities have improved in recent years, our understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways disrupted in ASD remains very limited. As a result, no specific therapies or medications are available for individuals with ASDs. In this review, we describe the neurodevelopmental processes that are likely affected in the brains of individuals with ASDs and discuss how patient-specific stem cell-derived neurons and organoids can be used for investigating these processes at the cellular and molecular levels. Finally, we propose a discovery pipeline to be used in the future for identifying the cellular and molecular deficits and developing novel personalized therapies for individuals with idiopathic ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Alex Shcheglovitov
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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78
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Wohl SG, Hooper MJ, Reh TA. MicroRNAs miR-25, let-7 and miR-124 regulate the neurogenic potential of Müller glia in mice. Development 2019; 146:dev179556. [PMID: 31383796 PMCID: PMC6765125 DOI: 10.1242/dev.179556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Müller glial cells (MG) generate retinal progenitor (RPC)-like cells after injury in non-mammalian species, although this does not occur in the mammalian retina. Studies have profiled gene expression in these cells to define genes that may be relevant to their differences in neurogenic potential. However, less is known about differences in micro-RNA (miRNA) expression. In this study, we compared miRNAs from RPCs and MG to identify miRNAs more highly expressed in RPCs, and others more highly expressed in MG. To determine whether these miRNAs are relevant to the difference in neurogenic potential between these two cell types, we tested them in dissociated cultures of MG using either mimics or antagomiRs to increase or reduce expression, respectively. Among the miRNAs tested, miR-25 and miR-124 overexpression, or let-7 antagonism, induced Ascl1 expression and conversion of ∼40% of mature MG into a neuronal/RPC phenotype. Our results suggest that the differences in miRNA expression between MG and RPCs contribute to their difference in neurogenic potential, and that manipulations in miRNAs provide a new tool with which to reprogram MG for retinal regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie G Wohl
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Biological and Vision Sciences, The State University of New York, College of Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA
| | - Marcus J Hooper
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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79
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Flitsch LJ, Brüstle O. Evolving principles underlying neural lineage conversion and their relevance for biomedical translation. F1000Res 2019; 8. [PMID: 31559012 PMCID: PMC6743253 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.18926.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific and technological advances of the past decade have shed light on the mechanisms underlying cell fate acquisition, including its transcriptional and epigenetic regulation during embryonic development. This knowledge has enabled us to purposefully engineer cell fates
in vitro by manipulating expression levels of lineage-instructing transcription factors. Here, we review the state of the art in the cell programming field with a focus on the derivation of neural cells. We reflect on what we know about the mechanisms underlying fate changes in general and on the degree of epigenetic remodeling conveyed by the distinct reprogramming and direct conversion strategies available. Moreover, we discuss the implications of residual epigenetic memory for biomedical applications such as disease modeling and neuroregeneration. Finally, we cover recent developments approaching cell fate conversion in the living brain and define questions which need to be addressed before cell programming can become an integral part of translational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Jessica Flitsch
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine Wesphalia, 53127, Germany
| | - Oliver Brüstle
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, North Rhine Wesphalia, 53127, Germany
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80
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McCoy MJ, Paul AJ, Victor MB, Richner M, Gabel HW, Gong H, Yoo AS, Ahn TH. LONGO: an R package for interactive gene length dependent analysis for neuronal identity. Bioinformatics 2019; 34:i422-i428. [PMID: 29950021 PMCID: PMC6022641 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/bty243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Motivation Reprogramming somatic cells into neurons holds great promise to model neuronal development and disease. The efficiency and success rate of neuronal reprogramming, however, may vary between different conversion platforms and cell types, thereby necessitating an unbiased, systematic approach to estimate neuronal identity of converted cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that long genes (>100 kb from transcription start to end) are highly enriched in neurons, which provides an opportunity to identify neurons based on the expression of these long genes. Results We have developed a versatile R package, LONGO, to analyze gene expression based on gene length. We propose a systematic analysis of long gene expression (LGE) with a metric termed the long gene quotient (LQ) that quantifies LGE in RNA-seq or microarray data to validate neuronal identity at the single-cell and population levels. This unique feature of neurons provides an opportunity to utilize measurements of LGE in transcriptome data to quickly and easily distinguish neurons from non-neuronal cells. By combining this conceptual advancement and statistical tool in a user-friendly and interactive software package, we intend to encourage and simplify further investigation into LGE, particularly as it applies to validating and improving neuronal differentiation and reprogramming methodologies. Availability and implementation LONGO is freely available for download at https://github.com/biohpc/longo. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J McCoy
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alexander J Paul
- Program in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Matheus B Victor
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michelle Richner
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Harrison W Gabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Haijun Gong
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tae-Hyuk Ahn
- Program in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
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81
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Buchwalter A, Kaneshiro JM, Hetzer MW. Coaching from the sidelines: the nuclear periphery in genome regulation. Nat Rev Genet 2019; 20:39-50. [PMID: 30356165 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-018-0063-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The genome is packaged and organized nonrandomly within the 3D space of the nucleus to promote efficient gene expression and to faithfully maintain silencing of heterochromatin. The genome is enclosed within the nucleus by the nuclear envelope membrane, which contains a set of proteins that actively participate in chromatin organization and gene regulation. Technological advances are providing views of genome organization at unprecedented resolution and are beginning to reveal the ways that cells co-opt the structures of the nuclear periphery for nuclear organization and gene regulation. These genome regulatory roles of proteins of the nuclear periphery have important influences on development, disease and ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Buchwalter
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeanae M Kaneshiro
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Martin W Hetzer
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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82
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Sandvig A, Sandvig I. Connectomics of Morphogenetically Engineered Neurons as a Predictor of Functional Integration in the Ischemic Brain. Front Neurol 2019; 10:630. [PMID: 31249553 PMCID: PMC6582372 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in cell reprogramming technologies enable the in vitro generation of theoretically unlimited numbers of cells, including cells of neural lineage and specific neuronal subtypes from human, including patient-specific, somatic cells. Similarly, as demonstrated in recent animal studies, by applying morphogenetic neuroengineering principles in situ, it is possible to reprogram resident brain cells to the desired phenotype. These developments open new exciting possibilities for cell replacement therapy in stroke, albeit not without caveats. Main challenges include the successful integration of engineered cells in the ischemic brain to promote functional restoration as well as the fact that the underlying mechanisms of action are not fully understood. In this review, we aim to provide new insights to the above in the context of connectomics of morphogenetically engineered neural networks. Specifically, we discuss the relevance of combining advanced interdisciplinary approaches to: validate the functionality of engineered neurons by studying their self-organizing behavior into neural networks as well as responses to stroke-related pathology in vitro; derive structural and functional connectomes from these networks in healthy and perturbed conditions; and identify and extract key elements regulating neural network dynamics, which might predict the behavior of grafted engineered neurons post-transplantation in the stroke-injured brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Sandvig
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neurology, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neuro, Head, and Neck, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ioanna Sandvig
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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83
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Li H, Jiang H, Yin X, Bard JE, Zhang B, Feng J. Attenuation of PRRX2 and HEY2 enables efficient conversion of adult human skin fibroblasts to neurons. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 516:765-769. [PMID: 31255287 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.06.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The direct conversion of accessible cells such as human fibroblasts to inaccessible cells, particularly neurons, opens up many opportunities for using the human model system to study diseases and discover therapies. Previous studies have indicated that the neuronal conversion of adult human skin fibroblasts is much harder than that for human lung fibroblasts, which are used in many experiments. Here we formally report this differential plasticity of human skin versus lung fibroblasts in their transdifferentiation to induced neurons. Using RNAseq of isogenic and non-isogenic pairs of human skin and lung fibroblasts at different days in their conversion to neurons, we found that several master regulators (TWIST1, TWIST2, PRRX1 and PRRX2) in the fibroblast Gene Regulatory Network were significantly downregulated in lung fibroblasts, but not in skin fibroblasts. By knocking down each of these genes and other genes that suppress the neural fate, such as REST, HES1 and HEY2, we found that the combined attenuation of HEY2 and PRRX2 significantly enhanced the transdifferentiation of human skin fibroblasts induced by ASCL1 and p53 shRNA. The new method, which overexpressed ASCL1 and knocked down p53, HEY2 and PRRX2 (ApH2P2), enabled the efficient transdifferentiation of adult human skin fibroblasts to MAP2+ neurons in 14 days. It would be useful for a variety of applications that require the efficient and speedy derivation of patient-specific neurons from skin fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqin Li
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA; Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, 14215, USA
| | - Houbo Jiang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA; Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, 14215, USA
| | - Xinzhen Yin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA; Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jonathan E Bard
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Baorong Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Feng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA; Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, 14215, USA.
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84
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Wong AP, Shojaie S, Liang Q, Xia S, Di Paola M, Ahmadi S, Bilodeau C, Garner J, Post M, Duchesneau P, Waddell TK, Bear CE, Nagy A, Rossant J. Conversion of human and mouse fibroblasts into lung-like epithelial cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9027. [PMID: 31227724 PMCID: PMC6588580 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45195-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell lineage conversion of fibroblasts to specialized cell types through transdifferentiation may provide a fast and alternative cell source for regenerative medicine. Here we show that transient transduction of fibroblasts with the four reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) in addition to the early lung transcription factor Nkx2-1 (also known as Ttf1), followed by directed differentiation of the cells, can convert mouse embryonic and human adult dermal fibroblasts into induced lung-like epithelial cells (iLEC). These iLEC differentiate into multiple lung cell types in air liquid interface cultures, repopulate decellularized rat lung scaffolds, and form lung epithelia composed of Ciliated, Goblet, Basal, and Club cells after transplantation into immune-compromised mice. As proof-of-concept, differentiated human iLEC harboring the Cystic Fibrosis mutation dF508 demonstrated pharmacological rescue of CFTR function using the combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor. Overall, this is a promising alternative approach for generation of patient-specific lung-like progenitors to study lung function, disease and future regeneration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy P Wong
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Sharareh Shojaie
- Program in Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Qin Liang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sunny Xia
- Program in Molecular Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michelle Di Paola
- Program in Molecular Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Saumel Ahmadi
- Program in Molecular Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Claudia Bilodeau
- Program in Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jodi Garner
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Post
- Program in Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pascal Duchesneau
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, Toronto General Research Institute, and the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Toronto, Canada
| | - Thomas K Waddell
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, Toronto General Research Institute, and the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christine E Bear
- Program in Molecular Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Andras Nagy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Janet Rossant
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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85
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van der Raadt J, van Gestel SHC, Nadif Kasri N, Albers CA. ONECUT transcription factors induce neuronal characteristics and remodel chromatin accessibility. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:5587-5602. [PMID: 31049588 PMCID: PMC6582315 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Remodeling of chromatin accessibility is necessary for successful reprogramming of fibroblasts to neurons. However, it is still not fully known which transcription factors can induce a neuronal chromatin accessibility profile when overexpressed in fibroblasts. To identify such transcription factors, we used ATAC-sequencing to generate differential chromatin accessibility profiles between human fibroblasts and iNeurons, an in vitro neuronal model system obtained by overexpression of Neurog2 in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We found that the ONECUT transcription factor sequence motif was strongly associated with differential chromatin accessibility between iNeurons and fibroblasts. All three ONECUT transcription factors associated with this motif (ONECUT1, ONECUT2 and ONECUT3) induced a neuron-like morphology and expression of neuronal genes within two days of overexpression in fibroblasts. We observed widespread remodeling of chromatin accessibility; in particular, we found that chromatin regions that contain the ONECUT motif were in- or lowly accessible in fibroblasts and became accessible after the overexpression of ONECUT1, ONECUT2 or ONECUT3. There was substantial overlap with iNeurons, still, many regions that gained accessibility following ONECUT overexpression were not accessible in iNeurons. Our study highlights both the potential and challenges of ONECUT-based direct neuronal reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jori van der Raadt
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastianus H C van Gestel
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis A Albers
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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86
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Franz CK, Joshi D, Daley EL, Grant RA, Dalamagkas K, Leung A, Finan JD, Kiskinis E. Impact of traumatic brain injury on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: from bedside to bench. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:1174-1185. [PMID: 31116639 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00572.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons, which manifests clinically as progressive weakness. Although several epidemiological studies have found an association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ALS, there is not a consensus on whether TBI is an ALS risk factor. It may be that it can cause ALS in a subset of susceptible patients, based on a history of repetitive mild TBI and genetic predisposition. This cannot be determined based on clinical observational studies alone. Better preclinical models are necessary to evaluate the effects of TBI on ALS onset and progression. To date, only a small number of preclinical studies have been performed, mainly in the superoxide dismutase 1 transgenic rodents, which, taken together, have mixed results and notable methodological limitations. The more recent incorporation of additional animal models such as Drosophila flies, as well as patient-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons, should facilitate a better understanding of a potential functional interaction between TBI and ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin K Franz
- Biologics Laboratory, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.,The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Divya Joshi
- Biologics Laboratory, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Elizabeth L Daley
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rogan A Grant
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kyriakos Dalamagkas
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, McGovern Medical School, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, Texas
| | - Audrey Leung
- Biologics Laboratory, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - John D Finan
- Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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87
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Krichevsky AM, Uhlmann EJ. Oligonucleotide Therapeutics as a New Class of Drugs for Malignant Brain Tumors: Targeting mRNAs, Regulatory RNAs, Mutations, Combinations, and Beyond. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:319-347. [PMID: 30644073 PMCID: PMC6554258 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-018-00702-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors are rapidly progressive and often fatal owing to resistance to therapies and based on their complex biology, heterogeneity, and isolation from systemic circulation. Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor, has high mortality, and affects both children and adults. Despite significant advances in understanding the pathology, multiple clinical trials employing various treatment strategies have failed. With much expanded knowledge of the GBM genome, epigenome, and transcriptome, the field of neuro-oncology is getting closer to achieve breakthrough-targeted molecular therapies. Current developments of oligonucleotide chemistries for CNS applications make this new class of drugs very attractive for targeting molecular pathways dysregulated in brain tumors and are anticipated to vastly expand the spectrum of currently targetable molecules. In this chapter, we will overview the molecular landscape of malignant gliomas and explore the most prominent molecular targets (mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and genomic mutations) that provide opportunities for the development of oligonucleotide therapeutics for this class of neurologic diseases. Because malignant brain tumors focally disrupt the blood-brain barrier, this class of diseases might be also more susceptible to systemic treatments with oligonucleotides than other neurologic disorders and, thus, present an entry point for the oligonucleotide therapeutics to the CNS. Nevertheless, delivery of oligonucleotides remains a crucial part of the treatment strategy. Finally, synthetic gRNAs guiding CRISPR-Cas9 editing technologies have a tremendous potential to further expand the applications of oligonucleotide therapeutics and take them beyond RNA targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Krichevsky
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Initiative for RNA Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
| | - Erik J Uhlmann
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Initiative for RNA Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
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88
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Böhnke L, Traxler L, Herdy JR, Mertens J. Human neurons to model aging: A dish best served old. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 27:43-49. [PMID: 31745399 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddmod.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
With the advancing age of humans and with it, growing numbers of age-related diseases, aging has become a major focus in recent research. The lack of fitting aging models, especially in neurological diseases where access to human brain samples is limited, has highlighted direct conversion into induced neurons (iN) as an important method to overcome this challenge. Contrary to iPSC reprogramming and its corresponding cell rejuvenation, the generation of iNs enables us to retain aging signatures throughout the conversion process and beyond. In this review, we explore different cell reprogramming methods in light of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases and discuss different approaches, advances, and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Böhnke
- Institute of Molecular Biology & CMBI, Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Larissa Traxler
- Institute of Molecular Biology & CMBI, Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Joseph R Herdy
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jerome Mertens
- Institute of Molecular Biology & CMBI, Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.,Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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89
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Eszlari N, Petschner P, Gonda X, Baksa D, Elliott R, Anderson IM, Deakin JFW, Bagdy G, Juhasz G. Childhood Adversity Moderates the Effects of HTR2A Epigenetic Regulatory Polymorphisms on Rumination. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:394. [PMID: 31258491 PMCID: PMC6588047 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The serotonin system has been suggested to moderate the association between childhood maltreatment and rumination, with the latter in its turn reported to be a mediator in the depressogenic effect of childhood maltreatment. Therefore, we investigated whether the associations of two epigenetic regulatory polymorphisms in the HTR2A serotonin receptor gene with Ruminative Responses Scale rumination and its two subtypes, brooding and reflection, are moderated by childhood adversity (derived from the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) among 1,501 European white adults. We tested post hoc whether the significant associations are due to depression. We also tested the replicability of the significant results within the two subsamples of Budapest and Manchester. We revealed two significant models: both the association of methylation site rs6311 with rumination and that of miRNA binding site rs3125 (supposed to bind miR-1270, miR-1304, miR-202, miR-539 and miR-620) with brooding were a function of childhood adversity, and both interaction findings were significantly present both in the never-depressed and in the ever-depressed group. Moreover, the association of rs3125 with brooding could be replicated across the separate subsamples, and remained significant even when controlling for lifetime depression and the Brief Symptom Inventory depression score. These findings indicate the crucial importance of involving stress factors when considering endophenotypes and suggest that brooding is a more promising endophenotype than a broader measure of rumination. Transdiagnostic relevance of the brooding endophenotype and the potential of targeting epigenetic regulatory polymorphisms of HTR2A in primary and secondary prevention of depression and possibly of other disorders are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Eszlari
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Petschner
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Xenia Gonda
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Kutvolgyi Clinical Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Daniel Baksa
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rebecca Elliott
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Muir Anderson
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - John Francis William Deakin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Gyorgy Bagdy
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Juhasz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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90
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Fang L, El Wazan L, Tan C, Nguyen T, Hung SSC, Hewitt AW, Wong RCB. Potentials of Cellular Reprogramming as a Novel Strategy for Neuroregeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:460. [PMID: 30555303 PMCID: PMC6284065 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular reprogramming technology holds great potential for tissue repair and regeneration to replace cells that are lost due to diseases or injuries. In addition to the landmark discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells, advances in cellular reprogramming allow the direct lineage conversion of one somatic cell type to another using defined transcription factors. This direct reprogramming technology represents a rapid way to generate target cells in the laboratory, which can be used for transplantation and studies of biology and diseases. More importantly, recent work has demonstrated the exciting application of direct reprogramming to stimulate regeneration in vivo, providing an alternative approach to transplantation of donor cells. Here, we provide an overview of the underlying concept of using cellular reprogramming to convert cell fates and discuss the current advances in cellular reprogramming both in vitro and in vivo, with particular focuses on the neural and retinal systems. We also discuss the potential of in vivo reprogramming in regenerative medicine, the challenges and potential solutions to translate this technology to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyujie Fang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Layal El Wazan
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christine Tan
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tu Nguyen
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sandy S C Hung
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Raymond C B Wong
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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91
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Ichida JK, Staats KA, Davis-Dusenbery BN, Clement K, Galloway KE, Babos KN, Shi Y, Son EY, Kiskinis E, Atwater N, Gu H, Gnirke A, Meissner A, Eggan K. Comparative genomic analysis of embryonic, lineage-converted and stem cell-derived motor neurons. Development 2018; 145:dev.168617. [PMID: 30337375 DOI: 10.1242/dev.168617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Advances in stem cell science allow the production of different cell types in vitro either through the recapitulation of developmental processes, often termed 'directed differentiation', or the forced expression of lineage-specific transcription factors. Although cells produced by both approaches are increasingly used in translational applications, their quantitative similarity to their primary counterparts remains largely unresolved. To investigate the similarity between in vitro-derived and primary cell types, we harvested and purified mouse spinal motor neurons and compared them with motor neurons produced by transcription factor-mediated lineage conversion of fibroblasts or directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. To enable unbiased analysis of these motor neuron types and their cells of origin, we then subjected them to whole transcriptome and DNA methylome analysis by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Despite major differences in methodology, lineage conversion and directed differentiation both produce cells that closely approximate the primary motor neuron state. However, we identify differences in Fas signaling, the Hox code and synaptic gene expression between lineage-converted and directed differentiation motor neurons that affect their utility in translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin K Ichida
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kim A Staats
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Brandi N Davis-Dusenbery
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kendell Clement
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kate E Galloway
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kimberly N Babos
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Yingxiao Shi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Esther Y Son
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nicholas Atwater
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Hongcang Gu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Andreas Gnirke
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Kevin Eggan
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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92
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Osaki T, Uzel SGM, Kamm RD. Microphysiological 3D model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from human iPS-derived muscle cells and optogenetic motor neurons. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaat5847. [PMID: 30324134 PMCID: PMC6179377 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat5847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving loss of motor neurons (MNs) and muscle atrophy, still has no effective treatment, despite much research effort. To provide a platform for testing drug candidates and investigating the pathogenesis of ALS, we developed an ALS-on-a-chip technology (i.e., an ALS motor unit) using three-dimensional skeletal muscle bundles along with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived and light-sensitive channelrhodopsin-2-induced MN spheroids from a patient with sporadic ALS. Each tissue was cultured in a different compartment of a microfluidic device. Axon outgrowth formed neuromuscular junctions on the muscle fiber bundles. Light was used to activate muscle contraction, which was measured on the basis of pillar deflections. Compared to a non-ALS motor unit, the ALS motor unit generated fewer muscle contractions, there was MN degradation, and apoptosis increased in the muscle. Furthermore, the muscle contractions were recovered by single treatments and cotreatment with rapamycin (a mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor) and bosutinib (an Src/c-Abl inhibitor). This recovery was associated with up-regulation of autophagy and degradation of TAR DNA binding protein-43 in the MNs. Moreover, administering the drugs via an endothelial cell barrier decreased the expression of P-glycoprotein (an efflux pump that transports bosutinib) in the endothelial cells, indicating that rapamycin and bosutinib cotreatment has considerable potential for ALS treatment. This ALS-on-a-chip and optogenetics technology could help to elucidate the pathogenesis of ALS and to screen for drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Osaki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sebastien G. M. Uzel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- BioSystems and Micromechanics (BioSyM) IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
- Corresponding author.
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93
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Directing neuronal cell fate in vitro : Achievements and challenges. Prog Neurobiol 2018; 168:42-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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94
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Lee SW, Oh YM, Lu YL, Kim WK, Yoo AS. MicroRNAs Overcome Cell Fate Barrier by Reducing EZH2-Controlled REST Stability during Neuronal Conversion of Human Adult Fibroblasts. Dev Cell 2018; 46:73-84.e7. [PMID: 29974865 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The ability to convert human somatic cells efficiently to neurons facilitates the utility of patient-derived neurons for studying neurological disorders. As such, ectopic expression of neuronal microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-9/9∗ and miR-124 (miR-9/9∗-124) in adult human fibroblasts has been found to evoke extensive reconfigurations of the chromatin and direct the fate conversion to neurons. However, how miR-9/9∗-124 break the cell fate barrier to activate the neuronal program remains to be defined. Here, we identified an anti-neurogenic function of EZH2 in fibroblasts that acts outside its role as a subunit of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 to directly methylate and stabilize REST, a transcriptional repressor of neuronal genes. During neuronal conversion, miR-9/9∗-124 induced the repression of the EZH2-REST axis by downregulating USP14, accounting for the opening of chromatin regions harboring REST binding sites. Our findings underscore the interplay between miRNAs and protein stability cascade underlying the activation of neuronal program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Won Lee
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Young Mi Oh
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ya-Lin Lu
- 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
| | - Woo Kyung Kim
- Department of Developmental Biology, 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.
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95
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Lu YL, Yoo AS. Mechanistic Insights Into MicroRNA-Induced Neuronal Reprogramming of Human Adult Fibroblasts. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:522. [PMID: 30116172 PMCID: PMC6083049 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of transcriptional factors as cell fate regulators are often the primary focus in the direct reprogramming of somatic cells into neurons. However, in human adult fibroblasts, deriving functionally mature neurons with high efficiency requires additional neurogenic factors such as microRNAs (miRNAs) to evoke a neuronal state permissive to transcription factors to exert their reprogramming activities. As such, increasing evidence suggests brain-enriched miRNAs, miR-9/9∗ and miR-124, as potent neurogenic molecules through simultaneously targeting of anti-neurogenic effectors while allowing additional transcription factors to generate specific subtypes of human neurons. In this review, we will focus on methods that utilize neuronal miRNAs and provide mechanistic insights by which neuronal miRNAs, in synergism with brain-region specific transcription factors, drive the conversion of human fibroblasts into clinically relevant subtypes of neurons. Furthermore, we will provide insights into the age signature of directly converted neurons and how the converted human neurons can be utilized to model late-onset neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Lin Lu
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States.,Program in Developmental, Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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96
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Tang BL. Patient-Derived iPSCs and iNs-Shedding New Light on the Cellular Etiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Cells 2018; 7:cells7050038. [PMID: 29738460 PMCID: PMC5981262 DOI: 10.3390/cells7050038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and induced neuronal (iN) cells are very much touted in terms of their potential promises in therapeutics. However, from a more fundamental perspective, iPSCs and iNs are invaluable tools for the postnatal generation of specific diseased cell types from patients, which may offer insights into disease etiology that are otherwise unobtainable with available animal or human proxies. There are two good recent examples of such important insights with diseased neurons derived via either the iPSC or iN approaches. In one, induced motor neurons (iMNs) derived from iPSCs of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) patients with a C9orf72 repeat expansion revealed a haploinsufficiency of protein function resulting from the intronic expansion and deficiencies in motor neuron vesicular trafficking and lysosomal biogenesis that were not previously obvious in knockout mouse models. In another, striatal medium spinal neurons (MSNs) derived directly from fibroblasts of Huntington’s disease (HD) patients recapitulated age-associated disease signatures of mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) aggregation and neurodegeneration that were not prominent in neurons differentiated indirectly via iPSCs from HD patients. These results attest to the tremendous potential for pathologically accurate and mechanistically revealing disease modelling with advances in the derivation of iPSCs and iNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor Luen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
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97
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Gong L, Cao L, Shen Z, Shao L, Gao S, Zhang C, Lu J, Li W. Materials for Neural Differentiation, Trans-Differentiation, and Modeling of Neurological Disease. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1705684. [PMID: 29573284 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Neuron regeneration from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) differentiation or somatic cells trans-differentiation is a promising approach for cell replacement in neurodegenerative diseases and provides a powerful tool for investigating neural development, modeling neurological diseases, and uncovering the mechanisms that underlie diseases. Advancing the materials that are applied in neural differentiation and trans-differentiation promotes the safety, efficiency, and efficacy of neuron regeneration. In the neural differentiation process, matrix materials, either natural or synthetic, not only provide a structural and biochemical support for the monolayer or three-dimensional (3D) cultured cells but also assist in cell adhesion and cell-to-cell communication. They play important roles in directing the differentiation of PSCs into neural cells and modeling neurological diseases. For the trans-differentiation of neural cells, several materials have been used to make the conversion feasible for future therapy. Here, the most current applications of materials for neural differentiation for PSCs, neuronal trans-differentiation, and neurological disease modeling is summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Gong
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Lining Cao
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhenmin Shen
- The VIP Department, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Li Shao
- The VIP Department, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Shaorong Gao
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jianfeng Lu
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Weida Li
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
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98
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Pardieck J, Sakiyama-Elbert S. Genome engineering for CNS injury and disease. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2018; 52:89-94. [PMID: 29597076 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in genome engineering methods have advanced our knowledge of central nervous system (CNS) function in both normal health and following disease or injury. This review discusses current literature using gene editing tools in CNS disease and injury research, such as improving viral-mediated targeting of cell populations, generating new methods for genome editing, reprogramming cells into CNS cell types, and using organoids as models of development and disease. Readers may gain inspiration for continuing research into new genome engineering methods and for therapies for CNS applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Pardieck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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99
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Victor MB, Richner M, Olsen HE, Lee SW, Monteys AM, Ma C, Huh CJ, Zhang B, Davidson BL, Yang XW, Yoo AS. Striatal neurons directly converted from Huntington's disease patient fibroblasts recapitulate age-associated disease phenotypes. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:341-352. [PMID: 29403030 PMCID: PMC5857213 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0075-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD), expansion of CAG codons in the huntingtin gene (HTT) leads to the aberrant formation of protein aggregates and the differential degeneration of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Modeling HD using patient-specific MSNs has been challenging, as neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells are free of aggregates and lack an overt cell death phenotype. Here we generated MSNs from HD patient fibroblasts through microRNA-based direct neuronal conversion, bypassing the induction of pluripotency and retaining age signatures of the original fibroblasts. We found that patient MSNs consistently exhibited mutant HTT (mHTT) aggregates, mHTT-dependent DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and spontaneous degeneration in culture over time. We further provide evidence that erasure of age stored in starting fibroblasts or neuronal conversion of presymptomatic HD patient fibroblasts results in differential manifestation of cellular phenotypes associated with HD, highlighting the importance of age in modeling late-onset neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus B Victor
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michelle Richner
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hannah E Olsen
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Seong Won Lee
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alejandro M Monteys
- The Raymond G Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chunyu Ma
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Christine J Huh
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- The Raymond G Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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100
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Ghaffari LT, Starr A, Nelson AT, Sattler R. Representing Diversity in the Dish: Using Patient-Derived in Vitro Models to Recreate the Heterogeneity of Neurological Disease. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:56. [PMID: 29479303 PMCID: PMC5812426 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological diseases, including dementias such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) and degenerative motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are responsible for an increasing fraction of worldwide fatalities. Researching these heterogeneous diseases requires models that endogenously express the full array of genetic and epigenetic factors which may influence disease development in both familial and sporadic patients. Here, we discuss the two primary methods of developing patient-derived neurons and glia to model neurodegenerative disease: reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are differentiated into neurons or glial cells, or directly converting (DC) somatic cells into neurons (iNeurons) or glial cells. Distinct differentiation techniques for both models result in a variety of neuronal and glial cell types, which have been successful in displaying unique hallmarks of a variety of neurological diseases. Yield, length of differentiation, ease of genetic manipulation, expression of cell-specific markers, and recapitulation of disease pathogenesis are presented as determining factors in how these methods may be used separately or together to ascertain mechanisms of disease and identify therapeutics for distinct patient populations or for specific individuals in personalized medicine projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla T Ghaffari
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Dignity Health-St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Alexander Starr
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Dignity Health-St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Andrew T Nelson
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Dignity Health-St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Dignity Health-St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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