151
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KRISHNAN SP. Induced pluripotent stem cells: methods, disease modeling, and microenvironment for drug discovery and screening. Turk J Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.3906/biy-1507-138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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152
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Direct Lineage Reprogramming Reveals Disease-Specific Phenotypes of Motor Neurons from Human ALS Patients. Cell Rep 2015; 14:115-128. [PMID: 26725112 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Subtype-specific neurons obtained from adult humans will be critical to modeling neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show that adult human skin fibroblasts can be directly and efficiently converted into highly pure motor neurons without passing through an induced pluripotent stem cell stage. These adult human induced motor neurons (hiMNs) exhibit the cytological and electrophysiological features of spinal motor neurons and form functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) with skeletal muscles. Importantly, hiMNs converted from ALS patient fibroblasts show disease-specific degeneration manifested through poor survival, soma shrinkage, hypoactivity, and an inability to form NMJs. A chemical screen revealed that the degenerative features of ALS hiMNs can be remarkably rescued by the small molecule kenpaullone. Taken together, our results define a direct and efficient strategy to obtain disease-relevant neuronal subtypes from adult human patients and reveal their promising value in disease modeling and drug identification.
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153
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Freedman BS. Modeling Kidney Disease with iPS Cells. Biomark Insights 2015; 10:153-69. [PMID: 26740740 PMCID: PMC4689367 DOI: 10.4137/bmi.s20054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are somatic cells that have been transcriptionally reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like state. iPSCs are a renewable source of diverse somatic cell types and tissues matching the original patient, including nephron-like kidney organoids. iPSCs have been derived representing several kidney disorders, such as ADPKD, ARPKD, Alport syndrome, and lupus nephritis, with the goals of generating replacement tissue and ‘disease in a dish’ laboratory models. Cellular defects in iPSCs and derived kidney organoids provide functional, personalized biomarkers, which can be correlated with genetic and clinical information. In proof of principle, disease-specific phenotypes have been described in iPSCs and ESCs with mutations linked to polycystic kidney disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In addition, these cells can be used to model nephrotoxic chemical injury. Recent advances in directed differentiation and CRISPR genome editing enable more specific iPSC models and present new possibilities for diagnostics, disease modeling, therapeutic screens, and tissue regeneration using human cells. This review outlines growth opportunities and design strategies for this rapidly expanding and evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S Freedman
- Division of Nephrology, Kidney Research Institute, and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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154
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Epigenetic Research of Neurodegenerative Disorders Using Patient iPSC-Based Models. Stem Cells Int 2015; 2016:9464591. [PMID: 26697081 PMCID: PMC4677257 DOI: 10.1155/2016/9464591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms play a role in human disease but their involvement in pathologies from the central nervous system has been hampered by the complexity of the brain together with its unique cellular architecture and diversity. Until recently, disease targeted neural types were only available as postmortem materials after many years of disease evolution. Current in vitro systems of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated by cell reprogramming of somatic cells from patients have provided valuable disease models recapitulating key pathological molecular events. Yet whether cell reprogramming on itself implies a truly epigenetic reprogramming, the epigenetic mechanisms governing this process are only partially understood. Moreover, elucidating epigenetic regulation using patient-specific iPSC-derived neural models is expected to have a great impact to unravel the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and to hopefully expand future therapeutic possibilities. Here we will critically review current knowledge of epigenetic involvement in neurodegenerative disorders focusing on the potential of iPSCs as a promising tool for epigenetic research of these diseases.
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155
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Zeltner N, Studer L. Pluripotent stem cell-based disease modeling: current hurdles and future promise. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2015; 37:102-10. [PMID: 26629748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2015.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can yield unlimited numbers of patient-specific cells of any type and may be an important tool in efforts to overcome current shortcomings in biomedical research. In vitro disease models based on the use of hiPSCs have been proposed for various applications. Those include drug discovery and validation, efficacy, safety and toxicity assays, the elucidation of previously unknown disease mechanisms, the enhancement of animal based assays, the promise of conducting clinical trials in the dish and the identification of cell types and stages suitable for cell replacement therapies. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of hiPSC-based disease modeling and discuss recent progress and remaining challenges on the road to realizing the full potential of this novel technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Zeltner
- Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, USA; Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, USA
| | - Lorenz Studer
- Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, USA; Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, USA.
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156
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Doyle SK, Pop MS, Evans HL, Koehler AN. Advances in discovering small molecules to probe protein function in a systems context. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2015; 30:28-36. [PMID: 26615565 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
High throughput screening (HTS) has historically been used for drug discovery almost exclusively by the pharmaceutical industry. Due to a significant decrease in costs associated with establishing a high throughput facility and an exponential interest in discovering probes of development and disease associated biomolecules, HTS core facilities have become an integral part of most academic and non-profit research institutions over the past decade. This major shift has led to the development of new HTS methodologies extending beyond the capabilities and target classes used in classical drug discovery approaches such as traditional enzymatic activity-based screens. In this brief review we describe some of the most interesting developments in HTS technologies and methods for chemical probe discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby K Doyle
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marius S Pop
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Helen L Evans
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Angela N Koehler
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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157
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Kaus A, Sareen D. ALS Patient Stem Cells for Unveiling Disease Signatures of Motoneuron Susceptibility: Perspectives on the Deadly Mitochondria, ER Stress and Calcium Triad. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:448. [PMID: 26635528 PMCID: PMC4652136 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a largely sporadic progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting upper and lower motoneurons (MNs) whose specific etiology is incompletely understood. Mutations in superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TARDBP/TDP-43) and C9orf72, have been identified in subsets of familial and sporadic patients. Key associated molecular and neuropathological features include ubiquitinated TDP-43 inclusions, stress granules, aggregated dipeptide proteins from mutant C9orf72 transcripts, altered mitochondrial ultrastructure, dysregulated calcium homeostasis, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and an unfolded protein response (UPR). Such impairments have been documented in ALS animal models; however, whether these mechanisms are initiating factors or later consequential events leading to MN vulnerability in ALS patients is debatable. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a valuable tool that could resolve this “chicken or egg” causality dilemma. Relevant systems for probing pathophysiologically affected cells from large numbers of ALS patients and discovering phenotypic disease signatures of early MN susceptibility are described. Performing unbiased ‘OMICS and high-throughput screening in relevant neural cells from a cohort of ALS patient iPSCs, and rescuing mitochondrial and ER stress impairments, can identify targeted therapeutics for increasing MN longevity in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjoscha Kaus
- Board of Governors-Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA, USA ; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dhruv Sareen
- Board of Governors-Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA, USA ; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA, USA ; iPSC Core, The David and Janet Polak Stem Cell Laboratory, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA, USA
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158
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Rhim JH, Luo X, Xu X, Gao D, Zhou T, Li F, Qin L, Wang P, Xia X, Wong STC. A High-content screen identifies compounds promoting the neuronal differentiation and the midbrain dopamine neuron specification of human neural progenitor cells. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16237. [PMID: 26542303 PMCID: PMC4635364 DOI: 10.1038/srep16237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Small molecule compounds promoting the neuronal differentiation of stem/progenitor cells are of pivotal importance to regenerative medicine. We carried out a high-content screen to systematically characterize known bioactive compounds, on their effects on the neuronal differentiation and the midbrain dopamine (mDA) neuron specification of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from the ventral mesencephalon of human fetal brain. Among the promoting compounds three major pharmacological classes were identified including the statins, TGF-βRI inhibitors, and GSK-3 inhibitors. The function of each class was also shown to be distinct, either to promote both the neuronal differentiation and mDA neuron specification, or selectively the latter, or promote the former but suppress the latter. We then carried out initial investigation on the possible mechanisms underlying, and demonstrated their applications on NPCs derived from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Our study revealed the potential of several small molecule compounds for use in the directed differentiation of human NPCs. The screening result also provided insight into the signaling network regulating the differentiation of human NPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Heon Rhim
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Xiangjian Luo
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Xiaoyun Xu
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Dongbing Gao
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Tieling Zhou
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Fuhai Li
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Xiaofeng Xia
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Stephen T C Wong
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
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159
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Lo Cicero A, Nissan X. Pluripotent stem cells to model Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS): Current trends and future perspectives for drug discovery. Ageing Res Rev 2015; 24:343-8. [PMID: 26474742 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Progeria, or Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), is a rare, fatal genetic disease characterized by an appearance of accelerated aging in children. This syndrome is typically caused by mutations in codon 608 (p.G608G) of the LMNA, leading to the production of a mutated form of lamin A precursor called progerin. In HGPS, progerin accumulates in cells causing progressive molecular defects, including nuclear shape abnormalities, chromatin disorganization, damage to DNA and delays in cell proliferation. Here we report how, over the past five years, pluripotent stem cells have provided new insights into the study of HGPS and opened new original therapeutic perspectives to treat the disease.
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160
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis models derived from human embryonic stem cells with different superoxide dismutase 1 mutations exhibit differential drug responses. Stem Cell Res 2015; 15:459-468. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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161
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Lee S, Huang EJ. Modeling ALS and FTD with iPSC-derived neurons. Brain Res 2015; 1656:88-97. [PMID: 26462653 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in genetics and neuropathology support the idea that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTD) are two ends of a disease spectrum. Although several animal models have been developed to investigate the pathogenesis and disease progression in ALS and FTD, there are significant limitations that hamper our ability to connect these models with the neurodegenerative processes in human diseases. With the technical breakthrough in reprogramming biology, it is now possible to generate patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and disease-relevant neuron subtypes. This review provides a comprehensive summary of studies that use iPSC-derived neurons to model ALS and FTD. We discuss the unique capabilities of iPSC-derived neurons that capture some key features of ALS and FTD, and underscore their potential roles in drug discovery. There are, however, several critical caveats that require improvements before iPSC-derived neurons can become highly effective disease models. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Exploiting human neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebum Lee
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0502, United States
| | - Eric J Huang
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0502, United States; Pathology Service 113B, San Francisco VA Medical Center, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0502, United States.
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162
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Liu Y, Deng W. Reverse engineering human neurodegenerative disease using pluripotent stem cell technology. Brain Res 2015; 1638:30-41. [PMID: 26423934 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With the technology of reprogramming somatic cells by introducing defined transcription factors that enables the generation of "induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)" with pluripotency comparable to that of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), it has become possible to use this technology to produce various cells and tissues that have been difficult to obtain from living bodies. This advancement is bringing forth rapid progress in iPSC-based disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. More and more studies have demonstrated that phenotypes of adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders could be rather faithfully recapitulated in iPSC-derived neural cell cultures. Moreover, despite the adult-onset nature of the diseases, pathogenic phenotypes and cellular abnormalities often exist in early developmental stages, providing new "windows of opportunity" for understanding mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders and for discovering new medicines. The cell reprogramming technology enables a reverse engineering approach for modeling the cellular degenerative phenotypes of a wide range of human disorders. An excellent example is the study of the human neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using iPSCs. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs), culminating in muscle wasting and death from respiratory failure. The iPSC approach provides innovative cell culture platforms to serve as ALS patient-derived model systems. Researchers have converted iPSCs derived from ALS patients into MNs and various types of glial cells, all of which are involved in ALS, to study the disease. The iPSC technology could be used to determine the role of specific genetic factors to track down what's wrong in the neurodegenerative disease process in the "disease-in-a-dish" model. Meanwhile, parallel experiments of targeting the same specific genes in human ESCs could also be performed to control and to complement the iPSC-based approach for ALS disease modeling studies. Much knowledge has been generated from the study of both ALS iPSCs and ESCs. As these methods have advantages and disadvantages that should be balanced on experimental design in order for them to complement one another, combining the diverse methods would help build an expanded knowledge of ALS pathophysiology. The goals are to reverse engineer the human disease using ESCs and iPSCs, generate lineage reporter lines and in vitro disease models, target disease related genes, in order to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of differentiation regulation along neural (neuronal versus glial) lineages, to unravel the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disease, and to provide appropriate cell sources for replacement therapy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: PSC and the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Wenbin Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Sacramento, CA, USA.
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163
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Kimbrel EA, Lanza R. Current status of pluripotent stem cells: moving the first therapies to the clinic. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2015; 14:681-92. [PMID: 26391880 DOI: 10.1038/nrd4738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) hold great promise for drug discovery and regenerative medicine owing to their ability to differentiate into any cell type in the body. After more than three decades of research, including delays due to the potential tumorigenicity of PSCs and inefficiencies in differentiation methods, the field is at a turning point, with a number of clinical trials across the globe now testing PSC-derived products in humans. Ocular diseases dominate these first-in-man trials, and Phase l/ll results are showing promising safety data as well as possible efficacy. In addition, the advent of induced PSC (iPSC) technology is enabling the development of a wide range of cell-based disease models from genetically predisposed patients, thereby facilitating drug discovery. In this Review, we discuss the recent progress and remaining challenges for the use of PSCs in regenerative medicine and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A Kimbrel
- Ocata Therapeutics, 33 Locke Drive, Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752, USA
| | - Robert Lanza
- Ocata Therapeutics, 33 Locke Drive, Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752, USA
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164
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Ben-Shushan E, Feldman E, Reubinoff BE. Notch signaling regulates motor neuron differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2015; 33:403-15. [PMID: 25335858 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In the pMN domain of the spinal cord, Notch signaling regulates the balance between motor neuron differentiation and maintenance of the progenitor state for later oligodendrocyte differentiation. Here, we sought to study the role of Notch signaling in regulation of the switch from the pMN progenitor state to differentiated motor neurons in a human model system. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) were directed to differentiate to pMN-like progenitor cells by the inductive action of retinoic acid and a Shh agonist, purmorphamine. We found that the expression of the Notch signaling effector Hes5 was induced in hESC-derived pMN-like progenitors and remained highly expressed when they were cultured under conditions favoring motor neuron differentiation. Inhibition of Notch signaling by a γ-secretase inhibitor in the differentiating pMN-like progenitor cells decreased Hes5 expression and enhanced the differentiation toward motor neurons. Conversely, over-expression of Hes5 in pMN-like progenitor cells during the differentiation interfered with retinoic acid- and purmorphamine-induced motor neuron differentiation and inhibited the emergence of motor neurons. Inhibition of Notch signaling had a permissive rather than an inductive effect on motor neuron differentiation. Our results indicate that Notch signaling has a regulatory role in the switch from the pMN progenitor to the differentiated motor neuron state. Inhibition of Notch signaling can be harnessed to enhance the differentiation of hESCs toward motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etti Ben-Shushan
- The Sidney and Judy Swartz Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center of The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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165
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Tang S, Xie M, Cao N, Ding S. Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Disease Modeling and Phenotypic Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2015; 59:2-15. [PMID: 26322868 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In vitro cell models are invaluable tools for studying diseases and discovering drugs. Human induced pluripotent stem cells, particularly derived from patients, are an advantageous resource for generating ample supplies of cells to create unique platforms that model disease. This manuscript will review recent developments in modeling a variety of diseases (including their cellular phenotypes) with induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients. It will also describe how researchers have exploited these models to validate drugs as potential therapeutics for these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibing Tang
- Gladstone Institutes , 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Min Xie
- Gladstone Institutes , 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Nan Cao
- Gladstone Institutes , 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Sheng Ding
- Gladstone Institutes , 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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166
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Emde A, Eitan C, Liou LL, Libby RT, Rivkin N, Magen I, Reichenstein I, Oppenheim H, Eilam R, Silvestroni A, Alajajian B, Ben-Dov IZ, Aebischer J, Savidor A, Levin Y, Sons R, Hammond SM, Ravits JM, Möller T, Hornstein E. Dysregulated miRNA biogenesis downstream of cellular stress and ALS-causing mutations: a new mechanism for ALS. EMBO J 2015; 34:2633-51. [PMID: 26330466 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201490493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in RNA dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) recently aroused upon discovering causative mutations in RNA-binding protein genes. Here, we show that extensive down-regulation of miRNA levels is a common molecular denominator for multiple forms of human ALS. We further demonstrate that pathogenic ALS-causing mutations are sufficient to inhibit miRNA biogenesis at the Dicing step. Abnormalities of the stress response are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, including ALS. Accordingly, we describe a novel mechanism for modulating microRNA biogenesis under stress, involving stress granule formation and re-organization of DICER and AGO2 protein interactions with their partners. In line with this observation, enhancing DICER activity by a small molecule, enoxacin, is beneficial for neuromuscular function in two independent ALS mouse models. Characterizing miRNA biogenesis downstream of the stress response ties seemingly disparate pathways in neurodegeneration and further suggests that DICER and miRNAs affect neuronal integrity and are possible therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Emde
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Chen Eitan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lee-Loung Liou
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan T Libby
- Translational Research Program, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Natali Rivkin
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Iddo Magen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Irit Reichenstein
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hagar Oppenheim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Raya Eilam
- Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aurelio Silvestroni
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Betty Alajajian
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Iddo Z Ben-Dov
- Nephrology Department, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Julianne Aebischer
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alon Savidor
- de Botton Institute for Protein Profiling, The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yishai Levin
- de Botton Institute for Protein Profiling, The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Robert Sons
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Scott M Hammond
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John M Ravits
- Translational Research Program, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Möller
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eran Hornstein
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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167
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Wiethoff S, Arber C, Li A, Wray S, Houlden H, Patani R. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells to model cerebellar disease: hope and hype. J Neurogenet 2015; 29:95-102. [PMID: 25985846 PMCID: PMC4673530 DOI: 10.3109/01677063.2015.1053478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum forms a highly ordered and indispensible component of motor function within the adult neuraxis, consisting of several distinct cellular subtypes. Cerebellar disease, through a variety of genetic and acquired causes, results in the loss of function of defined subclasses of neurons, and remains a significant and untreatable health care burden. The scarcity of therapies in this arena can partially be explained by unresolved disease mechanisms due to inaccessibility of human cerebellar neurons in a relevant experimental context where initiating disease mechanisms could be functionally elucidated, or drug screens conducted. In this review we discuss the potential promise of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for regenerative neurology, with a particular emphasis on in vitro modelling of cerebellar degeneration. We discuss progress made thus far using hiPSC-based models of neurodegeneration, noting the relatively slower pace of discovery made in modelling cerebellar dysfunction. We conclude by speculating how strategies attempting cerebellar differentiation from hiPSCs can be refined to allow the generation of accurate disease models. This in turn will permit a greater understanding of cerebellar pathophysiology to inform mechanistically rationalised therapies, which are desperately needed in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Wiethoff
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Center for Neurology and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Charles Arber
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Abi Li
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Selina Wray
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Henry Houlden
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Rickie Patani
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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168
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Ng SY, Soh BS, Rodriguez-Muela N, Hendrickson DG, Price F, Rinn JL, Rubin LL. Genome-wide RNA-Seq of Human Motor Neurons Implicates Selective ER Stress Activation in Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Cell Stem Cell 2015; 17:569-84. [PMID: 26321202 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene. Because this gene is expressed ubiquitously, it remains poorly understood why motor neurons (MNs) are one of the most affected cell types. To address this question, we carried out RNA sequencing studies using fixed, antibody-labeled, and purified MNs produced from control and SMA patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We found SMA-specific changes in MNs, including hyper-activation of the ER stress pathway. Functional studies demonstrated that inhibition of ER stress improves MN survival in vitro even in MNs expressing low SMN. In SMA mice, systemic delivery of an ER stress inhibitor that crosses the blood-brain barrier led to the preservation of spinal cord MNs. Therefore, our study implies that selective activation of ER stress underlies MN death in SMA. Moreover, the approach we have taken would be broadly applicable to the study of disease-prone human cells in heterogeneous cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Yan Ng
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Boon Seng Soh
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Natalia Rodriguez-Muela
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - David G Hendrickson
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; The Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Feodor Price
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - John L Rinn
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; The Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lee L Rubin
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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169
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Hunsberger JG, Efthymiou AG, Malik N, Behl M, Mead IL, Zeng X, Simeonov A, Rao M. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models to Enable In Vitro Models for Screening in the Central Nervous System. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:1852-64. [PMID: 25794298 PMCID: PMC4533087 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2014.0531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is great need to develop more predictive drug discovery tools to identify new therapies to treat diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Current nonpluripotent stem cell-based models often utilize non-CNS immortalized cell lines and do not enable the development of personalized models of disease. In this review, we discuss why in vitro models are necessary for translational research and outline the unique advantages of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based models over those of current systems. We suggest that iPSC-based models can be patient specific and isogenic lines can be differentiated into many neural cell types for detailed comparisons. iPSC-derived cells can be combined to form small organoids, or large panels of lines can be developed that enable new forms of analysis. iPSC and embryonic stem cell-derived cells can be readily engineered to develop reporters for lineage studies or mechanism of action experiments further extending the utility of iPSC-based systems. We conclude by describing novel technologies that include strategies for the development of diversity panels, novel genomic engineering tools, new three-dimensional organoid systems, and modified high-content screens that may bring toxicology into the 21st century. The strategic integration of these technologies with the advantages of iPSC-derived cell technology, we believe, will be a paradigm shift for toxicology and drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nasir Malik
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mamta Behl
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Ivy L. Mead
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Xianmin Zeng
- Buck Institute for Age Research, Novato, California
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, Maryland
| | - Mahendra Rao
- New York Stem Cell Foundation, New York, New York
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170
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Shum C, Macedo SC, Warre-Cornish K, Cocks G, Price J, Srivastava DP. Utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to understand the actions of estrogens in human neurons. Horm Behav 2015; 74:228-42. [PMID: 26143621 PMCID: PMC4579404 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "Estradiol and Cognition". Over recent years tremendous progress has been made towards understanding the molecular and cellular mechanism by which estrogens exert enhancing effects on cognition, and how they act as a neuroprotective or neurotrophic agent in disease. Currently, much of this work has been carried out in animal models with only a limited number of studies using native human tissue or cells. Recent advances in stem cell technology now make it possible to reprogram somatic cells from humans into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can subsequently be differentiated into neurons of specific lineages. Importantly, the reprogramming of cells allows for the generation of iPSCs that retain the genetic "makeup" of the donor. Therefore, it is possible to generate iPSC-derived neurons from patients diagnosed with specific diseases, that harbor the complex genetic background associated with the disorder. Here, we review the iPSC technology and how it's currently being used to model neural development and neurological diseases. Furthermore, we explore whether this cellular system could be used to understand the role of estrogens in human neurons, and present preliminary data in support of this. We further suggest that the use of iPSC technology offers a novel system to not only further understand estrogens' effects in human cells, but also to investigate the mechanism by which estrogens are beneficial in disease. Developing a greater understanding of these mechanisms in native human cells will also aid in the development of safer and more effective estrogen-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Shum
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Cell and Behaviour Unit, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Sara C Macedo
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Cell and Behaviour Unit, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; Faculty of Engineering, Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Katherine Warre-Cornish
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Cell and Behaviour Unit, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Graham Cocks
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Cell and Behaviour Unit, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Jack Price
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Cell and Behaviour Unit, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Cell and Behaviour Unit, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
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171
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Sreedharan J, Neukomm LJ, Brown RH, Freeman MR. Age-Dependent TDP-43-Mediated Motor Neuron Degeneration Requires GSK3, hat-trick, and xmas-2. Curr Biol 2015; 25:2130-6. [PMID: 26234214 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The RNA-processing protein TDP-43 is central to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common adult-onset motor neuron (MN) disease. TDP-43 is conserved in Drosophila, where it has been the topic of considerable study, but how TDP-43 mutations lead to age-dependent neurodegeneration is unclear and most approaches have not directly examined changes in MN morphology with age. We used a mosaic approach to study age-dependent MN loss in the adult fly leg where it is possible to resolve single motor axons, NMJs and active zones, and perform rapid forward genetic screens. We show that expression of TDP-43(Q331K) caused dying-back of NMJs and axons, which could not be suppressed by mutations that block Wallerian degeneration. We report the identification of three genes that suppress TDP-43 toxicity, including shaggy/GSK3, a known modifier of neurodegeneration. The two additional novel suppressors, hat-trick and xmas-2, function in chromatin modeling and RNA export, two processes recently implicated in human ALS. Loss of shaggy/GSK3, hat-trick, or xmas-2 does not suppress Wallerian degeneration, arguing TDP-43(Q331K)-induced and Wallerian degeneration are genetically distinct processes. In addition to delineating genetic factors that modify TDP-43 toxicity, these results establish the Drosophila adult leg as a valuable new tool for the in vivo study of adult MN phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jemeen Sreedharan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neurobiology, LRB-740A1, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Department of Neurology, S5-755, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Signalling ISP, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK.
| | - Lukas J Neukomm
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neurobiology, LRB-740A1, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, S5-755, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Marc R Freeman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neurobiology, LRB-740A1, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
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172
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Fossati V, Douvaras P. Generating induced pluripotent stem cells for multiple sclerosis therapy. Regen Med 2015; 9:709-11. [PMID: 25431906 DOI: 10.2217/rme.14.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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173
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Khurana V, Tardiff DF, Chung CY, Lindquist S. Toward stem cell-based phenotypic screens for neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurol 2015; 11:339-50. [PMID: 25986505 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2015.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In the absence of a single preventive or disease-modifying strategy, neurodegenerative diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent in our ageing population. The mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration are poorly understood, making the target-based drug screening strategies that are employed by the pharmaceutical industry fraught with difficulty. However, phenotypic screening in neurons and glia derived from patients is now conceivable through unprecedented developments in reprogramming, transdifferentiation, and genome editing. We outline progress in this nascent field, but also consider the formidable hurdles to identifying robust, disease-relevant and screenable cellular phenotypes in patient-derived cells. We illustrate how analysis in the simple baker's yeast cell Saccharaomyces cerevisiae is driving discovery in patient-derived neurons, and how approaches in this model organism can establish a paradigm to guide the development of stem cell-based phenotypic screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Khurana
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, WACC-835, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Daniel F Tardiff
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Chee Yeun Chung
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Susan Lindquist
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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174
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Cherry JJ, Kobayashi DT, Lynes MM, Naryshkin NN, Tiziano FD, Zaworski PG, Rubin LL, Jarecki J. Assays for the identification and prioritization of drug candidates for spinal muscular atrophy. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2015; 12:315-41. [PMID: 25147906 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2014.587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder resulting in degeneration of α-motor neurons of the anterior horn and proximal muscle weakness. It is the leading cause of genetic mortality in children younger than 2 years. It affects ∼1 in 11,000 live births. In 95% of cases, SMA is caused by homozygous deletion of the SMN1 gene. In addition, all patients possess at least one copy of an almost identical gene called SMN2. A single point mutation in exon 7 of the SMN2 gene results in the production of low levels of full-length survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein at amounts insufficient to compensate for the loss of the SMN1 gene. Although no drug treatments are available for SMA, a number of drug discovery and development programs are ongoing, with several currently in clinical trials. This review describes the assays used to identify candidate drugs for SMA that modulate SMN2 gene expression by various means. Specifically, it discusses the use of high-throughput screening to identify candidate molecules from primary screens, as well as the technical aspects of a number of widely used secondary assays to assess SMN messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expression, localization, and function. Finally, it describes the process of iterative drug optimization utilized during preclinical SMA drug development to identify clinical candidates for testing in human clinical trials.
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175
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Ichida JK, Kiskinis E. Probing disorders of the nervous system using reprogramming approaches. EMBO J 2015; 34:1456-77. [PMID: 25925386 PMCID: PMC4474524 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201591267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The groundbreaking technologies of induced pluripotency and lineage conversion have generated a genuine opportunity to address fundamental aspects of the diseases that affect the nervous system. These approaches have granted us unrestricted access to the brain and spinal cord of patients and have allowed for the study of disease in the context of human cells, expressing physiological levels of proteins and under each patient's unique genetic constellation. Along with this unprecedented opportunity have come significant challenges, particularly in relation to patient variability, experimental design and data interpretation. Nevertheless, significant progress has been achieved over the past few years both in our ability to create the various neural subtypes that comprise the nervous system and in our efforts to develop cellular models of disease that recapitulate clinical findings identified in patients. In this Review, we present tables listing the various human neural cell types that can be generated and the neurological disease modeling studies that have been reported, describe the current state of the field, highlight important breakthroughs and discuss the next steps and future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin K Ichida
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad, CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology & Clinical Neurological Sciences and Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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176
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Schröder P, Förster T, Kleine S, Becker C, Richters A, Ziegler S, Rauh D, Kumar K, Waldmann H. Neuritogenic militarinone-inspired 4-hydroxypyridones target the stress pathway kinase MAP4K4. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015; 54:12398-403. [PMID: 25908259 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201501515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Progressive loss and impaired restoration of neuronal activity are hallmarks of neurological diseases, and new small molecules with neurotrophic activity are in high demand. The militarinone alkaloids and structurally simplified analogues with 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone core structure induce pronounced neurite outgrowth, but their protein target has not been identified. Reported herein is the synthesis of a militarinone-inspired 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone collection, its investigation for enhancement of neurite outgrowth, and the discovery of the stress pathway kinase MAP4K4 as a target of the discovered neuritogenic pyridones. The most potent 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone is a selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of MAP4K4 but not of the other stress pathway related kinases, as proven by biochemical analysis and by a crystal structure of the inhibitor in complex with MAP4K4. The findings support the notion that MAP4K4 may be a new target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schröder
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund (Germany).,Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - Tim Förster
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund (Germany).,Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - Stefan Kleine
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - Christian Becker
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - André Richters
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - Slava Ziegler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - Daniel Rauh
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - Kamal Kumar
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund (Germany).,Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany)
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund (Germany). .,Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund (Germany).
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177
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Schröder P, Förster T, Kleine S, Becker C, Richters A, Ziegler S, Rauh D, Kumar K, Waldmann H. Neuritogenic Militarinone-Inspired 4-Hydroxypyridones Target the Stress Pathway Kinase MAP4K4. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201501515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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178
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Corti S, Faravelli I, Cardano M, Conti L. Human pluripotent stem cells as tools for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disease modeling and drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 10:615-29. [PMID: 25891144 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2015.1037737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although intensive efforts have been made, effective treatments for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases have not been yet discovered. Possible reasons for this include the lack of appropriate disease models of human neurons and a limited understanding of the etiological and neurobiological mechanisms. Recent advances in pluripotent stem cell (PSC) research have now opened the path to the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) starting from somatic cells, thus offering an unlimited source of patient-specific disease-relevant neuronal cells. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors focus on the use of human PSC-derived cells in modeling neurological disorders and discovering of new drugs and provide their expert perspectives on the field. EXPERT OPINION The advent of human iPSC-based disease models has fuelled renewed enthusiasm and enormous expectations for insights of disease mechanisms and identification of more disease-relevant and novel molecular targets. Human PSCs offer a unique tool that is being profitably exploited for high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms. This process can lead to the identification and optimization of molecules/drugs and thus move forward new pharmacological therapies for a wide range of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions. It is predicted that improvements in the production of mature neuronal subtypes, from patient-specific human-induced pluripotent stem cells and their adaptation to culture, to HTS platforms will allow the increased exploitation of human pluripotent stem cells in drug discovery programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Corti
- University of Milan, Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , via Francesco Sforza 35, Milan 20122 , Italy +39 02 55033817 ;
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179
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Logroscino G, Tortelli R, Rizzo G, Marin B, Preux PM, Malaspina A. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Aging-Related Disease. CURRENT GERIATRICS REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s13670-015-0127-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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180
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de Boer AS, Koszka K, Kiskinis E, Suzuki N, Davis-Dusenbery BN, Eggan K. Genetic validation of a therapeutic target in a mouse model of ALS. Sci Transl Med 2015; 6:248ra104. [PMID: 25100738 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3009351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurons produced from stem cells have emerged as a tool to identify new therapeutic targets for neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, it remains unclear to what extent these new mechanistic insights will translate to animal models, an important step in the validation of new targets. Previously, we found that glia from mice carrying the SOD1G93A mutation, a model of ALS, were toxic to stem cell-derived human motor neurons. We use pharmacological and genetic approaches to demonstrate that the prostanoid receptor DP1 mediates this glial toxicity. Furthermore, we validate the importance of this mechanism for neural degeneration in vivo. Genetic ablation of DP1 in SOD1G93A mice extended life span, decreased microglial activation, and reduced motor neuron loss. Our findings suggest that blocking DP1 may be a therapeutic strategy in ALS and demonstrate that discoveries from stem cell models of disease can be corroborated in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sophie de Boer
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Kathryn Koszka
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Brandi N Davis-Dusenbery
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kevin Eggan
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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181
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Nityanandam A, Baldwin KK. Advances in reprogramming-based study of neurologic disorders. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:1265-83. [PMID: 25749371 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The technology to convert adult human non-neural cells into neural lineages, through induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), somatic cell nuclear transfer, and direct lineage reprogramming or transdifferentiation has progressed tremendously in recent years. Reprogramming-based approaches aimed at manipulating cellular identity have enormous potential for disease modeling, high-throughput drug screening, cell therapy, and personalized medicine. Human iPSC (hiPSC)-based cellular disease models have provided proof of principle evidence of the validity of this system. However, several challenges remain before patient-specific neurons produced by reprogramming can provide reliable insights into disease mechanisms or be efficiently applied to drug discovery and transplantation therapy. This review will first discuss limitations of currently available reprogramming-based methods in faithfully and reproducibly recapitulating disease pathology. Specifically, we will address issues such as culture heterogeneity, interline and inter-individual variability, and limitations of two-dimensional differentiation paradigms. Second, we will assess recent progress and the future prospects of reprogramming-based neurologic disease modeling. This includes three-dimensional disease modeling, advances in reprogramming technology, prescreening of hiPSCs and creating isogenic disease models using gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Nityanandam
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Kristin K Baldwin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
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182
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Du ZW, Chen H, Liu H, Lu J, Qian K, Huang CTL, Zhong X, Fan F, Zhang SC. Generation and expansion of highly pure motor neuron progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6626. [PMID: 25806427 PMCID: PMC4375778 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 273] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have opened new opportunities for understanding human development, modelling disease processes and developing new therapeutics. However, these applications are hindered by the low efficiency and heterogeneity of cell types, such as motorneurons (MNs), differentiated from hPSCs as well as our inability to maintain the potency of lineage-committed progenitors. Here by using a combination of small molecules that regulate multiple signalling pathways, we develop a method to guide human embryonic stem cells to a near-pure population (>95%) of motor neuron progenitors (MNPs) in 12 days, and an enriched population (>90%) of functionally mature MNs in an additional 16 days. More importantly, the MNPs can be expanded for at least five passages so that a single MNP can be amplified to 1 × 10(4). This method is reproducible in human-induced pluripotent stem cells and is applied to model MN-degenerative diseases and in proof-of-principle drug-screening assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Wei Du
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Huisheng Liu
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jianfeng Lu
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Kun Qian
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | | | - Xiaofen Zhong
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Frank Fan
- Promega Corporation, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - Su-Chun Zhang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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183
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Motoneurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells develop mature phenotypes typical of endogenous spinal motoneurons. J Neurosci 2015; 35:1291-306. [PMID: 25609642 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2126-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent cell-derived motoneurons (iPSCMNs) are sought for use in cell replacement therapies and treatment strategies for motoneuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, much remains unknown about the physiological properties of iPSCMNs and how they compare with endogenous spinal motoneurons or embryonic stem cell-derived motoneurons (ESCMNs). In the present study, we first used a proteomic approach and compared protein expression profiles between iPSCMNs and ESCMNs to show that <4% of the proteins identified were differentially regulated. Like ESCs, we found that mouse iPSCs treated with retinoic acid and a smoothened agonist differentiated into motoneurons expressing the LIM homeodomain protein Lhx3. When transplanted into the neural tube of developing chick embryos, iPSCMNs selectively targeted muscles normally innervated by Lhx3 motoneurons. In vitro studies showed that iPSCMNs form anatomically mature and functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) when cocultured with chick myofibers for several weeks. Electrophysiologically, iPSCMNs developed passive membrane and firing characteristic typical of postnatal motoneurons after several weeks in culture. Finally, iPSCMNs grafted into transected mouse tibial nerve projected axons to denervated gastrocnemius muscle fibers, where they formed functional NMJs, restored contractile force. and attenuated denervation atrophy. Together, iPSCMNs possess many of the same cellular and physiological characteristics as ESCMNs and endogenous spinal motoneurons. These results further justify using iPSCMNs as a source of motoneurons for cell replacement therapies and to study motoneuron diseases such as ALS.
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184
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De novo generation of HSCs from somatic and pluripotent stem cell sources. Blood 2015; 125:2641-8. [PMID: 25762177 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-10-570234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Generating human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from autologous tissues, when coupled with genome editing technologies, is a promising approach for cellular transplantation therapy and for in vitro disease modeling, drug discovery, and toxicology studies. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a potentially inexhaustible supply of autologous tissue; however, to date, directed differentiation from hPSCs has yielded hematopoietic cells that lack robust and sustained multilineage potential. Cellular reprogramming technologies represent an alternative platform for the de novo generation of HSCs via direct conversion from heterologous cell types. In this review, we discuss the latest advancements in HSC generation by directed differentiation from hPSCs or direct conversion from somatic cells, and highlight their applications in research and prospects for therapy.
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185
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Li Y, Balasubramanian U, Cohen D, Zhang PW, Mosmiller E, Sattler R, Maragakis NJ, Rothstein JD. A comprehensive library of familial human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis induced pluripotent stem cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118266. [PMID: 25760436 PMCID: PMC4356618 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons, leading to paralysis of voluntary muscles. About 10% of all ALS cases are familial (fALS), among which 15-20% are linked to Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutations, usually inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. To date only one FDA approved drug is available which increases survival moderately. Our understanding of ALS disease mechanisms is largely derived from rodent model studies, however due to the differences between rodents and humans, it is necessary to have humanized models for studies of disease pathogenesis as well as drug development. Therefore, we generated a comprehensive library of a total 22 of fALS patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines. These cells were thoroughly characterized before being deposited into the library. The library of cells includes a variety of C9orf72 mutations, sod1 mutations, FUS, ANG and FIG4 mutations. Certain mutations are represented with more than one line, which allows for studies of variable genetic backgrounds. In addition, these iPSCs can be successfully differentiated to astroglia, a cell type known to play a critical role in ALS disease progression. This library represents a comprehensive resource that can be used for ALS disease modeling and the development of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
| | - Umamahesw Balasubramanian
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
| | - Devon Cohen
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
| | - Ping-Wu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Mosmiller
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Ansari ALS Center for Stem Cell and Regeneration Research at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
| | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Maragakis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Ansari ALS Center for Stem Cell and Regeneration Research at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Rothstein
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States of America
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186
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Ito Y, Kawano H, Kanai F, Nakamura E, Tada N, Takai S, Horie S, Arai H, Kobayashi T, Hino O. Establishment of Tsc2‑deficient rat embryonic stem cells. Int J Oncol 2015; 46:1944-52. [PMID: 25738543 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2015.2913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by TSC1 or TSC2 mutations. TSC causes the development of tumors in various organs such as the brain, skin, kidney, lung, and heart. The protein complex TSC1/2 has been reported to have an inhibitory function on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Treatment with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors has demonstrated tumor‑reducing effects in patients with TSC but is also associated with various adverse effects. In recent years, experiments involving in vivo differentiation of pluripotent stem cells have been reported as useful in elucidating mechanisms of pathogenesis and discovering new therapeutic targets for several diseases. To reveal the molecular basis of the pathogenesis caused by the Tsc2 mutation, we derived embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from Eker rats, which have the Tsc2 mutation and develop brain lesions and renal tumors. Although several studies have reported the necessity of Tsc1 and Tsc2 regulation to maintain ESCs and hematopoietic stem cells, we successfully established not only Tsc2+/+ and Tsc2+/- ESCs but also Tsc2-/- ESCs. We confirmed that these cells express pluripotency markers and retain the ability to differentiate into all three germ layers. Comprehensive gene expression analysis of Tsc2+/+ and Tsc2+/- ESCs revealed similar profiles, whereas the profile of Tsc2-/- ESCs was distinct from these two. In vitro differentiation experiments using these ESCs combined with in vivo experiments may reveal the mechanism of the tissue‑specific pathogenesis caused by the Tsc2 mutation and identify specific new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Ito
- Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruna Kawano
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumio Kanai
- Laboratory of Genome Research, Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eri Nakamura
- Laboratory of Genome Research, Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norihiro Tada
- Laboratory of Genome Research, Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Setsuo Takai
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hiroshima International University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shigeo Horie
- Department of Urology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hajime Arai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Okio Hino
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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187
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Bucchia M, Ramirez A, Parente V, Simone C, Nizzardo M, Magri F, Dametti S, Corti S. Therapeutic Development in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Clin Ther 2015; 37:668-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2014.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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188
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Crook JM, Wallace G, Tomaskovic-Crook E. The potential of induced pluripotent stem cells in models of neurological disorders: implications on future therapy. Expert Rev Neurother 2015; 15:295-304. [PMID: 25664599 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.2015.1013096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for new and advanced approaches to modeling the pathological mechanisms of complex human neurological disorders. This is underscored by the decline in pharmaceutical research and development efficiency resulting in a relative decrease in new drug launches in the last several decades. Induced pluripotent stem cells represent a new tool to overcome many of the shortcomings of conventional methods, enabling live human neural cell modeling of complex conditions relating to aberrant neurodevelopment, such as schizophrenia, epilepsy and autism as well as age-associated neurodegeneration. This review considers the current status of induced pluripotent stem cell-based modeling of neurological disorders, canvassing proven and putative advantages, current constraints, and future prospects of next-generation culture systems for biomedical research and translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Micah Crook
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, Fairy Meadow, New South Wales 2519, Australia
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189
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Coatti GC, Beccari MS, Olávio TR, Mitne-Neto M, Okamoto OK, Zatz M. Stem cells for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis modeling and therapy: Myth or fact? Cytometry A 2015; 87:197-211. [DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G. C. Coatti
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP); São Paulo Brazil
| | - M. S. Beccari
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP); São Paulo Brazil
| | - T. R. Olávio
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP); São Paulo Brazil
| | - M. Mitne-Neto
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP); São Paulo Brazil
- Fleury Group (Research and Development Department); São Paulo Brazil
| | - O. K. Okamoto
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP); São Paulo Brazil
| | - M. Zatz
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center; Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP); São Paulo Brazil
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190
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Davies SG, Kennewell PD, Russell AJ, Seden PT, Westwood R, Wynne GM. Stemistry: the control of stem cells in situ using chemistry. J Med Chem 2015; 58:2863-94. [PMID: 25590360 DOI: 10.1021/jm500838d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A new paradigm for drug research has emerged, namely the deliberate search for molecules able to selectively affect the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of adult stem cells within the tissues in which they exist. Recently, there has been significant interest in medicinal chemistry toward the discovery and design of low molecular weight molecules that affect stem cells and thus have novel therapeutic activity. We believe that a successful agent from such a discover program would have profound effects on the treatment of many long-term degenerative disorders. Among these conditions are examples such as cardiovascular decay, neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, and macular degeneration, all of which have significant unmet medical needs. This perspective will review evidence from the literature that indicates that discovery of such agents is achievable and represents a worthwhile pursuit for the skills of the medicinal chemist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G Davies
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Peter D Kennewell
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Angela J Russell
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, U.K.,‡Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, U.K
| | - Peter T Seden
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Robert Westwood
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Graham M Wynne
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, U.K
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191
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Valetdinova KR, Medvedev SP, Zakian SM. Model systems of motor neuron diseases as a platform for studying pathogenic mechanisms and searching for therapeutic agents. Acta Naturae 2015; 7:19-36. [PMID: 25926999 PMCID: PMC4410393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past 30 years, many molecular genetic mechanisms underlying motor neuron diseases (MNDs) have been discovered and studied. Among these diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which causes the progressive degeneration and death of central and peripheral motor neurons, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which is one of the inherited diseases that prevail among hereditary diseases in the pattern of child mortality, hold a special place. These diseases, like most nerve, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric diseases, cannot be treated appropriately at present. Artificial model systems, especially those that are based on the use of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are of paramount importance in searching for adequate therapeutic agents, as well as for a deep understanding of the MND pathogenesis. This review is mainly focused on the recent advance in the development of and research into cell and animal models of ALS and SMA. The main issues concerning the use of cellular technologies in biomedical applications are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. R. Valetdinova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Meshalkin Novosibirsk State Research Institute of Circulation Pathology, Rechkunovskaya Str., 15, Novosibirsk, 630055, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Str., 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - S. P. Medvedev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Meshalkin Novosibirsk State Research Institute of Circulation Pathology, Rechkunovskaya Str., 15, Novosibirsk, 630055, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Str., 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - S. M. Zakian
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Meshalkin Novosibirsk State Research Institute of Circulation Pathology, Rechkunovskaya Str., 15, Novosibirsk, 630055, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Str., 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
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192
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Abstract
Conducting drug discovery efforts in patient- and disease-specific cells can maximize their likelihood of success. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Yang et al. (2013) demonstrate the power of lineage-specific cell-based drug screens by identifying a compound that promotes survival of stem-cell-derived ALS mutant motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Jun Kim
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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193
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Abstract
Integration of physiologically relevant in vitro assays at the earliest stages of drug discovery may improve the likelihood of successfully translating preclinical discoveries to the clinic. Assays based on in vitro-differentiated, human pluripotent stem cell (IVD hPSC)-derived cells, which may better model human physiology, are starting to impact the drug discovery process, but their implementation has been slower than originally anticipated. In this Perspective, we discuss imperatives for incorporating IVD hPSCs into drug discovery and the associated challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J Engle
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer, Eastern Point Road, Groton, CT 06340, USA.
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194
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Lunn JS, Sakowski SA, Feldman EL. Concise review: Stem cell therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: recent advances and prospects for the future. Stem Cells 2014; 32:1099-109. [PMID: 24448926 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal disease involving the loss of motor neurons. Although the mechanisms responsible for motor neuron degeneration in ALS remain elusive, the development of stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of ALS has gained widespread support. Here, we review the types of stem cells being considered for therapeutic applications in ALS, and emphasize recent preclinical advances that provide supportive rationale for clinical translation. We also discuss early trials from around the world translating cellular therapies to ALS patients, and offer important considerations for future clinical trial design. Although clinical translation is still in its infancy, and additional insight into the mechanisms underlying therapeutic efficacy and the establishment of long-term safety are required, these studies represent an important first step toward the development of effective cellular therapies for the treatment of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Simon Lunn
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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195
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Pluripotent stem cell-based models of spinal muscular atrophy. Mol Cell Neurosci 2014; 64:44-50. [PMID: 25511182 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases, as the vast majority of neurodegenerative disorders in humans, are incurable conditions that are challenging to study in vitro, owing to the obstacles in obtaining the cell types majorly involved in the pathogenesis. Recent advances in stem cell research, especially in the development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, have opened up the possibility of generating a substantial amount of disease-specific neuronal cells, including motor neurons and glial cells. The present review analyzes the practical implications of iPSCs, generated from fibroblasts of patients affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and discusses the challenges in the development and optimization of in vitro disease models. Research on patient-derived disease-specific cells may shed light on the pathological processes behind neuronal dysfunction and death in SMA, thus providing new insights for the development of novel effective therapies.
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196
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Bunton-Stasyshyn RKA, Saccon RA, Fratta P, Fisher EMC. SOD1 Function and Its Implications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pathology: New and Renascent Themes. Neuroscientist 2014; 21:519-29. [PMID: 25492944 DOI: 10.1177/1073858414561795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The canonical role of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is as an antioxidant enzyme protecting the cell from reactive oxygen species toxicity. SOD1 was also the first gene in which mutations were found to be causative for the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more than 20 years ago. ALS is a relentless and incurable mid-life onset disease, which starts with a progressive paralysis and usually leads to death within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis; in the majority of cases, the intellect appears to remain intact while the motor system degenerates. It rapidly became clear that when mutated SOD1 takes on a toxic gain of function in ALS. However, this novel function remains unknown and many cellular systems have been implicated in disease. Now it seems that SOD1 may play a rather larger role in the cell than originally realized, including as a key modulator of glucose signaling (at least so far in yeast) and in RNA binding. Here, we consider some of the new findings for SOD1 in health and disease, which may shed light on how single amino acid changes at sites throughout this protein can cause devastating neurodegeneration in the mammalian motor system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachele A Saccon
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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197
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Gouarné C, Tracz J, Paoli MG, Deluca V, Seimandi M, Tardif G, Xilouri M, Stefanis L, Bordet T, Pruss RM. Protective role of olesoxime against wild-type α-synuclein-induced toxicity in human neuronally differentiated SHSY-5Y cells. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 172:235-45. [PMID: 25220617 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Parkinson's disease (PD) is usually diagnosed clinically from classical motor symptoms, while definitive diagnosis is made postmortem, based on the presence of Lewy bodies and nigral neuron cell loss. α-Synuclein (ASYN), the main protein component of Lewy bodies, clearly plays a role in the neurodegeneration that characterizes PD. Additionally, mutation in the SNCA gene or copy number variations are associated with some forms of familial PD. Here, the objective of the study was to evaluate whether olesoxime, a promising neuroprotective drug can prevent ASYN-mediated neurotoxicity. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used here a novel, mechanistically approachable and attractive cellular model based on the inducible overexpression of human wild-type ASYN in neuronally differentiated human neuroblastoma (SHSY-5Y) cells. This model demonstrates gradual cellular degeneration, coinciding temporally with the appearance of soluble and membrane-bound ASYN oligomers and cell death combining both apoptotic and non-apoptotic pathways. KEY RESULTS Olesoxime fully protected differentiated SHSY-5Y cells from cell death, neurite retraction and cytoplasmic shrinkage induced by moderate ASYN overexpression. This protection was associated with a reduction in cytochrome c release from mitochondria and caspase-9 activation suggesting that olesoxime prevented ASYN toxicity by preserving mitochondrial integrity and function. In addition, olesoxime displayed neurotrophic effects on neuronally differentiated SHSY-5Y cells, independent of ASYN expression, by promoting their differentiation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Because ASYN is a common underlying factor in many cases of PD, olesoxime could be a promising therapy to slow neurodegeneration in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Gouarné
- Trophos, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Luminy Biotech Entreprises, Marseille, France
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Theme 9 in vitro experimental models. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2014; 15 Suppl 1:161-78. [PMID: 25382839 DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2014.960186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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199
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Yang XW, Yang CP, Jiang LP, Qin XJ, Liu YP, Shen QS, Chen YB, Luo XD. Indole alkaloids with new skeleton activating neural stem cells. Org Lett 2014; 16:5808-11. [PMID: 25353160 DOI: 10.1021/ol5029223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alstoscholarisines A-E (1-5), five unprecedented monoterpenoid indole alkaloids with 6/5/6/6/6 fused-bridge rings, were isolated from Alstonia scholaris. They promoted adult neuronal stem cells (NSCs) proliferation significantly, in which the most active one (1) functioned from a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL in a dosage-dependent manner. Furthermore, 1 enhanced NSC sphere formation and neurogenic fate commitment through activation of a Wnt signaling pathway and promoted NSC differentiation but did not affect proliferation of neuroblastoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
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Neurotrophic requirements of human motor neurons defined using amplified and purified stem cell-derived cultures. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110324. [PMID: 25337699 PMCID: PMC4206291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human motor neurons derived from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESCs and hiPSCs) are a potentially important tool for studying motor neuron survival and pathological cell death. However, their basic survival requirements remain poorly characterized. Here, we sought to optimize a robust survival assay and characterize their response to different neurotrophic factors. First, to increase motor neuron yield, we screened a small-molecule collection and found that the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 enhances motor neuron progenitor proliferation up to 4-fold in hESC and hiPSC cultures. Next, we FACS-purified motor neurons expressing the Hb9::GFP reporter from Y-27632-amplified embryoid bodies and cultured them in the presence of mitotic inhibitors to eliminate dividing progenitors. Survival of these purified motor neurons in the absence of any other cell type was strongly dependent on neurotrophic support. GDNF, BDNF and CNTF all showed potent survival effects (EC(50) 1-2 pM). The number of surviving motor neurons was further enhanced in the presence of forskolin and IBMX, agents that increase endogenous cAMP levels. As a demonstration of the ability of the assay to detect novel neurotrophic agents, Y-27632 itself was found to support human motor neuron survival. Thus, purified human stem cell-derived motor neurons show survival requirements similar to those of primary rodent motor neurons and can be used for rigorous cell-based screening.
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