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Constantino H, Pistollato F, Seidle T. Transitioning biomedical research toward human-centric methodologies: systems-based strategies. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103947. [PMID: 38460569 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Human-centric methodologies like microphysiological systems and in silico methods have shown promise in addressing the limitations of animal models in understanding human biology and responding to public health priorities. However, the prevailing paradigm based on animal research persists. The article proposes a systemic thinking approach, endorsed by the OECD and the EU, as a tool to leverage innovation to reframe the issue and achieve transformative policies. By identifying the complex factors shaping method selection in basic and biomedical research, a simplified model is presented to illuminate the systemic nature of this decision-making process. The goal is not to prescribe solutions but to offer policymakers a new framework for more-effective strategies, emphasizing collaboration among stakeholders and the need for robust data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Troy Seidle
- Research & Toxicology, Humane Society International, Toronto, Canada
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2
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Acharya P, Joshi P, Shrestha S, Choi NY, Jeong S, Lee MY. Uniform cerebral organoid culture on a pillar plate by simple and reproducible spheroid transfer from an ultralow attachment well plate. Biofabrication 2024; 16:10.1088/1758-5090/ad1b1e. [PMID: 38176079 PMCID: PMC10822717 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad1b1e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids have potential to recapitulate the earliest stages of brain development, serving as an effectivein vitromodel for studying both normal brain development and disorders. However, current brain organoid culture methods face several challenges, including low throughput, high variability in organoid generation, and time-consuming, multiple transfer and encapsulation of cells in hydrogels throughout the culture. These limitations hinder the widespread application of brain organoids including high-throughput assessment of compounds in clinical and industrial lab settings. In this study, we demonstrate a straightforward approach of generating multiple cerebral organoids from iPSCs on a pillar plate platform, eliminating the need for labor-intensive, multiple transfer and encapsulation steps to ensure the reproducible generation of cerebral organoids. We formed embryoid bodies in an ultra-low attachment 384-well plate and subsequently transferred them to the pillar plate containing Matrigel, using a straightforward sandwiching and inverting method. Each pillar on the pillar plate contains a single spheroid, and the success rate of spheroid transfer was in a range of 95%-100%. Using this approach, we robustly generated cerebral organoids on the pillar plate and demonstrated an intra-batch coefficient of variation below 9%-19% based on ATP-based cell viability and compound treatment. Notably, our spheroid transfer method in combination with the pillar plate allows miniaturized culture of cerebral organoids, alleviates the issue of organoid variability, and has potential to significantly enhance assay throughput by allowingin situorganoid assessment as compared to conventional organoid culture in 6-/24-well plates, petri dishes, and spinner flasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabha Acharya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | | | - Sunil Shrestha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Na Young Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Sehoon Jeong
- Department of Healthcare Information Technology, Inje University, Gimhae, Republic of Korea
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
- Bioprinting Laboratories Inc., Dallas, Texas
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3
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Acharya P, Joshi P, Shrestha S, Choi NY, Jeong S, Lee MY. Uniform cerebral organoid culture on a pillar plate by simple and reproducible spheroid transfer from an ultralow attachment well plate. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.21.537886. [PMID: 37905145 PMCID: PMC10614749 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.21.537886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs)-derived brain organoids have potential to recapitulate the earliest stages of brain development, serving as an effective in vitro model for studying both normal brain development and disorders. However, current brain organoid culture methods face several challenges, including low throughput, high variability in organoid generation, and time-consuming, multiple transfer and encapsulation of cells in hydrogels throughout the culture. These limitations hinder the widespread application of brain organoids including high-throughput assessment of compounds in clinical and industrial lab settings. In this study, we demonstrate a straightforward approach of generating multiple cerebral organoids from iPSCs on a pillar plate platform, eliminating the need for labor-intensive, multiple transfer and encapsulation steps to ensure the reproducible generation of cerebral organoids. We formed embryoid bodies (EBs) in an ultra-low attachment (ULA) 384-well plate and subsequently transferred them to the pillar plate containing Matrigel, using a straightforward sandwiching and inverting method. Each pillar on the pillar plate contains a single spheroid, and the success rate of spheroid transfer was in a range of 95 - 100%. By differentiating the EBs on the pillar plate, we achieved robust generation of cerebral organoids with a coefficient of variation (CV) below 19%. Notably, our spheroid transfer method in combination with the pillar plate allows miniaturized culture of cerebral organoids, alleviates the issue of organoid variability, and has potential to significantly enhance assay throughput by allowing in situ organoid assessment as compared to conventional organoid culture in 6-/24-well plates, petri dishes, and spinner flasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabha Acharya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | | | - Sunil Shrestha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Na Young Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Sehoon Jeong
- Department of Healthcare Information Technology, Inje University, Gimhae, Republic of Korea
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
- Bioprinting Laboratories Inc., Dallas, Texas
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4
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Developing Novel Experimental Models of m-TORopathic Epilepsy and Related Neuropathologies: Translational Insights from Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021530. [PMID: 36675042 PMCID: PMC9866103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important molecular regulator of cell growth and proliferation. Brain mTOR activity plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity, cell development, migration and proliferation, as well as memory storage, protein synthesis, autophagy, ion channel expression and axonal regeneration. Aberrant mTOR signaling causes a diverse group of neurological disorders, termed 'mTORopathies'. Typically arising from mutations within the mTOR signaling pathway, these disorders are characterized by cortical malformations and other neuromorphological abnormalities that usually co-occur with severe, often treatment-resistant, epilepsy. Here, we discuss recent advances and current challenges in developing experimental models of mTOR-dependent epilepsy and other related mTORopathies, including using zebrafish models for studying these disorders, as well as outline future directions of research in this field.
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5
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Unnisa A, Greig NH, Kamal MA. Modelling the Interplay Between Neuron-Glia Cell Dysfunction and Glial Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:547-559. [PMID: 36545725 PMCID: PMC10207919 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221221142743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complicated, interpersonally defined, static condition of the underdeveloped brain. Although the aetiology of autism remains unclear, disturbance of neuronglia interactions has lately been proposed as a significant event in the pathophysiology of ASD. In recent years, the contribution of glial cells to autism has been overlooked. In addition to neurons, glial cells play an essential role in mental activities, and a new strategy that emphasises neuron-glia interactions should be applied. Disturbance of neuron-glia connections has lately been proposed as a significant event in the pathophysiology of ASD because aberrant neuronal network formation and dysfunctional neurotransmission are fundamental to the pathology of the condition. In ASD, neuron and glial cell number changes cause brain circuits to malfunction and impact behaviour. A study revealed that reactive glial cells result in the loss of synaptic functioning and induce autism under inflammatory conditions. Recent discoveries also suggest that dysfunction or changes in the ability of microglia to carry out physiological and defensive functions (such as failure in synaptic elimination or aberrant microglial activation) may be crucial for developing brain diseases, especially autism. The cerebellum, white matter, and cortical regions of autistic patients showed significant microglial activation. Reactive glial cells result in the loss of synaptic functioning and induce autism under inflammatory conditions. Replacement of defective glial cells (Cell-replacement treatment), glial progenitor cell-based therapy, and medication therapy (inhibition of microglia activation) are all utilised to treat glial dysfunction. This review discusses the role of glial cells in ASD and the various potential approaches to treating glial cell dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziz Unnisa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, KSA;
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, MD 21224, USA
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
- Enzymoics, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Peterlee place, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
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6
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Liu Z, Zheng X, Wang J. Bioinspired Ice-Binding Materials for Tissue and Organ Cryopreservation. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:5685-5701. [PMID: 35324185 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of tissues and organs can bring transformative changes to medicine and medical science. In the past decades, limited progress has been achieved, although cryopreservation of tissues and organs has long been intensively pursued. One key reason is that the cryoprotective agents (CPAs) currently used for cell cryopreservation cannot effectively preserve tissues and organs because of their cytotoxicity and tissue destructive effect as well as the low efficiency in controlling ice formation. In stark contrast, nature has its unique ways of controlling ice formation, and many living organisms can effectively prevent freezing damage. Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are regarded as the essential materials identified in these living organisms for regulating ice nucleation and growth. Note that controversial results have been reported on the utilization of IBPs and their mimics for the cryopreservation of tissues and organs, that is, some groups revealed that IBPs and mimics exhibited unique superiorities in tissues cryopreservation, while other groups showed detrimental effects. In this perspective, we analyze possible reasons for the controversy and predict future research directions in the design and construction of IBP inspired ice-binding materials to be used as new CPAs for tissue cryopreservation after briefly introducing the cryo-injuries and the challenges of conventional CPAs in the cryopreservation of tissues and organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Xia Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.,School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
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7
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Adhya D, Swarup V, Nagy R, Dutan L, Shum C, Valencia-Alarcón EP, Jozwik KM, Mendez MA, Horder J, Loth E, Nowosiad P, Lee I, Skuse D, Flinter FA, Murphy D, McAlonan G, Geschwind DH, Price J, Carroll J, Srivastava DP, Baron-Cohen S. Atypical Neurogenesis in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From Autistic Individuals. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:486-496. [PMID: 32826066 PMCID: PMC7843956 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism is a heterogeneous collection of disorders with a complex molecular underpinning. Evidence from postmortem brain studies have indicated that early prenatal development may be altered in autism. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from individuals with autism with macrocephaly also indicate prenatal development as a critical period for this condition. But little is known about early altered cellular events during prenatal stages in autism. METHODS iPSCs were generated from 9 unrelated individuals with autism without macrocephaly and with heterogeneous genetic backgrounds, and 6 typically developing control individuals. iPSCs were differentiated toward either cortical or midbrain fates. Gene expression and high throughput cellular phenotyping was used to characterize iPSCs at different stages of differentiation. RESULTS A subset of autism-iPSC cortical neurons were RNA-sequenced to reveal autism-specific signatures similar to postmortem brain studies, indicating a potential common biological mechanism. Autism-iPSCs differentiated toward a cortical fate displayed impairments in the ability to self-form into neural rosettes. In addition, autism-iPSCs demonstrated significant differences in rate of cell type assignment of cortical precursors and dorsal and ventral forebrain precursors. These cellular phenotypes occurred in the absence of alterations in cell proliferation during cortical differentiation, differing from previous studies. Acquisition of cell fate during midbrain differentiation was not different between control- and autism-iPSCs. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data indicate that autism-iPSCs diverge from control-iPSCs at a cellular level during early stage of neurodevelopment. This suggests that unique developmental differences associated with autism may be established at early prenatal stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwaipayan Adhya
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Roland Nagy
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia Dutan
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carole Shum
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva P Valencia-Alarcón
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Maria Andreina Mendez
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Horder
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Loth
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paulina Nowosiad
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Lee
- Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Population Policy Practice Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Skuse
- Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Population Policy Practice Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances A Flinter
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Declan Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jack Price
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Carroll
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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8
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Abstract
John Cacioppo has compared loneliness to hunger or thirst in that it signals that one needs to act and repair what is lacking. This paper reviews Cacioppo's and others' contributions to our understanding of neural mechanisms underlying social motivation in humans and in other social species. We focus particularly on the dopaminergic reward system and try to integrate evidence from animal models and human research. In rodents, objective social isolation leads to increased social motivation, mediated by the brains' mesolimbic dopamine system. In humans, social rejection can lead to either increased or decreased social motivation, and is associated with activity in the insular cortex; while chronic loneliness is typically associated with decreased social motivation but has been associated with altered dopaminergic responses in the striatum. This mixed pattern of cross-species similarities and differences may arise from the substantially different methods used to study unmet social needs across species, and suggests the need for more direct and deliberate cross-species comparative research in this critically important domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Tomova
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kay Tye
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Saxe
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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9
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Adams JW, Cugola FR, Muotri AR. Brain Organoids as Tools for Modeling Human Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Physiology (Bethesda) 2019; 34:365-375. [PMID: 31389776 PMCID: PMC6863377 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00005.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain organoids recapitulate in vitro the specific stages of in vivo human brain development, thus offering an innovative tool by which to model human neurodevelopmental disease. We review here how brain organoids have been used to study neurodevelopmental disease and consider their potential for both technological advancement and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason W Adams
- Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, La Jolla, California
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Fernanda R Cugola
- Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, La Jolla, California
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, La Jolla, California
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10
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Doan RN, Shin T, Walsh CA. Evolutionary Changes in Transcriptional Regulation: Insights into Human Behavior and Neurological Conditions. Annu Rev Neurosci 2019; 41:185-206. [PMID: 29986162 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-080317-062104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the biological basis for human-specific cognitive traits presents both immense challenges and unique opportunities. Although the question of what makes us human has been investigated with several different methods, the rise of comparative genomics, epigenomics, and medical genetics has provided tools to help narrow down and functionally assess the regions of the genome that seem evolutionarily relevant along the human lineage. In this review, we focus on how medical genetic cases have provided compelling functional evidence for genes and loci that appear to have interesting evolutionary signatures in humans. Furthermore, we examine a special class of noncoding regions, human accelerated regions (HARs), that have been suggested to show human-lineage-specific divergence, and how the use of clinical and population data has started to provide functional information to examine these regions. Finally, we outline methods that provide new insights into functional noncoding sequences in evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan N Doan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Taehwan Shin
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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11
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Yeh E, Dao DQ, Wu ZY, Kandalam SM, Camacho FM, Tom C, Zhang W, Krencik R, Rauen KA, Ullian EM, Weiss LA. Patient-derived iPSCs show premature neural differentiation and neuron type-specific phenotypes relevant to neurodevelopment. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:1687-1698. [PMID: 29158583 PMCID: PMC5962360 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Ras/MAPK pathway signaling is a major participant in neurodevelopment, and evidence suggests that BRAF, a key Ras signal mediator, influences human behavior. We studied the role of the mutation BRAFQ257R, the most common cause of cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFC), in an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived model of human neurodevelopment. In iPSC-derived neuronal cultures from CFC subjects, we observed decreased p-AKT and p-ERK1/2 compared to controls, as well as a depleted neural progenitor pool and rapid neuronal maturation. Pharmacological PI3K/AKT pathway manipulation recapitulated cellular phenotypes in control cells and attenuated them in CFC cells. CFC cultures displayed altered cellular subtype ratios and increased intrinsic excitability. Moreover, in CFC cells, Ras/MAPK pathway activation and morphological abnormalities exhibited cell subtype-specific differences. Our results highlight the importance of exploring specific cellular subtypes and of using iPSC models to reveal relevant human-specific neurodevelopmental events.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Yeh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - D Q Dao
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Z Y Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - S M Kandalam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - F M Camacho
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - C Tom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - W Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - R Krencik
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - K A Rauen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - E M Ullian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - L A Weiss
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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12
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Triunfol M, Rehen S, Simian M, Seidle T. Human-specific approaches to brain research for the 21st century: a South American perspective. Drug Discov Today 2018; 23:1929-1935. [PMID: 29908266 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The 21st century paradigm in toxicology, which emphasizes mechanistic understanding and species-relevant modeling of human biology and pathophysiology, is gaining traction in the wider biosciences through a global workshop series organized by the BioMed21 Collaboration. The second of this series, entitled Emerging Technology Toward Pathway-Based Human Brain Research, was held in Brazil in 2017, bringing together leading South American and international scientists, research funders and other stakeholders. The aims were to foster strategic scientific dialogue and identify actionable consensus recommendations as a first step toward a roadmap for 21st century, human-specific health research and funding in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Triunfol
- Research & Toxicology Department, Humane Society International, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Stevens Rehen
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina Simian
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Troy Seidle
- Research & Toxicology Department, Humane Society International, Toronto, Canada
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13
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Brain Organoids: Expanding Our Understanding of Human Development and Disease. Results Probl Cell Differ 2018; 66:183-206. [PMID: 30209660 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-93485-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell-derived brain organoids replicate important stages of the prenatal human brain development and combined with the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology offer an unprecedented model for investigating human neurological diseases including autism and microcephaly. We describe the history and birth of organoids and their application, focusing on cerebral organoids derived from embryonic stem cells and iPSCs. We discuss new insights into organoid-based model of schizophrenia and shed light on challenges and future applications of organoid-based disease model system. This review also suggests hitherto unrevealed potential applications of organoids in combining with new technologies such as nanophotonics/optogenomics for controlling brain development and atomic force microscopy for studying mechanical forces that shape the developing brain.
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14
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Vanya M, Szucs S, Vetro A, Bartfai G. The potential role of oxytocin and perinatal factors in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders - review of the literature. Psychiatry Res 2017; 247:288-290. [PMID: 27974283 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by: social and communication impairments, and by restricted repetitive behaviors. The aim of the present paper is to review abnormalities of oxytocin (OXT) and related congenital malformations in ASD. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database up to 2016 for articles related to the pathomechanism of ASD, abnormalities of OXT and the OXT polymorphism in ASD. The pathomechanism of ASD has yet to be. The development of ASD is suggested to be related to abnormalities of the oxytocin-arginin-vasopressin system. Previous results suggest that OXT and arginine vasopressin (AVP) may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Vanya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; KF TFK Health Research and Health Promotion Research Group, Kecskemet, Hungary.
| | - Szabina Szucs
- Division of Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Paediatrics, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Agnes Vetro
- Division of Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Paediatrics, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gyorgy Bartfai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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15
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Towards a 21st-century roadmap for biomedical research and drug discovery: consensus report and recommendations. Drug Discov Today 2016; 22:327-339. [PMID: 27989722 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Decades of costly failures in translating drug candidates from preclinical disease models to human therapeutic use warrant reconsideration of the priority placed on animal models in biomedical research. Following an international workshop attended by experts from academia, government institutions, research funding bodies, and the corporate and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sectors, in this consensus report, we analyse, as case studies, five disease areas with major unmet needs for new treatments. In view of the scientifically driven transition towards a human pathways-based paradigm in toxicology, a similar paradigm shift appears to be justified in biomedical research. There is a pressing need for an approach that strategically implements advanced, human biology-based models and tools to understand disease pathways at multiple biological scales. We present recommendations to help achieve this.
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16
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Oni EN, Halikere A, Li G, Toro-Ramos AJ, Swerdel MR, Verpeut JL, Moore JC, Bello NT, Bierut LJ, Goate A, Tischfield JA, Pang ZP, Hart RP. Increased nicotine response in iPSC-derived human neurons carrying the CHRNA5 N398 allele. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34341. [PMID: 27698409 PMCID: PMC5048107 DOI: 10.1038/srep34341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation in nicotinic receptor alpha 5 (CHRNA5) has been associated with increased risk of addiction-associated phenotypes in humans yet little is known the underlying neural basis. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were derived from donors homozygous for either the major (D398) or the minor (N398) allele of the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs16969968, in CHRNA5. To understand the impact of these nicotinic receptor variants in humans, we differentiated these iPSCs to dopamine (DA) or glutamatergic neurons and then tested their functional properties and response to nicotine. Results show that N398 variant human DA neurons differentially express genes associated with ligand receptor interaction and synaptic function. While both variants exhibited physiological properties consistent with mature neuronal function, the N398 neuronal population responded more actively with an increased excitatory postsynaptic current response upon the application of nicotine in both DA and glutamatergic neurons. Glutamatergic N398 neurons responded to lower nicotine doses (0.1 μM) with greater frequency and amplitude but they also exhibited rapid desensitization, consistent with previous analyses of N398-associated nicotinic receptor function. This study offers a proof-of-principle for utilizing human neurons to study gene variants contribution to addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen N Oni
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Apoorva Halikere
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey &Dept. of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Guohui Li
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey &Dept. of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | | | - Mavis R Swerdel
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jessica L Verpeut
- Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Jennifer C Moore
- Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University and RWJMS, Piscataway, NJ, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Nicholas T Bello
- Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Laura J Bierut
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alison Goate
- Neuroscience Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jay A Tischfield
- Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University and RWJMS, Piscataway, NJ, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Zhiping P Pang
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey &Dept. of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University and RWJMS, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Ronald P Hart
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.,Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University and RWJMS, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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17
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Langley G. Response to "Comment on 'Lessons from Toxicology: Developing a 21st-Century Paradigm for Medical Research'". ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2016; 124:A85. [PMID: 27135756 PMCID: PMC4858408 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1611305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gill Langley
- Address correspondence to G. Langley, 8 Crow Furlong, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 2HW, United Kingdom. E-mail:
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18
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Impairments in dendrite morphogenesis as etiology for neurodevelopmental disorders and implications for therapeutic treatments. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 68:946-978. [PMID: 27143622 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Dendrite morphology is pivotal for neural circuitry functioning. While the causative relationship between small-scale dendrite morphological abnormalities (shape, density of dendritic spines) and neurodevelopmental disorders is well established, such relationship remains elusive for larger-scale dendrite morphological impairments (size, shape, branching pattern of dendritic trees). Here, we summarize published data on dendrite morphological irregularities in human patients and animal models for neurodevelopmental disorders, with focus on autism and schizophrenia. We next discuss high-risk genes for these disorders and their role in dendrite morphogenesis. We finally overview recent developments in therapeutic attempts and we discuss how they relate to dendrite morphology. We find that both autism and schizophrenia are accompanied by dendritic arbor morphological irregularities, and that majority of their high-risk genes regulate dendrite morphogenesis. Thus, we present a compelling argument that, along with smaller-scale morphological impairments in dendrites (spines and synapse), irregularities in larger-scale dendrite morphology (arbor shape, size) may be an important part of neurodevelopmental disorders' etiology. We suggest that this should not be ignored when developing future therapeutic treatments.
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A Dishful of a Troubled Mind: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Psychiatric Research. Stem Cells Int 2015; 2016:7909176. [PMID: 26839567 PMCID: PMC4709917 DOI: 10.1155/2016/7909176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells and direct reprogramming represent powerful methods for modeling the development of neurons in vitro. Moreover, this approach is also a means for comparing various cellular phenotypes between cell lines originating from healthy and diseased individuals or isogenic cell lines engineered to differ at only one or a few genomic loci. Despite methodological constraints and initial skepticism regarding this approach, the field is expanding at a fast pace. The improvements include the development of new differentiation protocols resulting in selected neuronal populations (e.g., dopaminergic, GABAergic, hippocampal, and cortical), the widespread use of genome editing methods, and single-cell techniques. A major challenge awaiting in vitro disease modeling is the integration of clinical data in the models, by selection of well characterized clinical populations. Ideally, these models will also demonstrate how different diagnostic categories share overlapping molecular disease mechanisms, but also have unique characteristics. In this review we evaluate studies with regard to the described developments, to demonstrate how differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells and direct reprogramming can contribute to psychiatry.
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Langley G, Austin CP, Balapure AK, Birnbaum LS, Bucher JR, Fentem J, Fitzpatrick SC, Fowle JR, Kavlock RJ, Kitano H, Lidbury BA, Muotri AR, Peng SQ, Sakharov D, Seidle T, Trez T, Tonevitsky A, van de Stolpe A, Whelan M, Willett C. Lessons from Toxicology: Developing a 21st-Century Paradigm for Medical Research. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2015; 123:A268-72. [PMID: 26523530 PMCID: PMC4629751 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1510345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Biomedical developments in the 21st century provide an unprecedented opportunity to gain a dynamic systems-level and human-specific understanding of the causes and pathophysiologies of disease. This understanding is a vital need, in view of continuing failures in health research, drug discovery, and clinical translation. The full potential of advanced approaches may not be achieved within a 20th-century conceptual framework dominated by animal models. Novel technologies are being integrated into environmental health research and are also applicable to disease research, but these advances need a new medical research and drug discovery paradigm to gain maximal benefits. We suggest a new conceptual framework that repurposes the 21st-century transition underway in toxicology. Human disease should be conceived as resulting from integrated extrinsic and intrinsic causes, with research focused on modern human-specific models to understand disease pathways at multiple biological levels that are analogous to adverse outcome pathways in toxicology. Systems biology tools should be used to integrate and interpret data about disease causation and pathophysiology. Such an approach promises progress in overcoming the current roadblocks to understanding human disease and successful drug discovery and translation. A discourse should begin now to identify and consider the many challenges and questions that need to be solved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gill Langley
- Research and Toxicology Department, Humane Society International, London, United Kingdom
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