1
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Abela L, Gianfrancesco L, Tagliatti E, Rossignoli G, Barwick K, Zourray C, Reid KM, Budinger D, Ng J, Counsell J, Simpson A, Pearson TS, Edvardson S, Elpeleg O, Brodsky FM, Lignani G, Barral S, Kurian MA. Neurodevelopmental and synaptic defects in DNAJC6 parkinsonism, amenable to gene therapy. Brain 2024; 147:2023-2037. [PMID: 38242634 PMCID: PMC11146427 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae020] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
DNAJC6 encodes auxilin, a co-chaperone protein involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) at the presynaptic terminal. Biallelic mutations in DNAJC6 cause a complex, early-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by rapidly progressive parkinsonism-dystonia in childhood. The disease is commonly associated with additional neurodevelopmental, neurological and neuropsychiatric features. Currently, there are no disease-modifying treatments for this condition, resulting in significant morbidity and risk of premature mortality. To investigate the underlying disease mechanisms in childhood-onset DNAJC6 parkinsonism, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from three patients harbouring pathogenic loss-of-function DNAJC6 mutations and subsequently developed a midbrain dopaminergic neuronal model of disease. When compared to age-matched and CRISPR-corrected isogenic controls, the neuronal cell model revealed disease-specific auxilin deficiency as well as disturbance of synaptic vesicle recycling and homeostasis. We also observed neurodevelopmental dysregulation affecting ventral midbrain patterning and neuronal maturation. To explore the feasibility of a viral vector-mediated gene therapy approach, iPSC-derived neuronal cultures were treated with lentiviral DNAJC6 gene transfer, which restored auxilin expression and rescued CME. Our patient-derived neuronal model provides deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms of auxilin deficiency as well as a robust platform for the development of targeted precision therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Abela
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Lorita Gianfrancesco
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Erica Tagliatti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, 20089 Milano, Italy
| | - Giada Rossignoli
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Katy Barwick
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Clara Zourray
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Kimberley M Reid
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Dimitri Budinger
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Joanne Ng
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
- Genetic Therapy Accelerator Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - John Counsell
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Arlo Simpson
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Toni S Pearson
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032-3784, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Neurology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Simon Edvardson
- Department of Genetics, Hadassah, Hebrew University Medical Center, 9574869 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orly Elpeleg
- Department of Genetics, Hadassah, Hebrew University Medical Center, 9574869 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Frances M Brodsky
- Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Serena Barral
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, WC1N 3JH, UK
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2
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Cerneckis J, Cai H, Shi Y. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): molecular mechanisms of induction and applications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:112. [PMID: 38670977 PMCID: PMC11053163 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01809-0] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has transformed in vitro research and holds great promise to advance regenerative medicine. iPSCs have the capacity for an almost unlimited expansion, are amenable to genetic engineering, and can be differentiated into most somatic cell types. iPSCs have been widely applied to model human development and diseases, perform drug screening, and develop cell therapies. In this review, we outline key developments in the iPSC field and highlight the immense versatility of the iPSC technology for in vitro modeling and therapeutic applications. We begin by discussing the pivotal discoveries that revealed the potential of a somatic cell nucleus for reprogramming and led to successful generation of iPSCs. We consider the molecular mechanisms and dynamics of somatic cell reprogramming as well as the numerous methods available to induce pluripotency. Subsequently, we discuss various iPSC-based cellular models, from mono-cultures of a single cell type to complex three-dimensional organoids, and how these models can be applied to elucidate the mechanisms of human development and diseases. We use examples of neurological disorders, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and cancer to highlight the diversity of disease-specific phenotypes that can be modeled using iPSC-derived cells. We also consider how iPSC-derived cellular models can be used in high-throughput drug screening and drug toxicity studies. Finally, we discuss the process of developing autologous and allogeneic iPSC-based cell therapies and their potential to alleviate human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Cerneckis
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Hongxia Cai
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Yanhong Shi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
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3
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Zhang J, Yang SG, Zhou FQ. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 signaling in neural regeneration in vivo. J Mol Cell Biol 2024; 15:mjad075. [PMID: 38059848 PMCID: PMC11063957 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad075] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) signaling plays important and broad roles in regulating neural development in vitro and in vivo. Here, we reviewed recent findings of GSK3-regulated axon regeneration in vivo in both the peripheral and central nervous systems and discussed a few controversial findings in the field. Overall, current evidence indicates that GSK3β signaling serves as an important downstream mediator of the PI3K-AKT pathway to regulate axon regeneration in parallel with the mTORC1 pathway. Specifically, the mTORC1 pathway supports axon regeneration mainly through its role in regulating cap-dependent protein translation, whereas GSK3β signaling might be involved in regulating N6-methyladenosine mRNA methylation-mediated, cap-independent protein translation. In addition, GSK3 signaling also plays a key role in reshaping the neuronal transcriptomic landscape during neural regeneration. Finally, we proposed some research directions to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory function of GSK3 signaling and discover novel GSK3 signaling-related therapeutic targets. Together, we hope to provide an updated and insightful overview of how GSK3 signaling regulates neural regeneration in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Shu-Guang Yang
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China
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Pitrez PR, Monteiro LM, Borgogno O, Nissan X, Mertens J, Ferreira L. Cellular reprogramming as a tool to model human aging in a dish. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1816. [PMID: 38418829 PMCID: PMC10902382 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46004-5] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The design of human model systems is highly relevant to unveil the underlying mechanisms of aging and to provide insights on potential interventions to extend human health and life span. In this perspective, we explore the potential of 2D or 3D culture models comprising human induced pluripotent stem cells and transdifferentiated cells obtained from aged or age-related disorder-affected donors to enhance our understanding of human aging and to catalyze the discovery of anti-aging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Pitrez
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luis M Monteiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIUC-institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão, Coimbra, 3030-789, Portugal
| | - Oliver Borgogno
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xavier Nissan
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic diseases, Evry cedex, France
| | - Jerome Mertens
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Lino Ferreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
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5
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Wallace JL, Pollen AA. Human neuronal maturation comes of age: cellular mechanisms and species differences. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:7-29. [PMID: 37996703 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00760-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The delayed and prolonged postmitotic maturation of human neurons, compared with neurons from other species, may contribute to human-specific cognitive abilities and neurological disorders. Here we review the mechanisms of neuronal maturation, applying lessons from model systems to understand the specific features of protracted human cortical maturation and species differences. We cover cell-intrinsic features of neuronal maturation, including transcriptional, epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms, as well as cell-extrinsic features, including the roles of activity and synapses, the actions of glial cells and the contribution of the extracellular matrix. We discuss evidence for species differences in biochemical reaction rates, the proposed existence of an epigenetic maturation clock and the contributions of both general and modular mechanisms to species-specific maturation timing. Finally, we suggest approaches to measure, improve and accelerate the maturation of human neurons in culture, examine crosstalk and interactions among these different aspects of maturation and propose conceptual models to guide future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenelle L Wallace
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Alex A Pollen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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6
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Jörgensen SK, Karnošová A, Mazzaferro S, Rowley O, Chen HJC, Robbins SJ, Christofides S, Merkle FT, Maletínská L, Petrik D. An analogue of the Prolactin Releasing Peptide reduces obesity and promotes adult neurogenesis. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:351-377. [PMID: 38177913 PMCID: PMC10897398 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-023-00016-2] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypothalamic Adult Neurogenesis (hAN) has been implicated in regulating energy homeostasis. Adult-generated neurons and adult Neural Stem Cells (aNSCs) in the hypothalamus control food intake and body weight. Conversely, diet-induced obesity (DIO) by high fat diets (HFD) exerts adverse influence on hAN. However, the effects of anti-obesity compounds on hAN are not known. To address this, we administered a lipidized analogue of an anti-obesity neuropeptide, Prolactin Releasing Peptide (PrRP), so-called LiPR, to mice. In the HFD context, LiPR rescued the survival of adult-born hypothalamic neurons and increased the number of aNSCs by reducing their activation. LiPR also rescued the reduction of immature hippocampal neurons and modulated calcium dynamics in iPSC-derived human neurons. In addition, some of these neurogenic effects were exerted by another anti-obesity compound, Liraglutide. These results show for the first time that anti-obesity neuropeptides influence adult neurogenesis and suggest that the neurogenic process can serve as a target of anti-obesity pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alena Karnošová
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, 12108, Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Simone Mazzaferro
- Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Oliver Rowley
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Hsiao-Jou Cortina Chen
- Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Sarah J Robbins
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | | | - Florian T Merkle
- Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Lenka Maletínská
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, 16610, Czech Republic
| | - David Petrik
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
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7
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Cerneckis J, Shi Y. Myelin organoids for the study of Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1283742. [PMID: 37942133 PMCID: PMC10628225 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1283742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Cerneckis
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Yanhong Shi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
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8
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Rocha E, Chamoli M, Chinta SJ, Andersen JK, Wallis R, Bezard E, Goldberg M, Greenamyre T, Hirst W, Kuan WL, Kirik D, Niedernhofer L, Rappley I, Padmanabhan S, Trudeau LE, Spillantini M, Scott S, Studer L, Bellantuono I, Mortiboys H. Aging, Parkinson's Disease, and Models: What Are the Challenges? AGING BIOLOGY 2023; 1:e20230010. [PMID: 38978807 PMCID: PMC11230631 DOI: 10.59368/agingbio.20230010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor, alongside multiple nonmotor symptoms. The appearance of motor symptoms is linked to progressive dopaminergic neuron loss within the substantia nigra. PD incidence increases sharply with age, suggesting a strong association between mechanisms driving biological aging and the development and progression of PD. However, the role of aging in the pathogenesis of PD remains understudied. Numerous models of PD, including cell models, toxin-induced models, and genetic models in rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs), reproduce different aspects of PD, but preclinical studies of PD rarely incorporate age as a factor. Studies using patient neurons derived from stem cells via reprogramming methods retain some aging features, but their characterization, particularly of aging markers and reproducibility of neuron type, is suboptimal. Investigation of age-related changes in PD using animal models indicates an association, but this is likely in conjunction with other disease drivers. The biggest barrier to drawing firm conclusions is that each model lacks full characterization and appropriate time-course assessments. There is a need to systematically investigate whether aging increases the susceptibility of mouse, rat, and NHP models to develop PD and understand the role of cell models. We propose that a significant investment in time and resources, together with the coordination and sharing of resources, knowledge, and data, is required to accelerate progress in understanding the role of biological aging in PD development and improve the reliability of models to test interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rocha
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Shankar J Chinta
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- Touro University California, College of Pharmacy, Vallejo, CA, USA
| | | | - Ruby Wallis
- The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Tim Greenamyre
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - We-Li Kuan
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Deniz Kirik
- Brain Repair and Imaging in Neural Systems (BRAINS), Lund, Sweden
| | - Laura Niedernhofer
- Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Irit Rappley
- Recursion pharmaceuticals, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Louis-Eric Trudeau
- Department of pharmacology and physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Maria Spillantini
- Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ilaria Bellantuono
- The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Mortiboys
- The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kindgom
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9
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Kim MS, Ra EA, Kweon SH, Seo BA, Ko HS, Oh Y, Lee G. Advanced human iPSC-based preclinical model for Parkinson's disease with optogenetic alpha-synuclein aggregation. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:973-986.e11. [PMID: 37339636 PMCID: PMC10829432 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer advantages for disease modeling and drug discovery. However, recreating innate cellular pathologies, particularly in late-onset neurodegenerative diseases with accumulated protein aggregates including Parkinson's disease (PD), has been challenging. To overcome this barrier, we developed an optogenetics-assisted α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation induction system (OASIS) that rapidly induces α-syn aggregates and toxicity in PD hiPSC-midbrain dopaminergic neurons and midbrain organoids. Our OASIS-based primary compound screening with SH-SY5Y cells identified 5 candidates that were secondarily validated with OASIS PD hiPSC-midbrain dopaminergic neurons and midbrain organoids, leading us to finally select BAG956. Furthermore, BAG956 significantly reverses characteristic PD phenotypes in α-syn preformed fibril models in vitro and in vivo by promoting autophagic clearance of pathological α-syn aggregates. Following the FDA Modernization Act 2.0's emphasis on alternative non-animal testing methods, our OASIS can serve as an animal-free preclinical test model (newly termed "nonclinical test") for the synucleinopathy drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Seong Kim
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eun A Ra
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sin Ho Kweon
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bo Am Seo
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Global Medical Science, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, Korea; Department of Convergence Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, Korea; Mitohormesis Research Center, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, Korea
| | - Han Seok Ko
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Yohan Oh
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Gabsang Lee
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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10
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Mullis AS, Kaplan DL. Functional bioengineered tissue models of neurodegenerative diseases. Biomaterials 2023; 298:122143. [PMID: 37146365 PMCID: PMC10209845 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases remain poorly understood and no disease-modifying treatments exist despite decades of investigation. Predominant in vitro (e.g., 2D cell culture, organoids) and in vivo (e.g., mouse) models of these diseases are insufficient mimics of human brain tissue structure and function and of human neurodegenerative pathobiology, and have thus contributed to this collective translational failure. This has been a longstanding challenge in the field, and new strategies are required to address both fundamental and translational needs. Bioengineered tissue culture models constitute a class of promising alternatives, as they can overcome the low cell density, poor nutrient exchange, and long term culturability limitations of existing in vitro models. Further, they can reconstruct the structural, mechanical, and biochemical cues of native brain tissue, providing a better mimic of human brain tissues for in vitro pathobiological investigation and drug development. We discuss bioengineering techniques for the generation of these neurodegenerative tissue models, including biomaterials-, organoid-, and microfluidics-based approaches, and design considerations for their construction. To aid the development of the next generation of functional neurodegenerative disease models, we discuss approaches to incorporate greater cellular diversity and simulate aging processes within bioengineered brain tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S Mullis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
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11
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Barrachina L, Arshaghi TE, O'Brien A, Ivanovska A, Barry F. Induced pluripotent stem cells in companion animals: how can we move the field forward? Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1176772. [PMID: 37180067 PMCID: PMC10168294 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1176772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Following a one medicine approach, the development of regenerative therapies for human patients leads to innovative treatments for animals, while pre-clinical studies on animals provide knowledge to advance human medicine. Among many different biological products under investigation, stem cells are among the most prominent. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are extensively investigated, but they present challenges such as senescence and limited differentiation ability. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells with a virtually unlimited capacity for self-renewal and differentiation, but the use of embryos carries ethical concerns. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can overcome all of these limitations, as they closely resemble ESCs but are derived from adult cells by reprogramming in the laboratory using pluripotency-associated transcription factors. iPSCs hold great potential for applications in therapy, disease modeling, drug screening, and even species preservation strategies. However, iPSC technology is less developed in veterinary species compared to human. This review attempts to address the specific challenges associated with generating and applying iPSCs from companion animals. Firstly, we discuss strategies for the preparation of iPSCs in veterinary species and secondly, we address the potential for different applications of iPSCs in companion animals. Our aim is to provide an overview on the state of the art of iPSCs in companion animals, focusing on equine, canine, and feline species, as well as to identify which aspects need further optimization and, where possible, to provide guidance on future advancements. Following a "step-by-step" approach, we cover the generation of iPSCs in companion animals from the selection of somatic cells and the reprogramming strategies, to the expansion and characterization of iPSCs. Subsequently, we revise the current applications of iPSCs in companion animals, identify the main hurdles, and propose future paths to move the field forward. Transferring the knowledge gained from human iPSCs can increase our understanding in the biology of pluripotent cells in animals, but it is critical to further investigate the differences among species to develop specific approaches for animal iPSCs. This is key for significantly advancing iPSC application in veterinary medicine, which at the same time will also allow gaining pre-clinical knowledge transferable to human medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Frank Barry
- Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), Biosciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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12
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Garcia G, Pinto S, Ferreira S, Lopes D, Serrador MJ, Fernandes A, Vaz AR, de Mendonça A, Edenhofer F, Malm T, Koistinaho J, Brites D. Emerging Role of miR-21-5p in Neuron-Glia Dysregulation and Exosome Transfer Using Multiple Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:3377. [PMID: 36359774 PMCID: PMC9655962 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with neuron-glia dysfunction and dysregulated miRNAs. We previously reported upregulated miR-124/miR-21 in AD neurons and their exosomes. However, their glial distribution, phenotypic alterations and exosomal spread are scarcely documented. Here, we show glial cell activation and miR-21 overexpression in mouse organotypic hippocampal slices transplanted with SH-SY5Y cells expressing the human APP695 Swedish mutation. The upregulation of miR-21 only in the CSF from a small series of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) AD patients, but not in non-AD MCI individuals, supports its discriminatory potential. Microglia, neurons, and astrocytes differentiated from the same induced pluripotent stem cells from PSEN1ΔE9 AD patients all showed miR-21 elevation. In AD neurons, miR-124/miR-21 overexpression was recapitulated in their exosomes. In AD microglia, the upregulation of iNOS and miR-21/miR-146a supports their activation. AD astrocytes manifested a restrained inflammatory profile, with high miR-21 but low miR-155 and depleted exosomal miRNAs. Their immunostimulation with C1q + IL-1α + TNF-α induced morphological alterations and increased S100B, inflammatory transcripts, sAPPβ, cytokine release and exosomal miR-21. PPARα, a target of miR-21, was found to be repressed in all models, except in neurons, likely due to concomitant miR-125b elevation. The data from these AD models highlight miR-21 as a promising biomarker and a disease-modifying target to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Garcia
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Pinto
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia Ferreira
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Lopes
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria João Serrador
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Fernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Central Nervous System, Blood and Peripheral Inflammation Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Vaz
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Frank Edenhofer
- Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Tarja Malm
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dora Brites
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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13
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Reprogramming neurons for regeneration: The fountain of youth. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 214:102284. [PMID: 35533809 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) are terminally differentiated cells that gradually lose their ability to support regeneration during maturation due to changes in transcriptomic and chromatin landscape. Similar transcriptomic changes also occur during development when stem cells differentiate into different types of somatic cells. Importantly, differentiated cells can be reprogrammed back to induced pluripotent stems cells (iPSCs) via global epigenetic remodeling by combined overexpression of pluripotent reprogramming factors, including Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, and/or Lin28. Moreover, recent findings showed that many proneural transcription factors were able to convert non-neural somatic cells into neurons bypassing the pluripotent stage via direct reprogramming. Interestingly, many of these factors have recently been identified as key regulators of CNS neural regeneration. Recent studies indicated that these factors could rejuvenate mature CNS neurons back to a younger state through cellular state reprogramming, thus favoring regeneration. Here we will review some recent findings regarding the roles of genetic cellular state reprogramming in regulation of neural regeneration and explore the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Moreover, by using newly emerging techniques, such as multiomics sequencing with big data analysis and Crispr-based gene editing, we will discuss future research directions focusing on better revealing cellular state reprogramming-induced remodeling of chromatin landscape and potential translational application.
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Knock E, Julian LM. Building on a Solid Foundation: Adding Relevance and Reproducibility to Neurological Modeling Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:767457. [PMID: 34867204 PMCID: PMC8637745 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.767457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is our most complex and least understood organ. Animal models have long been the most versatile tools available to dissect brain form and function; however, the human brain is highly distinct from that of standard model organisms. In addition to existing models, access to human brain cells and tissues is essential to reach new frontiers in our understanding of the human brain and how to intervene therapeutically in the face of disease or injury. In this review, we discuss current and developing culture models of human neural tissue, outlining advantages over animal models and key challenges that remain to be overcome. Our principal focus is on advances in engineering neural cells and tissue constructs from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), though primary human cell and slice culture are also discussed. By highlighting studies that combine animal models and human neural cell culture techniques, we endeavor to demonstrate that clever use of these orthogonal model systems produces more reproducible, physiological, and clinically relevant data than either approach alone. We provide examples across a range of topics in neuroscience research including brain development, injury, and cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric conditions. Finally, as testing of PSC-derived neurons for cell replacement therapy progresses, we touch on the advancements that are needed to make this a clinical mainstay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Knock
- Research and Development, STEMCELL Technologies Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa M Julian
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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15
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Abstract
Long-term effective use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people with HIV (PWH) has significantly reduced the burden of disease, yet a cure for HIV has not been universally achieved, likely due to the persistence of an HIV reservoir. The central nervous system (CNS) is an understudied HIV sanctuary. Importantly, due to viral persistence in the brain, cognitive disturbances persist to various degrees at high rates in PWH despite suppressive ART. Given the complexity and accessibility of the CNS compartment and that it is a physiologically and anatomically unique immune site, human studies to reveal molecular mechanisms of viral entry, reservoir establishment, and the cellular and structural interactions leading to viral persistence and brain injury to advance a cure and either prevent or limit cognitive impairments in PWH remain challenging. Recent advances in human brain organoids show that they can mimic the intercellular dynamics of the human brain and may recapitulate many of the events involved in HIV infection of the brain (neuroHIV). Human brain organoids can be produced, spontaneously or with addition of growth factors and at immature or mature states, and have become stronger models to study neurovirulent viral infections of the CNS. While organoids provide opportunities to study neuroHIV, obstacles such as the need to incorporate microglia need to be overcome to fully utilize this model. Here, we review the current achievements in brain organoid biology and their relevance to neuroHIV research efforts.
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16
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Makrygianni EA, Chrousos GP. From Brain Organoids to Networking Assembloids: Implications for Neuroendocrinology and Stress Medicine. Front Physiol 2021; 12:621970. [PMID: 34177605 PMCID: PMC8222922 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.621970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain organoids are three-dimensional cultures that contain multiple types of cells and cytoarchitectures, and resemble fetal human brain structurally and functionally. These organoids are being used increasingly to model brain development and disorders, however, they only partially recapitulate such processes, because of several limitations, including inability to mimic the distinct cortical layers, lack of functional neuronal circuitry as well as non-neural cells and gyrification, and increased cellular stress. Efforts to create improved brain organoid culture systems have led to region-specific organoids, vascularized organoids, glia-containing organoids, assembloids, sliced organoids and polarized organoids. Assembloids are fused region-specific organoids, which attempt to recapitulate inter-regional and inter-cellular interactions as well as neural circuitry development by combining multiple brain regions and/or cell lineages. As a result, assembloids can be used to model subtle functional aberrations that reflect complex neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Mammalian organisms possess a highly complex neuroendocrine system, the stress system, whose main task is the preservation of systemic homeostasis, when the latter is threatened by adverse forces, the stressors. The main central parts of the stress system are the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the locus caeruleus/norepinephrine-autonomic nervous system nuclei in the brainstem; these centers innervate each other and interact reciprocally as well as with various other CNS structures. Chronic dysregulation of the stress system has been implicated in major pathologies, the so-called chronic non-communicable diseases, including neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, cardiometabolic and autoimmune disorders, which lead to significant population morbidity and mortality. We speculate that brain organoids and/or assembloids could be used to model the development, regulation and dysregulation of the stress system and to better understand stress-related disorders. Novel brain organoid technologies, combined with high-throughput single-cell omics and gene editing, could, thus, have major implications for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evanthia A Makrygianni
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Center for Adolescent Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
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17
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Yadav A, Seth B, Chaturvedi RK. Brain Organoids: Tiny Mirrors of Human Neurodevelopment and Neurological Disorders. Neuroscientist 2020; 27:388-426. [PMID: 32723210 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420943192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Unravelling the complexity of the human brain is a challenging task. Nowadays, modern neurobiologists have developed 3D model systems called "brain organoids" to overcome the technical challenges in understanding human brain development and the limitations of animal models to study neurological diseases. Certainly like most model systems in neuroscience, brain organoids too have limitations, as these minuscule brains lack the complex neuronal circuitry required to begin the operational tasks of human brain. However, researchers are hopeful that future endeavors with these 3D brain tissues could provide mechanistic insights into the generation of circuit complexity as well as reproducible creation of different regions of the human brain. Herein, we have presented the contemporary state of brain organoids with special emphasis on their mode of generation and their utility in modelling neurological disorders, drug discovery, and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Yadav
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Brashket Seth
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Rajnish Kumar Chaturvedi
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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18
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Novel genetic features of human and mouse Purkinje cell differentiation defined by comparative transcriptomics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:15085-15095. [PMID: 32546527 PMCID: PMC7334519 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000102117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative transcriptomics between differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and developing mouse neurons offers a powerful approach to compare genetic and epigenetic pathways in human and mouse neurons. To analyze human Purkinje cell (PC) differentiation, we optimized a protocol to generate human pluripotent stem cell-derived Purkinje cells (hPSC-PCs) that formed synapses when cultured with mouse cerebellar glia and granule cells and fired large calcium currents, measured with the genetically encoded calcium indicator jRGECO1a. To directly compare global gene expression of hPSC-PCs with developing mouse PCs, we used translating ribosomal affinity purification (TRAP). As a first step, we used Tg(Pcp2-L10a-Egfp) TRAP mice to profile actively transcribed genes in developing postnatal mouse PCs and used metagene projection to identify the most salient patterns of PC gene expression over time. We then created a transgenic Pcp2-L10a-Egfp TRAP hPSC line to profile gene expression in differentiating hPSC-PCs, finding that the key gene expression pathways of differentiated hPSC-PCs most closely matched those of late juvenile mouse PCs (P21). Comparative bioinformatics identified classical PC gene signatures as well as novel mitochondrial and autophagy gene pathways during the differentiation of both mouse and human PCs. In addition, we identified genes expressed in hPSC-PCs but not mouse PCs and confirmed protein expression of a novel human PC gene, CD40LG, expressed in both hPSC-PCs and native human cerebellar tissue. This study therefore provides a direct comparison of hPSC-PC and mouse PC gene expression and a robust method for generating differentiated hPSC-PCs with human-specific gene expression for modeling developmental and degenerative cerebellar disorders.
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19
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Halpern M, Brennand KJ, Gregory J. Examining the relationship between astrocyte dysfunction and neurodegeneration in ALS using hiPSCs. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 132:104562. [PMID: 31381978 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex and fatal neurodegenerative disease for which the causes of disease onset and progression remain unclear. Recent advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based models permit the study of the genetic factors associated with ALS in patient-derived neural cell types, including motor neurons and glia. While astrocyte dysfunction has traditionally been thought to exacerbate disease progression, astrocytic dysfunction may play a more direct role in disease initiation and progression. Such non-cell autonomous mechanisms expand the potential targets of therapeutic intervention, but only a handful of ALS risk-associated genes have been examined for their impact on astrocyte dysfunction and neurodegeneration. This review summarizes what is currently known about astrocyte function in ALS and suggests ways in which hiPSC-based models can be used to more effectively study the role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Halpern
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States of America
| | - Kristen J Brennand
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States of America; Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States of America; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States of America.
| | - James Gregory
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Disease, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, United States of America.
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20
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Kim Y, Vadodaria KC, Lenkei Z, Kato T, Gage FH, Marchetto MC, Santos R. Mitochondria, Metabolism, and Redox Mechanisms in Psychiatric Disorders. Antioxid Redox Signal 2019; 31:275-317. [PMID: 30585734 PMCID: PMC6602118 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2018.7606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Our current knowledge of the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms causing psychiatric disorders is modest, but genetic susceptibility and environmental factors are central to the etiology of these conditions. Autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder show genetic gene risk overlap and share symptoms and metabolic comorbidities. The identification of such common features may provide insights into the development of these disorders. Recent Advances: Multiple pieces of evidence suggest that brain energy metabolism, mitochondrial functions and redox balance are impaired to various degrees in psychiatric disorders. Since mitochondrial metabolism and redox signaling can integrate genetic and environmental environmental factors affecting the brain, it is possible that they are implicated in the etiology and progression of psychiatric disorders. Critical Issue: Evidence for direct links between cellular mitochondrial dysfunction and disease features are missing. Future Directions: A better understanding of the mitochondrial biology and its intracellular connections to the nuclear genome, the endoplasmic reticulum and signaling pathways, as well as its role in intercellular communication in the organism, is still needed. This review focuses on the findings that implicate mitochondrial dysfunction, the resultant metabolic changes and oxidative stress as important etiological factors in the context of psychiatric disorders. We also propose a model where specific pathophysiologies of psychiatric disorders depend on circuit-specific impairments of mitochondrial dysfunction and redox signaling at specific developmental stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeni Kim
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, South Korea
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Krishna C. Vadodaria
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Zsolt Lenkei
- Laboratory of Dynamic of Neuronal Structure in Health and Disease, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (UMR_S1266 INSERM, University Paris Descartes), Paris, France
| | - Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Fred H. Gage
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Maria C. Marchetto
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Renata Santos
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
- Laboratory of Dynamic of Neuronal Structure in Health and Disease, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (UMR_S1266 INSERM, University Paris Descartes), Paris, France
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21
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Little D, Ketteler R, Gissen P, Devine MJ. Using stem cell-derived neurons in drug screening for neurological diseases. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 78:130-141. [PMID: 30925301 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives have become an important tool for researching disease mechanisms. It is hoped that they could be used to discover new therapies by providing the most reliable and relevant human in vitro disease models for drug discovery. This review will summarize recent efforts to use stem cell-derived neurons for drug screening. We also explain the current hurdles to using these cells for high-throughput pharmaceutical screening and developments that may help overcome these hurdles. Finally, we critically discuss whether induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons will come to fruition as a model that is regularly used to screen for drugs to treat neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Little
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Robin Ketteler
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Gissen
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J Devine
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK; Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
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22
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Cochrane A, Albers HJ, Passier R, Mummery CL, van den Berg A, Orlova VV, van der Meer AD. Advanced in vitro models of vascular biology: Human induced pluripotent stem cells and organ-on-chip technology. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 140:68-77. [PMID: 29944904 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The vascular system is one of the first to develop during embryogenesis and is essential for all organs and tissues in our body to develop and function. It has many essential roles including controlling the absorption, distribution and excretion of compounds and therefore determines the pharmacokinetics of drugs and therapeutics. Vascular homeostasis is under tight physiological control which is essential for maintaining tissues in a healthy state. Consequently, disruption of vascular homeostasis plays an integral role in many disease processes, making cells of the vessel wall attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. Experimental models of blood vessels can therefore contribute significantly to drug development and aid in predicting the biological effects of new drug entities. The increasing availability of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) derived from healthy individuals and patients have accelerated advances in developing experimental in vitro models of the vasculature: human endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), can now be generated with high efficiency from hiPSC and used in 'microfluidic chips' (also known as 'organ-on-chip' technology) as a basis for in vitro models of blood vessels. These near physiological scaffolds allow the controlled integration of fluid flow and three-dimensional (3D) co-cultures with perivascular cells to mimic tissue- or organ-level physiology and dysfunction in vitro. Here, we review recent multidisciplinary developments in these advanced experimental models of blood vessels that combine hiPSC with microfluidic organ-on-chip technology. We provide examples of their utility in various research areas and discuss steps necessary for further integration in biomedical applications so that they can be contribute effectively to the evaluation and development of new drugs and other therapeutics as well as personalized (patient-specific) treatments.
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Tagliafierro L, Zamora ME, Chiba-Falek O. Multiplication of the SNCA locus exacerbates neuronal nuclear aging. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:407-421. [PMID: 30304516 PMCID: PMC6337700 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Human-induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (hiPSC)-derived models have advanced the study of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). While age is the strongest risk factor for these disorders, hiPSC-derived models represent rejuvenated neurons. We developed hiPSC-derived Aged dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons to model PD and related synucleinopathies. Our new method induces aging through a `semi-natural' process, by passaging multiple times at the Neural Precursor Cell stage, prior to final differentiation. Characterization of isogenic hiPSC-derived neurons using heterochromatin and nuclear envelope markers, as well as DNA damage and global DNA methylation, validated our age-inducing method. Next, we compared neurons derived from a patient with SNCA-triplication (SNCA-Tri) and a Control. The SNCA-Tri neurons displayed exacerbated nuclear aging, showing advanced aging signatures already at the Juvenile stage. Noteworthy, the Aged SNCA-Tri neurons showed more α-synuclein aggregates per cell versus the Juvenile. We suggest a link between the effects of aging and SNCA overexpression on neuronal nuclear architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Tagliafierro
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Madison Elena Zamora
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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Saito-Diaz K, Zeltner N. Induced pluripotent stem cells for disease modeling, cell therapy and drug discovery in genetic autonomic disorders: a review. Clin Auton Res 2019; 29:367-384. [PMID: 30631982 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-018-00587-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates all organs in the body independent of consciousness, and is thus essential for maintaining homeostasis of the entire organism. Diseases of the ANS can arise due to environmental insults such as injury, toxins/drugs and infections or due to genetic lesions. Human studies and animal models have been instrumental to understanding connectivity and regulation of the ANS and its disorders. However, research into cellular pathologies and molecular mechanisms of ANS disorders has been hampered by the difficulties in accessing human patient-derived ANS cells in large numbers to conduct meaningful research, mainly because patient neurons cannot be easily biopsied and primary human neuronal cultures cannot be expanded.Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology can elegantly bridge these issues, allowing unlimited access of patient-derived ANS cell types for cellular, molecular and biochemical analysis, facilitating the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, and eventually leading to drug discovery. Additionally, such cells may provide a source for cell replacement therapy to replenish lost or injured ANS tissue in patients.Here, we first review the anatomy and embryonic development of the ANS, as this knowledge is crucial for understanding disease modeling approaches. We then review the current advances in human stem cell technology for modeling diseases of the ANS, recent strides toward cell replacement therapy and drug discovery initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenyi Saito-Diaz
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Nadja Zeltner
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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25
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Cobb MM, Ravisankar A, Skibinski G, Finkbeiner S. iPS cells in the study of PD molecular pathogenesis. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 373:61-77. [PMID: 29234887 PMCID: PMC5997490 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2749-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and its pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood. The majority of PD cases are sporadic but a number of genes are associated with familial PD. Sporadic and familial PD have many molecular and cellular features in common, suggesting some shared pathogenic mechanisms. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been derived from patients harboring a range of different mutations of PD-associated genes. PD patient-derived iPSCs have been differentiated into relevant cell types, in particular dopaminergic neurons and used as a model to study PD. In this review, we describe how iPSCs have been used to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of PD. We describe what cellular and molecular phenotypes have been observed in neurons derived from iPSCs harboring known PD-associated mutations and what common pathways may be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie M Cobb
- Gladstone Institutes, the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Abinaya Ravisankar
- Gladstone Institutes, the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Gaia Skibinski
- Gladstone Institutes, the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Steven Finkbeiner
- Gladstone Institutes, the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
- Department Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
- Graduate Programs in Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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26
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Borger DK, McMahon B, Roshan Lal T, Serra-Vinardell J, Aflaki E, Sidransky E. Induced pluripotent stem cell models of lysosomal storage disorders. Dis Model Mech 2018; 10:691-704. [PMID: 28592657 PMCID: PMC5483008 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.029009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have provided new opportunities to explore the cell biology and pathophysiology of human diseases, and the lysosomal storage disorder research community has been quick to adopt this technology. Patient-derived iPSC models have been generated for a number of lysosomal storage disorders, including Gaucher disease, Pompe disease, Fabry disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy, the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, Niemann-Pick types A and C1, and several of the mucopolysaccharidoses. Here, we review the strategies employed for reprogramming and differentiation, as well as insights into disease etiology gleaned from the currently available models. Examples are provided to illustrate how iPSC-derived models can be employed to develop new therapeutic strategies for these disorders. We also discuss how models of these rare diseases could contribute to an enhanced understanding of more common neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and discuss key challenges and opportunities in this area of research. Summary: This Review discusses how induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide new opportunities to explore the biology and pathophysiology of lysosomal storage diseases, and how iPSCs have illuminated the role of lysosomes in more common disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K Borger
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Benjamin McMahon
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tamanna Roshan Lal
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jenny Serra-Vinardell
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Elma Aflaki
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ellen Sidransky
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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27
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Hu JL, Todhunter ME, LaBarge MA, Gartner ZJ. Opportunities for organoids as new models of aging. J Cell Biol 2017; 217:39-50. [PMID: 29263081 PMCID: PMC5748992 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201709054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The biology of aging is challenging to study, particularly in humans. As a result, model organisms are used to approximate the physiological context of aging in humans. However, the best model organisms remain expensive and time-consuming to use. More importantly, they may not reflect directly on the process of aging in people. Human cell culture provides an alternative, but many functional signs of aging occur at the level of tissues rather than cells and are therefore not readily apparent in traditional cell culture models. Organoids have the potential to effectively balance between the strengths and weaknesses of traditional models of aging. They have sufficient complexity to capture relevant signs of aging at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, while presenting an experimentally tractable alternative to animal studies. Organoid systems have been developed to model many human tissues and diseases. Here we provide a perspective on the potential for organoids to serve as models for aging and describe how current organoid techniques could be applied to aging research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Hu
- University of California Berkeley-University of California San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA
| | - Michael E Todhunter
- Center for Cancer and Aging, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Mark A LaBarge
- Center for Cancer and Aging, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Zev J Gartner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA .,National Science Foundation Center for Cellular Construction, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA
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28
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Abstract
The spinal cord consists of multiple neuronal cell types that are critical to motor control and arise from distinct progenitor domains in the developing neural tube. Excitatory V2a interneurons in particular are an integral component of central pattern generators that control respiration and locomotion; however, the lack of a robust source of human V2a interneurons limits the ability to molecularly profile these cells and examine their therapeutic potential to treat spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we report the directed differentiation of CHX10+ V2a interneurons from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Signaling pathways (retinoic acid, sonic hedgehog, and Notch) that pattern the neural tube were sequentially perturbed to identify an optimized combination of small molecules that yielded ∼25% CHX10+ cells in four hPSC lines. Differentiated cultures expressed much higher levels of V2a phenotypic markers (CHX10 and SOX14) than other neural lineage markers. Over time, CHX10+ cells expressed neuronal markers [neurofilament, NeuN, and vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGlut2)], and cultures exhibited increased action potential frequency. Single-cell RNAseq analysis confirmed CHX10+ cells within the differentiated population, which consisted primarily of neurons with some glial and neural progenitor cells. At 2 wk after transplantation into the spinal cord of mice, hPSC-derived V2a cultures survived at the site of injection, coexpressed NeuN and VGlut2, extended neurites >5 mm, and formed putative synapses with host neurons. These results provide a description of V2a interneurons differentiated from hPSCs that may be used to model central nervous system development and serve as a potential cell therapy for SCI.
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29
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Ahfeldt T, Litterman NK, Rubin LL. Studying human disease using human neurons. Brain Res 2017; 1656:40-48. [PMID: 27060768 PMCID: PMC5053850 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.03.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Utilizing patient derived cells has enormous promise for discovering new drugs for diseases of the nervous system, a goal that has been historically quite challenging. In this review, we will outline the potential of human stem cell derived neuron models for assessing therapeutics and high-throughput screening and compare to more traditional drug discovery strategies. We summarize recent successes of the approach and discuss special considerations for developing human stem cell based assays. New technologies, such as genome editing, offer improvements to help overcome the challenges that remain. Finally, human neurons derived from patient cells have advantages for translational research beyond drug screening as they can also be used to identify individual efficacy and safety prior to clinical testing and for dissecting disease mechanisms. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Exploiting human neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Ahfeldt
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA , USA, , Fax: 617-495-3961
| | - Nadia K. Litterman
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA , USA, , Fax: 617-495-3961
| | - Lee L. Rubin
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA , USA, , Fax: 617-495-3961
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30
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Blair NF, Frith TJR, Barbaric I. Regenerative Medicine: Advances from Developmental to Degenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1007:225-239. [PMID: 28840560 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-60733-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Chronic tissue and organ failure caused by an injury, disease, ageing or congenital defects represents some of the most complex therapeutic challenges and poses a significant financial healthcare burden. Regenerative medicine strategies aim to fulfil the unmet clinical need by restoring the normal tissue function either through stimulating the endogenous tissue repair or by using transplantation strategies to replace the missing or defective cells. Stem cells represent an essential pillar of regenerative medicine efforts as they provide a source of progenitors or differentiated cells for use in cell replacement therapies. Whilst significant leaps have been made in controlling the stem cell fates and differentiating them to cell types of interest, transitioning bespoke cellular products from an academic environment to off-the-shelf clinical treatments brings about a whole new set of challenges which encompass manufacturing, regulatory and funding issues. Notwithstanding the need to resolve such issues before cell replacement therapies can benefit global healthcare, mounting progress in the field has highlighted regenerative medicine as a realistic prospect for treating some of the previously incurable conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F Blair
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas J R Frith
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ivana Barbaric
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
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31
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Zhang Q, Chen W, Tan S, Lin T. Stem Cells for Modeling and Therapy of Parkinson's Disease. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 28:85-98. [PMID: 27762639 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2016.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized by a low level of dopamine being expressing in the striatum and a deterioration of dopaminergic neurons (DAn) in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Generation of PD-derived DAn, including differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, human neural stem cells, human-induced pluripotent stem cells, and direct reprogramming, provides an ideal tool to model PD, creating the possibility of mimicking key essential pathological processes and charactering single-cell changes in vitro. Furthermore, thanks to the understanding of molecular neuropathogenesis of PD and new advances in stem-cell technology, it is anticipated that optimal functionally transplanted DAn with targeted correction and transgene-free insertion will be generated for use in cell transplantation. This review elucidates stem-cell technology for modeling PD and offering desired safe cell resources for cell transplantation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxi Zhang
- 1 Center for Regenerative and Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine) , Guangzhou, China .,2 Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanling Chen
- 1 Center for Regenerative and Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine) , Guangzhou, China .,2 Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Tan
- 2 Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Tongxiang Lin
- 1 Center for Regenerative and Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine) , Guangzhou, China .,3 Stem Cell Research Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University , Fuzhou, China
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32
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Huh CJ, Zhang B, Victor MB, Dahiya S, Batista LF, Horvath S, Yoo AS. Maintenance of age in human neurons generated by microRNA-based neuronal conversion of fibroblasts. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27644593 PMCID: PMC5067114 DOI: 10.7554/elife.18648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor in many forms of late-onset neurodegenerative disorders. The ability to recapitulate age-related characteristics of human neurons in culture will offer unprecedented opportunities to study the biological processes underlying neuronal aging. Here, we show that using a recently demonstrated microRNA-based cellular reprogramming approach, human fibroblasts from postnatal to near centenarian donors can be efficiently converted into neurons that maintain multiple age-associated signatures. Application of an epigenetic biomarker of aging (referred to as epigenetic clock) to DNA methylation data revealed that the epigenetic ages of fibroblasts were highly correlated with corresponding age estimates of reprogrammed neurons. Transcriptome and microRNA profiles reveal genes differentially expressed between young and old neurons. Further analyses of oxidative stress, DNA damage and telomere length exhibit the retention of age-associated cellular properties in converted neurons from corresponding fibroblasts. Our results collectively demonstrate the maintenance of age after neuronal conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine J Huh
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Matheus B Victor
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Sonika Dahiya
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Luis Fz Batista
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.,Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States.,Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Andrew S Yoo
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
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