Characterization of somatic Ca2+ clearance mechanisms in young and mature hippocampal granule cells

Regulation of K+-Dependent Na+/Ca2+-Exchangers (NCKX)

Potassium-dependent sodium-calcium exchangers (NCKX) have emerged as key determinants of calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling and homeostasis, especially in environments where ion concentrations undergo large changes, such as excitatory cells and transport epithelia. The regulation of NCKX transporters enables them to respond to the changing cellular environment thereby helping to shape the extent and kinetics of Ca²⁺ signals. This review examines the current knowledge of the different ways in which NCKX activity can be modulated. These include (i) cellular and dynamic subcellular location (ii); changes in protein expression mediated at the gene, transcript, or protein level (iii); genetic changes resulting in altered protein structure or expression (iv); regulation via changes in substrate concentration (v); and post-translational modification, partner protein interactions, and allosteric regulation. Detailed mechanistic understanding of NCKX regulation is an emerging area of research with the potential to provide important new insights into transporter function, the control of Ca²⁺ signals, and possible interventions for dysregulated Ca²⁺ homeostasis.

The Na+/K+ pump dominates control of glycolysis in hippocampal dentate granule cells

Cellular ATP that is consumed to perform energetically expensive tasks must be replenished by new ATP through the activation of metabolism. Neuronal stimulation, an energetically demanding process, transiently activates aerobic glycolysis, but the precise mechanism underlying this glycolysis activation has not been determined. We previously showed that neuronal glycolysis is correlated with Ca2+ influx, but is not activated by feedforward Ca2+ signaling (Díaz-García et al., 2021a). Since ATP-powered Na+ and Ca2+ pumping activities are increased following stimulation to restore ion gradients and are estimated to consume most neuronal ATP, we aimed to determine if they are coupled to neuronal glycolysis activation. By using two-photon imaging of fluorescent biosensors and dyes in dentate granule cell somas of acute mouse hippocampal slices, we observed that production of cytoplasmic NADH, a byproduct of glycolysis, is strongly coupled to changes in intracellular Na+, while intracellular Ca2+ could only increase NADH production if both forward Na+/Ca2+ exchange and Na+/K+ pump activity were intact. Additionally, antidromic stimulation-induced intracellular [Na+] increases were reduced >50% by blocking Ca2+ entry. These results indicate that neuronal glycolysis activation is predominantly a response to an increase in activity of the Na+/K+ pump, which is strongly potentiated by Na+ influx through the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger during extrusion of Ca2+ following stimulation.

Ca2+ signaling in postsynaptic neurons: Neuroplastin-65 regulates the interplay between plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPases and ionotropic glutamate receptors

Upon postsynaptic glutamate receptor activation, the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration rises and initiates signaling and plasticity in spines. The plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase (PMCA) is a major player to limit the duration of cytosolic Ca²⁺ signals. It forms complexes with the glycoprotein neuroplastin (Np) isoforms Np55 and Np65 and functionally interplays with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluNRs). Moreover, binding of the Np65-specific extracellular domain to Ca²⁺-permeable GluA1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA)-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluA1Rs) was found to be required for long-term potentiation (LTP). However, the link between PMCA and iGluRs function to regulate cytosolic Ca²⁺ signals remained unclear. Here, we report that Np65 coordinates PMCA and iGluRs' functions to modulate the duration and amplitude of cytosolic Ca²⁺ transients in dendrites and spines of hippocampal neurons. Using live-cell Ca²⁺ imaging, acute pharmacological treatments, and GCaMP5G-expressing hippocampal neurons, we discovered that endogenous or Np65-promoted PMCA activity contributes to the restoration of basal Ca²⁺ levels and that this effect is dependent on iGluR activation. Super-resolution STED and confocal microscopy revealed that electrical stimulation increases the abundance of synaptic neuroplastin-PMCA complexes depending on iGluR activation and that low-rate overexpression of Np65 doubled PMCA levels and decreased cell surface levels of GluN2A and GluA1 in dendrites and Shank2-positive glutamatergic synapses. In neuroplastin-deficient hippocampi, we observed reduced PMCA and unchanged GluN2B levels, while GluN2A and GluA1 levels were imbalanced. Our electrophysiological data from hippocampal slices argues for an essential interplay of PMCA with GluN2A- but not with GluN2B-containing receptors upon induction of synaptic plasticity. Accordingly, we conclude that Np65 may interconnect PMCA with core players of glutamatergic neurotransmission to fine-tune the Ca²⁺ signal regulation in basal synaptic function and plasticity.

Calbindin regulates Kv4.1 trafficking and excitability in dentate granule cells via CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation

Calbindin, a major Ca2+ buffer in dentate granule cells (GCs), plays a critical role in shaping Ca2+ signals, yet how it regulates neuronal function remains largely unknown. Here, we found that calbindin knockout (CBKO) mice exhibited dentate GC hyperexcitability and impaired pattern separation, which co-occurred with reduced K+ current due to downregulated surface expression of Kv4.1. Relatedly, manipulation of calbindin expression in HT22 cells led to changes in CaMKII activation and the level of surface localization of Kv4.1 through phosphorylation at serine 555, confirming the mechanism underlying neuronal hyperexcitability in CBKO mice. We also discovered that Ca2+ buffering capacity was significantly reduced in the GCs of Tg2576 mice to the level of CBKO GCs, and this reduction was restored to normal levels by antioxidants, suggesting that calbindin is a target of oxidative stress. Our data suggest that the regulation of CaMKII signaling by Ca2+ buffering is crucial for neuronal excitability regulation.

Inter-spike mitochondrial Ca2+ release enhances high frequency synaptic transmission

KEY POINTS

Presynaptic mitochondria not only absorb but also release Ca²⁺ during high frequency stimulation (HFS) when presynaptic [Ca²⁺ ] is kept low (<500 nm) by high cytosolic Ca²⁺ buffer or strong plasma membrane calcium clearance mechanisms under physiological external [Ca²⁺ ]. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ release (MCR) does not alter the global presynaptic Ca²⁺ transients. MCR during HFS enhances short-term facilitation and steady state excitatory postsynaptic currents by increasing vesicular release probability. The intra-train MCR may provide residual calcium at interspike intervals, and thus support high frequency neurotransmission at central glutamatergic synapses.

ABSTRACT

Emerging evidence indicates that mitochondrial Ca²⁺ buffering contributes to local regulation of synaptic transmission. It is unknown, however, whether mitochondrial Ca²⁺ release (MCR) occurs during high frequency synaptic transmission. Confirming the previous notion that 2 μm tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺ ) is a specific inhibitor of the mitochondrial Na⁺ /Ca²⁺ exchanger (mNCX), we studied the role of MCR via mNCX in short-term plasticity during high frequency stimulation (HFS) at the calyx of Held synapse of the rat. TPP⁺ reduced short-term facilitation (STF) and steady state excitatory postsynaptic currents during HFS at mature calyx synapses under physiological extracellular [Ca²⁺ ] ([Ca²⁺ ]_o  = 1.2 mm), but not at immature calyx or at 2 mm [Ca²⁺ ]_o . The inhibitory effects of TPP⁺ were stronger at synapses with morphologically complex calyces harbouring many swellings and at 32°C than at simple calyx synapses and at room temperature. These effects of TPP⁺ on STF were well correlated with those on the presynaptic mitochondrial [Ca²⁺ ] build-up during HFS. Mitochondrial [Ca²⁺ ] during HFS was increased by TPP⁺ at mature calyces under 1.2 mm [Ca²⁺ ]_o , and further enhanced at 32°C, but not under 2 mm [Ca²⁺ ]_o or at immature calyces. The close correlation of the effects of TPP⁺ on mitochondrial [Ca²⁺ ] with those on STF suggests that mNCX contributes to STF at the calyx of Held synapses. The intra-train MCR enhanced vesicular release probability without altering global presynaptic [Ca²⁺ ]. Our results suggest that MCR during HFS elevates local [Ca²⁺ ] near synaptic sites at interspike intervals to enhance STF and to support stable synaptic transmission under physiological [Ca²⁺ ]_o .

Negr1 controls adult hippocampal neurogenesis and affective behaviors

Recent genome-wide association studies on major depressive disorder have implicated neuronal growth regulator 1 (Negr1), a GPI-anchored cell adhesion molecule in the immunoglobulin LON family. Although Negr1 has been shown to regulate neurite outgrowth and synapse formation, the mechanism through which this protein affects mood disorders is still largely unknown. In this research, we characterized Negr1-deficient (negr1^-/-) mice to elucidate the function of Negr1 in anxiety and depression. We found that anxiety- and depression-like behaviors increased in negr1^-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. In addition, negr1^-/- mice had decreased adult hippocampal neurogenesis compared to wild-type mice. Concurrently, both LTP and mEPSC in the dentate gyrus (DG) region were severely compromised in negr1^-/- mice. In our effort to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we found that lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) expression was decreased in the hippocampus of negr1^-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. Heterologous Lcn2 expression in the hippocampal DG of negr1^-/- mice rescued anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and restored neurogenesis and mEPSC frequency to their normal levels in these mice. Furthermore, we discovered that Negr1 interacts with leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) and modulates LIF-induced Lcn2 expression. Taken together, our data uncovered a novel mechanism of mood regulation by Negr1 involving an interaction between Negr1 and LIFR along with Lcn2 expression.

Reduced expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchangers is associated with cognitive deficits seen in Alzheimer's disease model mice

Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers (NCXs) are expressed primarily in the plasma membrane of most cell types, where they mediate electrogenic exchange of one Ca²⁺ for three Na⁺ ions, depending on Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ electrochemical gradients across the membrane. Three mammalian NCX isoforms (NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3) are each encoded by a distinct gene. Here, we report that NCX2 and NCX3 protein and mRNA levels are relatively reduced in hippocampal CA1 of APP23 and APP-KI mice. Likewise, NCX2^+/- or NCX3^+/- mice exhibited impaired hippocampal LTP and memory-related behaviors. Moreover, relative to controls, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) autophosphorylation significantly decreased in NCX2^+/- mouse hippocampus but increased in hippocampus of NCX3^+/- mice. NCX2 or NCX3 heterozygotes displayed impaired maintenance of hippocampal LTP, a phenotype that in NCX2^+/- mice was correlated with elevated calcineurin activity and rescued by treatment with the calcineurin (CaN) inhibitor FK506. Likewise, FK506 treatment significantly restored impaired hippocampal LTP in APP-KI mice. Moreover, Ca²⁺ clearance after depolarization following high frequency stimulation was slightly delayed in hippocampal CA1 regions of NCX2^+/- mice. Electron microscopy revealed relatively decreased synaptic density in CA1 of NCX2^+/- mice, while the number of spines with perforated synapses in CA1 significantly increased in NCX3^+/- mice. We conclude that memory impairment seen in NCX2^+/- and NCX3^+/- mice reflect dysregulated hippocampal CaMKII activity, which alters dendritic spine morphology, findings with implications for memory deficits seen in Alzheimer's disease model mice.

Presenilins regulate synaptic plasticity and mitochondrial calcium homeostasis in the hippocampal mossy fiber pathway

Background

Presenilins play a major role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, in which the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable. Previous studies of Presenilin function in the synapse, however, focused exclusively on the hippocampal Schaffer collateral (SC) pathway. Whether Presenilins play similar or distinct roles in other hippocampal synapses is unknown.

Methods

To investigate the role of Presenilins at mossy fiber (MF) synapses we performed field and whole-cell electrophysiological recordings and Ca²⁺ imaging using acute hippocampal slices of postnatal forebrain-restricted Presenilin conditional double knockout (PS cDKO) and control mice at 2 months of age. We also performed quantitative electron microscopy (EM) analysis to determine whether mitochondrial content is affected at presynaptic MF boutons of PS cDKO mice. We further conducted behavioral analysis to assess spatial learning and memory of PS cDKO and control mice at 2 months in the Morris water maze.

Results

We found that long-term potentiation and short-term plasticity, such as paired-pulse and frequency facilitation, are impaired at MF synapses of PS cDKO mice. Moreover, post-tetanic potentiation (PTP), another form of short-term plasticity, is also impaired at MF synapses of PS cDKO mice. Furthermore, blockade of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ efflux mimics and occludes the PTP deficits at MF synapses of PS cDKO mice, suggesting that mitochondrial Ca²⁺ homeostasis is impaired in the absence of PS. Quantitative EM analysis showed normal number and area of mitochondria at presynaptic MF boutons of PS cDKO mice, indicating unchanged mitochondrial content. Ca²⁺ imaging of dentate gyrus granule neurons further revealed that cytosolic Ca²⁺ increases induced by tetanic stimulation are reduced in PS cDKO granule neurons in acute hippocampal slices, and that inhibition of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ release during high frequency stimulation mimics and occludes the Ca²⁺ defects observed in PS cDKO neurons. Consistent with synaptic plasticity impairment observed at MF and SC synapses in acute PS cDKO hippocampal slices, PS cDKO mice exhibit profound spatial learning and memory deficits in the Morris water maze.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the importance of PS in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ homeostasis in the hippocampal MF pathway.

Activity-dependent downregulation of D-type K+ channel subunit Kv1.2 in rat hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons

The intrinsic excitability of neurons plays a critical role in the encoding of memory at Hebbian synapses and in the coupling of synaptic inputs to spike generation. It has not been studied whether somatic firing at a physiologically relevant frequency can induce intrinsic plasticity in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells (CA3-PCs). Here, we show that a conditioning train of 20 action potentials (APs) at 10 Hz causes a persistent reduction in the input conductance and an acceleration of the AP onset time in CA3-PCs, but not in CA1-PCs. Induction of such long-term potentiation of intrinsic excitability (LTP-IE) was accompanied by a reduction in the D-type K(+) current, and was abolished by the inhibition of endocytosis or protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Consistently, the CA3-PCs from Kv1.2 knock-out mice displayed no LTP-IE with the same conditioning. Furthermore, the induction of LTP-IE depended on the back-propagating APs (bAPs) and intact distal apical dendrites. These results indicate that LTP-IE is mediated by the internalization of Kv1.2 channels from the distal regions of apical dendrites, which is triggered by bAP-induced dendritic Ca(2+) signalling and the consequent activation of PTK.

Endocytosis of somatodendritic NCKX2 is regulated by Src family kinase-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation

We have previously reported that the surface expression of K⁺-dependent Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger 2 (NCKX2) in the somatodendritic compartment is kept low by constitutive endocytosis, which results in the polarization of surface NCKX2 to the axon. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is initiated by interaction of the μ subunit of adaptor protein complex 2 (AP-2) with the canonical tyrosine motif (YxxΦ) of a target molecule. We examined whether endocytosis of NCKX2 involves two putative tyrosine motifs (³⁶⁵YGKL and ³⁷¹YDTM) in the cytoplasmic loop of NCKX2. Coimmunoprecipitation assay revealed that the ³⁶⁵YGKL motif is essential for the interaction with the μ subunit of AP-2 (AP2M1). Consistently, either overexpression of NCKX2-Y365A mutant or knockdown of AP2M1 in cultured hippocampal neurons significantly reduced the internalization of NCKX2 from the somatodendritic surface and thus abolished the axonal polarization of surface NCKX2. Next, we tested whether the interaction between the tyrosine motif and AP2M1 is regulated by phosphorylation of the 365th tyrosine residue (Tyr-365). Tyrosine phosphorylation of heterologously expressed NCKX2-WT, but not NCKX2-Y365A, was increased by carbachol (CCh) in PC-12 cells. The effect of CCh was inhibited by PP2, a Src family kinase (SFK) inhibitor. Moreover, PP2 facilitated the endocytosis of NCKX2 in both the somatodendritic and axonal compartments, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of NCKX2 by SFK negatively regulates its endocytosis. Supporting this idea, activation of SFK enhanced the NCKX activity in the proximal dendrites of dentate granule cells (GCs). These results suggest that endocytosis of somatodendritic NCKX2 is regulated by SFK-dependent phosphorylation of Tyr-365.

Developmental upregulation of presynaptic NCKX underlies the decrease of mitochondria-dependent posttetanic potentiation at the rat calyx of Held synapse

The sensitivity of posttetanic potentiation (PTP) to high-frequency stimulation (HFS) steeply decays during the first 2 postnatal weeks. We investigated the underlying mechanisms for the developmental change of PTP induced by HFS (100 Hz, 2 s) at postnatal days 4-6 and 9-11 at the rat calyx of Held synapse. Low-concentration tetraphenylphosphonium (2 μM), an inhibitor of mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, suppressed the amount of posttetanic residual Ca(2+) and PTP to a larger extent at the immature calyx synapse, indicating a developmental reduction of mitochondrial contribution to PTP. The higher amount of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake during HFS and consequent posttetanic residual Ca(2+) at the immature calyx of Held was associated with higher peak of HFS-induced Ca(2+) transients, most likely because the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake during HFS was supralinearly dependent on the presynaptic resting Ca(2+) level. Probing into the contribution of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers to Ca(2+) clearance, we found a specific upregulation of the K(+)-dependent Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCKX) activity in the mature calyx of Held. We conclude that the upregulation of NCKX limits the Ca(2+) buildup and inhibits mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake during HFS, which in turn results in the reduction of posttetanic residual Ca(2+) and PTP at the mature calyx of Held synapse.

GABA mediates the network activity-dependent facilitation of axonal outgrowth from the newborn granule cells in the early postnatal rat hippocampus

Neural network activity regulates the development of hippocampal newborn granule cells (GCs). Excitatory GABAergic input is known to be a key player in this regulation. Although calcium signaling is thought to be a downstream mediator of GABA, GABA-induced calcium signaling in newborn GCs is not well understood. We investigated Ca(2+) signaling and its regulatory role in axon and dendrite outgrowth in newborn GCs identified in the organotypic slice culture of early postnatal rat hippocampus. Here, we report that hippocampal network activity can induce calcium transients (CaTs) in newborn GCs during the first post-mitotic week via GABAergic inputs. The GABA-induced CaTs were mediated mainly by L-type Ca(2+) channels. Furthermore, we found that inhibiting any step in the signaling pathway, network activity → GABA → L-type Ca(2+) channels, selectively suppressed the axonal outgrowth and pruning of newborn GCs, but not dendritic outgrowth. The GABA(A) receptor blocker bicuculline significantly suppressed axonal outgrowth, despite increasing network activity, thus indicating an essential role of GABAergic inputs. Therefore, we conclude that network activity-dependent GABAergic inputs open L-type Ca(2+) channels and promote axonal outgrowth in newborn GC during the first post-mitotic week.

Impaired short-term plasticity in mossy fiber synapses caused by mitochondrial dysfunction of dentate granule cells is the earliest synaptic deficit in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the early stages is characterized by memory impairment, which may be attributable to synaptic dysfunction. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and Ca²⁺ dysregulation are key factors in the pathogenesis of AD, but the causal relationship between these factors and synaptic dysfunction is not clearly understood. We found that in the hippocampus of an AD mouse model (Tg2576), mitochondrial Ca²⁺ handling in dentate granule cells was impaired as early as the second postnatal month, and this Ca²⁺ dysregulation caused an impairment of post-tetanic potentiation in mossy fiber-CA3 synapses. The alteration of cellular Ca²⁺ clearance in Tg2576 mice is region-specific within hippocampus because in another region, CA1 pyramidal neuron, no significant difference in Ca²⁺ clearance was detected between wild-type and Tg2576 mice at this early stage. Impairment of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake was associated with increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Mitochondrial dysfunctions in dentate granule cells and impairment of post-tetanic potentiation in mossy fiber-CA3 synapses were fully restored when brain slices obtained from Tg2576 were pretreated with antioxidant, suggesting that mitochondrial oxidative stress initiates other dysfunctions. Reversibility of early dysfunctions by antioxidants at the preclinical stage of AD highlights the importance of early diagnosis and antioxidant therapy to delay or prevent the disease processes.

KIF21A-mediated axonal transport and selective endocytosis underlie the polarized targeting of NCKX2

We have previously shown that K(+)-dependent Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCKX) is a major calcium clearance mechanism at the large axon terminals of central neurons, whereas their somata display little NCKX activity. We investigated mechanisms underlying the axonal polarization of NCKX2 in rat hippocampal neurons. We identified NCKX2 as the first neuron-specific cargo molecule of kinesin family member 21A (KIF21A). The intracellular loop of NCKX2 specifically interacted with the WD-40 repeats, a putative cargo-binding domain, of KIF21A. Dominant-negative mutant or depletion of KIF21A inhibited the transport of NCKX2-GFP to axon fibers. Knockdown of KIF21A caused calcium dysregulation at axonal boutons but not at somatodendritic regions. Despite the axonal polarization of the NCKX activity, both somatodendritic and axonal regions were immunoreactive to NCKX2. The surface expression of NCKX2 revealed by live-cell immunocytochemistry, however, displayed highly polarized distribution to the axon. Inhibition of endocytosis increased the somatodendritic surface NCKX2 and thus abolished the axonal polarization of surface NCKX2. These results indicate that KIF21A-mediated axonal transport and selective somatodendritic endocytosis underlie the axonal polarized surface expression of NCKX2.

Somatic calcium level reports integrated spiking activity of cerebellar interneurons in vitro and in vivo

We examined the relationship between somatic Ca²⁺ signals and spiking activity of cerebellar molecular layer interneurons (MLIs) in adult mice. Using two-photon microscopy in conjunction with cell-attached recordings in slices, we show that in tonically firing MLIs loaded with high-affinity Ca²⁺ probes, Ca²⁺-dependent fluorescence transients are absent. Spike-triggered averages of fluorescence traces for MLIs spiking at low rates revealed that the fluorescence change associated with an action potential is small (1% of the basal fluorescence). To uncover the relationship between intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺](i)) and firing rates, spikes were transiently silenced with puffs of the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol. [Ca²⁺](i) relaxed toward basal levels following a single exponential whose amplitude correlated to the preceding spike frequency. The relaxation time constant was slow (2.5 s) and independent of the probe concentration. Data from parvalbumin (PV)-/- animals indicate that PV controls the amplitude and decay time of spike-triggered averages as well as the time course of [Ca²⁺](i) relaxations following spike silencing. The [Ca²⁺](i) signals were sensitive to the L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker nimodipine and insensitive to ryanodine. In anesthetized mice, as in slices, fluorescence traces from most MLIs did not show spontaneous transients. They nonetheless responded to muscimol iontophoresis with relaxations similar to those obtained in vitro, suggesting a state of tonic firing with estimated spiking rates ranging from 2 to 30 Hz. Altogether, the [Ca²⁺](i) signal appears to reflect the integral of the spiking activity in MLIs. We propose that the muscimol silencing strategy can be extended to other tonically spiking neurons with similar [Ca²⁺](i) homeostasis.

Protein-based human iPS cells efficiently generate functional dopamine neurons and can treat a rat model of Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease (PD) involves the selective loss of midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons and is a possible target disease for stem cell-based therapy. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a potentially unlimited source of patient-specific cells for transplantation. However, it is critical to evaluate the safety of hiPSCs generated by different reprogramming methods. Here, we compared multiple hiPSC lines derived by virus- and protein-based reprogramming to human ES cells (hESCs). Neuronal precursor cells (NPCs) and dopamine (DA) neurons delivered from lentivirus-based hiPSCs exhibited residual expression of exogenous reprogramming genes, but those cells derived from retrovirus- and protein-based hiPSCs did not. Furthermore, NPCs derived from virus-based hiPSCs exhibited early senescence and apoptotic cell death during passaging, which was preceded by abrupt induction of p53. In contrast, NPCs derived from hESCs and protein-based hiPSCs were highly expandable without senescence. DA neurons derived from protein-based hiPSCs exhibited gene expression, physiological, and electrophysiological properties similar to those of mDA neurons. Transplantation of these cells into rats with striatal lesions, a model of PD, significantly rescued motor deficits. These data support the clinical potential of protein-based hiPSCs for personalized cell therapy of PD.