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Maynard A, Soretić M, Treutlein B. Single-cell genomic profiling to study regeneration. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 87:102231. [PMID: 39053027 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Regenerative capacities and strategies vary dramatically across animals, as well as between cell types, organs, and with age. In recent years, high-throughput single-cell transcriptomics and other single-cell profiling technologies have been applied to many animal models to gain an understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration. Here, we review recent single-cell studies of regeneration in diverse contexts and summarize key concepts that have emerged. The immense regenerative capacity of some invertebrates, exemplified by planarians, is driven mainly by the differentiation of abundant adult pluripotent stem cells, whereas in many other cases, regeneration involves the reactivation of embryonic or developmental gene-regulatory networks in differentiated cell types. However, regeneration also differs from development in many ways, including the use of regeneration-specific cell types and gene regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Maynard
- ETH Zurich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mateja Soretić
- ETH Zurich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Treutlein
- ETH Zurich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland.
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2
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Ventriglia S, Kalcheim C. From neural tube to spinal cord: The dynamic journey of the dorsal neuroepithelium. Dev Biol 2024; 511:26-38. [PMID: 38580174 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.04.001] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
In a developing embryo, formation of tissues and organs is remarkably precise in both time and space. Through cell-cell interactions, neighboring progenitors coordinate their activities, sequentially generating distinct types of cells. At present, we only have limited knowledge, rather than a systematic understanding, of the underlying logic and mechanisms responsible for cell fate transitions. The formation of the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord is an outstanding model to tackle these dynamics, as it first generates the peripheral nervous system and is later responsible for transmitting sensory information from the periphery to the brain and for coordinating local reflexes. This is reflected first by the ontogeny of neural crest cells, progenitors of the peripheral nervous system, followed by formation of the definitive roof plate of the central nervous system and specification of adjacent interneurons, then a transformation of roof plate into dorsal radial glia and ependyma lining the forming central canal. How do these peripheral and central neural branches segregate from common progenitors? How are dorsal radial glia established concomitant with transformation of the neural tube lumen into a central canal? How do the dorsal radial glia influence neighboring cells? This is only a partial list of questions whose clarification requires the implementation of experimental paradigms in which precise control of timing is crucial. Here, we outline some available answers and still open issues, while highlighting the contributions of avian models and their potential to address mechanisms of neural patterning and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Ventriglia
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, 9112102, P.O.Box 12272, Israel.
| | - Chaya Kalcheim
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, 9112102, P.O.Box 12272, Israel.
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3
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O'Shea TM, Ao Y, Wang S, Ren Y, Cheng AL, Kawaguchi R, Shi Z, Swarup V, Sofroniew MV. Derivation and transcriptional reprogramming of border-forming wound repair astrocytes after spinal cord injury or stroke in mice. Nat Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41593-024-01684-6. [PMID: 38907165 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01684-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) lesions become surrounded by neuroprotective borders of newly proliferated reactive astrocytes; however, fundamental features of these cells are poorly understood. Here we show that following spinal cord injury or stroke, 90% and 10% of border-forming astrocytes derive, respectively, from proliferating local astrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in adult mice of both sexes. Temporal transcriptome analysis, single-nucleus RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry show that after focal CNS injury, local mature astrocytes dedifferentiate, proliferate and become transcriptionally reprogrammed to permanently altered new states, with persisting downregulation of molecules associated with astrocyte-neuron interactions and upregulation of molecules associated with wound healing, microbial defense and interactions with stromal and immune cells. These wound repair astrocytes share morphologic and transcriptional features with perimeningeal limitans astrocytes and are the predominant source of neuroprotective borders that re-establish CNS integrity around lesions by separating neural parenchyma from stromal and immune cells as occurs throughout the healthy CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M O'Shea
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yan Ao
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shinong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yilong Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Amy L Cheng
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zechuan Shi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Iwasaki R, Kohro Y, Tsuda M. A method for selective and efficient isolation of gray matter astrocytes from the spinal cord of adult mice. Mol Brain 2024; 17:25. [PMID: 38773624 PMCID: PMC11106874 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-024-01097-3] [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: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates intra- and inter-regional heterogeneity of astrocytes in the brain. However, because of a lack of an efficient method for isolating astrocytes from the spinal cord, little is known about how much spinal cord astrocytes are heterogeneous in adult mice. In this study, we developed a new method for isolating spinal astrocytes from adult mice using a cold-active protease from Bacillus licheniformis with an astrocyte cell surface antigen-2 (ACSA-2) antibody. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, isolated spinal ACSA-2+ cells were divided into two distinct populations, ACSA-2high and ACSA-2low. By analyzing the expression of cell-type marker genes, the ACSA-2high and ACSA-2low populations were identified as astrocytes and ependymal cells, respectively. Furthermore, ACSA-2high cells had mRNAs encoding genes that were abundantly expressed in the gray matter (GM) but not white matter astrocytes. By optimizing enzymatic isolation procedures, the yield of GM astrocytes also increased. Therefore, our newly established method enabled the selective and efficient isolation of GM astrocytes from the spinal cord of adult mice and may be useful for bulk- or single-cell RNA-sequencing under physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoma Iwasaki
- Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuta Kohro
- Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Makoto Tsuda
- Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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Pandya VA, Patani R. The role of glial cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 176:381-450. [PMID: 38802179 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has traditionally been considered a neuron-centric disease. This view is now outdated, with increasing recognition of cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous contributions of central and peripheral nervous system glia to ALS pathomechanisms. With glial research rapidly accelerating, we comprehensively interrogate the roles of astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, Schwann cells and satellite glia in nervous system physiology and ALS-associated pathology. Moreover, we highlight the inter-glial, glial-neuronal and inter-system polylogue which constitutes the healthy nervous system and destabilises in disease. We also propose classification based on function for complex glial reactive phenotypes and discuss the pre-requisite for integrative modelling to advance translation. Given the paucity of life-enhancing therapies currently available for ALS patients, we discuss the promising potential of harnessing glia in driving ALS therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virenkumar A Pandya
- University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom; The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Rickie Patani
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom; Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
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Falco MV, Fabbiani G, Maciel C, Valdivia S, Vitureira N, Russo RE. P2X7 receptor activation awakes a dormant stem cell niche in the adult spinal cord. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1288676. [PMID: 38164435 PMCID: PMC10757934 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1288676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The ependyma of the spinal cord is a latent stem cell niche that is reactivated by injury, generating new cells that migrate to the lesion site to limit the damage. The mechanisms by which ependymal cells are reactivated after injury remain poorly understood. ATP has been proposed to act as a diffusible "danger signal" to alert about damage and start repair. Indeed, spinal cord injury (SCI) generates an increase in extracellular ATP around the lesion epicenter that lasts for several hours and affects the functional outcome after the damage. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7r) has functional properties (e.g., low sensitivity for ATP, high permeability for Ca2+) that makes it a suitable candidate to act as a detector of tissue damage. Because ependymal cells express functional P2X7r that generate an inward current and regenerative Ca2+ waves, we hypothesize that the P2X7r has a main role in the mechanisms by which progenitor-like cells in the ependyma react to tissue damage. To test this possibility, we simulated the P2X7r activation that occurs after SCI by in vivo intraspinal injection of the selective agonist BzATP nearby the central canal. We found that BzATP rescued ependymal cells from quiescence by triggering a proliferative response similar to that generated by injury. In addition, P2X7r activation by BzATP induced a shift of ependymal cells to a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) phenotype similar to that induced by injury. However, P2X7r activation did not trigger the migration of ependyma-derived cells as occurs after tissue damage. Injection of BzATP induced the expression of connexin 26 (Cx26) in ependymal cells, an event needed for the proliferative reaction after injury. BzATP did not induce these changes in ependymal cells of P2X7-/- mice supporting a specific action on P2X7r. In vivo blockade of P2X7r with the potent antagonist AZ10606120 reduced significantly the injury-induced proliferation of ependymal cells. Our data indicate that P2X7r has a key role in the "awakening" of the ependymal stem cell niche after injury and suggest purinergic signaling is an interesting target to improve the contribution of endogenous progenitors to repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Falco
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gabriela Fabbiani
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cecilia Maciel
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Spring Valdivia
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Nathalia Vitureira
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Raúl E. Russo
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Cui Z, Wei H, Goding C, Cui R. Stem cell heterogeneity, plasticity, and regulation. Life Sci 2023; 334:122240. [PMID: 37925141 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122240] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
As a population of homogeneous cells with both self-renewal and differentiation potential, stem cell pools are highly compartmentalized and contain distinct subsets that exhibit stable but limited heterogeneity during homeostasis. However, their striking plasticity is showcased under natural or artificial stress, such as injury, transplantation, cancer, and aging, leading to changes in their phenotype, constitution, metabolism, and function. The complex and diverse network of cell-extrinsic niches and signaling pathways, together with cell-intrinsic genetic and epigenetic regulators, tightly regulate both the heterogeneity during homeostasis and the plasticity under perturbation. Manipulating these factors offers better control of stem cell behavior and a potential revolution in the current state of regenerative medicine. However, disruptions of normal regulation by genetic mutation or excessive plasticity acquisition may contribute to the formation of tumors. By harnessing innovative techniques that enhance our understanding of stem cell heterogeneity and employing novel approaches to maximize the utilization of stem cell plasticity, stem cell therapy holds immense promise for revolutionizing the future of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Cui
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
| | - Hope Wei
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America
| | - Colin Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX37DQ, UK
| | - Rutao Cui
- Skin Disease Research Institute, The 2nd Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Chudakova DA, Samoilova EM, Chekhonin VP, Baklaushev VP. Improving Efficiency of Direct Pro-Neural Reprogramming: Much-Needed Aid for Neuroregeneration in Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2023; 12:2499. [PMID: 37887343 PMCID: PMC10605572 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202499] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medical condition affecting ~2.5-4 million people worldwide. The conventional therapy for SCI fails to restore the lost spinal cord functions; thus, novel therapies are needed. Recent breakthroughs in stem cell biology and cell reprogramming revolutionized the field. Of them, the use of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) directly reprogrammed from non-neuronal somatic cells without transitioning through a pluripotent state is a particularly attractive strategy. This allows to "scale up" NPCs in vitro and, via their transplantation to the lesion area, partially compensate for the limited regenerative plasticity of the adult spinal cord in humans. As recently demonstrated in non-human primates, implanted NPCs contribute to the functional improvement of the spinal cord after injury, and works in other animal models of SCI also confirm their therapeutic value. However, direct reprogramming still remains a challenge in many aspects; one of them is low efficiency, which prevents it from finding its place in clinics yet. In this review, we describe new insights that recent works brought to the field, such as novel targets (mitochondria, nucleoli, G-quadruplexes, and others), tools, and approaches (mechanotransduction and electrical stimulation) for direct pro-neural reprogramming, including potential ones yet to be tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria A. Chudakova
- Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, 117513 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina M. Samoilova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Specialised Medical Care and Medical Technologies FMBA of Russia, 115682 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir P. Chekhonin
- Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology of Medical and Biological Faculty, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir P. Baklaushev
- Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, 117513 Moscow, Russia
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Specialised Medical Care and Medical Technologies FMBA of Russia, 115682 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology of Medical and Biological Faculty, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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Ripoll C, Poulen G, Chevreau R, Lonjon N, Vachiery-Lahaye F, Bauchet L, Hugnot JP. Persistence of FoxJ1 + Pax6 + Sox2 + ependymal cells throughout life in the human spinal cord. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:181. [PMID: 37329342 PMCID: PMC11072198 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04811-x] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Ependymal cells lining the central canal of the spinal cord play a crucial role in providing a physical barrier and in the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. These cells express the FOXJ1 and SOX2 transcription factors in mice and are derived from various neural tube populations, including embryonic roof and floor plate cells. They exhibit a dorsal-ventral expression pattern of spinal cord developmental transcription factors (such as MSX1, PAX6, ARX, and FOXA2), resembling an embryonic-like organization. Although this ependymal region is present in young humans, it appears to be lost with age. To re-examine this issue, we collected 17 fresh spinal cords from organ donors aged 37-83 years and performed immunohistochemistry on lightly fixed tissues. We observed cells expressing FOXJ1 in the central region in all cases, which co-expressed SOX2 and PAX6 as well as RFX2 and ARL13B, two proteins involved in ciliogenesis and cilia-mediated sonic hedgehog signaling, respectively. Half of the cases exhibited a lumen and some presented portions of the spinal cord with closed and open central canals. Co-staining of FOXJ1 with other neurodevelopmental transcription factors (ARX, FOXA2, MSX1) and NESTIN revealed heterogeneity of the ependymal cells. Interestingly, three donors aged > 75 years exhibited a fetal-like regionalization of neurodevelopmental transcription factors, with dorsal and ventral ependymal cells expressing MSX1, ARX, and FOXA2. These results provide new evidence for the persistence of ependymal cells expressing neurodevelopmental genes throughout human life and highlight the importance of further investigation of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Ripoll
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France
| | - Gaetan Poulen
- Neurosurgery Department, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Robert Chevreau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Lonjon
- Neurosurgery Department, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Florence Vachiery-Lahaye
- Department of Donation and Transplantation, Coordination Unit, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Luc Bauchet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France
- Neurosurgery Department, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Hugnot
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France.
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