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Abstract
Brain development in humans is achieved through precise spatiotemporal genetic control, the mechanisms of which remain largely elusive. Recently, integration of technological advances in human stem cell-based modelling with genome editing has emerged as a powerful platform to establish causative links between genotypes and phenotypes directly in the human system. Here, we review our current knowledge of complex genetic regulation of each key step of human brain development through the lens of evolutionary specialization and neurodevelopmental disorders and highlight the use of human stem cell-derived 2D cultures and 3D brain organoids to investigate human-enriched features and disease mechanisms. We also discuss opportunities and challenges of integrating new technologies to reveal the genetic architecture of human brain development and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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Zhang DY, Song H, Ming GL. Modeling neurological disorders using brain organoids. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 111:4-14. [PMID: 32561297 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurological disorders are challenging to study given the complexity and species-specific features of the organ system. Brain organoids are three dimensional structured aggregates of neural tissue that are generated by self-organization and differentiation from pluripotent stem cells under optimized culture conditions. These brain organoids exhibit similar features of structural organization and cell type diversity as the developing human brain, creating opportunities to recapitulate disease phenotypes that are not otherwise accessible. Here we review the initial attempt in the field to apply brain organoid models for the study of many different types of human neurological disorders across a wide range of etiologies and pathophysiologies. Forthcoming advancements in both brain organoid technology as well as analytical methods have significant potentials to advance the understanding of neurological disorders and to uncover opportunities for meaningful therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Y Zhang
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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3
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Vandervore LV, Schot R, Kasteleijn E, Oegema R, Stouffs K, Gheldof A, Grochowska MM, van der Sterre MLT, van Unen LMA, Wilke M, Elfferich P, van der Spek PJ, Heijsman D, Grandone A, Demmers JAA, Dekkers DHW, Slotman JA, Kremers GJ, Schaaf GJ, Masius RG, van Essen AJ, Rump P, van Haeringen A, Peeters E, Altunoglu U, Kalayci T, Poot RA, Dobyns WB, Bahi-Buisson N, Verheijen FW, Jansen AC, Mancini GMS. Heterogeneous clinical phenotypes and cerebral malformations reflected by rotatin cellular dynamics. Brain 2019; 142:867-884. [PMID: 30879067 PMCID: PMC6439326 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recessive mutations in RTTN, encoding the protein rotatin, were originally identified as cause of polymicrogyria, a cortical malformation. With time, a wide variety of other brain malformations has been ascribed to RTTN mutations, including primary microcephaly. Rotatin is a centrosomal protein possibly involved in centriolar elongation and ciliogenesis. However, the function of rotatin in brain development is largely unknown and the molecular disease mechanism underlying cortical malformations has not yet been elucidated. We performed both clinical and cell biological studies, aimed at clarifying rotatin function and pathogenesis. Review of the 23 published and five unpublished clinical cases and genomic mutations, including the effect of novel deep intronic pathogenic mutations on RTTN transcripts, allowed us to extrapolate the core phenotype, consisting of intellectual disability, short stature, microcephaly, lissencephaly, periventricular heterotopia, polymicrogyria and other malformations. We show that the severity of the phenotype is related to residual function of the protein, not only the level of mRNA expression. Skin fibroblasts from eight affected individuals were studied by high resolution immunomicroscopy and flow cytometry, in parallel with in vitro expression of RTTN in HEK293T cells. We demonstrate that rotatin regulates different phases of the cell cycle and is mislocalized in affected individuals. Mutant cells showed consistent and severe mitotic failure with centrosome amplification and multipolar spindle formation, leading to aneuploidy and apoptosis, which could relate to depletion of neuronal progenitors often observed in microcephaly. We confirmed the role of rotatin in functional and structural maintenance of primary cilia and determined that the protein localized not only to the basal body, but also to the axoneme, proving the functional interconnectivity between ciliogenesis and cell cycle progression. Proteomics analysis of both native and exogenous rotatin uncovered that rotatin interacts with the neuronal (non-muscle) myosin heavy chain subunits, motors of nucleokinesis during neuronal migration, and in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived bipolar mature neurons rotatin localizes at the centrosome in the leading edge. This illustrates the role of rotatin in neuronal migration. These different functions of rotatin explain why RTTN mutations can lead to heterogeneous cerebral malformations, both related to proliferation and migration defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Vandervore
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Neurogenetics Research Group, Research Cluster Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rachel Schot
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esmee Kasteleijn
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Renske Oegema
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pathology, Clinical Bio-informatics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katrien Stouffs
- Neurogenetics Research Group, Research Cluster Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexander Gheldof
- Neurogenetics Research Group, Research Cluster Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martyna M Grochowska
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne L T van der Sterre
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leontine M A van Unen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martina Wilke
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Elfferich
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J van der Spek
- Dipartimento della Donna, del Bambino, di Chirurgia Generale e Specialistica, Seconda Università degli studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Daphne Heijsman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Dipartimento della Donna, del Bambino, di Chirurgia Generale e Specialistica, Seconda Università degli studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Grandone
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Proteomics Center, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen A A Demmers
- Department of Pathology, Optical Imaging Center, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick H W Dekkers
- Department of Pathology, Optical Imaging Center, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johan A Slotman
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center (Erasmus MC), 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan Kremers
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center (Erasmus MC), 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerben J Schaaf
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy G Masius
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anton J van Essen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, LUMC, Leiden University Medical Center, Postzone K-5-R, Postbus 9600, RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick Rump
- Department of Clinical Genetics, LUMC, Leiden University Medical Center, Postzone K-5-R, Postbus 9600, RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arie van Haeringen
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Juliana Hospital, Els Borst-Eilersplein 275, 2545 AA Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - Els Peeters
- Department of Medical genetics, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Topkapı Mahallesi, Turgut Özal Millet Cd, 34093 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Umut Altunoglu
- Department of Cell biology, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tugba Kalayci
- Department of Cell biology, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Raymond A Poot
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - William B Dobyns
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR-1163, Laboratory Genetics and Embryology of Congenital Malformations, Paris Descartes University, Institut des Maladies Génétiques 24, Boulevard de Montparnasse, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Bahi-Buisson
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frans W Verheijen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anna C Jansen
- Neurogenetics Research Group, Research Cluster Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Grazia M S Mancini
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Alia C, Terrigno M, Busti I, Cremisi F, Caleo M. Pluripotent Stem Cells for Brain Repair: Protocols and Preclinical Applications in Cortical and Hippocampal Pathologies. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:684. [PMID: 31447623 PMCID: PMC6691396 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain injuries causing chronic sensory or motor deficit, such as stroke, are among the leading causes of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization; furthermore, they carry heavy social and economic burdens due to decreased quality of life and need of assistance. Given the limited effectiveness of rehabilitation, novel therapeutic strategies are required to enhance functional recovery. Since cell-based approaches have emerged as an intriguing and promising strategy to promote brain repair, many efforts have been made to study the functional integration of neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), or fetal neurons, after grafting into the damaged host tissue. PSCs hold great promises for their clinical applications, such as cellular replacement of damaged neural tissues with autologous neurons. They also offer the possibility to create in vitro models to assess the efficacy of drugs and therapies. Notwithstanding these potential applications, PSC-derived transplanted neurons have to match the precise sub-type, positional and functional identity of the lesioned neural tissue. Thus, the requirement of highly specific and efficient differentiation protocols of PSCs in neurons with appropriate neural identity constitutes the main challenge limiting the clinical use of stem cells in the near future. In this Review, we discuss the recent advances in the derivation of telencephalic (cortical and hippocampal) neurons from PSCs, assessing specificity and efficiency of the differentiation protocols, with particular emphasis on the genetic and molecular characterization of PSC-derived neurons. Second, we address the remaining challenges for cellular replacement therapies in cortical brain injuries, focusing on electrophysiological properties, functional integration and therapeutic effects of the transplanted neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Alia
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Terrigno
- Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Busti
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drugs and Child Health Area, School of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Federico Cremisi
- Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,Biophysics Institute (IBF), National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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7
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Varrault A, Journot L, Bouschet T. Cerebral Cortex Generated from Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model Corticogenesis and Rebuild Cortical Circuits: In Vitro Veritas? Stem Cells Dev 2019; 28:361-369. [PMID: 30661489 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2018.0233] [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] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Organoids and cells generated in vitro from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are considered to be robust models of development and a conceivable source of transplants for putative cell therapy. However, a fundamental question about organoids and cells generated from PSCs is as follows: do they faithfully reproduce the in vivo tissue they are supposed to mimic and replace? This question is particularly relevant to complex tissues such as the cerebral cortex. In this review, we have tackled this issue by comparing cerebral cortices generated in vitro from PSCs to the in vivo cortex, with a particular focus on their respective cellular composition, molecular and epigenetic signatures, and brain connectivity. In short, in vitro cortex generated from PSCs reproduces most of the cardinal features of the in vivo cortex, including temporal corticogenesis and connectivity when PSC-derived cortical cells are grafted in recipient mouse cortex. However, compared to in vivo cortex, in vitro cortex lacks microglia and blood vessels and is less mature. Recent experiments show that the brain of the transplanted host provides these missing cell types together with an environment that promotes the synaptic maturation of the cortical transplant. Taken together, these data suggest that corticogenesis is largely intrinsic and well recapitulated in vitro, while the full maturation of cortical cells requires additional environmental clues. Finally, we propose some lines of work to improve corticogenesis from PSCs as a tool to model corticogenesis and rebuild cortical circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Varrault
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Journot
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Tristan Bouschet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, IGF, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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