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Hickmott JW, Morshead CM. Glia-to-neuron reprogramming to the rescue? Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:1395-1396. [PMID: 39075900 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-24-00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jack W Hickmott
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (Hickmott JW, Morshead CM)
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, Canada (Hickmott JW, Morshead CM)
| | - Cindi M Morshead
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (Hickmott JW, Morshead CM)
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, Canada (Hickmott JW, Morshead CM)
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (Morshead CM)
- The KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada (Morshead CM)
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2
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Berndt C, Alborzinia H, Amen VS, Ayton S, Barayeu U, Bartelt A, Bayir H, Bebber CM, Birsoy K, Böttcher JP, Brabletz S, Brabletz T, Brown AR, Brüne B, Bulli G, Bruneau A, Chen Q, DeNicola GM, Dick TP, Distéfano A, Dixon SJ, Engler JB, Esser-von Bieren J, Fedorova M, Friedmann Angeli JP, Friese MA, Fuhrmann DC, García-Sáez AJ, Garbowicz K, Götz M, Gu W, Hammerich L, Hassannia B, Jiang X, Jeridi A, Kang YP, Kagan VE, Konrad DB, Kotschi S, Lei P, Le Tertre M, Lev S, Liang D, Linkermann A, Lohr C, Lorenz S, Luedde T, Methner A, Michalke B, Milton AV, Min J, Mishima E, Müller S, Motohashi H, Muckenthaler MU, Murakami S, Olzmann JA, Pagnussat G, Pan Z, Papagiannakopoulos T, Pedrera Puentes L, Pratt DA, Proneth B, Ramsauer L, Rodriguez R, Saito Y, Schmidt F, Schmitt C, Schulze A, Schwab A, Schwantes A, Soula M, Spitzlberger B, Stockwell BR, Thewes L, Thorn-Seshold O, Toyokuni S, Tonnus W, Trumpp A, Vandenabeele P, Vanden Berghe T, Venkataramani V, Vogel FCE, von Karstedt S, Wang F, Westermann F, Wientjens C, Wilhelm C, Wölk M, Wu K, Yang X, Yu F, Zou Y, Conrad M. Ferroptosis in health and disease. Redox Biol 2024; 75:103211. [PMID: 38908072 PMCID: PMC11253697 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103211] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a pervasive non-apoptotic form of cell death highly relevant in various degenerative diseases and malignancies. The hallmark of ferroptosis is uncontrolled and overwhelming peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in membrane phospholipids, which eventually leads to rupture of the plasma membrane. Ferroptosis is unique in that it is essentially a spontaneous, uncatalyzed chemical process based on perturbed iron and redox homeostasis contributing to the cell death process, but that it is nonetheless modulated by many metabolic nodes that impinge on the cells' susceptibility to ferroptosis. Among the various nodes affecting ferroptosis sensitivity, several have emerged as promising candidates for pharmacological intervention, rendering ferroptosis-related proteins attractive targets for the treatment of numerous currently incurable diseases. Herein, the current members of a Germany-wide research consortium focusing on ferroptosis research, as well as key external experts in ferroptosis who have made seminal contributions to this rapidly growing and exciting field of research, have gathered to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art review on ferroptosis. Specific topics include: basic mechanisms, in vivo relevance, specialized methodologies, chemical and pharmacological tools, and the potential contribution of ferroptosis to disease etiopathology and progression. We hope that this article will not only provide established scientists and newcomers to the field with an overview of the multiple facets of ferroptosis, but also encourage additional efforts to characterize further molecular pathways modulating ferroptosis, with the ultimate goal to develop novel pharmacotherapies to tackle the various diseases associated with - or caused by - ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Berndt
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hamed Alborzinia
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM GGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vera Skafar Amen
- Rudolf Virchow Zentrum, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging - University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Scott Ayton
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Uladzimir Barayeu
- Division of Redox Regulation, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Alexander Bartelt
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Hülya Bayir
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Christina M Bebber
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany; CECAD Cluster of Excellence, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kivanc Birsoy
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Jan P Böttcher
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany
| | - Simone Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Ashley R Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Bernhard Brüne
- Institute of Biochemistry1-Pathobiochemistry, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Giorgia Bulli
- Department of Physiological Genomics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Alix Bruneau
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Berlin, Germany
| | - Quan Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Gina M DeNicola
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Tobias P Dick
- Division of Redox Regulation, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ayelén Distéfano
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, CONICET, National University of Mar Del Plata, Argentina
| | - Scott J Dixon
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jan B Engler
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | | | - Maria Fedorova
- Center of Membrane Biochemistry and Lipid Research, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Faculty of Medicine of TU Dresden, Germany
| | - José Pedro Friedmann Angeli
- Rudolf Virchow Zentrum, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging - University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Manuel A Friese
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Dominic C Fuhrmann
- Institute of Biochemistry1-Pathobiochemistry, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Ana J García-Sáez
- Institute for Genetics, CECAD, University of Cologne, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | | | - Magdalena Götz
- Department of Physiological Genomics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany; Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany
| | - Wei Gu
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, And Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Linda Hammerich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Xuejun Jiang
- Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Aicha Jeridi
- Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI), Helmholtz Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
| | - Yun Pyo Kang
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
| | | | - David B Konrad
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Kotschi
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Peng Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Marlène Le Tertre
- Center for Translational Biomedical Iron Research, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Sima Lev
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Deguang Liang
- Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Andreas Linkermann
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carolin Lohr
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Svenja Lorenz
- Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Axel Methner
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Michalke
- Research Unit Analytical Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany
| | - Anna V Milton
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Junxia Min
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Eikan Mishima
- Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany
| | | | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Shohei Murakami
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - James A Olzmann
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gabriela Pagnussat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, CONICET, National University of Mar Del Plata, Argentina
| | - Zijan Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | | | - Derek A Pratt
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Bettina Proneth
- Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Ramsauer
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany
| | | | - Yoshiro Saito
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Felix Schmidt
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
| | - Carina Schmitt
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Almut Schulze
- Division of Tumour Metabolism and Microenvironment, DKFZ Heidelberg and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Annemarie Schwab
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Anna Schwantes
- Institute of Biochemistry1-Pathobiochemistry, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Mariluz Soula
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Benedikt Spitzlberger
- Department of Immunobiology, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland; Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Brent R Stockwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leonie Thewes
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Shinya Toyokuni
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; Center for Low-temperature Plasma Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Center for Integrated Sciences of Low-temperature Plasma Core Research (iPlasma Core), Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Wulf Tonnus
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM GGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Vandenabeele
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Vanden Berghe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vivek Venkataramani
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
| | - Felix C E Vogel
- Division of Tumour Metabolism and Microenvironment, DKFZ Heidelberg and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silvia von Karstedt
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany; CECAD Cluster of Excellence, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Germany
| | - Fudi Wang
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Chantal Wientjens
- Immunopathology Unit, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Christoph Wilhelm
- Immunopathology Unit, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Michele Wölk
- Center of Membrane Biochemistry and Lipid Research, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Faculty of Medicine of TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Katherine Wu
- Department of Pathology, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, NY, USA
| | - Xin Yang
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, And Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fan Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yilong Zou
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China; Westlake Four-Dimensional Dynamic Metabolomics (Meta4D) Laboratory, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Marcus Conrad
- Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany.
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3
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Puglisi M, Lao CL, Wani G, Masserdotti G, Bocchi R, Götz M. Comparing Viral Vectors and Fate Mapping Approaches for Astrocyte-to-Neuron Reprogramming in the Injured Mouse Cerebral Cortex. Cells 2024; 13:1408. [PMID: 39272980 PMCID: PMC11394536 DOI: 10.3390/cells13171408] [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: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming is a promising approach to replace neurons lost due to disease via the conversion of endogenous glia reacting to brain injury into neurons. However, it is essential to demonstrate that the newly generated neurons originate from glial cells and/or show that they are not pre-existing endogenous neurons. Here, we use controls for both requirements while comparing two viral vector systems (Mo-MLVs and AAVs) for the expression of the same neurogenic factor, the phosphorylation-resistant form of Neurogenin2. Our results show that Mo-MLVs targeting proliferating glial cells after traumatic brain injury reliably convert astrocytes into neurons, as assessed by genetic fate mapping of astrocytes. Conversely, expressing the same neurogenic factor in a flexed AAV system results in artefactual labelling of endogenous neurons fatemapped by birthdating in development that are negative for the genetic fate mapping marker induced in astrocytes. These results are further corroborated by chronic live in vivo imaging. Taken together, the phosphorylation-resistant form of Neurogenin2 is more efficient in reprogramming reactive glia into neurons than its wildtype counterpart in vivo using retroviral vectors (Mo-MLVs) targeting proliferating glia. Conversely, AAV-mediated expression generates artefacts and is not sufficient to achieve fate conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Puglisi
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), 85764 Nuremberg, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Chu Lan Lao
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), 85764 Nuremberg, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Gulzar Wani
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), 85764 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Giacomo Masserdotti
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), 85764 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Riccardo Bocchi
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), 85764 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Division of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), 85764 Nuremberg, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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4
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Luo C, Yang J. Age- and disease-related autophagy impairment in Huntington disease: New insights from direct neuronal reprogramming. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14285. [PMID: 39044402 PMCID: PMC11320343 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14285] [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: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Autophagy impairment in Huntington disease (HD) has been reported for almost two decades. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still unclear. This is partially because it is challenging to model the impact of the disease-causing mutation, aging, as well as the selective vulnerability of neurons in a single model. Recently developed direct neuronal reprogramming that allows researchers to induce neurons-of-interest retaining biological aging information made it possible to establish HD cellular models to study more relevant age- and disease-related molecular changes in neurons. We here summarized the findings from a few latest studies utilizing directly reprogrammed HD neurons and discussed the new insights they brought to the understanding of the age- and disease-related autophagy impairment in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuyang Luo
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green PharmaceuticalsCollege of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of TechnologyHangzhouChina
| | - Junsheng Yang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green PharmaceuticalsCollege of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of TechnologyHangzhouChina
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5
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Xiang Z, He S, Chen R, Liu S, Liu M, Xu L, Zheng J, Jiang Z, Ma L, Sun Y, Qin Y, Chen Y, Li W, Wang X, Chen G, Lei W. Two-photon live imaging of direct glia-to-neuron conversion in the mouse cortex. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1781-1788. [PMID: 38103245 PMCID: PMC10960291 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.386401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202408000-00032/figure1/v/2023-12-16T180322Z/r/image-tiff Over the past decade, a growing number of studies have reported transcription factor-based in situ reprogramming that can directly convert endogenous glial cells into functional neurons as an alternative approach for neuroregeneration in the adult mammalian central nervous system. However, many questions remain regarding how a terminally differentiated glial cell can transform into a delicate neuron that forms part of the intricate brain circuitry. In addition, concerns have recently been raised around the absence of astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in astrocytic lineage-tracing mice. In this study, we employed repetitive two-photon imaging to continuously capture the in situ astrocyte-to-neuron conversion process following ectopic expression of the neural transcription factor NeuroD1 in both proliferating reactive astrocytes and lineage-traced astrocytes in the mouse cortex. Time-lapse imaging over several weeks revealed the step-by-step transition from a typical astrocyte with numerous short, tapered branches to a typical neuron with a few long neurites and dynamic growth cones that actively explored the local environment. In addition, these lineage-converting cells were able to migrate radially or tangentially to relocate to suitable positions. Furthermore, two-photon Ca2+ imaging and patch-clamp recordings confirmed that the newly generated neurons exhibited synchronous calcium signals, repetitive action potentials, and spontaneous synaptic responses, suggesting that they had made functional synaptic connections within local neural circuits. In conclusion, we directly visualized the step-by-step lineage conversion process from astrocytes to functional neurons in vivo and unambiguously demonstrated that adult mammalian brains are highly plastic with respect to their potential for neuroregeneration and neural circuit reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongqin Xiang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Laboratory for Neuroimmunology in Health and Diseases, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shu He
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Rongjie Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shanggong Liu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Minhui Liu
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Flemish Region, Belgium
| | - Liang Xu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiajun Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhouquan Jiang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Long Ma
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongpeng Qin
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wen Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiangyu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gong Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wenliang Lei
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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6
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Naderi J, Magalhaes AP, Kibar G, Stik G, Zhang Y, Mackowiak SD, Wieler HM, Rossi F, Buschow R, Christou-Kent M, Alcoverro-Bertran M, Graf T, Vingron M, Hnisz D. An activity-specificity trade-off encoded in human transcription factors. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:1309-1321. [PMID: 38969762 PMCID: PMC11321997 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01411-0] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) control specificity and activity of gene transcription, but whether a relationship between these two features exists is unclear. Here we provide evidence for an evolutionary trade-off between the activity and specificity in human TFs encoded as submaximal dispersion of aromatic residues in their intrinsically disordered protein regions. We identified approximately 500 human TFs that encode short periodic blocks of aromatic residues in their intrinsically disordered regions, resembling imperfect prion-like sequences. Mutation of periodic aromatic residues reduced transcriptional activity, whereas increasing the aromatic dispersion of multiple human TFs enhanced transcriptional activity and reprogramming efficiency, promoted liquid-liquid phase separation in vitro and more promiscuous DNA binding in cells. Together with recent work on enhancer elements, these results suggest an important evolutionary role of suboptimal features in transcriptional control. We propose that rational engineering of amino acid features that alter phase separation may be a strategy to optimize TF-dependent processes, including cellular reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Naderi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandre P Magalhaes
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gözde Kibar
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregoire Stik
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
| | - Yaotian Zhang
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian D Mackowiak
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannah M Wieler
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca Rossi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rene Buschow
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Christou-Kent
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Alcoverro-Bertran
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thomas Graf
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martin Vingron
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Denes Hnisz
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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7
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Portela-Lomba M, Simón D, Callejo-Móstoles M, de la Fuente G, Fernández de Sevilla D, García-Escudero V, Moreno-Flores MT, Sierra J. Generation of functional neurons from adult human mucosal olfactory ensheathing glia by direct lineage conversion. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:478. [PMID: 38961086 PMCID: PMC11222439 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06862-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
A recent approach to promote central nervous system (CNS) regeneration after injury or disease is direct conversion of somatic cells to neurons. This is achieved by transduction of viral vectors that express neurogenic transcription factors. In this work we propose adult human mucosal olfactory ensheathing glia (hmOEG) as a candidate for direct reprogramming to neurons due to its accessibility and to its well-characterized neuroregenerative capacity. After induction of hmOEG with the single neurogenic transcription factor NEUROD1, the cells under study exhibited morphological and immunolabeling neuronal features, fired action potentials and expressed glutamatergic and GABAergic markers. In addition, after engraftment of transduced hmOEG cells in the mouse hippocampus, these cells showed specific neuronal labeling. Thereby, if we add to the neuroregenerative capacity of hmOEG cultures the conversion to neurons of a fraction of their population through reprogramming techniques, the engraftment of hmOEG and hmOEG-induced neurons could be a procedure to enhance neural repair after central nervous system injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Portela-Lomba
- School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Diana Simón
- School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Marta Callejo-Móstoles
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gemma de la Fuente
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Fernández de Sevilla
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vega García-Escudero
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Teresa Moreno-Flores
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Sierra
- School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
- School of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
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8
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Pereira A, Diwakar J, Masserdotti G, Beşkardeş S, Simon T, So Y, Martín-Loarte L, Bergemann F, Vasan L, Schauer T, Danese A, Bocchi R, Colomé-Tatché M, Schuurmans C, Philpott A, Straub T, Bonev B, Götz M. Direct neuronal reprogramming of mouse astrocytes is associated with multiscale epigenome remodeling and requires Yy1. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1260-1273. [PMID: 38956165 PMCID: PMC11239498 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01677-5] [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: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming is a promising approach to regenerate neurons from local glial cells. However, mechanisms of epigenome remodeling and co-factors facilitating this process are unclear. In this study, we combined single-cell multiomics with genome-wide profiling of three-dimensional nuclear architecture and DNA methylation in mouse astrocyte-to-neuron reprogramming mediated by Neurogenin2 (Ngn2) and its phosphorylation-resistant form (PmutNgn2), respectively. We show that Ngn2 drives multilayered chromatin remodeling at dynamic enhancer-gene interaction sites. PmutNgn2 leads to higher reprogramming efficiency and enhances epigenetic remodeling associated with neuronal maturation. However, the differences in binding sites or downstream gene activation cannot fully explain this effect. Instead, we identified Yy1, a transcriptional co-factor recruited by direct interaction with Ngn2 to its target sites. Upon deletion of Yy1, activation of neuronal enhancers, genes and ultimately reprogramming are impaired without affecting Ngn2 binding. Thus, our work highlights the key role of interactors of proneural factors in direct neuronal reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allwyn Pereira
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT - Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, Nantes, France
| | - Jeisimhan Diwakar
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Giacomo Masserdotti
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
| | - Sude Beşkardeş
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tatiana Simon
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
| | - Younju So
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
| | - Lucía Martín-Loarte
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
| | - Franziska Bergemann
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
| | - Lakshmy Vasan
- Biological Science Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tamas Schauer
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Bioinformatic Core Facility, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cells and Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anna Danese
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
| | - Riccardo Bocchi
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maria Colomé-Tatché
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany
| | - Carol Schuurmans
- Biological Science Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Philpott
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tobias Straub
- Biological Science Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Boyan Bonev
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany.
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany.
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, BMC LMU Munich, Planegg, Germany.
- Excellence Cluster of Systems Neurology (SYNERGY), Munich, Germany.
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9
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Danačíková Š, Straka B, Daněk J, Kořínek V, Otáhal J. In vitro human cell culture models in a bench-to-bedside approach to epilepsy. Epilepsia Open 2024; 9:865-890. [PMID: 38637998 PMCID: PMC11145627 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease, affecting nearly 1%-2% of the world's population. Current pharmacological treatment and regimen adjustments are aimed at controlling seizures; however, they are ineffective in one-third of the patients. Although neuronal hyperexcitability was previously thought to be mainly due to ion channel alterations, current research has revealed other contributing molecular pathways, including processes involved in cellular signaling, energy metabolism, protein synthesis, axon guidance, inflammation, and others. Some forms of drug-resistant epilepsy are caused by genetic defects that constitute potential targets for precision therapy. Although such approaches are increasingly important, they are still in the early stages of development. This review aims to provide a summary of practical aspects of the employment of in vitro human cell culture models in epilepsy diagnosis, treatment, and research. First, we briefly summarize the genetic testing that may result in the detection of candidate pathogenic variants in genes involved in epilepsy pathogenesis. Consequently, we review existing in vitro cell models, including induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated neuronal cells, providing their specific properties, validity, and employment in research pipelines. We cover two methodological approaches. The first approach involves the utilization of somatic cells directly obtained from individual patients, while the second approach entails the utilization of characterized cell lines. The models are evaluated in terms of their research and clinical benefits, relevance to the in vivo conditions, legal and ethical aspects, time and cost demands, and available published data. Despite the methodological, temporal, and financial demands of the reviewed models they possess high potential to be used as robust systems in routine testing of pathogenicity of detected variants in the near future and provide a solid experimental background for personalized therapy of genetic epilepsies. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Epilepsy affects millions worldwide, but current treatments fail for many patients. Beyond traditional ion channel alterations, various genetic factors contribute to the disorder's complexity. This review explores how in vitro human cell models, either from patients or from cell lines, can aid in understanding epilepsy's genetic roots and developing personalized therapies. While these models require further investigation, they offer hope for improved diagnosis and treatment of genetic forms of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Šárka Danačíková
- Laboratory of Developmental EpileptologyInstitute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Faculty of MedicineCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental BiologyInstitute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Barbora Straka
- Neurogenetics Laboratory of the Department of Paediatric Neurology, Second Faculty of MedicineCharles University and Motol University Hospital, Full Member of the ERN EpiCAREPragueCzech Republic
| | - Jan Daněk
- Laboratory of Developmental EpileptologyInstitute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Vladimír Kořínek
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental BiologyInstitute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Jakub Otáhal
- Laboratory of Developmental EpileptologyInstitute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Faculty of MedicineCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
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10
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Vassal M, Martins F, Monteiro B, Tambaro S, Martinez-Murillo R, Rebelo S. Emerging Pro-neurogenic Therapeutic Strategies for Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review of Pre-clinical and Clinical Research. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04246-w. [PMID: 38816676 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04246-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The neuroscience community has largely accepted the notion that functional neurons can be generated from neural stem cells in the adult brain, especially in two brain regions: the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. However, impaired neurogenesis has been observed in some neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, and also in Lewy Body dementia. Therefore, restoration of neurogenic function in neurodegenerative diseases emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract, or at least delay, disease progression. Considering this, the present study summarizes the different neuronal niches, provides a collection of the therapeutic potential of different pro-neurogenic strategies in pre-clinical and clinical research, providing details about their possible modes of action, to guide future research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Vassal
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Filipa Martins
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruno Monteiro
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Simone Tambaro
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ricardo Martinez-Murillo
- Neurovascular Research Group, Department of Translational Neurobiology, Cajal Institute (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Rebelo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
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11
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Sonsalla G, Malpartida AB, Riedemann T, Gusic M, Rusha E, Bulli G, Najas S, Janjic A, Hersbach BA, Smialowski P, Drukker M, Enard W, Prehn JHM, Prokisch H, Götz M, Masserdotti G. Direct neuronal reprogramming of NDUFS4 patient cells identifies the unfolded protein response as a novel general reprogramming hurdle. Neuron 2024; 112:1117-1132.e9. [PMID: 38266647 PMCID: PMC10994141 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.020] [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: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondria account for essential cellular pathways, from ATP production to nucleotide metabolism, and their deficits lead to neurological disorders and contribute to the onset of age-related diseases. Direct neuronal reprogramming aims at replacing neurons lost in such conditions, but very little is known about the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on the direct reprogramming of human cells. Here, we explore the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on the neuronal reprogramming of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes carrying mutations in the NDUFS4 gene, important for Complex I and associated with Leigh syndrome. This led to the identification of the unfolded protein response as a major hurdle in the direct neuronal conversion of not only astrocytes and fibroblasts from patients but also control human astrocytes and fibroblasts. Its transient inhibition potently improves reprogramming by influencing the mitochondria-endoplasmic-reticulum-stress-mediated pathways. Taken together, disease modeling using patient cells unraveled novel general hurdles and ways to overcome these in human astrocyte-to-neuron reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Sonsalla
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, BMC, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152 Germany
| | - Ana Belen Malpartida
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany; International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Molecular Life Sciences, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Therese Riedemann
- Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Mirjana Gusic
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ejona Rusha
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Giorgia Bulli
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, BMC, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152 Germany
| | - Sonia Najas
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Aleks Janjic
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Bob A Hersbach
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, BMC, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152 Germany
| | - Pawel Smialowski
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Bioinformatic Core Facility, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Micha Drukker
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, Gorlaeus Building, 2333 CC RA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang Enard
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Jochen H M Prehn
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Holger Prokisch
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany; Excellence Cluster of Systems Neurology (SYNERGY), Munich, Germany.
| | - Giacomo Masserdotti
- Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich, Physiological Genomics, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany.
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12
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Niceforo A, Zholudeva LV, Fernandes S, Lane MA, Qiang L. Challenges and Efficacy of Astrocyte-to-Neuron Reprogramming in Spinal Cord Injury: In Vitro Insights and In Vivo Outcomes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.25.586619. [PMID: 38585866 PMCID: PMC10996511 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.25.586619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to the disruption of neural pathways, causing loss of neural cells, with subsequent reactive gliosis and tissue scarring that limit endogenous repair. One potential therapeutic strategy to address this is to target reactive scar-forming astrocytes with direct cellular reprogramming to convert them into neurons, by overexpression of neurogenic transcription factors. Here we used lentiviral constructs to overexpress Ascl1 or a combination of microRNAs (miRs) miR124, miR9/9*and NeuroD1 transfected into cultured and in vivo astrocytes. In vitro experiments revealed cortically-derived astrocytes display a higher efficiency (70%) of reprogramming to neurons than spinal cord-derived astrocytes. In a rat cervical SCI model, the same strategy induced only limited reprogramming of astrocytes. Delivery of reprogramming factors did not significantly affect patterns of breathing under baseline and hypoxic conditions, but significant differences in average diaphragm amplitude were seen in the reprogrammed groups during eupneic breathing, hypoxic, and hypercapnic challenges. These results show that while cellular reprogramming can be readily achieved in carefully controlled in vitro conditions, achieving a similar degree of successful reprogramming in vivo is challenging and may require additional steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Niceforo
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | | | - Silvia Fernandes
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Michael A. Lane
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
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13
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Zhi X, Wu F, Qian J, Ochiai Y, Lian G, Malagola E, Chen D, Ryeom SW, Wang TC. Nociceptive neurons interact directly with gastric cancer cells via a CGRP/Ramp1 axis to promote tumor progression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.04.583209. [PMID: 38496544 PMCID: PMC10942283 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.04.583209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells have been shown to exploit neurons to modulate their survival and growth, including through establishment of neural circuits within the central nervous system (CNS) 1-3 . Here, we report a distinct pattern of cancer-nerve interactions between the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and gastric cancer (GC). In multiple GC mouse models, nociceptive nerves demonstrated the greatest degree of nerve expansion in an NGF-dependent manner. Neural tracing identified CGRP+ peptidergic neurons as the primary gastric sensory neurons. Three-dimensional co-culture models showed that sensory neurons directly connect with gastric cancer spheroids through synapse-like structures. Chemogenetic activation of sensory neurons induced the release of calcium into the cytoplasm of cancer cells, promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Pharmacological ablation of sensory neurons or treatment with CGRP inhibitors suppressed tumor growth and extended survival. Depolarization of gastric tumor membranes through in vivo optogenetic activation led to enhanced calcium flux in nodose ganglia and CGRP release, defining a cancer cell-peptidergic neuronal circuit. Together, these findings establish the functional connectivity between cancer and sensory neurons, identifying this pathway as a potential therapeutic target.
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14
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Tai W, Du X, Chen C, Xu XM, Zhang CL, Wu W. NG2 glia reprogramming induces robust axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. iScience 2024; 27:108895. [PMID: 38318363 PMCID: PMC10839253 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to neuronal loss, axonal degeneration, and behavioral dysfunction. We recently show that in vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia produces new neurons, reduces glial scaring, and ultimately leads to improved function after SCI. By examining endogenous neurons, we here unexpectedly uncover that NG2 glia reprogramming also induces robust axonal regeneration of the corticospinal tract and serotonergic neurons. Such reprogramming-induced axonal regeneration may contribute to the reconstruction of neural networks essential for behavioral recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Tai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xiaolong Du
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chun-Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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15
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Li Q, Zhang W, Qiao XY, Liu C, Dao JJ, Qiao CM, Cui C, Shen YQ, Zhao WJ. Reducing polypyrimidine tract‑binding protein 1 fails to promote neuronal transdifferentiation on HT22 and mouse astrocyte cells under physiological conditions. Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:72. [PMID: 38234625 PMCID: PMC10792410 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12360] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In contrast to prior findings that have illustrated the conversion of non-neuronal cells into functional neurons through the specific targeting of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1), accumulated evidence suggests the impracticality of inducing neuronal transdifferentiation through suppressing PTBP1 expression in pathological circumstances. Therefore, the present study explored the effect of knocking down PTBP1 under physiological conditions on the transdifferentiation of mouse hippocampal neuron HT22 cells and mouse astrocyte (MA) cells. A total of 20 µM negative control small interfering (si)RNA and siRNA targeting PTBP1 were transfected into HT22 and MA cells using Lipo8000™ for 3 and 5 days, respectively. The expression of early neuronal marker βIII-Tubulin and mature neuronal markers NeuN and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) were detected using western blotting. In addition, βIII-tubulin, NeuN and MAP2 were labeled with immunofluorescence staining to evaluate neuronal cell differentiation in response to PTBP1 downregulation. Under physiological conditions, no significant changes in the expression of βIII-Tubulin, NeuN and MAP2 were found after 3 and 5 days of knockdown of PTBP1 protein in both HT22 and MA cells. In addition, the immunofluorescence staining results showed no apparent transdifferentiation in maker levels and morphology. The results suggested that the knockdown of PTBP1 failed to induce neuronal differentiation under physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Nursing Vocational College, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Yu Qiao
- Department of Cell Biology, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Chong Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Ji-Ji Dao
- Department of Cell Biology, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Chen-Meng Qiao
- Department of Neurodegeneration and Neuroinjury, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Chun Cui
- Department of Neurodegeneration and Neuroinjury, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Qin Shen
- Department of Neurodegeneration and Neuroinjury, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Jiang Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
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16
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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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17
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Sirko S, Schichor C, Della Vecchia P, Metzger F, Sonsalla G, Simon T, Bürkle M, Kalpazidou S, Ninkovic J, Masserdotti G, Sauniere JF, Iacobelli V, Iacobelli S, Delbridge C, Hauck SM, Tonn JC, Götz M. Injury-specific factors in the cerebrospinal fluid regulate astrocyte plasticity in the human brain. Nat Med 2023; 29:3149-3161. [PMID: 38066208 PMCID: PMC10719094 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02644-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The glial environment influences neurological disease progression, yet much of our knowledge still relies on preclinical animal studies, especially regarding astrocyte heterogeneity. In murine models of traumatic brain injury, beneficial functions of proliferating reactive astrocytes on disease outcome have been unraveled, but little is known regarding if and when they are present in human brain pathology. Here we examined a broad spectrum of pathologies with and without intracerebral hemorrhage and found a striking correlation between lesions involving blood-brain barrier rupture and astrocyte proliferation that was further corroborated in an assay probing for neural stem cell potential. Most importantly, proteomic analysis unraveled a crucial signaling pathway regulating this astrocyte plasticity with GALECTIN3 as a novel marker for proliferating astrocytes and the GALECTIN3-binding protein LGALS3BP as a functional hub mediating astrocyte proliferation and neurosphere formation. Taken together, this work identifies a therapeutically relevant astrocyte response and their molecular regulators in different pathologies affecting the human cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetlana Sirko
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Christian Schichor
- Department of Neurosurgery, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Patrizia Della Vecchia
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Giovanna Sonsalla
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tatiana Simon
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Martina Bürkle
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sofia Kalpazidou
- Chair of Cell Biology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jovica Ninkovic
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Cell Biology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- SYNERGY Excellence Cluster of Systems Neurology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Giacomo Masserdotti
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Claire Delbridge
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, TUM School of Medicine, TU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie M Hauck
- Research Unit Protein Science and Metabolomics and Proteomics Core, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jörg-Christian Tonn
- Department of Neurosurgery, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany.
- SYNERGY Excellence Cluster of Systems Neurology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
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18
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Injury-specific signals elicit plasticity in glial cells from patients with brain injury. Nat Med 2023; 29:3018-3019. [PMID: 38066210 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02647-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
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19
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Liu J, van Beusekom H, Bu X, Chen G, Henrique Rosado de Castro P, Chen X, Chen X, Clarkson AN, Farr TD, Fu Y, Jia J, Jolkkonen J, Kim WS, Korhonen P, Li S, Liang Y, Liu G, Liu G, Liu Y, Malm T, Mao X, Oliveira JM, Modo MM, Ramos‐Cabrer P, Ruscher K, Song W, Wang J, Wang X, Wang Y, Wu H, Xiong L, Yang Y, Ye K, Yu J, Zhou X, Zille M, Masters CL, Walczak P, Boltze J, Ji X, Wang Y. Preserving cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease: The Alzheimer's disease neuroprotection research initiative (ADNRI). NEUROPROTECTION 2023; 1:84-98. [PMID: 38223913 PMCID: PMC10783281 DOI: 10.1002/nep3.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The global trend toward aging populations has resulted in an increase in the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and associated socioeconomic burdens. Abnormal metabolism of amyloid-β (Aβ) has been proposed as a significant pathomechanism in AD, supported by results of recent clinical trials using anti-Aβ antibodies. Nonetheless, the cognitive benefits of the current treatments are limited. The etiology of AD is multifactorial, encompassing Aβ and tau accumulation, neuroinflammation, demyelination, vascular dysfunction, and comorbidities, which collectively lead to widespread neurodegeneration in the brain and cognitive impairment. Hence, solely removing Aβ from the brain may be insufficient to combat neurodegeneration and preserve cognition. To attain effective treatment for AD, it is necessary to (1) conduct extensive research on various mechanisms that cause neurodegeneration, including advances in neuroimaging techniques for earlier detection and a more precise characterization of molecular events at scales ranging from cellular to the full system level; (2) identify neuroprotective intervention targets against different neurodegeneration mechanisms; and (3) discover novel and optimal combinations of neuroprotective intervention strategies to maintain cognitive function in AD patients. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroprotection Research Initiative's objective is to facilitate coordinated, multidisciplinary efforts to develop systemic neuroprotective strategies to combat AD. The aim is to achieve mitigation of the full spectrum of pathological processes underlying AD, with the goal of halting or even reversing cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Neurology, Daping HospitalThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ageing and Brain DiseasesChongqingChina
| | - Heleen van Beusekom
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MCUniversity Medical CenterRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Xian‐Le Bu
- Department of Neurology, Daping HospitalThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ageing and Brain DiseasesChongqingChina
- Institute of Brain and IntelligenceThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Gong Chen
- Guangdong‐HongKong‐Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR)Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | | | - Xiaochun Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Institute of NeuroscienceFujian Medical UniversityFuzhouFujianChina
| | - Xiaowei Chen
- Institute of Brain and IntelligenceThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Guangyang Bay LaboratoryChongqing Institute for Brain and IntelligenceChongqingChina
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Andrew N. Clarkson
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre and Brain Research New ZealandUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Tracy D. Farr
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Yuhong Fu
- Brain and Mind Centre & School of Medical SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Jianping Jia
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric DiseasesCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jukka Jolkkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
| | - Woojin Scott Kim
- Brain and Mind Centre & School of Medical SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Paula Korhonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
| | - Shen Li
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Beijing Shijitan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yajie Liang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear MedicineUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Guang‐Hui Liu
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Guiyou Liu
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain DisordersCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yu‐Hui Liu
- Department of Neurology, Daping HospitalThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ageing and Brain DiseasesChongqingChina
- Institute of Brain and IntelligenceThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Tarja Malm
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
| | - Xiaobo Mao
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Department of NeurologyThe Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Joaquim Miguel Oliveira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineUniversity of MinhoGuimarãesPortugal
- ICVS/3B's—PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
| | - Mike M. Modo
- Department of Bioengineering, McGowan Institute for Regenerative MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Radiology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Pedro Ramos‐Cabrer
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging LaboratoryCIC BiomaGUNE Research Center, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)Donostia‐San SebastianSpain
| | - Karsten Ruscher
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical SciencesLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Weihong Song
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health)Wenzhou Medical UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Daping HospitalThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ageing and Brain DiseasesChongqingChina
| | - Xuanyue Wang
- School of Optometry and Vision ScienceUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Yun Wang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic, Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National, Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsPeking UniversityBeijingChina
- PKU‐IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Haitao Wu
- Department of NeurobiologyBeijing Institute of Basic Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Lize Xiong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain‐Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of NeurologyThe First Hospital of Jilin University, Chang ChunJilinChina
| | - Keqiang Ye
- Faculty of Life and Health SciencesBrain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - Jin‐Tai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xin‐Fu Zhou
- Division of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences and Sansom InstituteUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Suzhou Auzone BiotechSuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Marietta Zille
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Colin L. Masters
- The Florey InstituteThe University of Melbourne, ParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Piotr Walczak
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear MedicineUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | | | - Xunming Ji
- Department of NeurosurgeryXuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yan‐Jiang Wang
- Department of Neurology, Daping HospitalThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ageing and Brain DiseasesChongqingChina
- Institute of Brain and IntelligenceThird Military Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Guangyang Bay LaboratoryChongqing Institute for Brain and IntelligenceChongqingChina
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
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20
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Katoku-Kikyo N, Lim S, Yuan C, Koroth J, Nakagawa Y, Bradley EW, Kikyo N. The circadian regulator PER1 promotes cell reprogramming by inhibiting inflammatory signaling from macrophages. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002419. [PMID: 38048364 PMCID: PMC10721173 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian regulation of gene expression is prevalent and plays critical roles in cell differentiation. However, its roles in the reprogramming of differentiated cells remain largely unknown. Here, we found that one of the master circadian regulators PER1 promoted virus-mediated reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to induced neurons (iNs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Unexpectedly, PER1 achieved this by repressing inflammatory activation of contaminating macrophages in the MEF culture, rather than by directly modulating the reprogrammability of MEFs. More specifically, we found that transduced viruses activated inflammatory genes in macrophages, such as Tnf encoding TNFα, one of the central inflammatory regulators and an autocrine activator of macrophages. TNFα inhibited iN reprogramming, whereas a TNFα inhibitor promoted iN reprogramming, connecting the inflammatory responses to iN reprogramming. In addition, macrophages were induced to proliferate and mature by non-macrophage cells serving as feeders, which also supported up-regulation of TNFα in macrophages without virus transduction. Furthermore, the 2 inflammatory responses were repressed by the circadian regulator PER1 in macrophages, making reprogrammability dependent on time-of-day of virus transduction. Similar results were obtained with iPSC reprogramming, suggesting a wide occurrence of macrophage-mediated inhibition of cell reprogramming. This study uncovers mechanistic links between cell reprogramming, bystander inflammatory macrophages, and circadian rhythms, which are particularly relevant to in vivo reprogramming and organoid formation incorporating immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuko Katoku-Kikyo
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Seunghyun Lim
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Ce Yuan
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Jinsha Koroth
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Yasushi Nakagawa
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth W. Bradley
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Nobuaki Kikyo
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
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21
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Schaukowitch K, Janas JA, Wernig M. Insights and applications of direct neuronal reprogramming. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 83:102128. [PMID: 37862835 PMCID: PMC11335363 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming converts somatic cells of a defined lineage into induced neuronal cells without going through a pluripotent intermediate. This approach not only provides access to the otherwise largely inaccessible cells of the brain for neuronal disease modeling, but also holds great promise for ultimately enabling neuronal cell replacement without the use of transplantation. To improve efficiency and specificity of direct neuronal reprogramming, much of the current efforts aim to understand the mechanisms that safeguard cell identities and how the reprogramming cells overcome the barriers resisting fate changes. Here, we review recent discoveries into the mechanisms by which the donor cell program is silenced, and new cell identities are established. We also discuss advancements that have been made toward fine-tuning the output of these reprogramming systems to generate specific types of neuronal cells. Finally, we highlight the benefit of using direct neuronal reprogramming to study age-related disorders and the potential of in vivo direct reprogramming in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Schaukowitch
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Justyna A Janas
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marius Wernig
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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22
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Pavlou M, Reh TA. Cell-Based Therapies: Strategies for Regeneration. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041306. [PMID: 36878647 PMCID: PMC10626262 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
The neural retina of mammals, like most of the rest of the central nervous system, does not regenerate new neurons after they are lost through damage or disease. The ability of nonmammalian vertebrates, like fish and amphibians, is remarkable, and lessons learned over the last 20 years have revealed some of the mechanisms underlying this potential. This knowledge has recently been applied to mammals to develop methods that can stimulate regeneration in mice. In this review, we highlight the progress in this area, and propose a "wish list" of how the clinical implementation of regenerative strategies could be applicable to various human retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Pavlou
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Institute of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Institute of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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23
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Irie T, Matsuda T, Hayashi Y, Matsuda-Ito K, Kamiya A, Masuda T, Prinz M, Isobe N, Kira JI, Nakashima K. Direct neuronal conversion of microglia/macrophages reinstates neurological function after stroke. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307972120. [PMID: 37812721 PMCID: PMC10589698 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307972120] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Although generating new neurons in the ischemic injured brain would be an ideal approach to replenish the lost neurons for repairing the damage, the adult mammalian brain retains only limited neurogenic capability. Here, we show that direct conversion of microglia/macrophages into neurons in the brain has great potential as a therapeutic strategy for ischemic brain injury. After transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in adult mice, microglia/macrophages converge at the lesion core of the striatum, where neuronal loss is prominent. Targeted expression of a neurogenic transcription factor, NeuroD1, in microglia/macrophages in the injured striatum enables their conversion into induced neuronal cells that functionally integrate into the existing neuronal circuits. Furthermore, NeuroD1-mediated induced neuronal cell generation significantly improves neurological function in the mouse stroke model, and ablation of these cells abolishes the gained functional recovery. Our findings thus demonstrate that neuronal conversion contributes directly to functional recovery after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Irie
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Taito Matsuda
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Hayashi
- Department of Physiology, Nihon University School of Dentistry, 101-8310Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kanae Matsuda-Ito
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Akihide Kamiya
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Tokai University School of Medicine, 259-1193Isehara, Japan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 108-8639Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Masuda
- Division of Molecular Neuroinflammation, Medical Research Center for High Depth Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, D-79106Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres Centre for Biological Signalling Studies and Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, D-79106Freiburg, Germany
| | - Noriko Isobe
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Jun-ichi Kira
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
- Translational Neuroscience Center, Graduate School of Medicine, and School of Pharmacy at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, 831-8501Okawa, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Brain and Nerve Center, Fukuoka Central Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, 810-0022Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kinichi Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582Fukuoka, Japan
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Menon R, Petrucci L, Lohrer B, Zhang J, Schulze M, Schichor C, Winner B, Winkler J, Riemenschneider MJ, Kühn R, Falk S, Karow M. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Pericytes as Scalable and Editable Source to Study Direct Lineage Reprogramming Into Induced Neurons. Cell Reprogram 2023; 25:212-223. [PMID: 37366790 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2023.0008] [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] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying human somatic cell-to-neuron conversion using primary brain-derived cells as starting cell source is hampered by limitations and variations in human biopsy material. Thus, delineating the molecular variables that allow changing the identity of somatic cells, permit adoption of neuronal phenotypes, and foster maturation of induced neurons (iNs) is challenging. Based on our previous results that pericytes derived from the adult human cerebral cortex can be directly converted into iNs (Karow et al., 2018; Karow et al., 2012), we here introduce human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived pericytes (hiPSC-pericytes) as a versatile and more uniform tool to study the pericyte-to-neuron conversion process. This strategy enables us to derive scalable cell numbers and allows for engineering of the starting cell population such as introducing reporter tools before differentiation into hiPSC-pericytes and subsequent iN conversion. Harvesting the potential of this approach, we established hiPSC-derived human-human neuronal cocultures that not only allow for independent manipulation of each coculture partner but also resulted in morphologically more mature iNs. In summary, we exploit hiPSC-based methods to facilitate the analysis of human somatic cell-to-neuron conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhika Menon
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Linda Petrucci
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Lohrer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jingzhong Zhang
- Genome Engineering and Disease Models, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Schulze
- Department of Neuropathology, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Schichor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Beate Winner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Center of Rare Diseases Erlangen (ZSEER), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Winkler
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Ralf Kühn
- Genome Engineering and Disease Models, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Falk
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marisa Karow
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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25
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Vainorius G, Novatchkova M, Michlits G, Baar JC, Raupach C, Lee J, Yelagandula R, Wernig M, Elling U. Ascl1 and Ngn2 convert mouse embryonic stem cells to neurons via functionally distinct paths. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5341. [PMID: 37660160 PMCID: PMC10475046 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40803-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ascl1 and Ngn2, closely related proneural transcription factors, are able to convert mouse embryonic stem cells into induced neurons. Despite their similarities, these factors elicit only partially overlapping transcriptional programs, and it remains unknown whether cells are converted via distinct mechanisms. Here we show that Ascl1 and Ngn2 induce mutually exclusive side populations by binding and activating distinct lineage drivers. Furthermore, Ascl1 rapidly dismantles the pluripotency network and installs neuronal and trophoblast cell fates, while Ngn2 generates a neural stem cell-like intermediate supported by incomplete shutdown of the pluripotency network. Using CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening, we find that Ascl1 relies more on factors regulating pluripotency and the cell cycle, such as Tcf7l1. In the absence of Tcf7l1, Ascl1 still represses core pluripotency genes but fails to exit the cell cycle. However, overexpression of Cdkn1c induces cell cycle exit and restores the generation of neurons. These findings highlight that cell type conversion can occur through two distinct mechanistic paths, even when induced by closely related transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gintautas Vainorius
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria.
- Vienna Biocenter PhD Program, a Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, A-1030, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Maria Novatchkova
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Campus-Vienna-BioCenter 1, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Michlits
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Biocenter PhD Program, a Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, A-1030, Vienna, Austria
- JLP Health GmbH, Himmelhofgasse 62, 1130, Vienna, Austria
| | - Juliane Christina Baar
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cecilia Raupach
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joonsun Lee
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Biocenter PhD Program, a Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, A-1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ramesh Yelagandula
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Cell Fate & Disease, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Uppal, Hyderabad, 500039, India
| | - Marius Wernig
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ulrich Elling
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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26
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Felske T, Tocco C, Péron S, Harb K, Alfano C, Galante C, Berninger B, Studer M. Lmo4 synergizes with Fezf2 to promote direct in vivo reprogramming of upper layer cortical neurons and cortical glia towards deep-layer neuron identities. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002237. [PMID: 37552690 PMCID: PMC10409279 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In vivo direct neuronal reprogramming relies on the implementation of an exogenous transcriptional program allowing to achieve conversion of a particular neuronal or glial cell type towards a new identity. The transcription factor (TF) Fezf2 is known for its role in neuronal subtype specification of deep-layer (DL) subcortical projection neurons. High ectopic Fezf2 expression in mice can convert both upper-layer (UL) and striatal projection neurons into a corticofugal fate, even if at low efficiency. In this study, we show that Fezf2 synergizes with the nuclear co-adaptor Lmo4 to further enhance reprogramming of UL cortical pyramidal neurons into DL corticofugal neurons, at both embryonic and early postnatal stages. Reprogrammed neurons express DL molecular markers and project toward subcerebral targets, including thalamus, cerebral peduncle (CP), and spinal cord (SC). We also show that co-expression of Fezf2 with the reprogramming factors Neurog2 and Bcl2 in early postnatal mouse glia promotes glia-to-neuron conversion with partial hallmarks of DL neurons and with Lmo4 promoting further morphological complexity. These data support a novel role for Lmo4 in synergizing with Fezf2 during direct lineage conversion in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Tocco
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
| | - Sophie Péron
- Research Group “Adult Neurogenesis and Cellular Reprogramming”, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kawssar Harb
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
| | | | - Chiara Galante
- Research Group “Adult Neurogenesis and Cellular Reprogramming”, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Benedikt Berninger
- Research Group “Adult Neurogenesis and Cellular Reprogramming”, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Focus Program Translational Neuroscience, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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27
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Fu XD, Mobley WC. Therapeutic Potential of PTB Inhibition Through Converting Glial Cells to Neurons in the Brain. Annu Rev Neurosci 2023; 46:145-165. [PMID: 37428606 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-083022-113120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Cell replacement therapy represents a promising approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Contrary to the common addition strategy to generate new neurons from glia by overexpressing a lineage-specific transcription factor(s), a recent study introduced a subtraction strategy by depleting a single RNA-binding protein, Ptbp1, to convert astroglia to neurons not only in vitro but also in the brain. Given its simplicity, multiple groups have attempted to validate and extend this attractive approach but have met with difficulty in lineage tracing newly induced neurons from mature astrocytes, raising the possibility of neuronal leakage as an alternative explanation for apparent astrocyte-to-neuron conversion. This review focuses on the debate over this critical issue. Importantly, multiple lines of evidence suggest that Ptbp1 depletion can convert a selective subpopulation of glial cells into neurons and, via this and other mechanisms, reverse deficits in a Parkinson's disease model, emphasizing the importance of future efforts in exploring this therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Dong Fu
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - William C Mobley
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
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28
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Tai W, Du X, Chen C, Xu XM, Zhang CL, Wu W. NG2 Glia Reprogramming Induces Robust Axonal Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544792. [PMID: 37398355 PMCID: PMC10312714 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to neuronal loss, axonal degeneration and behavioral dysfunction. We recently show that in vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia produces new neurons, reduces glial scaring, and ultimately leads to improved function after SCI. By examining endogenous neurons, we here unexpectedly uncover that NG2 glia reprogramming also induces robust axonal regeneration of the corticospinal tract and serotonergic neurons. Such reprogramming-induced axonal regeneration may contribute to the reconstruction of neural networks essential for behavioral recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Tai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Xiaolong Du
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chun-Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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29
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Fontcuberta-PiSunyer M, García-Alamán A, Prades È, Téllez N, Alves-Figueiredo H, Ramos-Rodríguez M, Enrich C, Fernandez-Ruiz R, Cervantes S, Clua L, Ramón-Azcón J, Broca C, Wojtusciszyn A, Montserrat N, Pasquali L, Novials A, Servitja JM, Vidal J, Gomis R, Gasa R. Direct reprogramming of human fibroblasts into insulin-producing cells using transcription factors. Commun Biol 2023; 6:256. [PMID: 36964318 PMCID: PMC10039074 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04627-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct lineage reprogramming of one somatic cell into another without transitioning through a progenitor stage has emerged as a strategy to generate clinically relevant cell types. One cell type of interest is the pancreatic insulin-producing β cell whose loss and/or dysfunction leads to diabetes. To date it has been possible to create β-like cells from related endodermal cell types by forcing the expression of developmental transcription factors, but not from more distant cell lineages like fibroblasts. In light of the therapeutic benefits of choosing an accessible cell type as the cell of origin, in this study we set out to analyze the feasibility of transforming human skin fibroblasts into β-like cells. We describe how the timed-introduction of five developmental transcription factors (Neurog3, Pdx1, MafA, Pax4, and Nkx2-2) promotes conversion of fibroblasts toward a β-cell fate. Reprogrammed cells exhibit β-cell features including β-cell gene expression and glucose-responsive intracellular calcium mobilization. Moreover, reprogrammed cells display glucose-induced insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo. This work provides proof-of-concept of the capacity to make insulin-producing cells from human fibroblasts via transcription factor-mediated direct reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ainhoa García-Alamán
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Èlia Prades
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noèlia Téllez
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine of University of Vic, Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
- Institute of Health Research and Innovation at Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), Vic, Spain
| | - Hugo Alves-Figueiredo
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, N.L., México
| | | | - Carlos Enrich
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rebeca Fernandez-Ruiz
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Cervantes
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Clua
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Ramón-Azcón
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christophe Broca
- CHU Montpellier, Laboratory of Cell Therapy for Diabetes (LTCD), Hospital St-Eloi, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne Wojtusciszyn
- CHU Montpellier, Laboratory of Cell Therapy for Diabetes (LTCD), Hospital St-Eloi, Montpellier, France
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nuria Montserrat
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Pasquali
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Novials
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan-Marc Servitja
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josep Vidal
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Gomis
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Gasa
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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30
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Chen J, Huang L, Yang Y, Xu W, Qin Q, Qin R, Liang X, Lai X, Huang X, Xie M, Chen L. Somatic Cell Reprogramming for Nervous System Diseases: Techniques, Mechanisms, Potential Applications, and Challenges. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030524. [PMID: 36979334 PMCID: PMC10046178 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Nervous system diseases present significant challenges to the neuroscience community due to ethical and practical constraints that limit access to appropriate research materials. Somatic cell reprogramming has been proposed as a novel way to obtain neurons. Various emerging techniques have been used to reprogram mature and differentiated cells into neurons. This review provides an overview of somatic cell reprogramming for neurological research and therapy, focusing on neural reprogramming and generating different neural cell types. We examine the mechanisms involved in reprogramming and the challenges that arise. We herein summarize cell reprogramming strategies to generate neurons, including transcription factors, small molecules, and microRNAs, with a focus on different types of cells.. While reprogramming somatic cells into neurons holds the potential for understanding neurological diseases and developing therapeutic applications, its limitations and risks must be carefully considered. Here, we highlight the potential benefits of somatic cell reprogramming for neurological disease research and therapy. This review contributes to the field by providing a comprehensive overview of the various techniques used to generate neurons by cellular reprogramming and discussing their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiafeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Lijuan Huang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Qingchun Qin
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Rongxing Qin
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Xiaojun Liang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Xinyu Lai
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-Related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Xiaoying Huang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Minshan Xie
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-Related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Nanning 530021, China
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31
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Papadimitriou E, Koutsoudaki PN, Thanou I, Karagkouni D, Karamitros T, Chroni-Tzartou D, Gaitanou M, Gkemisis C, Margariti M, Xingi E, Tzartos SJ, Hatzigeorgiou AG, Thomaidou D. A miR-124-mediated post-transcriptional mechanism controlling the cell fate switch of astrocytes to induced neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:915-935. [PMID: 36963393 PMCID: PMC10147664 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The microRNA (miRNA) miR-124 has been employed supplementary to neurogenic transcription factors (TFs) and other miRNAs to enhance direct neurogenic conversion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether miR-124 is sufficient to drive direct reprogramming of astrocytes to induced neurons (iNs) on its own and elucidate its independent mechanism of reprogramming action. Our data show that miR-124 is a potent driver of the reprogramming switch of astrocytes toward an immature neuronal fate by directly targeting the RNA-binding protein Zfp36L1 implicated in ARE-mediated mRNA decay and subsequently derepressing Zfp36L1 neurogenic interactome. To this end, miR-124 contribution in iNs' production largely recapitulates endogenous neurogenesis pathways, being further enhanced upon addition of the neurogenic compound ISX9, which greatly improves iNs' differentiation and functional maturation. Importantly, miR-124 is potent in guiding direct conversion of reactive astrocytes to immature iNs in vivo following cortical trauma, while ISX9 supplementation confers a survival advantage to newly produced iNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Papadimitriou
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Paraskevi N Koutsoudaki
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Irini Thanou
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Karagkouni
- DIANA-Lab, Hellenic Pasteur Institute & Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Timokratis Karamitros
- Bioinformatics and Applied Genomics Unit, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Dafni Chroni-Tzartou
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Immunology, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Gaitanou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology - Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Gkemisis
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Margariti
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Xingi
- Light Microscopy Unit, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Socrates J Tzartos
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Immunology, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Artemis G Hatzigeorgiou
- Bioinformatics and Applied Genomics Unit, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Thomaidou
- Neural Stem Cells and Neuroimaging Group, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece; Light Microscopy Unit, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece.
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32
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Barker RA, Björklund A. Restorative cell and gene therapies for Parkinson's disease. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 193:211-226. [PMID: 36803812 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85555-6.00012-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
One of the core pathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the loss of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway which lies at the heart of many of the motor features of this condition as well as some of the cognitive problems. The importance of this pathological event is evident through the clinical benefits that are seen when patients with PD are treated with dopaminergic agents, at least in early-stage disease. However, these agents create problems of their own through stimulation of more intact dopaminergic networks within the central nervous system causing major neuropsychiatric problems including dopamine dysregulation. In addition, over time the nonphysiological stimulation of striatal dopamine receptors by l-dopa containing drugs leads to the genesis of l-dopa-induced dyskinesias that can become very disabling in many cases. As such, there has been much interest in trying to better reconstitute the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway using either factors to regrow it, cells to replace it, or gene therapies to restore dopamine transmission in the striatum. In this chapter, we lay out the rationale, history and current status of these different therapies as well as highlighting where the field is heading and what new interventions might come to clinic in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger A Barker
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Anders Björklund
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Sramkó B, Földes A, Kádár K, Varga G, Zsembery Á, Pircs K. The Wisdom in Teeth: Neuronal Differentiation of Dental Pulp Cells. Cell Reprogram 2023; 25:32-44. [PMID: 36719998 PMCID: PMC9963504 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2022.0102] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are found in almost all postnatal organs. Under appropriate environmental cues, multipotency enables MSCs to serve as progenitors for several lineage-specific, differentiated cell types. In vitro expansion and differentiation of MSCs give the opportunity to obtain hardly available somatic cells, such as neurons. The neurogenic potential of MSCs makes them a promising, autologous source to restore damaged tissue and as such, they have received much attention in the field of regenerative medicine. Several stem cell pool candidates have been studied thus far, but only a few of them showed neurogenic differentiation potential. Due to their embryonic ontology, stem cells residing in the stroma of the dental pulp chamber are an exciting source for in vitro neural cell differentiation. In this study, we review the key properties of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), with a particular focus on their neurogenic potential. Moreover, we summarize the various presently available methods used for neural differentiation of human DPSCs also emphasizing the difficulties in reproducibly high production of such cells. We postulate that because DPSCs are stem cells with very close ontology to neurogenic lineages, they may serve as excellent targets for neuronal differentiation in vitro and even for direct reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bendegúz Sramkó
- HCEMM-SU Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Földes
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kristóf Kádár
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Varga
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ákos Zsembery
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karolina Pircs
- HCEMM-SU Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Zhou Y, Zhang K, Wang F, Chen J, Chen S, Wu M, Lai M, Zhang Y, Zhou W. Polypyrimidine tract binding protein knockdown reverses depression-like behaviors and cognition impairment in mice with lesioned cholinergic neurons. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1174341. [PMID: 37181622 PMCID: PMC10172502 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1174341] [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: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Depression is a common comorbidity of dementia and may be a risk factor for dementia. Accumulating evidence has suggested that the cholinergic system plays a central role in dementia and depression, and the loss of cholinergic neurons is associated with memory decline in aging and Alzheimer's patients. A specific loss of cholinergic neurons in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca (HDB) is correlated with depression and dysfunction of cognition in mice. In this study, we examined the potential regenerative mechanisms of knockdown the RNA-binding protein polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) in reversing depression-like behaviors and cognition impairment in mice with lesioned cholinergic neurons. Methods We lesioned cholinergic neurons in mice induced by injection of 192 IgG-saporin into HDB; then, we injected either antisense oligonucleotides or adeno-associated virus-shRNA (GFAP promoter) into the injured area of HDB to deplete PTB followed by a broad range of methodologies including behavioral examinations, Western blot, RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence. Results We found that the conversion of astrocytes to newborn neurons by using antisense oligonucleotides on PTB in vitro, and depletion of PTB using either antisense oligonucleotides or adeno-associated virus-shRNA into the injured area of HDB could specifically transform astrocytes into cholinergic neurons. Meanwhile, knockdown of PTB by both approaches could relieve the depression-like behaviors shown by sucrose preference, forced swimming or tail-suspension tests, and alleviate cognitive impairment such as fear conditioning and novel object recognition in mice with lesioned cholinergic neurons. Conclusion These findings suggest that supplementing cholinergic neurons after PTB knockdown may be a promising therapeutic strategy to revert depression-like behaviors and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiying Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fangmin Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jiali Chen
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ningbo Medical Treatment Center, Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Manqing Wu
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Miaojun Lai
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yisheng Zhang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ningbo Medical Treatment Center, Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- *Correspondence: Yisheng Zhang,
| | - Wenhua Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Wenhua Zhou,
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Portela-Lomba M, Simón D, Fernández de Sevilla D, Moreno-Flores MT, Sierra J. Small molecules fail to induce direct reprogramming of adult rat olfactory ensheathing glia to mature neurons. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1110356. [PMID: 36910262 PMCID: PMC9998535 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1110356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
An approach to generate new neurons after central nervous system injury or disease is direct reprogramming of the individual's own somatic cells into differentiated neurons. This can be achieved either by transduction of viral vectors that express neurogenic transcription factors and/or through induction with small molecules, avoiding introducing foreign genetic material in target cells. In this work, we propose olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) as a candidate for direct reprogramming to neurons with small molecules due to its well-characterized neuro-regenerative capacity. After screening different combinations of small molecules in different culture conditions, only partial reprogramming was achieved: induced cells expressed neuronal markers but lacked the ability of firing action potentials. Our work demonstrates that direct conversion of adult olfactory ensheathing glia to mature, functional neurons cannot be induced only with pharmacological tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Portela-Lomba
- School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diana Simón
- School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Fernández de Sevilla
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mª Teresa Moreno-Flores
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Sierra
- School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.,School of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain
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36
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Brandebura AN, Paumier A, Onur TS, Allen NJ. Astrocyte contribution to dysfunction, risk and progression in neurodegenerative disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:23-39. [PMID: 36316501 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 120.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing appreciation that non-neuronal cells contribute to the initiation, progression and pathology of diverse neurodegenerative disorders. This Review focuses on the role of astrocytes in disorders including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The important roles astrocytes have in supporting neuronal function in the healthy brain are considered, along with studies that have demonstrated how the physiological properties of astrocytes are altered in neurodegenerative disorders and may explain their contribution to neurodegeneration. Further, the question of whether in neurodegenerative disorders with specific genetic mutations these mutations directly impact on astrocyte function, and may suggest a driving role for astrocytes in disease initiation, is discussed. A summary of how astrocyte transcriptomic and proteomic signatures are altered during the progression of neurodegenerative disorders and may relate to functional changes is provided. Given the central role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders, potential strategies to target these cells for future therapeutic avenues are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Brandebura
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Adrien Paumier
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tarik S Onur
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicola J Allen
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Mao J, Saiding Q, Qian S, Liu Z, Zhao B, Zhao Q, Lu B, Mao X, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Sun X, Cui W. Reprogramming stem cells in regenerative medicine. SMART MEDICINE 2022; 1:e20220005. [PMID: 39188749 PMCID: PMC11235200 DOI: 10.1002/smmd.20220005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that are generated from adult somatic cells are induced to express genes that make them pluripotent through reprogramming techniques. With their unlimited proliferative capacity and multifaceted differentiation potential and circumventing the ethical problems encountered in the application of embryonic stem cells (ESC), iPSCs have a broad application in the fields of cell therapy, drug screening, and disease models and may open up new possibilities for regenerative medicine to treat diseases in the future. In this review, we begin with different reprogramming cell technologies to obtain iPSCs, including biotechnological, chemical, and physical modulation techniques, and present their respective strengths, and limitations, as well as the recent progress of research. Secondly, we review recent research advances in iPSC reprogramming-based regenerative therapies. iPSCs are now widely used to study various clinical diseases of hair follicle defects, myocardial infarction, neurological disorders, liver diseases, and spinal cord injuries. This review focuses on the translational clinical research around iPSCs as well as their potential for growth in the medical field. Finally, we summarize the overall review and look at the potential future of iPSCs in the field of cell therapy as well as tissue regeneration engineering and possible problems. We believe that the advancing iPSC research will help drive long-awaited breakthroughs in cellular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Mao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Qimanguli Saiding
- Department of OrthopaedicsShanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint DiseasesShanghai Institute of Traumatology and OrthopaedicsRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Shutong Qian
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Zhimo Liu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Binfan Zhao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Qiuyu Zhao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Bolun Lu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xiyuan Mao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Liucheng Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yuguang Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoming Sun
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Wenguo Cui
- Department of OrthopaedicsShanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint DiseasesShanghai Institute of Traumatology and OrthopaedicsRuijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
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Todd L, Jenkins W, Finkbeiner C, Hooper MJ, Donaldson PC, Pavlou M, Wohlschlegel J, Ingram N, Rieke F, Reh TA. Reprogramming Müller glia to regenerate ganglion-like cells in adult mouse retina with developmental transcription factors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabq7219. [PMID: 36417510 PMCID: PMC9683702 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq7219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases cause degeneration of specific types of neurons. For example, glaucoma leads to death of retinal ganglion cells, leaving other neurons intact. Neurons are not regenerated in the adult mammalian central nervous system. However, in nonmammalian vertebrates, glial cells spontaneously reprogram into neural progenitors and replace neurons after injury. We have recently developed strategies to stimulate regeneration of functional neurons in the adult mouse retina by overexpressing the proneural factor Ascl1 in Müller glia. Here, we test additional transcription factors (TFs) for their ability to direct regeneration to particular types of retinal neurons. We engineered mice to express different combinations of TFs in Müller glia, including Ascl1, Pou4f2, Islet1, and Atoh1. Using immunohistochemistry, single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing, and electrophysiology, we find that retinal ganglion-like cells can be regenerated in the damaged adult mouse retina in vivo with targeted overexpression of developmental retinal ganglion cell TFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Todd
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Wesley Jenkins
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Connor Finkbeiner
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marcus J. Hooper
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Phoebe C. Donaldson
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marina Pavlou
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Juliette Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Norianne Ingram
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 91895, USA
| | - Fred Rieke
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 91895, USA
| | - Thomas A. Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Ahlenius H. Past, Present, and Future of Direct Cell Reprogramming. Cell Reprogram 2022; 24:205-211. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2022.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Ahlenius
- Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration, Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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40
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Elder N, Fattahi F, McDevitt TC, Zholudeva LV. Diseased, differentiated and difficult: Strategies for improved engineering of in vitro neurological systems. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:962103. [PMID: 36238834 PMCID: PMC9550918 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.962103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapidly growing field of cellular engineering is enabling scientists to more effectively create in vitro models of disease and develop specific cell types that can be used to repair damaged tissue. In particular, the engineering of neurons and other components of the nervous system is at the forefront of this field. The methods used to engineer neural cells can be largely divided into systems that undergo directed differentiation through exogenous stimulation (i.e., via small molecules, arguably following developmental pathways) and those that undergo induced differentiation via protein overexpression (i.e., genetically induced and activated; arguably bypassing developmental pathways). Here, we highlight the differences between directed differentiation and induced differentiation strategies, how they can complement one another to generate specific cell phenotypes, and impacts of each strategy on downstream applications. Continued research in this nascent field will lead to the development of improved models of neurological circuits and novel treatments for those living with neurological injury and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Elder
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Faranak Fattahi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Todd C. McDevitt
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Sana Biotechnology, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Lyandysha V. Zholudeva
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Lyandysha V. Zholudeva,
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41
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Victor MB, Tsai LH. Walking the high wire: How neurons maintain stability in the crossline of neurodegeneration. Cell Metab 2022; 34:1227-1229. [PMID: 36070677 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Traxler et al. report a metabolic switch in neurons that hinges on the critical balance of pyruvate kinase M (PKM) isoform ratios. Using directly induced neurons (iNs) derived from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the work delineates the impact of an AD-specific switch from PKM1 to PKM2 onto neuronal resilience against neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus B Victor
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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42
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Ghazale H, Park E, Vasan L, Mester J, Saleh F, Trevisiol A, Zinyk D, Chinchalongporn V, Liu M, Fleming T, Prokopchuk O, Klenin N, Kurrasch D, Faiz M, Stefanovic B, McLaurin J, Schuurmans C. Ascl1 phospho-site mutations enhance neuronal conversion of adult cortical astrocytes in vivo. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:917071. [PMID: 36061596 PMCID: PMC9434350 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.917071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming, the process whereby a terminally differentiated cell is converted into an induced neuron without traversing a pluripotent state, has tremendous therapeutic potential for a host of neurodegenerative diseases. While there is strong evidence for astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in vitro, in vivo studies in the adult brain are less supportive or controversial. Here, we set out to enhance the efficacy of neuronal conversion of adult astrocytes in vivo by optimizing the neurogenic capacity of a driver transcription factor encoded by the proneural gene Ascl1. Specifically, we mutated six serine phospho-acceptor sites in Ascl1 to alanines (Ascl1 SA 6) to prevent phosphorylation by proline-directed serine/threonine kinases. Native Ascl1 or Ascl1 SA 6 were expressed in adult, murine cortical astrocytes under the control of a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter using adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). When targeted to the cerebral cortex in vivo, mCherry+ cells transduced with AAV8-GFAP-Ascl1 SA 6-mCherry or AAV8-GFAP-Ascl1-mCherry expressed neuronal markers within 14 days post-transduction, with Ascl1 SA 6 promoting the formation of more mature dendritic arbors compared to Ascl1. However, mCherry expression disappeared by 2-months post-transduction of the AAV8-GFAP-mCherry control-vector. To circumvent reporter issues, AAV-GFAP-iCre (control) and AAV-GFAP-Ascl1 (or Ascl1 SA 6)-iCre constructs were generated and injected into the cerebral cortex of Rosa reporter mice. In all comparisons of AAV capsids (AAV5 and AAV8), GFAP promoters (long and short), and reporter mice (Rosa-zsGreen and Rosa-tdtomato), Ascl1 SA 6 transduced cells more frequently expressed early- (Dcx) and late- (NeuN) neuronal markers. Furthermore, Ascl1 SA 6 repressed the expression of astrocytic markers Sox9 and GFAP more efficiently than Ascl1. Finally, we co-transduced an AAV expressing ChR2-(H134R)-YFP, an optogenetic actuator. After channelrhodopsin photostimulation, we found that Ascl1 SA 6 co-transduced astrocytes exhibited a significantly faster decay of evoked potentials to baseline, a neuronal feature, when compared to iCre control cells. Taken together, our findings support an enhanced neuronal conversion efficiency of Ascl1 SA 6 vs. Ascl1, and position Ascl1 SA 6 as a critical transcription factor for future studies aimed at converting adult brain astrocytes to mature neurons to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Ghazale
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - EunJee Park
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lakshmy Vasan
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Mester
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fermisk Saleh
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea Trevisiol
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dawn Zinyk
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vorapin Chinchalongporn
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mingzhe Liu
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Taylor Fleming
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Natalia Klenin
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Deborah Kurrasch
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Maryam Faiz
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bojana Stefanovic
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - JoAnne McLaurin
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carol Schuurmans
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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43
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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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Zhou M, Cao Y, Sui M, Shu X, Wan F, Zhang B. Dead Cas(t) light on new life: CRISPRa-mediated reprogramming of somatic cells into neurons. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:315. [PMID: 35610381 PMCID: PMC11073076 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04324-z] [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: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of exogenous lineage-specific transcription factors could directly induce terminally differentiated somatic cells into target cell types. However, the low conversion efficiency and the concern about introducing exogenous genes limit the clinical application. With the rapid progress in genome editing, the application of CRISPR/dCas9 has been expanding rapidly, including converting somatic cells into other types of cells in vivo and in vitro. Using the CRISPR/dCas9 system, direct neuronal reprogramming could be achieved by activating endogenous genes. Here, we will discuss the latest progress, new insights, and future challenges of the application of the dCas9 system in direct neuronal reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Zhou
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Ming Sui
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiji Shu
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Feng Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Pascale E, Caiazza C, Paladino M, Parisi S, Passaro F, Caiazzo M. MicroRNA Roles in Cell Reprogramming Mechanisms. Cells 2022; 11:940. [PMID: 35326391 PMCID: PMC8946776 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell reprogramming is a groundbreaking technology that, in few decades, generated a new paradigm in biomedical science. To date we can use cell reprogramming to potentially generate every cell type by converting somatic cells and suitably modulating the expression of key transcription factors. This approach can be used to convert skin fibroblasts into pluripotent stem cells as well as into a variety of differentiated and medically relevant cell types, including cardiomyocytes and neural cells. The molecular mechanisms underlying such striking cell phenotypes are still largely unknown, but in the last decade it has been proven that cell reprogramming approaches are significantly influenced by non-coding RNAs. Specifically, this review will focus on the role of microRNAs in the reprogramming processes that lead to the generation of pluripotent stem cells, neurons, and cardiomyocytes. As highlighted here, non-coding RNA-forced expression can be sufficient to support some cell reprogramming processes, and, therefore, we will also discuss how these molecular determinants could be used in the future for biomedical purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Pascale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Carmen Caiazza
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Martina Paladino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Silvia Parisi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Fabiana Passaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (C.C.); (M.P.); (S.P.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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