1
|
Gough G, O'Brien NL, Alic I, Goh PA, Yeap YJ, Groet J, Nizetic D, Murray A. Modeling Down syndrome in cells: From stem cells to organoids. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 251:55-90. [PMID: 32057312 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is a complex chromosomal disorder, with neurological issues, featuring among the symptoms. Primary neuronal cells and tissues are extremely useful, but limited both in supply and experimental manipulability. To better understand the cellular, molecular and pathological mechanisms involved in DS neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, a range of different cellular models have been developed over the years including human: mouse hybrid cells, transchromosomic mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and human ESC and induced pluripotent stem cells derived from different sources. All of these model systems have provided useful information in the study of DS. Furthermore, different technologies to genetically modify or correct trisomy of either single genes or the whole chromosome have been developed using these cellular models. New techniques and protocols to allow better modeling of cellular mechanisms and disease processes are being developed and the use of cerebral organoids offers great promise for future research into the neural phenotypes seen in DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Gough
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Niamh L O'Brien
- The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; LonDownS Consortium, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Alic
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Pollyanna A Goh
- The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; LonDownS Consortium, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yee Jie Yeap
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jurgen Groet
- The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; LonDownS Consortium, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dean Nizetic
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore; The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; LonDownS Consortium, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Aoife Murray
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhao X, Bhattacharyya A. Human Models Are Needed for Studying Human Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:829-857. [PMID: 30526865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of animal models of neurological disease has been instrumental in furthering our understanding of neurodevelopment and brain diseases. However, animal models are limited in revealing some of the most fundamental aspects of development, genetics, pathology, and disease mechanisms that are unique to humans. These shortcomings are exaggerated in disorders that affect the brain, where the most significant differences between humans and animal models exist, and could underscore failures in targeted therapeutic interventions in affected individuals. Human pluripotent stem cells have emerged as a much-needed model system for investigating human-specific biology and disease mechanisms. However, questions remain regarding whether these cell-culture-based models are sufficient or even necessary. In this review, we summarize human-specific features of neurodevelopment and the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, present discrepancies between animal models and human diseases, demonstrate how human stem cell models can provide meaningful information, and discuss the challenges that exist in our pursuit to understand distinctively human aspects of neurodevelopment and brain disease. This information argues for a more thoughtful approach to disease modeling through consideration of the valuable features and limitations of each model system, be they human or animal, to mimic disease characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA.
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ovchinnikov DA, Korn O, Virshup I, Wells CA, Wolvetang EJ. The Impact of APP on Alzheimer-like Pathogenesis and Gene Expression in Down Syndrome iPSC-Derived Neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 11:32-42. [PMID: 29861166 PMCID: PMC6066957 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-onset Alzheimer disease (AD)-like pathology in Down syndrome is commonly attributed to an increased dosage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. To test this in an isogenic human model, we deleted the supernumerary copy of the APP gene in trisomic Down syndrome induced pluripotent stem cells or upregulated APP expression in euploid human pluripotent stem cells using CRISPRa. Cortical neuronal differentiation shows that an increased APP gene dosage is responsible for increased β-amyloid production, altered Aβ42/40 ratio, and deposition of the pyroglutamate (E3)-containing amyloid aggregates, but not for several tau-related AD phenotypes or increased apoptosis. Transcriptome comparisons demonstrate that APP has a widespread and temporally modulated impact on neuronal gene expression. Collectively, these data reveal an important role for APP in the amyloidogenic aspects of AD but challenge the idea that increased APP levels are solely responsible for increasing specific phosphorylated forms of tau or enhanced neuronal cell death in Down syndrome-associated AD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry A Ovchinnikov
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Othmar Korn
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Isaac Virshup
- Centre for Stem Cell Systems, MDHS, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Christine A Wells
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Stem Cell Systems, MDHS, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ernst J Wolvetang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|