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Li M, Yuan Y, Hou Z, Hao S, Jin L, Wang B. Human brain organoid: trends, evolution, and remaining challenges. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2387-2399. [PMID: 38526275 PMCID: PMC11090441 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390972] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Advanced brain organoids provide promising platforms for deciphering the cellular and molecular processes of human neural development and diseases. Although various studies and reviews have described developments and advancements in brain organoids, few studies have comprehensively summarized and analyzed the global trends in this area of neuroscience. To identify and further facilitate the development of cerebral organoids, we utilized bibliometrics and visualization methods to analyze the global trends and evolution of brain organoids in the last 10 years. First, annual publications, countries/regions, organizations, journals, authors, co-citations, and keywords relating to brain organoids were identified. The hotspots in this field were also systematically identified. Subsequently, current applications for brain organoids in neuroscience, including human neural development, neural disorders, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and toxicity assessment studies, are comprehensively discussed. Towards that end, several considerations regarding the current challenges in brain organoid research and future strategies to advance neuroscience will be presented to further promote their application in neurological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yuhan Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zongkun Hou
- School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Shilei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bochu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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2
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Kataoka M, Lee TL, Sawai T. Human Brain Organoid Research and Applications: Where and How to Meet Legal Challenges? JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2024:10.1007/s11673-024-10349-9. [PMID: 38969917 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-024-10349-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
An ethical and legal framework is needed to regulate the rapidly developing human brain organoid research field properly. However, considering the legal issues involved in human brain organoid research remains underdeveloped and scattered. This article reviews the legal issues of human brain organoid research, grouping them into the following five broad themes: (1) consciousness, (2) legal status, (3) consent, (4) ownership, and (5) transplantation. The issues in each topic include both the urgent (e.g., appropriate forms of consent) and the speculative (e.g., protection of conscious human brain organoids). Therefore, we have attempted to be as explicit as possible about the timescale within which each issue will be realized and to prioritize each. Examining these issues has revealed legal issues specific to human brain organoid research and issues common to research in other fields. Further discussion of human brain organoid research from a legal perspective is needed in the future, considering discussions in related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kataoka
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - T-L Lee
- Graduate Institute of Health and Biotechnology Law, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - T Sawai
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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3
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Ji Y, McLean JL, Xu R. Emerging Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Human-Animal Brain Chimeras for Advancing Disease Modeling and Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders. Neurosci Bull 2024:10.1007/s12264-024-01189-z. [PMID: 38466557 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01189-z] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) models provide unprecedented opportunities to study human neurological disorders by recapitulating human-specific disease mechanisms. In particular, hPSC-based human-animal brain chimeras enable the study of human cell pathophysiology in vivo. In chimeric brains, human neural and immune cells can maintain human-specific features, undergo maturation, and functionally integrate into host brains, allowing scientists to study how human cells impact neural circuits and animal behaviors. The emerging human-animal brain chimeras hold promise for modeling human brain cells and their interactions in health and disease, elucidating the disease mechanism from molecular and cellular to circuit and behavioral levels, and testing the efficacy of cell therapy interventions. Here, we discuss recent advances in the generation and applications of using human-animal chimeric brain models for the study of neurological disorders, including disease modeling and cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Ji
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jenna Lillie McLean
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ranjie Xu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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Li M, Sun H, Hou Z, Hao S, Jin L, Wang B. Engineering the Physical Microenvironment into Neural Organoids for Neurogenesis and Neurodevelopment. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306451. [PMID: 37771182 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the signals from the physical microenvironment is critical for deciphering the processes of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment. The discovery of how surrounding physical signals shape human developing neurons is hindered by the bottleneck of conventional cell culture and animal models. Notwithstanding neural organoids provide a promising platform for recapitulating human neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, building neuronal physical microenvironment that accurately mimics the native neurophysical features is largely ignored in current organoid technologies. Here, it is discussed how the physical microenvironment modulates critical events during the periods of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, such as neural stem cell fates, neural tube closure, neuronal migration, axonal guidance, optic cup formation, and cortical folding. Although animal models are widely used to investigate the impacts of physical factors on neurodevelopment and neuropathy, the important roles of human stem cell-derived neural organoids in this field are particularly highlighted. Considering the great promise of human organoids, building neural organoid microenvironments with mechanical forces, electrophysiological microsystems, and light manipulation will help to fully understand the physical cues in neurodevelopmental processes. Neural organoids combined with cutting-edge techniques, such as advanced atomic force microscopes, microrobots, and structural color biomaterials might promote the development of neural organoid-based research and neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Heng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Zongkun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Shilei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Bochu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
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5
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Hartung T, Morales Pantoja IE, Smirnova L. Brain organoids and organoid intelligence from ethical, legal, and social points of view. Front Artif Intell 2024; 6:1307613. [PMID: 38249793 PMCID: PMC10796793 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1307613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Human brain organoids, aka cerebral organoids or earlier "mini-brains", are 3D cellular models that recapitulate aspects of the developing human brain. They show tremendous promise for advancing our understanding of neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. However, the unprecedented ability to model human brain development and function in vitro also raises complex ethical, legal, and social challenges. Organoid Intelligence (OI) describes the ongoing movement to combine such organoids with Artificial Intelligence to establish basic forms of memory and learning. This article discusses key issues regarding the scientific status and prospects of brain organoids and OI, conceptualizations of consciousness and the mind-brain relationship, ethical and legal dimensions, including moral status, human-animal chimeras, informed consent, and governance matters, such as oversight and regulation. A balanced framework is needed to allow vital research while addressing public perceptions and ethical concerns. Interdisciplinary perspectives and proactive engagement among scientists, ethicists, policymakers, and the public can enable responsible translational pathways for organoid technology. A thoughtful, proactive governance framework might be needed to ensure ethically responsible progress in this promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Itzy E. Morales Pantoja
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lena Smirnova
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Faltus T, Freise J, Fluck C, Zillmann H. Ethics and regulation of neuronal optogenetics in the European Union. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1505-1517. [PMID: 37996706 PMCID: PMC10730653 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02888-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal optogenetics is a technique to control the activity of neurons with light. This is achieved by artificial expression of light-sensitive ion channels in the target cells. By optogenetic methods, cells that are naturally light-insensitive can be made photosensitive and addressable by illumination and precisely controllable in time and space. So far, optogenetics has primarily been a basic research tool to better understand the brain. However, initial studies are already investigating the possibility of using optogenetics in humans for future therapeutic approaches for neuronal based diseases such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, or to promote stroke recovery. In addition, optogenetic methods have already been successfully applied to a human in an experimental setting. Neuronal optogenetics also raises ethical and legal issues, e.g., in relation to, animal experiments, and its application in humans. Additional ethical and legal questions may arise when optogenetic methods are investigated on cerebral organoids. Thus, for the successful translation of optogenetics from basic research to medical practice, the ethical and legal questions of this technology must also be answered, because open ethical and legal questions can hamper the translation. The paper provides an overview of the ethical and legal issues raised by neuronal optogenetics. In addition, considering the technical prerequisites for translation, the paper shows consistent approaches to address these open questions. The paper also aims to support the interdisciplinary dialogue between scientists and physicians on the one hand, and ethicists and lawyers on the other, to enable an interdisciplinary coordinated realization of neuronal optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Faltus
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Johannes Freise
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Carsten Fluck
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Hans Zillmann
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
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Owen M, Huang Z, Duclos C, Lavazza A, Grasso M, Hudetz AG. Theoretical Neurobiology of Consciousness Applied to Human Cerebral Organoids. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2023:1-21. [PMID: 37850471 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180123000543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Organoids and specifically human cerebral organoids (HCOs) are one of the most relevant novelties in the field of biomedical research. Grown either from embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells, HCOs can be used as in vitro three-dimensional models, mimicking the developmental process and organization of the developing human brain. Based on that, and despite their current limitations, it cannot be assumed that they will never at any stage of development manifest some rudimentary form of consciousness. In the absence of behavioral indicators of consciousness, the theoretical neurobiology of consciousness being applied to unresponsive brain-injured patients can be considered with respect to HCOs. In clinical neurology, it is difficult to discern a capacity for consciousness in unresponsive brain-injured patients who provide no behavioral indicators of consciousness. In such scenarios, a validated neurobiological theory of consciousness, which tells us what the neural mechanisms of consciousness are, could be used to identify a capacity for consciousness. Like the unresponsive patients that provide a diagnostic difficulty for neurologists, HCOs provide no behavioral indicators of consciousness. Therefore, this article discusses how three prominent neurobiological theories of consciousness apply to human cerebral organoids. From the perspective of the Temporal Circuit Hypothesis, the Global Neuronal Workspace Theory, and the Integrated Information Theory, we discuss what neuronal structures and functions might indicate that cerebral organoids have a neurobiological capacity to be conscious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Owen
- Philosophy Department, Yakima Valley College, Yakima, WA, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zirui Huang
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Catherine Duclos
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea Lavazza
- Centro Universitario Internazionale, Arezzo, Italy
- University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Grasso
- Center for Sleep and Consciousness, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anthony G Hudetz
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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8
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Kataoka M, Gyngell C, Savulescu J, Sawai T. The Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Transplantation in Animals. NEUROETHICS-NETH 2023; 16:27. [PMID: 37809032 PMCID: PMC10550858 DOI: 10.1007/s12152-023-09532-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we outline how one might conduct a comprehensive ethical evaluation of human brain organoid transplantation in animals. Thus far, ethical concerns regarding this type of research have been assumed to be similar to those associated with other transplants of human cells in animals, and have therefore not received significant attention. The focus has been only on the welfare, moral status, or mental capacities of the host animal. However, the transplantation of human brain organoids introduces several new ethical issues. Many of these are related to uncertainty regarding whether or not brain organoids might be conscious. While these concerns might not be immediately relevant, they warrant closer scrutiny. We discuss how various ethical issues are relevant to different stages of human brain organoid transplantation and can guide the ethical evaluation of research. Our examination would broaden the horizons of the debate on the transplantation of brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Kataoka
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Christopher Gyngell
- Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Julian Savulescu
- Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Faculty of Philosophy, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tsutomu Sawai
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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9
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Jeziorski J, Brandt R, Evans JH, Campana W, Kalichman M, Thompson E, Goldstein L, Koch C, Muotri AR. Brain organoids, consciousness, ethics and moral status. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 144:97-102. [PMID: 35339359 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Advances in the field of human stem cells are often a source of public and ethical controversy. Researchers must frequently balance diverse societal perspectives on questions of morality with the pursuit of medical therapeutics and innovation. Recent developments in brain organoids make this challenge even more acute. Brain organoids are a new class of brain surrogate generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). They have gained traction as a model for studying the intricacies of the human brain by using advancements in stem cell biology to recapitulate aspects of the developing human brain in vitro. However, recent observation of neural oscillations spontaneously emerging from these organoids raises the question of whether brain organoids are or could become conscious. At the same time, brain organoids offer a potentially unique opportunity to scientifically understand consciousness. To address these issues, experimental biologists, philosophers, and ethicists united to discuss the possibility of consciousness in human brain organoids and the consequent ethical and moral implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Jeziorski
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, Archealization Center (ArchC), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Reuven Brandt
- Department of Philosophy, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - John H Evans
- Institute for Practical Ethics, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Wendy Campana
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael Kalichman
- Research Ethics Program, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Evan Thompson
- Department of Philosophy, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lawrence Goldstein
- Departments of Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Alysson R Muotri
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, Archealization Center (ArchC), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Villanueva R. Advances in the knowledge and therapeutics of schizophrenia, major depression disorder, and bipolar disorder from human brain organoid research. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1178494. [PMID: 37502814 PMCID: PMC10368988 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1178494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tridimensional cultures of human induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) experimentally directed to neural differentiation, termed "brain organoids" are now employed as an in vitro assay that recapitulates early developmental stages of nervous tissue differentiation. Technical progress in culture methodology enabled the generation of regionally specialized organoids with structural and neurochemical characters of distinct encephalic regions. The technical process of organoid elaboration is undergoing progressively implementation, but current robustness of the assay has attracted the attention of psychiatric research to substitute/complement animal experimentation for analyzing the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Numerous morphological, structural, molecular and functional insights of psychiatric disorders have been uncovered by comparing brain organoids made with iPSCs obtained from control healthy subjects and psychiatric patients. Brain organoids were also employed for analyzing the response to conventional treatments, to search for new drugs, and to anticipate the therapeutic response of individual patients in a personalized manner. In this review, we gather data obtained by studying cerebral organoids made from iPSCs of patients of the three most frequent serious psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, major depression disorder, and bipolar disorder. Among the data obtained in these studies, we emphasize: (i) that the origin of these pathologies takes place in the stages of embryonic development; (ii) the existence of shared molecular pathogenic aspects among patients of the three distinct disorders; (iii) the occurrence of molecular differences between patients bearing the same disorder, and (iv) that functional alterations can be activated or aggravated by environmental signals in patients bearing genetic risk for these disorders.
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Conner LT, Srinageshwar B, Bakke JL, Dunbar GL, Rossignol J. Advances in stem cell and other therapies for Huntington's disease: An update. Brain Res Bull 2023:110673. [PMID: 37257627 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110673] [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] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an autosomal dominant mutation leading to an abnormal CAG repeat expansion. The result is the synthesis of a toxic misfolded protein, called the mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT). Most current treatments are palliative, but the latest research has expanded into multiple modalities, including stem cells, gene therapy, and even the use of 3D cell structures, called organoids. Stem cell research as a treatment for HD has included the use of various types of stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and even reprogrammed stem cells called induced pluripotent stem cells. The goal has been to develop stem cell transplant grafts that will replace the existing mutated neurons, as well as release existing trophic factors for neuronal support. Additionally, research in gene modification using CRISPR-Cas9, PRIME editing, and other forms of genetic modifications are continuing to evolve. Most recently, advancements in stem cell modeling have yielded 3D stem cell tissue models, called organoids. These organoids offer the unique opportunity to transplant a structured stem cell graft which, ideally, models normal human brain tissue more accurately. This manuscript summarizes the recent research in stem cells, genetic modifications, and organoids as a potential for treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - B Srinageshwar
- College of Medicine; Program in Neuroscience; Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology
| | - J L Bakke
- College of Medicine; Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
| | - G L Dunbar
- Program in Neuroscience; Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology; Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - J Rossignol
- College of Medicine; Program in Neuroscience; Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology.
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12
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Hong Y, Yang Q, Song H, Ming GL. Opportunities and limitations for studying neuropsychiatric disorders using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1430-1439. [PMID: 36782062 PMCID: PMC10213114 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-01990-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders affect a large proportion of the global population and there is an urgent need to understand the pathogenesis and to develop novel and improved treatments of these devastating disorders. However, the diverse symptomatology combined with complex polygenic etiology, and the limited access to disorder-relevant cell types in human brains represent a major obstacle for mechanistic disease research. Conventional animal models, such as rodents, are limited by inherent species differences in brain development, architecture, and function. Advances in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) technologies have provided platforms for new discoveries in neuropsychiatric disorders. First, hiPSC-based disease models enable unprecedented investigation of psychiatric disorders at the molecular, cellular, and structural levels. Second, hiPSCs derived from patients with known genetics, symptoms, and drug response profiles offer an opportunity to recapitulate pathogenesis in relevant cell types and provide novel approaches for understanding disease mechanisms and for developing effective treatments. Third, genome-editing technologies have extended the potential of hiPSCs for generating models to elucidate the genetic basis of rare monogenetic and complex polygenic psychiatric disorders and to establish the causality between genotype and phenotype. Here we review opportunities and limitations for studying psychiatric disorders using various hiPSC-derived model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hong
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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13
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Raposo VL. Homo chimaera after homo sapiens?: the legal status of human–non-human chimaeras with human brain cells. BIOSOCIETIES 2023. [DOI: 10.1057/s41292-023-00302-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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14
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Barnhart AJ, Dierickx K. A Tale of Two Chimeras: Applying the Six Principles to Human Brain Organoid Xenotransplantation. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2023; 32:1-17. [PMID: 36847198 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180123000051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral organoid models in-of-themselves are considered as an alternative to research animal models. But their developmental and biological limitations currently inhibit the probability that organoids can fully replace animal models. Furthermore, these organoid limitations have, somewhat ironically, brought researchers back to the animal model via xenotransplantation, thus creating hybrids and chimeras. In addition to attempting to study and overcome cerebral organoid limitations, transplanting cerebral organoids into animal models brings an opportunity to observe behavioral changes in the animal itself. Traditional animal ethics frameworks, such as the well-known three Rs (reduce, refine, and replace), have previously addressed chimeras and xenotransplantation of tissue. But these frameworks have yet to completely assess the neural-chimeric possibilities. And while the three Rs framework was a historical landmark in animal ethics, there are identifiable gaps in the framework that require attention. The authors propose to utilize an expanded three Rs framework initially developed by David DeGrazia and Tom L. Beauchamp, known as the Six Principles (6Ps). This framework aims to expand upon the three Rs, fill in the gaps, and be a practical means for assessing animal ethical issues like that of neural-chimeras and cerebral organoid xenotransplantation. The scope of this 6Ps application will focus on two separate but recent studies, which were published in 2019 and 2020. First, they consider a study wherein cerebral organoids were grown from donors with Down syndrome and from neurotypical donors. After these organoids were grown and studied, they were then surgically implanted into mouse models to observe the physiological effects and any behavioral change in the chimera. Second, they consider a separate study wherein neurotypical human embryonic stem cell-derived cerebral organoids were grown and transplanted into mouse and macaque models. The aim was to observe if such a transplantation method would contribute to therapies for brain injury or stroke. The authors place both studies under the lens of the 6Ps framework, assess the relevant contexts of each case, and provide relevant normative conclusions. In this way, they demonstrate how the 6Ps could be applied in future cases of neural-chimeras and cerebral organoid xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Barnhart
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Dierickx
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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15
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Jowitt J. On the Legal Status of Human Cerebral Organoids: Lessons from Animal Law. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2023; 32:1-10. [PMID: 36799028 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180122000858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
This paper will ask whether the legal status presently afforded to nonhuman animals ought to influence regulatory debates concerning human cerebral organoids. The New York Courts recently refused to grant a writ of habeas corpus to Happy the Elephant as she was property rather than a legal person while at the same time accepting that she is a moral patient deserving of rights protection. An undesirable situation has therefore arisen in which the law holds a being with moral status to be incapable of benefitting from legal redress due to their legal status as property.The author argues that this is something that we ought to avoid when designing the regulatory framework which will govern the use of human cerebral organoids. Yet, a difference exists in that, whereas the judges already accept Happy is a moral patient, there is presently no consensus around the moral status of organoids. This paper will consider whether human cerebral organoids have passed the moral threshold of sentience. If they have, or are close to doing so, regulators ought to consider their legal status in advance so as to ensure that adequate limitations are placed on this usage so as to avoid unethical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Jowitt
- Newcastle Law School, 19-24 Windsor Terrace, Newcastle upon TyneNE1 7RU, UK
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16
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Bassil K, Horstkötter D. Ethical Implications in Making Use of Human Cerebral Organoids for Investigating Stress-Related Mechanisms and Disorders. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2023; 32:1-13. [PMID: 36799029 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180123000038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The generation of three-dimensional cerebral organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) has facilitated the investigation of mechanisms underlying several neuropsychiatric disorders, including stress-related disorders, namely major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Generating hPSC-derived neurons, cerebral organoids, and even assembloids (or multi-organoid complexes) can facilitate research into biomarkers for stress susceptibility or resilience and may even bring about advances in personalized medicine and biomarker research for stress-related psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, cerebral organoid research does not come without its own set of ethical considerations. With increased complexity and resemblance to in vivo conditions, discussions of increased moral status for these models are ongoing, including questions about sentience, consciousness, moral status, donor protection, and chimeras. There are, however, unique ethical considerations that arise and are worth looking into in the context of research into stress and stress-related disorders using cerebral organoids. This paper provides stress research-specific ethical considerations in the context of cerebral organoid generation and use for research purposes. The use of stress research as a case study here can help inform other practices of in vitro studies using brain models with high ethical considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Bassil
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Dorothee Horstkötter
- Department of Health Ethics and Society, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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17
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Human Brain Organoids in Migraine Research: Pathogenesis and Drug Development. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043113. [PMID: 36834522 PMCID: PMC9961184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human organoids are small, self-organized, three-dimensional (3D) tissue cultures that have started to revolutionize medical science in terms of understanding disease, testing pharmacologically active compounds, and offering novel ways to treat disease. Organoids of the liver, kidney, intestine, lung, and brain have been developed in recent years. Human brain organoids are used for understanding pathogenesis and investigating therapeutic options for neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, and neurological disorders. Theoretically, several brain disorders can be modeled with the aid of human brain organoids, and hence the potential exists for understanding migraine pathogenesis and its treatment with the aid of brain organoids. Migraine is considered a brain disorder with neurological and non-neurological abnormalities and symptoms. Both genetic and environmental factors play essential roles in migraine pathogenesis and its clinical manifestations. Several types of migraines are classified, for example, migraines with and without aura, and human brain organoids can be developed from patients with these types of migraines to study genetic factors (e.g., channelopathy in calcium channels) and environmental stressors (e.g., chemical and mechanical). In these models, drug candidates for therapeutic purposes can also be tested. Here, the potential and limitations of human brain organoids for studying migraine pathogenesis and its treatment are communicated to generate motivation and stimulate curiosity for further research. This must, however, be considered alongside the complexity of the concept of brain organoids and the neuroethical aspects of the topic. Interested researchers are invited to join the network for protocol development and testing the hypothesis presented here.
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18
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Li M, Gao L, Zhao L, Zou T, Xu H. Toward the next generation of vascularized human neural organoids. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:31-54. [PMID: 35993813 DOI: 10.1002/med.21922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Thanks to progress in the development of three-dimensional (3D) culture technologies, human central nervous system (CNS) development and diseases have been gradually deciphered by using organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Selforganized neural organoids (NOs) have been used to mimic morphogenesis and functions of specific organs in vitro. Many NOs have been reproduced in vitro, such as those mimicking the human brain, retina, and spinal cord. However, NOs fail to capitulate to the maturation and complexity of in vivo neural tissues. The persistent issues with current NO cultivation protocols are inadequate oxygen supply and nutrient diffusion due to the absence of vascular networks. In vivo, the developing CNS is interpenetrated by vasculature that not only supplies oxygen and nutrients but also provides a structural template for neuronal growth. To address these deficiencies, recent studies have begun to couple NO culture with bioengineering techniques and methodologies, including genetic engineering, coculture, multidifferentiation, microfluidics and 3D bioprinting, and transplantation, which might promote NO maturation and create more functional NOs. These cutting-edge methods could generate an ever more reliable NO model in vitro for deciphering the codes of human CNS development, disease progression, and translational application. In this review, we will summarize recent technological advances in culture strategies to generate vascularized NOs (vNOs), with a special focus on cerebral- and retinal-organoid models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Lixiong Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Zou
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
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19
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Brown JL, Voth JP, Person K, Low WC. A Technological and Regulatory Review on Human-Animal Chimera Research: The Current Landscape of Biology, Law, and Public Opinion. Cell Transplant 2023; 32:9636897231183112. [PMID: 37599386 PMCID: PMC10467371 DOI: 10.1177/09636897231183112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ transplantation is a highly utilized treatment for many medical conditions, yet the number of patients waiting for organs far exceeds the number available. The challenges and limitations currently associated with organ transplantation and technological advances in gene editing techniques have led scientists to pursue alternate solutions to the donor organ shortage. Growing human organs in animals and harvesting those organs for transplantation into humans is one such solution. These chimeric animals usually have certain genes necessary for a specific organ's development inhibited at an early developmental stage, followed by the addition of cultured pluripotent human cells to fill that developmental niche. The result is a chimeric animal that contains human organs which are available for transplant into a patient, circumventing some of the limitations currently involved in donor organ transplantation. In this review, we will discuss both the current scientific and legal landscape of human-animal chimera (HAC) research. We present an overview of the technological advances that allow for the creation of HACs, the patents that currently exist on these methods, as well as current public attitude and understanding that can influence HAC research policy. We complement our scientific and public attitude discussion with a regulatory overview of chimera research at both the national and state level, while also contrasting current U.S. legislation with regulations in other countries. Overall, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal and scientific barriers to conducting research on HACs for the generation of transplantable human organs, as well as provide recommendations for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Brown
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Law School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joseph P. Voth
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kennedy Person
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Walter C. Low
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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20
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Harris AR, Walker MJ, Gilbert F. Ethical and regulatory issues of stem cell-derived 3-dimensional organoid and tissue therapy for personalised regenerative medicine. BMC Med 2022; 20:499. [PMID: 36575403 PMCID: PMC9795739 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02710-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regenerative medicine has the potential to treat genetic disorders and replace damaged or missing tissue. The use of donor or animal tissue raises many well-known issues, including limited tissue availability, the possibility of rejection and patient infection. Stem cell therapy raised hope of overcoming these issues, but created new risks including tumour formation and limited benefit if the desired target tissue does not form. The recent development of 3-dimensional tissues, including organoids, allows the creation of more complex tissues for personalised regenerative medicine. METHODS This article details the potential health risks of 3-dimensional organoid and tissue therapy versus dissociated stem cell therapy. The current ethical and regulatory issues surrounding 3-dimensional organoid and tissue therapy are presented with a focus on the highly influential FDA and International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) guidelines. CONCLUSIONS The potential use of 3-dimensional organoid and tissue therapy may deliver greater patient benefits than other regenerative medicine approaches, but raises new health and ethical risks. Preclinical testing of these therapies will not mitigate some of their risks; they may only be understood after first-in-human trials. The potential irreversibility and high risk of these therapies affects how clinical trials should be structured, including post-trial care for participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Harris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia.
| | - Mary Jean Walker
- Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Frederic Gilbert
- Ethics Lab, School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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21
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Bhargava A, Sandoval Castellanos AM, Shah S, Ning K. An insight into the iPSCs-derived two-dimensional culture and three-dimensional organoid models for neurodegenerative disorders. Interface Focus 2022; 12:20220040. [PMID: 35992771 PMCID: PMC9372641 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2022.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a promising approach when used as models to study neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) in vitro. iPSCs have been used in in vitro two-dimensional cultures; however, these two-dimensional cultures do not mimic the physiological three-dimensional cellular environment. The use of iPSCs-derived three-dimensional organoids has risen as a powerful alternative to using animal models to study NDDs. These iPSCs-derived three-dimensional organoids can resemble the complexity of the tissue of interest, making it an approachable, cost-effective technique, to study NDDs in an ethical manner. Furthermore, the use of iPSCs-derived organoids will be an important tool to develop new therapeutics and pharmaceutics to treat NDDs. Herein, we will highlight how iPSCs-derived two-dimensional cultures and three-dimensional organoids have been used to study NDDs, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of both techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushka Bhargava
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Ana M. Sandoval Castellanos
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Sonali Shah
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Ke Ning
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
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22
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Hofmann B, Zinöcker S, Holm S, Lewis J, Kavouras P. Organoids in the Clinic: A Systematic Review of Outcomes. Cells Tissues Organs 2022; 212:499-511. [PMID: 36170843 PMCID: PMC10906541 DOI: 10.1159/000527237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on organoids has undergone significant advances during the last decade. However, outcomes from the use of organoids in clinical trials have not yet been documented. Therefore, there is an urgent need to assess the reporting of clinically relevant outcomes from organoid research in the scientific literature. This article presents a systematic review and appraisal of the published literature in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, together with a synopsis of recent relevant reviews. Surprisingly, no randomized controlled trials have reported clinical outcomes with any types of organoids. We found very few ongoing and registered studies that may provide clinically relevant results within this decade. Our screening and interpretation of the literature, including review articles, indicate a focus on technical and preclinical aspects of organoid research. This is the first systematic review of clinical trials involving organoids. Few clinical studies are planned or already underway, and, so far, no high-quality evidence relating to the clinical outcomes of organoid research has been published. The many promises of organoid research still need to be translated from bench to bed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjørn Hofmann
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Gjøvik, Norway
| | - Severin Zinöcker
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Søren Holm
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, Department of Law, School of Social Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jonathan Lewis
- Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, Department of Law, School of Social Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Panagiotis Kavouras
- RNanoLab, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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23
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Barnhart AJ, Dierickx K. The Many Moral Matters of Organoid Models: A systematic review of reasons. MEDICINE, HEALTH CARE, AND PHILOSOPHY 2022; 25:545-560. [PMID: 35532849 DOI: 10.1007/s11019-022-10082-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To present the ethical issues, moral arguments, and reasons found in the ethical literature on organoid models. DESIGN In this systematic review of reasons in ethical literature, we selected sources based on predefined criteria: (1) The publication mentions moral reasons or arguments directly relating to the creation and/or use of organoid models in biomedical research; (2) These moral reasons and arguments are significantly addressed, not as mere passing mentions, or comprise a large portion of the body of work; (3) The publication is peer-reviewed and published in an academic article, book, national-level report, working paper, or Ph.D. thesis; (4) The publications collected are in English. ANALYSIS Each article was read in-depth for identifiable moral reasons, arguments, and concerns. These were then inductively classified and synthesized to create broader categories of reasons, and eventually an overarching conceptual scheme was created. RESULTS A total of twenty-three sources were included and analyzed out of an initial 266 collected sources. Five themes of ethical issues and arguments were found: Animal Experimentation; Clinical Applications and Experiments; Commercialization and Consent; Organoid Ontology and Moral Status; and Research Ethics and Research Integrity. These themes are then further broken down into sub-themes and topics. Given the extensive nature of the topics found, we will focus on describing the topics that comprised of more in-depth reasons and arguments rather than few, passing mentions or concerns. CONCLUSIONS The ethics of organoids requires further deliberation in multiple areas, as much of the discussions are not presented as in-depth arguments. Such sentiments are also echoed throughout the organoid ethics literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Barnhart
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Kris Dierickx
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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24
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Pașca SP, Arlotta P, Bateup HS, Camp JG, Cappello S, Gage FH, Knoblich JA, Kriegstein AR, Lancaster MA, Ming GL, Muotri AR, Park IH, Reiner O, Song H, Studer L, Temple S, Testa G, Treutlein B, Vaccarino FM. A nomenclature consensus for nervous system organoids and assembloids. Nature 2022; 609:907-910. [PMID: 36171373 PMCID: PMC10571504 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05219-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Self-organizing three-dimensional cellular models derived from human pluripotent stem cells or primary tissue have great potential to provide insights into how the human nervous system develops, what makes it unique and how disorders of the nervous system arise, progress and could be treated. Here, to facilitate progress and improve communication with the scientific community and the public, we clarify and provide a basic framework for the nomenclature of human multicellular models of nervous system development and disease, including organoids, assembloids and transplants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu P Pașca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Brain Organogenesis, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Paola Arlotta
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Helen S Bateup
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J Gray Camp
- Roche Institute for Translational Bioengineering, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Fred H Gage
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jürgen A Knoblich
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arnold R Kriegstein
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Stem Cell Program, Archealization Center, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - In-Hyun Park
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Orly Reiner
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Giuseppe Testa
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Treutlein
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Flora M Vaccarino
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, New Haven, CT, USA
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25
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de Jongh D, Massey EK, Bunnik EM. Organoids: a systematic review of ethical issues. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:337. [PMID: 35870991 PMCID: PMC9308907 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02950-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids are 3D structures grown from pluripotent stem cells derived from human tissue and serve as in vitro miniature models of human organs. Organoids are expected to revolutionize biomedical research and clinical care. However, organoids are not seen as morally neutral. For instance, tissue donors may perceive enduring personal connections with their organoids, setting higher bars for informed consent and patient participation. Also, several organoid sub-types, e.g., brain organoids and human-animal chimeric organoids, have raised controversy. This systematic review provides an overview of ethical discussions as conducted in the scientific literature on organoids. The review covers both research and clinical applications of organoid technology and discusses the topics informed consent, commercialization, personalized medicine, transplantation, brain organoids, chimeras, and gastruloids. It shows that further ethical research is needed especially on organoid transplantation, to help ensure the responsible development and clinical implementation of this technology in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dide de Jongh
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emma K. Massey
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eline M. Bunnik
- Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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26
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Ding L, Xiao Z, Gong X, Peng Y. Knowledge graphs of ethical concerns of cerebral organoids. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13239. [PMID: 35582763 PMCID: PMC9357362 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The rapid development of cerebral organoid technology and the gradual maturity of cerebral organoids highlight the necessity of foresighted research on relevant ethical concerns. We employed knowledge graphs and conducted statistical analysis with CiteSpace for a comprehensive analysis of the status quo of the research on the ethical concerns of cerebral organoids from a bibliometric perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a statistical analysis of published papers on cerebral organoid ethics, keyword co-occurrence graph, literature co-citation and knowledge clustering graph to examine the status of the ethics research, internal relationship between technological development and ethical research, and ethical concerns of the academia. Finally, we used a keyword time zone graph and related statistics to analyze and predict the trends and popular topics of future cerebral organoids ethics research. RESULTS We demonstrated that although the ethical concerns of cerebral organoids have long been discussed, it was not until 2017 that the ethical issues began to receive more attention, when cerebral organoids were gradually mimicking the human brain more closely and increasingly being combined with chimera research. The recent key ethical concerns are primarily divided into three categories: concerns that are common in life sciences, specific to cerebral organoids, and present in cross-fields. These increasing ethical concerns are inherently related to the continual development of technology. The analysis pointed out that future research should focus on the ethical concerns of consciousness that are unique to cerebral organoids, ethical concerns of cross-fields, and construction and improvement of legislative and regulatory systems. CONCLUSIONS Although research on cerebral organoids can benefit the biomedicine field, the relevant ethical concerns are significant and have received increasing attention, which are inherently related to the continual development of technology. Future studies in ethics regarding cerebral organoid research should focus on the ethical concerns of consciousness, and cross-fields, as well as the improvement of regulatory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Ding
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyu Xiao
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Gong
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaojin Peng
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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27
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Presley A, Samsa LA, Dubljević V. Media portrayal of ethical and social issues in brain organoid research. Philos Ethics Humanit Med 2022; 17:8. [PMID: 35414094 PMCID: PMC9006586 DOI: 10.1186/s13010-022-00119-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human brain organoids are a valuable research tool for studying brain development, physiology, and pathology. Yet, a host of potential ethical concerns are inherent in their creation. There is a growing group of bioethicists who acknowledge the moral imperative to develop brain organoid technologies and call for caution in this research. Although a relatively new technology, brain organoids and their uses are already being discussed in media literature. Media literature informs the public and policymakers but has the potential for utopian or dystopian distortions. Thus, it is important to understand how this technology is portrayed to the public. METHODS To investigate how brain organoids are displayed to the public, we conducted a systematic review of media literature indexed in the Nexis Uni database from 2013-2019. News and media source articles passing exclusion criteria (n = 93) were scored to evaluate tone and relevant themes. Themes were validated with a pilot sample before being applied to the dataset. Thematic analysis assessed article tone, reported potential for the technology, and the scientific, social, and ethical contexts surrounding brain organoids research. RESULTS Brain organoid publications became more frequent from 2013 to 2019. We observed increases in positively and negatively toned articles, suggesting growing polarization. While many sources discuss realistic applications of brain organoids, others suggest treatment and cures beyond the scope of the current technology. This could work to overhype the technology and disillusion patients and families by offering false hope. In the ethical narrative we observe a preoccupation with issues such as development of artificial consciousness and "humanization" of organoid-animal chimeras. Issues of regulation, ownership, and accuracy of the organoid models are rarely discussed. CONCLUSIONS Given the power that media have to inform or misinform the public, it is important this literature provides an accurate and balanced reflection of the therapeutic potential and associated ethical issues regarding brain organoid research. Our study suggests increasing polarization, coupled with misplaced and unfounded ethical concern. Given the inhibitory effects of public fear or disillusion on research funding, it is important media literature provides an accurate reflection of brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Veljko Dubljević
- NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
- Department of Philosophy and Religious studies, NC State University, 101 Lampe Drive, Withers Hall 453, 27695, Raleigh, USA.
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28
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Chinaia AA, Lavazza A. Cerebral Organoids and Biological Hybrids as New Entities in the Moral Landscape. AJOB Neurosci 2022; 13:117-119. [PMID: 35324407 DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2022.2048732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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29
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Stankovic IN, Colak D. Prenatal Drugs and Their Effects on the Developing Brain: Insights From Three-Dimensional Human Organoids. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:848648. [PMID: 35401083 PMCID: PMC8990163 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.848648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have unequivocally demonstrated that fetal exposure to both recreational and prescription drugs in utero negatively impacts the developing brain. More recently, the application of cutting-edge techniques in neurodevelopmental research has attempted to identify how the fetal brain responds to specific environmental stimuli. Meanwhile, human fetal brain studies still encounter ethical considerations and technical limitations in tissue collection. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoid technology has emerged as a powerful alternative to examine fetal neurobiology. In fact, human 3D organoid tissues recapitulate cerebral development during the first trimester of pregnancy. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of fetal brain metabolic studies related to drug abuse in animal and human models. Additionally, we will discuss the current challenges and prospects of using brain organoids for large-scale metabolomics. Incorporating cutting-edge techniques in human brain organoids may lead to uncovering novel molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodevelopment, direct novel therapeutic approaches, and raise new exciting questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidora N. Stankovic
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Isidora N. Stankovic,
| | - Dilek Colak
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Gale & Ira Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Dilek Colak,
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30
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Huang S, Huang F, Zhang H, Yang Y, Lu J, Chen J, Shen L, Pei G. In vivo development and single-cell transcriptome profiling of human brain organoids. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13201. [PMID: 35141969 PMCID: PMC8891563 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Human brain organoids can provide not only promising models for physiological and pathological neurogenesis but also potential therapies in neurological diseases. However, technical issues such as surgical lesions due to transplantation still limit their applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Instead of applying mature organoids, we innovatively developed human brain organoids in vivo by injecting small premature organoids into corpus striatum of adult SCID mice. Two months after injection, single-cell transcriptome analysis was performed on 6131 GFP-labeled human cells from transplanted mouse brains. RESULTS Eight subsets of cells (including neuronal cells expressing striatal markers) were identified in these in vivo developed organoids (IVD-organoids) by unbiased clustering. Compared with in vitro cultured human cortical organoids, we found that IVD-organoids developed more supporting cells including pericyte-like and choroid plexus cells, which are important for maintaining organoid homeostasis. Furthermore, IVD-organoids showed lower levels of cellular stress and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our study thus provides a novel method to generate human brain organoids, which is promising in various applications of disease models and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Fei Huang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Huiying Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yongfeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Juan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Jiadong Chen
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical NeurobiologyCenter for Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated HospitalMOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain‐Machine IntegrationSchool of Brain Science and Brain MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Li Shen
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Department of Orthopedics SurgerySchool of MedicineThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation CenterZhejiang University (HIC‐ZJU)HangzhouChina
| | - Gang Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease ResearchLaboratory of Receptor‐based BiomedicineThe Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain ScienceSchool of Life Sciences and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
- Institute for Stem Cell and RegenerationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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31
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In Vitro Recapitulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders with Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Brain Organoids. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312431. [PMID: 34886158 PMCID: PMC8657206 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent neuropsychiatric disorders have been recently increasing due to genetic and environmental influences. Abnormal brain development before and after birth contribute to the pathology of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, it is difficult to experimentally investigate because of the complexity of brain and ethical constraints. Recently generated human brain organoids from pluripotent stem cells are considered as a promising in vitro model to recapitulate brain development and diseases. To better understand how brain organoids could be applied to investigate neuropsychiatric disorders, we analyzed the key consideration points, including how to generate brain organoids from pluripotent stem cells, the current application of brain organoids in recapitulating neuropsychiatric disorders and the future perspectives. This review covered what have been achieved on modeling the cellular and neural circuit deficits of neuropsychiatric disorders and those challenges yet to be solved. Together, this review aims to provide a fundamental understanding of how to generate brain organoids to model neuropsychiatric disorders, which will be helpful in improving the mental health of adolescents.
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32
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33
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Oyefeso FA, Muotri AR, Wilson CG, Pecaut MJ. Brain organoids: A promising model to assess oxidative stress-induced central nervous system damage. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:653-670. [PMID: 33942547 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) is one of the most significant propagators of systemic damage with implications for widespread pathologies such as vascular disease, accelerated aging, degenerative disease, inflammation, and traumatic injury. OS can be induced by numerous factors such as environmental conditions, lifestyle choices, disease states, and genetic susceptibility. It is tied to the accumulation of free radicals, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insufficient antioxidant protection, which leads to cell aging and tissue degeneration over time. Unregulated systemic increase in reactive species, which contain harmful free radicals, can lead to diverse tissue-specific OS responses and disease. Studies of OS in the brain, for example, have demonstrated how this state contributes to neurodegeneration and altered neural plasticity. As the worldwide life expectancy has increased over the last few decades, the prevalence of OS-related diseases resulting from age-associated progressive tissue degeneration. Unfortunately, vital translational research studies designed to identify and target disease biomarkers in human patients have been impeded by many factors (e.g., limited access to human brain tissue for research purposes and poor translation of experimental models). In recent years, stem cell-derived three-dimensional tissue cultures known as "brain organoids" have taken the spotlight as a novel model for studying central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In this review, we discuss the potential of brain organoids to model the responses of human neural cells to OS, noting current and prospective limitations. Overall, brain organoids show promise as an innovative translational model to study CNS susceptibility to OS and elucidate the pathophysiology of the aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foluwasomi A Oyefeso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics/Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christopher G Wilson
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD, Center for Perinatal Biology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Pecaut
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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34
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Pain B, Baquerre C, Coulpier M. Cerebral organoids and their potential for studies of brain diseases in domestic animals. Vet Res 2021; 52:65. [PMID: 33941270 PMCID: PMC8090903 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00931-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is a complex organ and any model for studying it in its normal and pathological aspects becomes a tool of choice for neuroscientists. The mastering and dissemination of protocols allowing brain organoids development have paved the way for a whole range of new studies in the field of brain development, modeling of neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental diseases, understanding tumors as well as infectious diseases that affect the brain. While studies are so far limited to the use of human cerebral organoids, there is a growing interest in having similar models in other species. This review presents what is currently developed in this field, with a particular focus on the potential of cerebral organoids for studying neuro-infectious diseases in human and domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Pain
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, INSERM, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, Bron, France.
| | - Camille Baquerre
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, INSERM, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, Bron, France
| | - Muriel Coulpier
- UMR1161 Virologie, Anses, INRAE, École Nationale Vétérinaire D'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
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35
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Sun N, Meng X, Liu Y, Song D, Jiang C, Cai J. Applications of brain organoids in neurodevelopment and neurological diseases. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:30. [PMID: 33888112 PMCID: PMC8063318 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00728-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A brain organoid is a self-organizing three-dimensional tissue derived from human embryonic stem cells or pluripotent stem cells and is able to simulate the architecture and functionality of the human brain. Brain organoid generation methods are abundant and continue to improve, and now, an in vivo vascularized brain organoid has been encouragingly reported. The combination of brain organoids with immune-staining and single-cell sequencing technology facilitates our understanding of brain organoids, including the structural organization and the diversity of cell types. Recent publications have reported that brain organoids can mimic the dynamic spatiotemporal process of early brain development, model various human brain disorders, and serve as an effective preclinical platform to test and guide personalized treatment. In this review, we introduce the current state of brain organoid differentiation strategies, summarize current progress and applications in the medical domain, and discuss the challenges and prospects of this promising technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Xiangqi Meng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Yuxiang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Dan Song
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Chuanlu Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
| | - Jinquan Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China. .,Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden.
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36
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Sawai T, Hayashi Y, Niikawa T, Shepherd J, Thomas E, Lee TL, Erler A, Watanabe M, Sakaguchi H. Mapping the Ethical Issues of Brain Organoid Research and Application. AJOB Neurosci 2021; 13:81-94. [PMID: 33769221 DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2021.1896603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In 2008, researchers created human three-dimensional neural tissue - known as the pioneering work of "brain organoids." In recent years, some researchers have transplanted human brain organoids into animal brains for applicational purposes. With these experiments have come many ethical concerns. It is thus an urgent task to clarify what is ethically permissible and impermissible in brain organoid research. This paper seeks (1) to sort out the ethical issues related to brain organoid research and application and (2) to propose future directions for additional ethical consideration and policy debates in the field. Toward (1), this paper first outlines the current state of brain organoid research, and then briefly responds to previously raised related ethical concerns. Looking next at anticipated scientific developments in brain organoid research, we will discuss (i) ethical issues related to in vitro brain organoids, (ii) ethical issues raised when brain organoids form complexes or have relationships with other entities, and (iii) ethical issues of research ethics and governance. Finally, in pursuit of (2), we propose research policies that are mindful of the ethics of brain organoid research and application and also suggest the need for an international framework for research and application of brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Sawai
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), KUIAS Kyoto University.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University
| | | | | | | | | | - Tsung-Ling Lee
- Institute of Health and Biotechnology of Law, Taipei Medical University
| | | | - Momoko Watanabe
- University of California Irvine, School of Medicine.,Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center
| | - Hideya Sakaguchi
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, BDR-Otsuka Pharmaceutical Collaboration Center
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37
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Jordan W. [Comments on Relationships with Artificial Emotional Intelligence - from "Here and Now" to "There and Then"]. PSYCHIATRISCHE PRAXIS 2021; 48:S51-S57. [PMID: 33652489 DOI: 10.1055/a-1364-6353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The structure of relationships in the past, the present and the future is shaped by the idea of humanism. Based on this construct, the article illuminates various aspects and configurations of humanism on a timeline from "here and now" to "there and then". The current reality of care goes hand in hand with an emotional alienation of relationships. Advances in technology and reductionist neurobiological ideas can make it difficult to look at a person's mental illness as a whole. Any (communication) technology that has been developed in the past or will be developed in the future will sooner or later find its way into psychiatry and psychotherapy and change relationships. Transhumanism runs the risk that people will become alienated from each other and their species. Neural networks are algorithms that work regardless of the hardware used, be it based on organic carbon units such as humans or non-organic silicon units such as the computer/cyborg. There will be different ways to achieve super intelligence. Intelligence is a "must" and consciousness is a "can". If there is a change from a homocentric to a data-centered world view and the power of humans is transferred to the algorithms, humans could lose their economic value and the humanistic goals of health and happiness would be lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Jordan
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Magdeburg gemeinnützige GmbH.,Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
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38
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Clinical Application of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Organoids as an Alternative to Organ Transplantation. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:6632160. [PMID: 33679987 PMCID: PMC7929656 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6632160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transplantation is essential and crucial for individuals suffering from end-stage organ failure diseases. However, there are still many challenges regarding these procedures, such as high rates of organ rejection, shortage of organ donors, and long waiting lines. Thus, investments and efforts to develop laboratory-grown organs have increased over the past years, and with the recent progress in regenerative medicine, growing organs in vitro might be a reality within the next decades. One of the many different strategies to address this issue relies on organoid technology, a miniaturized and simplified version of an organ. Here, we address recent progress on organoid research, focusing on transplantation of intestine, retina, kidney, liver, pancreas, brain, lung, and heart organoids. Also, we discuss the main outcomes after organoid transplantation, common challenges faced by these promising regenerative medicine approaches, and future perspectives on the field.
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39
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Blue R, Miranda SP, Gu BJ, Chen HI. A Primer on Human Brain Organoids for the Neurosurgeon. Neurosurgery 2021; 87:620-629. [PMID: 32421821 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human brain organoids emerged in 2013 as a technology that, unlike prior in Vitro neural models, recapitulates brain development with a high degree of spatial and temporal fidelity. As the platform matured with more accurate reproduction of cerebral architecture, brain organoids became increasingly valuable for studying both normal cortical neurogenesis and a variety of congenital human brain disorders. While the majority of research utilizing human brain organoids has been in the realm of basic science, clinical applications are forthcoming. These present and future translational efforts have the potential to make a considerable impact on the field of neurosurgery. For example, glioma organoids are already being used to study tumor biology and drug responses, and adaptation for the investigation of other neurosurgery-relevant diseases is underway. Moreover, organoids are being explored as a structured neural substrate for repairing brain circuitry. Thus, we believe it is important for our field to be aware and have an accurate understanding of this emerging technology. In this review, we describe the key characteristics of human brain organoids, review their relevant translational applications, and discuss the ethical implications of their use through a neurosurgical lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Blue
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephen P Miranda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ben Jiahe Gu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - H Isaac Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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40
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Haselager DR, Boers SN, Jongsma KR, Vinkers CH, Broekman ML, Bredenoord AL. Breeding brains? Patients' and laymen's perspectives on cerebral organoids. Regen Med 2021; 15:2351-2360. [PMID: 33471559 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2020-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To explore the perspectives of patients and laymen with regard to the development, use and storage of cerebral organoids, in order to contribute to the ethical debate about this technology. Materials & methods: In depth semi-structured interviews with 28 patients and laymen were conducted. A qualitative thematic analysis was undertaken using a constant comparative method. Results: Three interrelated themes emerged from the empirical material: moral value; willingness to donate; and elements of good governance. Conclusion: Patients and laymen are most concerned about cerebral organoids potentially developing consciousness and potential misuse. They support the use of cerebral organoids under the conditions that donors are adequately informed and that there will be good governance. Perspectives of patients and laymen are helpful to enable responsible development and use of cerebral organoids in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolly R Haselager
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences & Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah N Boers
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences & Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Karin R Jongsma
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences & Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan H Vinkers
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center & Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam 1081HV, The Netherlands
| | - Marike L Broekman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Haaglanden Medical Center, 2501CK The Hague & Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden 2333ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Annelien L Bredenoord
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences & Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584CG, The Netherlands
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41
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Elkhenany H, Elkodous MA, Newby SD, El-Derby AM, Dhar M, El-Badri N. Tissue Engineering Modalities and Nanotechnology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-55359-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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42
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Yadav A, Seth B, Chaturvedi RK. Brain Organoids: Tiny Mirrors of Human Neurodevelopment and Neurological Disorders. Neuroscientist 2020; 27:388-426. [PMID: 32723210 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420943192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Unravelling the complexity of the human brain is a challenging task. Nowadays, modern neurobiologists have developed 3D model systems called "brain organoids" to overcome the technical challenges in understanding human brain development and the limitations of animal models to study neurological diseases. Certainly like most model systems in neuroscience, brain organoids too have limitations, as these minuscule brains lack the complex neuronal circuitry required to begin the operational tasks of human brain. However, researchers are hopeful that future endeavors with these 3D brain tissues could provide mechanistic insights into the generation of circuit complexity as well as reproducible creation of different regions of the human brain. Herein, we have presented the contemporary state of brain organoids with special emphasis on their mode of generation and their utility in modelling neurological disorders, drug discovery, and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Yadav
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Brashket Seth
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Rajnish Kumar Chaturvedi
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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Axonal Extensions along Corticospinal Tracts from Transplanted Human Cerebral Organoids. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:467-481. [PMID: 32679062 PMCID: PMC7419717 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The reconstruction of lost neural circuits by cell replacement is a possible treatment for neurological deficits after cerebral cortex injury. Cerebral organoids can be a novel source for cell transplantation, but because the cellular composition of the organoids changes along the time course of the development, it remains unclear which developmental stage of the organoids is most suitable for reconstructing the corticospinal tract. Here, we transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived cerebral organoids at 6 or 10 weeks after differentiation (6w- or 10w-organoids) into mouse cerebral cortices. 6w-organoids extended more axons along the corticospinal tract but caused graft overgrowth with a higher percentage of proliferative cells. Axonal extensions from 10w-organoids were smaller in number but were enhanced when the organoids were grafted 1 week after brain injury. Finally, 10w-organoids extended axons in cynomolgus monkey brains. These results contribute to the development of a cell-replacement therapy for brain injury and stroke.
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Jgamadze D, Johnson VE, Wolf JA, Cullen DK, Song H, Ming GL, Smith DH, Chen HI. Modeling traumatic brain injury with human brain organoids. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2020; 14:52-58. [PMID: 35434439 PMCID: PMC9009274 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a prominent public health concern despite several decades of attempts to develop therapies for the associated neurological and cognitive deficits. Effective models of this condition are imperative for better defining its pathophysiology and testing therapeutics. Human brain organoids are stem cell-derived neural tissues that recapitulate many of the steps of normal neurodevelopment, resulting in the reproduction of a substantial degree of brain architecture. Organoids are highly relevant to clinical conditions because of their human nature and three-dimensional tissue structure, yet they are easier to manipulate and interrogate experimentally than animals. Thus, they have the potential to serve as a novel platform for studying TBI. In this article, we discuss available in vitro models of TBI, active areas of inquiry on brain organoids, and how these two concepts could be merged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Jgamadze
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Victoria E Johnson
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John A Wolf
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration, and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D Kacy Cullen
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration, and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Douglas H Smith
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - H Isaac Chen
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration, and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Transplanted Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Wire and Fire with Balanced Excitation-Inhibition in Rat Cortex. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0041-20.2020. [PMID: 32299834 PMCID: PMC7163081 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0041-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Highlighted Research Paper:Neurons Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Integrate into Rat Brain Circuits and Maintain Both Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Activities. Xiling Yin, Jin-Chong Xu, Gun-sik Cho, Chulan Kwon, Ted M. Dawson and Valina L. Dawson.
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Sharma A, Sances S, Workman MJ, Svendsen CN. Multi-lineage Human iPSC-Derived Platforms for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery. Cell Stem Cell 2020; 26:309-329. [PMID: 32142662 PMCID: PMC7159985 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provide a powerful platform for disease modeling and have unlocked new possibilities for understanding the mechanisms governing human biology, physiology, and genetics. However, hiPSC-derivatives have traditionally been utilized in two-dimensional monocultures, in contrast to the multi-systemic interactions that influence cells in the body. We will discuss recent advances in generating more complex hiPSC-based systems using three-dimensional organoids, tissue-engineering, microfluidic organ-chips, and humanized animal systems. While hiPSC differentiation still requires optimization, these next-generation multi-lineage technologies can augment the biomedical researcher's toolkit and enable more realistic models of human tissue function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Sharma
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Samuel Sances
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Michael J Workman
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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Chhibber T, Bagchi S, Lahooti B, Verma A, Al-Ahmad A, Paul MK, Pendyala G, Jayant RD. CNS organoids: an innovative tool for neurological disease modeling and drug neurotoxicity screening. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:456-465. [PMID: 31783130 PMCID: PMC7039749 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The paradigm of central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery has mostly relied on traditional approaches of rodent models or cell-based in vitro models. Owing to the issues of species differences between humans and rodents, it is difficult to correlate the robustness of data for neurodevelopmental studies. With advances in the stem-cell field, 3D CNS organoids have been developed and explored owing to their resemblance to the human brain architecture and functions. Further, CNS organoids provide a unique opportunity to mimic the human brain physiology and serve as a modeling tool to study the normal versus pathological brain or the elucidation of mechanisms of neurological disorders. Here, we discuss the recent application of a CNS organoid explored for neurodevelopment disease or a screening tool for CNS drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Chhibber
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, JH School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Sounak Bagchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, JH School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Behnaz Lahooti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, JH School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Angela Verma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, JH School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Abraham Al-Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, JH School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Manash K Paul
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Gurudutt Pendyala
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Rahul Dev Jayant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, JH School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.
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