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Ding W, Li X, Zhang J, Ji M, Zhang M, Zhong X, Cao Y, Liu X, Li C, Xiao C, Wang J, Li T, Yu Q, Mo F, Zhang B, Qi J, Yang JC, Qi J, Tian L, Xu X, Peng Q, Zhou WZ, Liu Z, Fu A, Zhang X, Zhang JJ, Sun Y, Hu B, An NA, Zhang L, Li CY. Adaptive functions of structural variants in human brain development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl4600. [PMID: 38579006 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl4600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Quantifying the structural variants (SVs) in nonhuman primates could provide a niche to clarify the genetic backgrounds underlying human-specific traits, but such resource is largely lacking. Here, we report an accurate SV map in a population of 562 rhesus macaques, verified by in-house benchmarks of eight macaque genomes with long-read sequencing and another one with genome assembly. This map indicates stronger selective constrains on inversions at regulatory regions, suggesting a strategy for prioritizing them with the most important functions. Accordingly, we identified 75 human-specific inversions and prioritized them. The top-ranked inversions have substantially shaped the human transcriptome, through their dual effects of reconfiguring the ancestral genomic architecture and introducing regional mutation hotspots at the inverted regions. As a proof of concept, we linked APCDD1, located on one of these inversions and down-regulated specifically in humans, to neuronal maturation and cognitive ability. We thus highlight inversions in shaping the human uniqueness in brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanqiu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangshang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjun Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Biomedical Pioneer Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Center of Excellence for Leukemia Studies, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yong Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119S Fourth Ring Rd W, Fengtai District, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoge Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunqiong Li
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Chunfu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Boya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhuan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie-Chun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Juntian Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinwei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-Zhen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhijin Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Aisi Fu
- Wuhan Dgensee Clinical Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiuqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Jun Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Encephalopathy, National International Joint Research Center for Molecular Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, China
| | - Yujie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Biomedical Pioneer Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Baoyang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ni A An
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan-Yun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming 650092, China
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2
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Wu J, Ren J, Cui H, Xie Y, Tang Y. Rapid and high-purity differentiation of human medium spiny neurons reveals LMNB1 hypofunction and subtype necessity in modeling Huntington's disease. Inflamm Regen 2024; 44:7. [PMID: 38360694 PMCID: PMC10870681 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-024-00320-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different neural subtypes are selectively lost in diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor abnormalities that primarily affect the striatum. The Huntingtin (HTT) mutation involves an expanded CAG repeat, leading to insoluble polyQ, which renders GABA+ medium spiny neurons (MSN) more venerable to cell death. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) technology allows for the construction of disease-specific models, providing valuable cellular models for studying pathogenesis, drug screening, and high-throughput analysis. METHODS In this study, we established a method that allows for rapid and efficient generation of MSNs (> 90%) within 21 days from hPSC-derived neural progenitor cells, by introducing a specific combination of transcription factors. RESULTS We efficiently induced several neural subtypes, in parallel, based on the same cell source, and revealed that, compared to other neural subtypes, MSNs exhibited higher polyQ aggregation propensity and overexpression toxicity, more severe dysfunction in BDNF/TrkB signaling, greater susceptibility to BDNF withdrawal, and more severe disturbances in nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT). We further found that the nuclear lamina protein LMNB1 was greatly reduced in HD neurons and mislocalized to the cytoplasm and axons. Knockdown of HTT or treatment with KPT335, an orally selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE), effectively attenuated the pathological phenotypes and alleviated neuronal death caused by BDNF withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS This study thus establishes an effective method for obtaining MSNs and underscores the necessity of using high-purity MSNs to study HD pathogenesis, especially the MSN-selective vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjiao Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Provincial Clinical Research Center for Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Hongfei Cui
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yali Xie
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yu Tang
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
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3
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Reumann D, Krauditsch C, Novatchkova M, Sozzi E, Wong SN, Zabolocki M, Priouret M, Doleschall B, Ritzau-Reid KI, Piber M, Morassut I, Fieseler C, Fiorenzano A, Stevens MM, Zimmer M, Bardy C, Parmar M, Knoblich JA. In vitro modeling of the human dopaminergic system using spatially arranged ventral midbrain-striatum-cortex assembloids. Nat Methods 2023; 20:2034-2047. [PMID: 38052989 PMCID: PMC10703680 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02080-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons project to the striatum as well as the cortex and are involved in movement control and reward-related cognition. In Parkinson's disease, nigrostriatal midbrain dopaminergic neurons degenerate and cause typical Parkinson's disease motor-related impairments, while the dysfunction of mesocorticolimbic midbrain dopaminergic neurons is implicated in addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders. Study of the development and selective neurodegeneration of the human dopaminergic system, however, has been limited due to the lack of an appropriate model and access to human material. Here, we have developed a human in vitro model that recapitulates key aspects of dopaminergic innervation of the striatum and cortex. These spatially arranged ventral midbrain-striatum-cortical organoids (MISCOs) can be used to study dopaminergic neuron maturation, innervation and function with implications for cell therapy and addiction research. We detail protocols for growing ventral midbrain, striatal and cortical organoids and describe how they fuse in a linear manner when placed in custom embedding molds. We report the formation of functional long-range dopaminergic connections to striatal and cortical tissues in MISCOs, and show that injected, ventral midbrain-patterned progenitors can mature and innervate the tissue. Using these assembloids, we examine dopaminergic circuit perturbations and show that chronic cocaine treatment causes long-lasting morphological, functional and transcriptional changes that persist upon drug withdrawal. Thus, our method opens new avenues to investigate human dopaminergic cell transplantation and circuitry reconstruction as well as the effect of drugs on the human dopaminergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Reumann
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Krauditsch
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Novatchkova
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Edoardo Sozzi
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sakurako Nagumo Wong
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Zabolocki
- Laboratory for Human Neurophysiology and Genetics, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Marthe Priouret
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Balint Doleschall
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kaja I Ritzau-Reid
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marielle Piber
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Zebrafish Neurogenetics Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Ilaria Morassut
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Charles Fieseler
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alessandro Fiorenzano
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Stem Cell Fate Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics 'Adriano Buzzati Traverso' (IGB), CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Molly M Stevens
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Manuel Zimmer
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cedric Bardy
- Laboratory for Human Neurophysiology and Genetics, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Malin Parmar
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jürgen A Knoblich
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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4
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Rudibaugh TT, Stuppy SR, Keung AJ. Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Transcriptional Responses to Dopamine and Cocaine in Human Cerebral Organoids. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16474. [PMID: 38003664 PMCID: PMC10671319 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine signaling in the adult ventral forebrain regulates behavior, stress response, and memory formation and in neurodevelopment regulates neural differentiation and cell migration. Excessive dopamine levels, including those due to cocaine use in utero and in adults, could lead to long-term adverse consequences. The mechanisms underlying both homeostatic and pathological changes remain unclear, in part due to the diverse cellular responses elicited by dopamine and the reliance on animal models that exhibit species-specific differences in dopamine signaling. In this study, we use the human-derived ventral forebrain organoid model of Xiang-Tanaka and characterize their response to cocaine or dopamine. We explore dosing regimens of dopamine or cocaine to simulate acute or chronic exposure. We then use calcium imaging, cAMP imaging, and bulk RNA-sequencing to measure responses to cocaine or dopamine exposure. We observe an upregulation of inflammatory pathways in addition to indicators of oxidative stress following exposure. Using inhibitors of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we then show ROS to be necessary for multiple transcriptional responses of cocaine exposure. These results highlight novel response pathways and validate the potential of cerebral organoids as in vitro human models for studying complex biological processes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Albert J. Keung
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA; (T.T.R.); (S.R.S.)
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5
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Nie L, Yao D, Chen S, Wang J, Pan C, Wu D, Liu N, Tang Z. Directional induction of neural stem cells, a new therapy for neurodegenerative diseases and ischemic stroke. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:215. [PMID: 37393356 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01532-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the limited capacity of the adult mammalian brain to self-repair and regenerate, neurological diseases, especially neurodegenerative disorders and stroke, characterized by irreversible cellular damage are often considered as refractory diseases. Neural stem cells (NSCs) play a unique role in the treatment of neurological diseases for their abilities to self-renew and form different neural lineage cells, such as neurons and glial cells. With the increasing understanding of neurodevelopment and advances in stem cell technology, NSCs can be obtained from different sources and directed to differentiate into a specific neural lineage cell phenotype purposefully, making it possible to replace specific cells lost in some neurological diseases, which provides new approaches to treat neurodegenerative diseases as well as stroke. In this review, we outline the advances in generating several neuronal lineage subtypes from different sources of NSCs. We further summarize the therapeutic effects and possible therapeutic mechanisms of these fated specific NSCs in neurological disease models, with special emphasis on Parkinson's disease and ischemic stroke. Finally, from the perspective of clinical translation, we compare the strengths and weaknesses of different sources of NSCs and different methods of directed differentiation, and propose future research directions for directed differentiation of NSCs in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luwei Nie
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Dabao Yao
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Shiling Chen
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Chao Pan
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Dongcheng Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Wuhan Hamilton Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
| | - Zhouping Tang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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6
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Rudibaugh TT, Keung AJ. Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Transcriptional Responses to Dopamine and Cocaine in Human Cerebral Organoids. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544782. [PMID: 37398046 PMCID: PMC10312668 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine signaling in the adult ventral forebrain regulates behavior, stress response, and memory formation and in neurodevelopment regulates neural differentiation and cell migration. Excessive dopamine levels including due to cocaine use both in utero and in adults could lead to long-term adverse consequences. The mechanisms underlying both homeostatic and pathological changes remain unclear, partly due to the diverse cellular responses elicited by dopamine and the reliance on animal models that exhibit species-specific differences in dopamine signaling. To address these limitations, 3-D cerebral organoids have emerged as human-derived models, recapitulating salient features of human cell signaling and neurodevelopment. Organoids have demonstrated responsiveness to external stimuli, including substances of abuse, making them valuable investigative models. In this study we utilize the Xiang-Tanaka ventral forebrain organoid model and characterize their response to acute and chronic dopamine or cocaine exposure. The findings revealed a robust immune response, novel response pathways, and a potential critical role for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the developing ventral forebrain. These results highlight the potential of cerebral organoids as in vitro human models for studying complex biological processes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas T. Rudibaugh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606
| | - Albert J. Keung
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606
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7
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An NA, Zhang J, Mo F, Luan X, Tian L, Shen QS, Li X, Li C, Zhou F, Zhang B, Ji M, Qi J, Zhou WZ, Ding W, Chen JY, Yu J, Zhang L, Shu S, Hu B, Li CY. De novo genes with an lncRNA origin encode unique human brain developmental functionality. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:264-278. [PMID: 36593289 PMCID: PMC9911349 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01925-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Human de novo genes can originate from neutral long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) loci and are evolutionarily significant in general, yet how and why this all-or-nothing transition to functionality happens remains unclear. Here, in 74 human/hominoid-specific de novo genes, we identified distinctive U1 elements and RNA splice-related sequences accounting for RNA nuclear export, differentiating mRNAs from lncRNAs, and driving the origin of de novo genes from lncRNA loci. The polymorphic sites facilitating the lncRNA-mRNA conversion through regulating nuclear export are selectively constrained, maintaining a boundary that differentiates mRNAs from lncRNAs. The functional new genes actively passing through it thus showed a mode of pre-adaptive origin, in that they acquire functions along with the achievement of their coding potential. As a proof of concept, we verified the regulations of splicing and U1 recognition on the nuclear export efficiency of one of these genes, the ENSG00000205704, in human neural progenitor cells. Notably, knock-out or over-expression of this gene in human embryonic stem cells accelerates or delays the neuronal maturation of cortical organoids, respectively. The transgenic mice with ectopically expressed ENSG00000205704 showed enlarged brains with cortical expansion. We thus demonstrate the key roles of nuclear export in de novo gene origin. These newly originated genes should reflect the novel uniqueness of human brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni A An
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuke Luan
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Tian
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Sunny Shen
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangshang Li
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunqiong Li
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Fanqi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of RNA Regulation and Hematopoiesis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, CAMS and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Boya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjun Ji
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhuan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-Zhen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wanqiu Ding
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of RNA Regulation and Hematopoiesis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, CAMS and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Shaokun Shu
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Baoyang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Chuan-Yun Li
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
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8
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Conforti P, Bocchi VD, Campus I, Scaramuzza L, Galimberti M, Lischetti T, Talpo F, Pedrazzoli M, Murgia A, Ferrari I, Cordiglieri C, Fasciani A, Arenas E, Felsenfeld D, Biella G, Besusso D, Cattaneo E. In vitro-derived medium spiny neurons recapitulate human striatal development and complexity at single-cell resolution. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100367. [PMID: 36590694 PMCID: PMC9795363 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell engineering of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) is a promising strategy to understand diseases affecting the striatum and for cell-replacement therapies in different neurological diseases. Protocols to generate cells from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are scarce and how well they recapitulate the endogenous fetal cells remains poorly understood. We have developed a protocol that modulates cell seeding density and exposure to specific morphogens that generates authentic and functional D1- and D2-MSNs with a high degree of reproducibility in 25 days of differentiation. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) shows that our cells can mimic the cell-fate acquisition steps observed in vivo in terms of cell type composition, gene expression, and signaling pathways. Finally, by modulating the midkine pathway we show that we can increase the yield of MSNs. We expect that this protocol will help decode pathogenesis factors in striatal diseases and eventually facilitate cell-replacement therapies for Huntington's disease (HD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Conforti
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Vittoria Dickinson Bocchi
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Campus
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Scaramuzza
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Maura Galimberti
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Lischetti
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Talpo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Via Adolfo Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Pedrazzoli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Via Adolfo Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessio Murgia
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Ivan Ferrari
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Cordiglieri
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fasciani
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Ernest Arenas
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Gerardo Biella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Via Adolfo Ferrata, 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Dario Besusso
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, 20122 Milan, Italy
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9
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Ji X, Zhou Y, Gao Q, He H, Wu Z, Feng B, Mei Y, Cheng Y, Zhou W, Chen Y, Xiong M. Functional reconstruction of the basal ganglia neural circuit by human striatal neurons in hypoxic-ischaemic injured brain. Brain 2022; 146:612-628. [PMID: 36516880 PMCID: PMC9924911 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is the leading cause of neonatal death and permanent neurological deficits, while the basal ganglia is one of the major nuclei that is selectively and greatly affected in the brains of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy patients, especially in severe cases. Human embryonic stem cell-derived neurons have shown great potential in different types of brain disorders in adults. However, it remains unknown whether and how grafted human embryonic stem cell-derived neurons can repair immature brains with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Here, by administrating genetically labelled human embryonic stem cell-derived striatal neural progenitors into the ipsilateral striatum of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy-injured mice, we found that the grafted cells gradually matured into GABA spiny projection neurons morphologically and electrophysiologically, and significantly rescued the area loss of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy-injured brains. Intriguingly, using immunohistochemical staining combined with enhanced ascorbate peroxidase-based immunoelectron microscopy and rabies virus-mediated trans-synaptic tracing, we show that the grafts start to extend axonal projections to the endogenous target areas (globus pallidus externa, globus pallidus internus, substantia nigra), form synapses with host striatal, globus pallidus and nigra neurons, and receive extensive and stable synaptic inputs as early as 2 months post-transplantation. Importantly, we further demonstrated functional neural circuits re-established between the grafted neurons and host cortical, striatal and substantial nigra neurons at 3-6 months post-transplantation in the hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy-injured brain by optogenetics combined with electrophysiological recording. Finally, the transplanted striatal spiny projection neurons but not spinal GABA neurons restored the motor defects of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, which were reversed by clozapine-N-oxide-based inhibition of graft function. These findings demonstrate anatomical and functional reconstruction of the basal ganglia neural circuit including multiple loops by striatal spiny projection neurons in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy-injured immature brains, which raises the possibility of such a cell replacement therapeutic strategy for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qinqin Gao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hui He
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyan Wu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ban Feng
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuting Mei
- Stem Cell Center, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Stem Cell Center, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Wenhao Zhou
- Wenhao Zhou 399 Wanyuan Road, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China E-mail:
| | - Yuejun Chen
- Correspondence may also be addressed to: Yuejun Chen 320 Yueyang Road, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China E-mail:
| | - Man Xiong
- Correspondence to: Man Xiong 138 Medical College Road, Shanghai, Fudan University, China E-mail:
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10
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Garcia Jareño P, Bartley OJM, Precious SV, Rosser AE, Lelos MJ. Challenges in progressing cell therapies to the clinic for Huntington's disease: A review of the progress made with pluripotent stem cell derived medium spiny neurons. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 166:1-48. [PMID: 36424090 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.09.003] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a triad of symptoms: motor, cognitive and psychiatric. HD is caused by a genetic mutation, expansion of the CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene, which results in loss of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatum. Cell replacement therapy (CRT) has emerged as a possible therapy for HD, aiming to replace those cells lost to the disease process and alleviate its symptoms. Initial pre-clinical studies used primary fetal striatal cells to provide proof-of-principal that CRT can bring about functional recovery on some behavioral tasks following transplantation into HD models. Alternative donor cell sources are required if CRT is to become a viable therapeutic option and human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) sources, which have undergone differentiation toward the MSNs lost to the disease process, have proved to be strong candidates. The focus of this chapter is to review work conducted on the functional assessment of animals following transplantation of hPSC-derived MSNs. We discuss different ways that graft function has been assessed, and the results that have been achieved to date. In addition, this chapter presents and discusses challenges that remain in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver J M Bartley
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie V Precious
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Cardiff University Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (B.R.A.I.N.) Biomedical Research Unit, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mariah J Lelos
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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11
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Modeling and Targeting Neuroglial Interactions with Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031684. [PMID: 35163606 PMCID: PMC8836094 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Generation of relevant and robust models for neurological disorders is of main importance for both target identification and drug discovery. The non-cell autonomous effects of glial cells on neurons have been described in a broad range of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, pointing to neuroglial interactions as novel alternative targets for therapeutics development. Interestingly, the recent breakthrough discovery of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has opened a new road for studying neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders “in a dish”. Here, we provide an overview of the generation and modeling of both neuronal and glial cells from human iPSCs and a brief synthesis of recent work investigating neuroglial interactions using hiPSCs in a pathophysiological context.
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12
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Do foetal transplant studies continue to be justified in Huntington's disease? Neuronal Signal 2021; 5:NS20210019. [PMID: 34956650 PMCID: PMC8674623 DOI: 10.1042/ns20210019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early CNS transplantation studies used foetal derived cell products to provide a foundation of evidence for functional recovery in preclinical studies and early clinical trials. However, it was soon recognised that the practical limitations of foetal tissue make it unsuitable for widespread clinical use. Considerable effort has since been directed towards producing target cell phenotypes from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) instead, and there now exist several publications detailing the differentiation and characterisation of PSC-derived products relevant for transplantation in Huntington's disease (HD). In light of this progress, we ask if foetal tissue transplantation continues to be justified in HD research. We argue that (i) the extent to which accurately differentiated target cells can presently be produced from PSCs is still unclear, currently making them undesirable for studying wider CNS transplantation issues; (ii) foetal derived cells remain a valuable tool in preclinical research for advancing our understanding of which products produce functional striatal grafts and as a reference to further improve PSC-derived products; and (iii) until PSC-derived products are ready for human trials, it is important to continue using foetal cells to gather clinical evidence that transplantation is a viable option in HD and to use this opportunity to optimise practical parameters (such as trial design, clinical practices, and delivery strategies) to pave the way for future PSC-derived products.
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13
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Amimoto N, Nishimura K, Shimohama S, Takata K. Generation of striatal neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells by controlling extrinsic signals with small molecules. Stem Cell Res 2021; 55:102486. [PMID: 34385043 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are powerful tools for modeling human brain development and treating neurodegenerative diseases. Here we established a robust protocol with high scalability for generating striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) from hiPSCs using small molecules under two- and three-dimensional culture conditions. Using this protocol, GSH2+ lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) progenitors were generated in two-dimensional culture by Sonic hedgehog signaling activation using purmorphamine, WNT signaling inhibition using XAV939, and dual-SMAD inhibition using LDN193189 and A83-01. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed sequential expression of LGE and striatal genes during differentiation. These LGE progenitors subsequently gave rise to DARPP32+ MSNs exhibiting spontaneous and evoked monophasic spiking activity. Applying this protocol in three-dimensional culture, we generated striatal neurospheres with gene expression profiles and cell layer organization resembling that of the developing striatum, including distinct ventricular and subventricular zones and DARPP32+ neurons at the surface. This protocol provides a useful experimental model for studying striatal development and yields cells potentially applicable for regenerative medicine to treat striatum-related disorders such as Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Amimoto
- Division of Integrated Pharmaceutical Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan
| | - Kaneyasu Nishimura
- Division of Integrated Pharmaceutical Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
| | - Shun Shimohama
- Department of Neurology, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Takata
- Division of Integrated Pharmaceutical Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan
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14
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Circadian rhythms in bipolar disorder patient-derived neurons predict lithium response: preliminary studies. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3383-3394. [PMID: 33674753 PMCID: PMC8418615 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01048-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a neuropsychiatric illness defined by recurrent episodes of mania/hypomania, depression and circadian rhythm abnormalities. Lithium is an effective drug for BD, but 30-40% of patients fail to respond adequately to treatment. Previous work has demonstrated that lithium affects the expression of "clock genes" and that lithium responders (Li-R) can be distinguished from non-responders (Li-NR) by differences in circadian rhythms. However, circadian rhythms have not been evaluated in BD patient neurons from Li-R and Li-NR. We used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to culture neuronal precursor cells (NPC) and glutamatergic neurons from BD patients characterized for lithium responsiveness and matched controls. We identified strong circadian rhythms in Per2-luc expression in NPCs and neurons from controls and Li-R, but NPC rhythms in Li-R had a shorter circadian period. Li-NR rhythms were low amplitude and profoundly weakened. In NPCs and neurons, expression of PER2 was higher in both BD groups compared to controls. In neurons, PER2 protein levels were higher in BD than controls, especially in Li-NR samples. In single cells, NPC and neuron rhythms in both BD groups were desynchronized compared to controls. Lithium lengthened period in Li-R and control neurons but failed to alter rhythms in Li-NR. In contrast, temperature entrainment increased amplitude across all groups, and partly restored rhythms in Li-NR neurons. We conclude that neuronal circadian rhythm abnormalities are present in BD and most pronounced in Li-NR. Rhythm deficits in BD may be partly reversible through stimulation of entrainment pathways.
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15
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Bose R, Banerjee S, Dunbar GL. Modeling Neurological Disorders in 3D Organoids Using Human-Derived Pluripotent Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:640212. [PMID: 34041235 PMCID: PMC8141848 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.640212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Modeling neurological disorders is challenging because they often have both endogenous and exogenous causes. Brain organoids consist of three-dimensional (3D) self-organizing brain tissue which increasingly is being used to model various aspects of brain development and disorders, such as the generation of neurons, neuronal migration, and functional networks. These organoids have been recognized as important in vitro tools to model developmental features of the brain, including neurological disorders, which can provide insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in those disorders. In this review, we describe recent advances in the generation of two-dimensional (2D), 3D, and blood-brain barrier models that were derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and we discuss their advantages and limitations in modeling diseases, as well as explore the development of a vascularized and functional 3D model of brain processes. This review also examines the applications of brain organoids for modeling major neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Bose
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Soumyabrata Banerjee
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Gary L. Dunbar
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
- Field Neurosciences Institute, Ascension St. Mary's, Saginaw, MI, United States
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16
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Latoszek E, Czeredys M. Molecular Components of Store-Operated Calcium Channels in the Regulation of Neural Stem Cell Physiology, Neurogenesis, and the Pathology of Huntington's Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:657337. [PMID: 33869222 PMCID: PMC8047111 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.657337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the major Ca2+ signaling pathways is store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), which is responsible for Ca2+ flow into cells in response to the depletion of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores. SOCE and its molecular components, including stromal interaction molecule proteins, Orai Ca2+ channels, and transient receptor potential canonical channels, are involved in the physiology of neural stem cells and play a role in their proliferation, differentiation, and neurogenesis. This suggests that Ca2+ signaling is an important player in brain development. Huntington’s disease (HD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) protein, characterized by the loss of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum. However, recent research has shown that HD is also a neurodevelopmental disorder and Ca2+ signaling is dysregulated in HD. The relationship between HD pathology and elevations of SOCE was demonstrated in different cellular and mouse models of HD and in induced pluripotent stem cell-based GABAergic MSNs from juvenile- and adult-onset HD patient fibroblasts. The present review discusses the role of SOCE in the physiology of neural stem cells and its dysregulation in HD pathology. It has been shown that elevated expression of STIM2 underlying the excessive Ca2+ entry through store-operated calcium channels in induced pluripotent stem cell-based MSNs from juvenile-onset HD. In the light of the latest findings regarding the role of Ca2+ signaling in HD pathology we also summarize recent progress in the in vitro differentiation of MSNs that derive from different cell sources. We discuss advances in the application of established protocols to obtain MSNs from fetal neural stem cells/progenitor cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and induced neural stem cells and the application of transdifferentiation. We also present recent progress in establishing HD brain organoids and their potential use for examining HD pathology and its treatment. Moreover, the significance of stem cell therapy to restore normal neural cell function, including Ca2+ signaling in the central nervous system in HD patients will be considered. The transplantation of MSNs or their precursors remains a promising treatment strategy for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Latoszek
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Czeredys
- Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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17
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Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase promotes the inflammatory and autophagy responses in Huntington disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:15989-15999. [PMID: 32581130 PMCID: PMC7354937 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002144117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a genetic disorder caused by glutamine-expansion in the huntingtin (mHTT) protein, which affects motor, psychiatric, and cognitive function, but the mechanisms remain unclear. mHTT is known to induce DNA damage and affect autophagy, both associated with inflammatory responses, but what mediates all these were unknown. Here we report that cGAS, a DNA damage sensor, is highly upregulated in the striatum of a mouse model and HD human patient’s tissue. We found ribosomes, which make proteins, are robustly accumulated on the cGAS mRNA in HD cells. cGAS depletion decreases—and cGAS expression increases—both inflammatory and autophagy responses in HD striatal cells. Thus, cGAS is a therapeutic target for HD. Blocking cGAS will prevent/slow down HD symptoms. Huntington disease (HD) is caused by an expansion mutation of the N-terminal polyglutamine of huntingtin (mHTT). mHTT is ubiquitously present, but it induces noticeable damage to the brain’s striatum, thereby affecting motor, psychiatric, and cognitive functions. The striatal damage and progression of HD are associated with the inflammatory response; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that cGMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), a DNA sensor, is a critical regulator of inflammatory and autophagy responses in HD. Ribosome profiling revealed that the cGAS mRNA has high ribosome occupancy at exon 1 and codon-specific pauses at positions 171 (CCG) and 172 (CGT) in HD striatal cells. Moreover, the protein levels and activity of cGAS (based on the phosphorylated STING and phosphorylated TBK1 levels), and the expression and ribosome occupancy of cGAS-dependent inflammatory genes (Ccl5 and Cxcl10) are increased in HD striatum. Depletion of cGAS diminishes cGAS activity and decreases the expression of inflammatory genes while suppressing the up-regulation of autophagy in HD cells. In contrast, reinstating cGAS in cGAS-depleted HD cells activates cGAS activity and promotes inflammatory and autophagy responses. Ribosome profiling also revealed that LC3A and LC3B, the two major autophagy initiators, show altered ribosome occupancy in HD cells. We also detected the presence of numerous micronuclei, which are known to induce cGAS, in the cytoplasm of neurons derived from human HD embryonic stem cells. Collectively, our results indicate that cGAS is up-regulated in HD and mediates inflammatory and autophagy responses. Thus, targeting the cGAS pathway may offer therapeutic benefits in HD.
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18
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Björklund A, Parmar M. Neuronal Replacement as a Tool for Basal Ganglia Circuitry Repair: 40 Years in Perspective. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:146. [PMID: 32547369 PMCID: PMC7272540 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of new neurons to promote repair of brain circuitry depends on their capacity to re-establish afferent and efferent connections with the host. In this review article, we give an overview of past and current efforts to restore damaged connectivity in the adult mammalian brain using implants of fetal neuroblasts or stem cell-derived neuronal precursors, with a focus on strategies aimed to repair damaged basal ganglia circuitry induced by lesions that mimic the pathology seen in humans affected by Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease. Early work performed in rodents showed that neuroblasts obtained from striatal primordia or fetal ventral mesencephalon can become anatomically and functionally integrated into lesioned striatal and nigral circuitry, establish afferent and efferent connections with the lesioned host, and reverse the lesion-induced behavioral impairments. Recent progress in the generation of striatal and nigral progenitors from pluripotent stem cells have provided compelling evidence that they can survive and mature in the lesioned brain and re-establish afferent and efferent axonal connectivity with a remarkable degree of specificity. The studies of cell-based circuitry repair are now entering a new phase. The introduction of genetic and virus-based techniques for brain connectomics has opened entirely new possibilities for studies of graft-host integration and connectivity, and the access to more refined experimental techniques, such as chemo- and optogenetics, has provided new powerful tools to study the capacity of grafted neurons to impact the function of the host brain. Progress in this field will help to guide the efforts to develop therapeutic strategies for cell-based repair in Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions involving damage to basal ganglia circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Björklund
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Malin Parmar
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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19
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Besusso D, Schellino R, Boido M, Belloli S, Parolisi R, Conforti P, Faedo A, Cernigoj M, Campus I, Laporta A, Bocchi VD, Murtaj V, Parmar M, Spaiardi P, Talpo F, Maniezzi C, Toselli MG, Biella G, Moresco RM, Vercelli A, Buffo A, Cattaneo E. Stem Cell-Derived Human Striatal Progenitors Innervate Striatal Targets and Alleviate Sensorimotor Deficit in a Rat Model of Huntington Disease. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 14:876-891. [PMID: 32302555 PMCID: PMC7220987 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited late-onset neurological disorder characterized by progressive neuronal loss and disruption of cortical and basal ganglia circuits. Cell replacement using human embryonic stem cells may offer the opportunity to repair the damaged circuits and significantly ameliorate disease conditions. Here, we showed that in-vitro-differentiated human striatal progenitors undergo maturation and integrate into host circuits upon intra-striatal transplantation in a rat model of HD. By combining graft-specific immunohistochemistry, rabies virus-mediated synaptic tracing, and ex vivo electrophysiology, we showed that grafts can extend projections to the appropriate target structures, including the globus pallidus, the subthalamic nucleus, and the substantia nigra, and receive synaptic contact from both host and graft cells with 6.6 ± 1.6 inputs cell per transplanted neuron. We have also shown that transplants elicited a significant improvement in sensory-motor tasks up to 2 months post-transplant further supporting the therapeutic potential of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Besusso
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy.
| | - Roberta Schellino
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin 10124, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Italy
| | - Marina Boido
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin 10124, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Italy
| | - Sara Belloli
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology of CNR, Segrate, Milan, 20090 Italy; PET and Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Roberta Parolisi
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin 10124, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Italy
| | - Paola Conforti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy
| | - Andrea Faedo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy
| | - Manuel Cernigoj
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy
| | - Ilaria Campus
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy
| | - Angela Laporta
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy
| | - Vittoria Dickinson Bocchi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy
| | - Valentina Murtaj
- PET and Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; PhD Program in Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza MB, 20900 Italy
| | - Malin Parmar
- Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Paolo Spaiardi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100 Italy
| | - Francesca Talpo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100 Italy
| | - Claudia Maniezzi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100 Italy
| | | | - Gerardo Biella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100 Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Moresco
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology of CNR, Segrate, Milan, 20090 Italy; PET and Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza MB, 20900 Italy
| | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin 10124, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Italy
| | - Annalisa Buffo
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin 10124, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Italy.
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133 Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, 20122 Italy.
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20
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Wu Z, Parry M, Hou XY, Liu MH, Wang H, Cain R, Pei ZF, Chen YC, Guo ZY, Abhijeet S, Chen G. Gene therapy conversion of striatal astrocytes into GABAergic neurons in mouse models of Huntington's disease. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1105. [PMID: 32107381 PMCID: PMC7046613 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14855-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by Huntingtin (Htt) gene mutation resulting in the loss of striatal GABAergic neurons and motor functional deficits. We report here an in vivo cell conversion technology to reprogram striatal astrocytes into GABAergic neurons in both R6/2 and YAC128 HD mouse models through AAV-mediated ectopic expression of NeuroD1 and Dlx2 transcription factors. We found that the astrocyte-to-neuron (AtN) conversion rate reached 80% in the striatum and >50% of the converted neurons were DARPP32+ medium spiny neurons. The striatal astrocyte-converted neurons showed action potentials and synaptic events, and projected their axons to the targeted globus pallidus and substantia nigra in a time-dependent manner. Behavioral analyses found that NeuroD1 and Dlx2-treated R6/2 mice showed a significant extension of life span and improvement of motor functions. This study demonstrates that in vivo AtN conversion may be a disease-modifying gene therapy to treat HD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wu
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Matthew Parry
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Xiao-Yi Hou
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Min-Hui Liu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rachel Cain
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Zi-Fei Pei
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Yu-Chen Chen
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Zi-Yuan Guo
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sambangi Abhijeet
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Gong Chen
- Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. .,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
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21
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Naphade S, Tshilenge KT, Ellerby LM. Modeling Polyglutamine Expansion Diseases with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:979-998. [PMID: 31792895 PMCID: PMC6985408 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00810-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion disorders, which include Huntington's disease, have expanded CAG repeats that result in polyglutamine expansions in affected proteins. How this specific feature leads to distinct neuropathies in 11 different diseases is a fascinating area of investigation. Most proteins affected by polyglutamine expansions are ubiquitously expressed, yet their mechanisms of selective neurotoxicity are unknown. Induced pluripotent stem cells have emerged as a valuable tool to model diseases, understand molecular mechanisms, and generate relevant human neural and glia subtypes, cocultures, and organoids. Ideally, this tool will generate specific neuronal populations that faithfully recapitulate specific polyglutamine expansion disorder phenotypes and mimic the selective vulnerability of a given disease. Here, we review how induced pluripotent technology is used to understand the effects of the disease-causing polyglutamine protein on cell function, identify new therapeutic targets, and determine how polyglutamine expansion affects human neurodevelopment and disease. We will discuss ongoing challenges and limitations in our use of induced pluripotent stem cells to model polyglutamine expansion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Naphade
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | | | - Lisa M Ellerby
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
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22
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Tabrizi SJ, Ghosh R, Leavitt BR. Huntingtin Lowering Strategies for Disease Modification in Huntington's Disease. Neuron 2019; 101:801-819. [PMID: 30844400 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by an abnormally expanded CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, which confers a predominant toxic gain of function in the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies available, but approaches that target proximally in disease pathogenesis hold great promise. These include DNA-targeting techniques such as zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9; post-transcriptional huntingtin-lowering approaches such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splicing modulators; and novel methods to clear the mHTT protein, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Improvements in the delivery and distribution of such agents as well as the development of objective biomarkers of disease and of HTT lowering pharmacodynamic outcomes have brought these potential therapies to the forefront of Huntington's disease research, with clinical trials in patients already underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) at UCL, London, UK.
| | - Rhia Ghosh
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- UBC Centre for Huntington's Disease, Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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23
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Noakes Z, Keefe F, Tamburini C, Kelly CM, Cruz Santos M, Dunnett SB, Errington AC, Li M. Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Striatal Interneurons: Differentiation and Maturation In Vitro and in the Rat Brain. Stem Cell Reports 2019; 12:191-200. [PMID: 30661995 PMCID: PMC6373547 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Striatal interneurons are born in the medial and caudal ganglionic eminences (MGE and CGE) and play an important role in human striatal function and dysfunction in Huntington's disease and dystonia. MGE/CGE-like neural progenitors have been generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for studying cortical interneuron development and cell therapy for epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we report the capacity of hPSC-derived MGE/CGE-like progenitors to differentiate into functional striatal interneurons. In vitro, these hPSC neuronal derivatives expressed cortical and striatal interneuron markers at the mRNA and protein level and displayed maturing electrophysiological properties. Following transplantation into neonatal rat striatum, progenitors differentiated into striatal interneuron subtypes and were consistently found in the nearby septum and hippocampus. These findings highlight the potential for hPSC-derived striatal interneurons as an invaluable tool in modeling striatal development and function in vitro or as a source of cells for regenerative medicine. hPSCs differentiate into cortical and striatal interneuron-like cells in vitro They present mature electrophysiological and morphological properties in vitro They express striatal interneuron subtype markers upon transplantation in rat brain hPSC-interneuron-like cells adopt region-specific morphologies in vivo
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Noakes
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
| | - Francesca Keefe
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Claudia Tamburini
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Claire M Kelly
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Maria Cruz Santos
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | | | - Adam C Errington
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Meng Li
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
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