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Lemieux MR, Freigassner B, Hanson JL, Thathey Z, Opp MR, Hoeffer CA, Link CD. Multielectrode array characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons in co-culture with primary human astrocytes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303901. [PMID: 38917115 PMCID: PMC11198861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived into neurons offer a powerful in vitro model to study cellular processes. One method to characterize functional network properties of these cells is using multielectrode arrays (MEAs). MEAs can measure the electrophysiological activity of cellular cultures for extended periods of time without disruption. Here we used WTC11 hiPSCs with a doxycycline-inducible neurogenin 2 (NGN2) transgene differentiated into neurons co-cultured with primary human astrocytes. We achieved a synchrony index ∼0.9 in as little as six-weeks with a mean firing rate of ∼13 Hz. Previous reports show that derived 3D brain organoids can take several months to achieve similar strong network burst synchrony. We also used this co-culture to model aspects of blood-brain barrier breakdown by using human serum. Our fully human co-culture achieved strong network burst synchrony in a fraction of the time of previous reports, making it an excellent first pass, high-throughput method for studying network properties and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddie R. Lemieux
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Bernhard Freigassner
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jessica L. Hanson
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Zahra Thathey
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Mark R. Opp
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Charles A. Hoeffer
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christopher D. Link
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
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2
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Hoffmann C, Cho E, Zalesky A, Di Biase MA. From pixels to connections: exploring in vitro neuron reconstruction software for network graph generation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:571. [PMID: 38750282 PMCID: PMC11096190 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06264-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Digital reconstruction has been instrumental in deciphering how in vitro neuron architecture shapes information flow. Emerging approaches reconstruct neural systems as networks with the aim of understanding their organization through graph theory. Computational tools dedicated to this objective build models of nodes and edges based on key cellular features such as somata, axons, and dendrites. Fully automatic implementations of these tools are readily available, but they may also be purpose-built from specialized algorithms in the form of multi-step pipelines. Here we review software tools informing the construction of network models, spanning from noise reduction and segmentation to full network reconstruction. The scope and core specifications of each tool are explicitly defined to assist bench scientists in selecting the most suitable option for their microscopy dataset. Existing tools provide a foundation for complete network reconstruction, however more progress is needed in establishing morphological bases for directed/weighted connectivity and in software validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Hoffmann
- Systems Neuroscience Lab, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
| | - Ellie Cho
- Biological Optical Microscopy Platform, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Andrew Zalesky
- Systems Neuroscience Lab, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Maria A Di Biase
- Systems Neuroscience Lab, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Stem Cell Disease Modelling Lab, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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3
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Oliveira RN, Carvalhinho-Lopes PS, Carvalho CPF, Hirata RYS, Vaz SH, Sebastião AM, Armada-Moreira A, Rosário BA, Lemes JA, Soares-Silva B, de Andrade JS, Santos JR, Ribeiro AM, Viana MB. Neuroprotective effects of platinum nanoparticle-based microreactors in bicuculline-induced seizures. Behav Brain Res 2024; 465:114956. [PMID: 38479475 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Epilepsy designates a group of chronic brain disorders, characterized by the recurrence of hypersynchronous, repetitive activity, of neuronal clusters. Epileptic seizures are the hallmark of epilepsy. The primary goal of epilepsy treatment is to eliminate seizures with minimal side effects. Nevertheless, approximately 30% of patients do not respond to the available drugs. An imbalance between excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission, that leads to excitotoxicity, seizures, and cell death, has been proposed as an important mechanism regarding epileptogenesis. Recently, it has been shown that microreactors composed of platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NP) and glutamate dehydrogenase possess in vitro and in vivo activity against excitotoxicity. This study investigates the in vivo effects of these microreactors in an animal model of epilepsy induced by the administration of the GABAergic antagonist bicuculline. Male Wistar rats were administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with the microreactors or saline and, five days later, injected with bicuculline or saline. Seizure severity was evaluated in an open field. Thirty min after behavioral measurements, animals were euthanized, and their brains processed for neurodegeneration evaluation and for neurogenesis. Treatment with the microreactors significantly increased the time taken for the onset of seizures and for the first tonic-clonic seizure, when compared to the bicuculline group that did not receive the microreactor. The administration of the microreactors also increased the time spent in total exploration and grooming. Treatment with the microreactors decreased bicuculline-induced neurodegeneration and increased neurogenesis in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. These observations suggest that treatment with Pt-NP-based microreactors attenuates the behavioral and neurobiological consequences of epileptiform seizure activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Patrícia S Carvalhinho-Lopes
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Carolina P F Carvalho
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Rafael Y S Hirata
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Sandra H Vaz
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz MB, Lisboa 1649-028, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, Lisboa 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Ana Maria Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz MB, Lisboa 1649-028, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, Lisboa 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Adam Armada-Moreira
- Neuronal Dynamics Laboratory, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, via Bonomea, Trieste 265 - 34136, Italy
| | - Bárbara A Rosário
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Jéssica A Lemes
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Soares-Silva
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - José S de Andrade
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - José Ronaldo Santos
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Rua Cláudio Batista, s/n, Cidade Nova Aracaju, Aracaju, Sergipe 49060-108, Brazil
| | - Alessandra M Ribeiro
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Milena B Viana
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Santos, São Paulo 11015-020, Brazil.
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Di Lisa D, Cortese K, Chiappalone M, Arnaldi P, Martinoia S, Castagnola P, Pastorino L. Electrophysiological and morphological modulation of neuronal-glial network by breast cancer and nontumorigenic mammary cell conditioned medium. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1368851. [PMID: 38638322 PMCID: PMC11024227 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1368851] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a significant global health concern, with the overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ERBB2) being a driver oncogene in 20%-30% of cases. Indeed, HER2/ERBB2 plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and survival via a complex signaling network. Overexpression of HER2/ERBB2 is associated with more aggressive behavior and increased risk of brain metastases, which remains a significant clinical challenge for treatment. Recent research has highlighted the role of breast cancer secretomes in promoting tumor progression, including excessive proliferation, immune invasion, and resistance to anti-cancer therapy, and their potential as cancer biomarkers. In this study, we investigated the impact of ERBB2+ breast cancer SKBR-3 cell line compared with MCF10-A mammary non-tumorigenic cell conditioned medium on the electrophysiological activity and morphology of neural networks derived from neurons differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Our findings provide evidence of active modulation of neuronal-glial networks by SKBR-3 and MCF10-A conditioned medium. These results provide insights into the complex interactions between breast cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Further research is necessary to identify the specific factors within breast cancer conditioned medium that mediate these effects and to develop targeted therapies that disrupt this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Di Lisa
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Katia Cortese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Cellular Electron Microscopy Lab, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Michela Chiappalone
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- RAISE Ecosystem, Genova, Italy
| | - Pietro Arnaldi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Cellular Electron Microscopy Lab, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- RAISE Ecosystem, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Laura Pastorino
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- RAISE Ecosystem, Genova, Italy
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5
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Lemieux MR, Freigassner B, Thathey Z, Opp MR, Hoeffer CA, Link CD. Multielectrode array characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons in co-culture with primary human astrocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.04.583341. [PMID: 38496655 PMCID: PMC10942372 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.04.583341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived into neurons offer a powerful in vitro model to study cellular processes. One method to characterize functional network properties of these cells is using multielectrode arrays (MEAs). MEAs can measure the electrophysiological activity of cellular cultures for extended periods of time without disruption. Here we used WTC11 hiPSCs with a doxycycline-inducible neurogenin 2 (NGN2) transgene differentiated into neurons co-cultured with primary human astrocytes. We achieved a synchrony index ~0.9 in as little as six-weeks with a mean firing rate of ~13 Hz. Previous reports show that derived 3D brain organoids can take several months to achieve similar strong network burst synchrony. We also used this co-culture to model aspects of sporadic Alzheimer's disease by mimicking blood-brain barrier breakdown using a human serum. Our fully human co-culture achieved strong network burst synchrony in a fraction of the time of previous reports, making it an excellent first pass, high-throughput method for studying network properties and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddie R Lemieux
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
| | | | - Zahra Thathey
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
| | - Mark R Opp
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
| | - Charles A Hoeffer
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder
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Pradeepan KS, McCready FP, Wei W, Khaki M, Zhang W, Salter MW, Ellis J, Martinez-Trujillo J. Calcium-Dependent Hyperexcitability in Human Stem Cell-Derived Rett Syndrome Neuronal Networks. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100290. [PMID: 38420187 PMCID: PMC10899066 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100290] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Mutations in MECP2 predominantly cause Rett syndrome and can be modeled in vitro using human stem cell-derived neurons. Patients with Rett syndrome have signs of cortical hyperexcitability, such as seizures. Human stem cell-derived MECP2 null excitatory neurons have smaller soma size and reduced synaptic connectivity but are also hyperexcitable due to higher input resistance. Paradoxically, networks of MECP2 null neurons show a decrease in the frequency of network bursts consistent with a hypoconnectivity phenotype. Here, we examine this issue. Methods We reanalyzed multielectrode array data from 3 isogenic MECP2 cell line pairs recorded over 6 weeks (n = 144). We used a custom burst detection algorithm to analyze network events and isolated a phenomenon that we termed reverberating super bursts (RSBs). To probe potential mechanisms of RSBs, we conducted pharmacological manipulations using bicuculline, EGTA-AM, and DMSO on 1 cell line (n = 34). Results RSBs, often misidentified as single long-duration bursts, consisted of a large-amplitude initial burst followed by several high-frequency, low-amplitude minibursts. Our analysis revealed that MECP2 null networks exhibited increased frequency of RSBs, which produced increased bursts compared with isogenic controls. Bicuculline or DMSO treatment did not affect RSBs. EGTA-AM selectively eliminated RSBs and rescued network burst dynamics. Conclusions During early development, MECP2 null neurons are hyperexcitable and produce hyperexcitable networks. This may predispose them to the emergence of hypersynchronic states that potentially translate into seizures. Network hyperexcitability depends on asynchronous neurotransmitter release that is likely driven by presynaptic Ca2+ and can be rescued by EGTA-AM to restore typical network dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik S. Pradeepan
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fraser P. McCready
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wei Wei
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Milad Khaki
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael W. Salter
- Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Ellis
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julio Martinez-Trujillo
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, and Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Pitrez PR, Monteiro LM, Borgogno O, Nissan X, Mertens J, Ferreira L. Cellular reprogramming as a tool to model human aging in a dish. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1816. [PMID: 38418829 PMCID: PMC10902382 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The design of human model systems is highly relevant to unveil the underlying mechanisms of aging and to provide insights on potential interventions to extend human health and life span. In this perspective, we explore the potential of 2D or 3D culture models comprising human induced pluripotent stem cells and transdifferentiated cells obtained from aged or age-related disorder-affected donors to enhance our understanding of human aging and to catalyze the discovery of anti-aging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Pitrez
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luis M Monteiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIUC-institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão, Coimbra, 3030-789, Portugal
| | - Oliver Borgogno
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xavier Nissan
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic diseases, Evry cedex, France
| | - Jerome Mertens
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Lino Ferreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Parodi G, Zanini G, Chiappalone M, Martinoia S. Electrical and chemical modulation of homogeneous and heterogeneous human-iPSCs-derived neuronal networks on high density arrays. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1304507. [PMID: 38380114 PMCID: PMC10877635 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1304507] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The delicate "Excitatory/Inhibitory balance" between neurons holds significance in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. With the ultimate goal of creating a faithful in vitro model of the human brain, in this study, we investigated the critical factor of heterogeneity, focusing on the interplay between excitatory glutamatergic (E) and inhibitory GABAergic (I) neurons in neural networks. We used high-density Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEA) with 2304 recording electrodes to investigate two neuronal culture configurations: 100% glutamatergic (100E) and 75% glutamatergic / 25% GABAergic (75E25I) neurons. This allowed us to comprehensively characterize the spontaneous electrophysiological activity exhibited by mature cultures at 56 Days in vitro, a time point in which the GABA shift has already occurred. We explored the impact of heterogeneity also through electrical stimulation, revealing that the 100E configuration responded reliably, while the 75E25I required more parameter tuning for improved responses. Chemical stimulation with BIC showed an increase in terms of firing and bursting activity only in the 75E25I condition, while APV and CNQX induced significant alterations on both dynamics and functional connectivity. Our findings advance understanding of diverse neuron interactions and their role in network activity, offering insights for potential therapeutic interventions in neurological conditions. Overall, this work contributes to the development of a valuable human-based in vitro system for studying physiological and pathological conditions, emphasizing the pivotal role of neuron diversity in neural network dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
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9
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Lavekar SS, Patel MD, Montalvo-Parra MD, Krencik R. Asteroid impact: the potential of astrocytes to modulate human neural networks within organoids. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1305921. [PMID: 38075269 PMCID: PMC10702564 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1305921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are a vital cellular component of the central nervous system that impact neuronal function in both healthy and pathological states. This includes intercellular signals to neurons and non-neuronal cells during development, maturation, and aging that can modulate neural network formation, plasticity, and maintenance. Recently, human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural aggregate cultures, known as neurospheres or organoids, have emerged as improved experimental platforms for basic and pre-clinical neuroscience compared to traditional approaches. Here, we summarize the potential capability of using organoids to further understand the mechanistic role of astrocytes upon neural networks, including the production of extracellular matrix components and reactive signaling cues. Additionally, we discuss the application of organoid models to investigate the astrocyte-dependent aspects of neuropathological diseases and to test astrocyte-inspired technologies. We examine the shortcomings of organoid-based experimental platforms and plausible improvements made possible by cutting-edge neuroengineering technologies. These advancements are expected to enable the development of improved diagnostic strategies and high-throughput translational applications regarding neuroregeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - R. Krencik
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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10
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Yuan X, Puvogel S, van Rhijn JR, Ciptasari U, Esteve-Codina A, Meijer M, Rouschop S, van Hugte EJH, Oudakker A, Schoenmaker C, Frega M, Schubert D, Franke B, Nadif Kasri N. A human in vitro neuronal model for studying homeostatic plasticity at the network level. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:2222-2239. [PMID: 37863044 PMCID: PMC10679660 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms that underlie homeostatic plasticity have been extensively investigated at single-cell levels in animal models, but are less well understood at the network level. Here, we used microelectrode arrays to characterize neuronal networks following induction of homeostatic plasticity in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived glutamatergic neurons co-cultured with rat astrocytes. Chronic suppression of neuronal activity through tetrodotoxin (TTX) elicited a time-dependent network re-arrangement. Increased expression of AMPA receptors and the elongation of axon initial segments were associated with increased network excitability following TTX treatment. Transcriptomic profiling of TTX-treated neurons revealed up-regulated genes related to extracellular matrix organization, while down-regulated genes related to cell communication; also astrocytic gene expression was found altered. Overall, our study shows that hiPSC-derived neuronal networks provide a reliable in vitro platform to measure and characterize homeostatic plasticity at network and single-cell levels; this platform can be extended to investigate altered homeostatic plasticity in brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuming Yuan
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sofía Puvogel
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jon-Ruben van Rhijn
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ummi Ciptasari
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Anna Esteve-Codina
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mandy Meijer
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Rouschop
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Eline J H van Hugte
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Astrid Oudakker
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Chantal Schoenmaker
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Monica Frega
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Lisa DD, Muzzi L, Lagazzo A, Andolfi A, Martinoia S, Pastorino L. Long-term in vitroculture of 3D brain tissue model based on chitosan thermogel. Biofabrication 2023; 16:015011. [PMID: 37922538 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad0979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Methods for studying brain function and disease heavily rely onin vivoanimal models,ex-vivotissue slices, and 2D cell culture platforms. These methods all have limitations that significantly impact the clinical translatability of results. Consequently, models able to better recapitulate some aspects ofin vivohuman brain are needed as additional preclinical tools. In this context, 3D hydrogel-basedin vitromodels of the brain are considered promising tools. To create a 3D brain-on-a-chip model, a hydrogel capable of sustaining neuronal maturation over extended culture periods is required. Among biopolymeric hydrogels, chitosan-β-glycerophosphate (CHITO-β-GP) thermogels have demonstrated their versatility and applicability in the biomedical field over the years. In this study, we investigated the ability of this thermogel to encapsulate neuronal cells and support the functional maturation of a 3D neuronal network in long-term cultures. To the best of our knowledge, we demonstrated for the first time that CHITO-β-GP thermogel possesses optimal characteristics for promoting neuronal growth and the development of an electrophysiologically functional neuronal network derived from both primary rat neurons and neurons differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (h-iPSCs) co-cultured with astrocytes. Specifically, two different formulations were firstly characterized by rheological, mechanical and injectability tests. Primary nervous cells and neurons differentiated from h-iPSCs were embedded into the two thermogel formulations. The 3D cultures were then deeply characterized by immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, and electrophysiological recordings, employing both 2D and 3D micro-electrode arrays. The thermogels supported the long-term culture of neuronal networks for up to 100 d. In conclusion, CHITO-β-GP thermogels exhibit excellent mechanical properties, stability over time under culture conditions, and bioactivity toward nervous cells. Therefore, they are excellent candidates as artificial extracellular matrices in brain-on-a-chip models, with applications in neurodegenerative disease modeling, drug screening, and neurotoxicity evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Di Lisa
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all 'Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Muzzi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all 'Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberto Lagazzo
- Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, via Montallegro 1, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Andolfi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all 'Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all 'Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Pastorino
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all 'Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
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12
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Alasmar S, Huang J, Chopra K, Baumann E, Aylsworth A, Hewitt M, Sandhu JK, Tauskela JS, Ben RN, Jezierski A. Improved Cryopreservation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) and iPSC-derived Neurons Using Ice-Recrystallization Inhibitors. Stem Cells 2023; 41:1006-1021. [PMID: 37622655 PMCID: PMC10631806 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxad059] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived neurons (iPSC-Ns) represent a differentiated modality toward developing novel cell-based therapies for regenerative medicine. However, the successful application of iPSC-Ns in cell-replacement therapies relies on effective cryopreservation. In this study, we investigated the role of ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) as novel cryoprotectants for iPSCs and terminally differentiated iPSC-Ns. We found that one class of IRIs, N-aryl-D-aldonamides (specifically 2FA), increased iPSC post-thaw viability and recovery with no adverse effect on iPSC pluripotency. While 2FA supplementation did not significantly improve iPSC-N cell post-thaw viability, we observed that 2FA cryopreserved iPSC-Ns re-established robust neuronal network activity and synaptic function much earlier compared to CS10 cryopreserved controls. The 2FA cryopreserved iPSC-Ns retained expression of key neuronal specific and terminally differentiated markers and displayed functional electrophysiological and neuropharmacological responses following treatment with neuroactive agonists and antagonists. We demonstrate how optimizing cryopreservation media formulations with IRIs represents a promising strategy to improve functional cryopreservation of iPSCs and post-mitotic iPSC-Ns, the latter of which have been challenging to achieve. Developing IRI enabling technologies to support an effective cryopreservation and an efficiently managed cryo-chain is fundamental to support the delivery of successful iPSC-derived therapies to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Alasmar
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Science, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jez Huang
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Karishma Chopra
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Science, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ewa Baumann
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Amy Aylsworth
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Melissa Hewitt
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jagdeep K Sandhu
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, , Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Joseph S Tauskela
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert N Ben
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Science, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Jezierski
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, , Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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13
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Lv S, He E, Luo J, Liu Y, Liang W, Xu S, Zhang K, Yang Y, Wang M, Song Y, Wu Y, Cai X. Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neurons on Microelectrode Arrays to Model Neurological Disease: A Review. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301828. [PMID: 37863819 PMCID: PMC10667858 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301828] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
In situ physiological signals of in vitro neural disease models are essential for studying pathogenesis and drug screening. Currently, an increasing number of in vitro neural disease models are established using human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived neurons (hiPSC-DNs) to overcome interspecific gene expression differences. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) can be readily interfaced with two-dimensional (2D), and more recently, three-dimensional (3D) neural stem cell-derived in vitro models of the human brain to monitor their physiological activity in real time. Therefore, MEAs are emerging and useful tools to model neurological disorders and disease in vitro using human iPSCs. This is enabling a real-time window into neuronal signaling at the network scale from patient derived. This paper provides a comprehensive review of MEA's role in analyzing neural disease models established by hiPSC-DNs. It covers the significance of MEA fabrication, surface structure and modification schemes for hiPSC-DNs culturing and signal detection. Additionally, this review discusses advances in the development and use of MEA technology to study in vitro neural disease models, including epilepsy, autism spectrum developmental disorder (ASD), and others established using hiPSC-DNs. The paper also highlights the application of MEAs combined with hiPSC-DNs in detecting in vitro neurotoxic substances. Finally, the future development and outlook of multifunctional and integrated devices for in vitro medical diagnostics and treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiya Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Enhui He
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- The State Key Lab of Brain‐Machine IntelligenceZhejiang UniversityHangzhou321100China
| | - Jinping Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Yaoyao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Wei Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Shihong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Kui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Yan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Mixia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Yilin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Yirong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Xinxia Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer TechnologyAerospace Information Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100190China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
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14
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Ishibashi Y, Nagafuku N, Kinoshita K, Okamura A, Shirakawa T, Suzuki I. Verification of the seizure liability of compounds based on their in vitro functional activity in cultured rat cortical neurons and co-cultured human iPSC-derived neurons with astrocytes and in vivo extrapolation to cerebrospinal fluid concentration. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 476:116675. [PMID: 37661062 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Methodical screening of safe and efficient drug candidate compounds is crucial for drug development. A high-throughput and accurate compound evaluation method targeting the central nervous system can be developed using in vitro neural networks. In particular, an evaluation system based on a human-derived neural network that can act as an alternative to animal experiments is desirable to avoid interspecific differences. A microelectrode array (MEA) is one such evaluation system, and can measure in vitro neural activity; however, studies on compound evaluation criteria and in vitro to in vivo extrapolation are scarce. In this study, we identified the parameters that can eliminate the effects of solvents from neural activity data obtained using MEA allow for accurate compound evaluation. Additionally, we resolved the issue associated with compound evaluation criteria during MEA using principal component analysis by considering the neuronal activity exceeding standard deviation (SD) of the solvent as indicator of seizurogenic potential. Overall, 10 seizurogenic compounds and three negative controls were assessed using MEA-based co-cultured human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and astrocytes, and primary rat cortical neurons. In addition, we determined rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations during tremor and convulsion in response to exposure to test compounds. To characterize the in vitro to in vivo extrapolation and species differences, we compared the concentrations at which neuronal activity exceeding the SD range of the solvent was detectable using the MEA system and rat CSF concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Ishibashi
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577, Japan
| | - N Nagafuku
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577, Japan
| | - K Kinoshita
- Drug Safety Research Labs, Astellas Pharma Inc., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - A Okamura
- Drug Safety Research Labs, Astellas Pharma Inc., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - T Shirakawa
- Drug Safety Research Labs, Astellas Pharma Inc., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - I Suzuki
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577, Japan.
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15
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Gameiro‐Ros I, Popova D, Prytkova I, Pang ZP, Liu Y, Dick D, Bucholz KK, Agrawal A, Porjesz B, Goate AM, Xuei X, Kamarajan C, Tischfield JA, Edenberg HJ, Slesinger PA, Hart RP. 5. Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism: Functional genomics. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023; 22:e12855. [PMID: 37533187 PMCID: PMC10550792 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12855] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder is a complex genetic disorder, involving genetic, neural, and environmental factors, and their interactions. The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) has been investigating these factors and identified putative alcohol use disorder risk genes through genome-wide association studies. In this review, we describe advances made by COGA in elucidating the functional changes induced by alcohol use disorder risk genes using multimodal approaches with human cell lines and brain tissue. These studies involve investigating gene regulation in lymphoblastoid cells from COGA participants and in post-mortem brain tissues. High throughput reporter assays are being used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms in which alternate alleles differ in driving gene expression. Specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (both coding or noncoding) have been modeled using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from COGA participants to evaluate the effects of genetic variants on transcriptomics, neuronal excitability, synaptic physiology, and the response to ethanol in human neurons from individuals with and without alcohol use disorder. We provide a perspective on future studies, such as using polygenic risk scores and populations of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons to identify signaling pathways related with responses to alcohol. Starting with genes or loci associated with alcohol use disorder, COGA has demonstrated that integration of multimodal data within COGA participants and functional studies can reveal mechanisms linking genomic variants with alcohol use disorder, and potential targets for future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Gameiro‐Ros
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Dina Popova
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Iya Prytkova
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Zhiping P. Pang
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey and Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolRutgers UniversityNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Yunlong Liu
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Danielle Dick
- Rutgers Addiction Research Center, Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Kathleen K. Bucholz
- Department of PsychiatryWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of PsychiatryWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Bernice Porjesz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesSUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversityBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | - Alison M. Goate
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic SciencesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Xiaoling Xuei
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Chella Kamarajan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesSUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversityBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Jay A. Tischfield
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Department of GeneticsRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Howard J. Edenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Paul A. Slesinger
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Ronald P. Hart
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Department of Cell Biology and NeuroscienceRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
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16
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Parodi G, Brofiga M, Pastore VP, Chiappalone M, Martinoia S. Deepening the role of excitation/inhibition balance in human iPSCs-derived neuronal networks coupled to MEAs during long-term development. J Neural Eng 2023; 20:056011. [PMID: 37678214 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acf78b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Objective.The purpose of this study is to investigate whether and how the balance between excitation and inhibition ('E/I balance') influences the spontaneous development of human-derived neuronal networksin vitro. To achieve that goal, we performed a long-term (98 d) characterization of both homogeneous (only excitatory or inhibitory neurons) and heterogeneous (mixed neuronal types) cultures with controlled E/I ratios (i.e. E:I 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0) by recording their electrophysiological activity using micro-electrode arrays.Approach.Excitatory and inhibitory neurons were derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We realized five different configurations by systematically varying the glutamatergic and GABAergic percentages.Main results.We successfully built both homogeneous and heterogeneous neuronal cultures from hiPSCs finely controlling the E/I ratios; we were able to maintain them for up to 3 months. Homogeneity differentially impacted purely inhibitory (no bursts) and purely excitatory (few bursts) networks, deviating from the typical traits of heterogeneous cultures (burst dominated). Increased inhibition in heterogeneous cultures strongly affected the duration and organization of bursting and network bursting activity. Spike-based functional connectivity and image-based deep learning analysis further confirmed all the above.Significance.Healthy neuronal activity is controlled by a well-defined E/I balance whose alteration could lead to the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia or epilepsy. Most of the commonly usedin vitromodels are animal-derived or too simplified and thus far from thein vivohuman condition. In this work, by performing a long-term study of hiPSCs-derived neuronal networks obtained from healthy human subjects, we demonstrated the feasibility of a robustin vitromodel which can be further exploited for investigating pathological conditions where the E/I balance is impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Parodi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Martina Brofiga
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- ScreenNeuroPharm s.r.l, Sanremo, Italy
- Neurofacility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Vito Paolo Pastore
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- Machine Learning Genoa Center (MaLGa), Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Michela Chiappalone
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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17
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Imredy JP, Roussignol G, Clouse H, Salvagiotto G, Mazelin-Winum L. Comparative assessment of Ca 2+ oscillations in 2- and 3-dimensional hiPSC derived and isolated cortical neuronal networks. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2023; 123:107281. [PMID: 37390871 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2023.107281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Human induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (hiPSC) derived neural cells offer great potential for modelling neurological diseases and toxicities and have found application in drug discovery and toxicology. As part of the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI2) NeuroDeRisk (Neurotoxicity De-Risking in Preclinical Drug Discovery), we here explore the Ca2+ oscillation responses of 2D and 3D hiPSC derived neuronal networks of mixed Glutamatergic/GABAergic activity with a compound set encompassing both clinically as well as experimentally determined seizurogenic compounds. Both types of networks are scored against Ca2+ responses of a primary mouse cortical neuronal 2D network model serving as an established comparator assay. Parameters of frequency and amplitude of spontaneous global network Ca2+ oscillations and the drug-dependent directional changes to these were assessed, and predictivity of seizurogenicity scored using contingency table analysis. In addition, responses between models were compared between both 2D models as well as between 2D and 3D models. Concordance of parameter responses was best between the hiPSC neurospheroid and the mouse primary cortical neuron model (77% for frequency and 65% for amplitude). Decreases in spontaneous Ca2+ oscillation frequency and amplitude were found to be the most basic shared determinants of risk of seizurogenicity between the mouse and the neurospheroid model based on testing of clinical compounds with documented seizurogenic activity. Increases in spontaneous Ca2+ oscillation frequency were primarily observed with the 2D hIPSC model, though the specificity of this effect to seizurogenic clinical compounds was low (33%), while decreases to spike amplitude in this model were more predictive of seizurogenicity. Overall predictivities of the models were similar, with sensitivity of the assays typically exceeding specificity due to high false positive rates. Higher concordance of the hiPSC 3D model over the 2D model when compared to mouse cortical 2D responses may be the result of both a longer maturation time of the neurospheroid (84-87 days for 3D vs. 22-24 days for 2D maturation) as well as the 3-dimensional nature of network connections established. The simplicity and reproducibility of spontaneous Ca2+ oscillation readouts support further investigation of hiPSC derived neuronal sources and their 2- and 3-dimensional networks for neuropharmacological safety screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Imredy
- In Vitro Safety Pharmacology, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
| | | | - Holly Clouse
- In Vitro Safety Pharmacology, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
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18
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Lee D, Yang K, Xie J. Advances in Nerve Injury Models on a Chip. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200227. [PMID: 36709421 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Regeneration and functional recovery of the damaged nerve are challenging due to the need for effective therapeutic drugs, biomaterials, and approaches. The poor outcome of the treatment of nerve injury stems from the incomplete understanding of axonal biology and interactions between neurons and the surrounding environment, such as glial cells and extracellular matrix. Microfluidic devices, in combination with various injury techniques, have been applied to test biological hypotheses in nerve injury and nerve regeneration. The microfluidic devices provide multiple advantages over the in vitro cell culture on a petri dish and in vivo animal models because a specific part of the neuronal environment can be manipulated using physical and chemical interventions. In addition, single-cell behavior and interactions between neurons and glial cells can be visualized and quantified on microfluidic platforms. In this article, current in vitro nerve injury models on a chip that mimics in vivo axonal injuries and the regeneration process of axons are summarized. The microfluidic-based nerve injury models could enhance the understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of nerve tissues and simultaneously serve as powerful drug and biomaterial screening platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghee Lee
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary and Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Kai Yang
- Department of Surgery-Plastic Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Jingwei Xie
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary and Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
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19
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Salmanzadeh H, Poojari A, Rabiee A, Zeitlin BD, Halliwell RF. Neuropharmacology of human TERA2.cl.SP12 stem cell-derived neurons in ultra-long-term culture for antiseizure drug discovery. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1182720. [PMID: 37397467 PMCID: PMC10308080 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1182720] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Modeling the complex and prolonged development of the mammalian central nervous system in vitro remains a profound challenge. Most studies of human stem cell derived neurons are conducted over days to weeks and may or may not include glia. Here we have utilized a single human pluripotent stem cell line, TERA2.cl.SP12 to derive both neurons and glial cells and determined their differentiation and functional maturation over 1 year in culture together with their ability to display epileptiform activity in response to pro-convulsant agents and to detect antiseizure drug actions. Our experiments show that these human stem cells differentiate in vitro into mature neurons and glia cells and form inhibitory and excitatory synapses and integrated neural circuits over 6-8 months, paralleling early human neurogenesis in vivo; these neuroglia cultures display complex electrochemical signaling including high frequency trains of action potentials from single neurons, neural network bursts and highly synchronized, rhythmical firing patterns. Neural activity in our 2D neuron-glia circuits is modulated by a variety of voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channel acting drugs and these actions were consistent in both young and highly mature neuron cultures. We also show for the first time that spontaneous and epileptiform activity is modulated by first, second and third generation antiseizure agents consistent with animal and human studies. Together, our observations strongly support the value of long-term human stem cell-derived neuroglial cultures in disease modeling and neuropsychiatric drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Salmanzadeh
- Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States
| | - Ankita Poojari
- Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States
| | - Atefeh Rabiee
- Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin D. Zeitlin
- Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Robert F. Halliwell
- Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States
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20
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Girardin S, Ihle SJ, Menghini A, Krubner M, Tognola L, Duru J, Fruh I, Müller M, Ruff T, Vörös J. Engineering circuits of human iPSC-derived neurons and rat primary glia. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1103437. [PMID: 37250404 PMCID: PMC10213452 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1103437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel in vitro platforms based on human neurons are needed to improve early drug testing and address the stalling drug discovery in neurological disorders. Topologically controlled circuits of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons have the potential to become such a testing system. In this work, we build in vitro co-cultured circuits of human iPSC-derived neurons and rat primary glial cells using microfabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures on microelectrode arrays (MEAs). Our PDMS microstructures are designed in the shape of a stomach, which guides axons in one direction and thereby facilitates the unidirectional flow of information. Such circuits are created by seeding either dissociated cells or pre-aggregated spheroids at different neuron-to-glia ratios. Furthermore, an antifouling coating is developed to prevent axonal overgrowth in undesired locations of the microstructure. We assess the electrophysiological properties of different types of circuits over more than 50 days, including their stimulation-induced neural activity. Finally, we demonstrate the inhibitory effect of magnesium chloride on the electrical activity of our iPSC circuits as a proof-of-concept for screening of neuroactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Girardin
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stephan J. Ihle
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Arianna Menghini
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Krubner
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Tognola
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jens Duru
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Fruh
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Müller
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Ruff
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - János Vörös
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Suzuki I, Matsuda N, Han X, Noji S, Shibata M, Nagafuku N, Ishibashi Y. Large-Area Field Potential Imaging Having Single Neuron Resolution Using 236 880 Electrodes CMOS-MEA Technology. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023:e2207732. [PMID: 37088859 PMCID: PMC10369302 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The electrophysiological technology having a high spatiotemporal resolution at the single-cell level and noninvasive measurements of large areas provide insights on underlying neuronal function. Here, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-microelectrode array (MEA) is used that uses 236 880 electrodes each with an electrode size of 11.22 × 11.22 µm and 236 880 covering a wide area of 5.5 × 5.9 mm in presenting a detailed and single-cell-level neural activity analysis platform for brain slices, human iPS cell-derived cortical networks, peripheral neurons, and human brain organoids. Propagation pattern characteristics between brain regions changes the synaptic propagation into compounds based on single-cell time-series patterns, classification based on single DRG neuron firing patterns and compound responses, axonal conduction characteristics and changes to anticancer drugs, and network activities and transition to compounds in brain organoids are extracted. This detailed analysis of neural activity at the single-cell level using the CMOS-MEA provides a new understanding of the basic mechanisms of brain circuits in vitro and ex vivo, on human neurological diseases for drug discovery, and compound toxicity assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuro Suzuki
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - Naoki Matsuda
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - Xiaobo Han
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - Shuhei Noji
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - Mikako Shibata
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - Nami Nagafuku
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - Yuto Ishibashi
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
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22
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Muzzi L, Di Lisa D, Falappa M, Pepe S, Maccione A, Pastorino L, Martinoia S, Frega M. Human-Derived Cortical Neurospheroids Coupled to Passive, High-Density and 3D MEAs: A Valid Platform for Functional Tests. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10040449. [PMID: 37106636 PMCID: PMC10136157 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10040449] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
With the advent of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and differentiation protocols, methods to create in-vitro human-derived neuronal networks have been proposed. Although monolayer cultures represent a valid model, adding three-dimensionality (3D) would make them more representative of an in-vivo environment. Thus, human-derived 3D structures are becoming increasingly used for in-vitro disease modeling. Achieving control over the final cell composition and investigating the exhibited electrophysiological activity is still a challenge. Thence, methodologies to create 3D structures with controlled cellular density and composition and platforms capable of measuring and characterizing the functional aspects of these samples are needed. Here, we propose a method to rapidly generate neurospheroids of human origin with control over cell composition that can be used for functional investigations. We show a characterization of the electrophysiological activity exhibited by the neurospheroids by using micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) with different types (i.e., passive, C-MOS, and 3D) and number of electrodes. Neurospheroids grown in free culture and transferred on MEAs exhibited functional activity that can be chemically and electrically modulated. Our results indicate that this model holds great potential for an in-depth study of signal transmission to drug screening and disease modeling and offers a platform for in-vitro functional testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Muzzi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Donatella Di Lisa
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Matteo Falappa
- 3Brain AG, 8808 Pfäffikon, Switzerland
- Corticale Srl., 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sara Pepe
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Laura Pastorino
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Monica Frega
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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23
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Saleem A, Santos AC, Aquilino MS, Sivitilli AA, Attisano L, Carlen PL. Modelling hyperexcitability in human cerebral cortical organoids: Oxygen/glucose deprivation most effective stimulant. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14999. [PMID: 37089352 PMCID: PMC10113787 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that affects 1% of the global population. The neonatal period constitutes the highest incidence of seizures. Despite the continual developments in seizure modelling and anti-epileptic drug development, the mechanisms involved in neonatal seizures remain poorly understood. This leaves infants with neonatal seizures at a high risk of death, poor prognosis of recovery and risk of developing neurological disorders later in life. Current in vitro platforms for modelling adult and neonatal epilepsies - namely acute cerebral brain slices or cell-derived cultures, both derived from animals-either lack a complex cytoarchitecture, high-throughput capabilities or physiological similarities to the neonatal human brain. Cerebral organoids, derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), are an emerging technology that could better model neurodevelopmental disorders in the developing human brain. Herein, we study induced hyperexcitability in human cerebral cortical organoids - setting the groundwork for neonatal seizure modelling - using electrophysiological techniques and pharmacological manipulations. In neonatal seizures, energy failure - specifically due to deprivation of oxygen and glucose - is a consistent and reliable seizure induction method that has been used to study the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. Here, we applied oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) as well as common chemoconvulsants in 3-7-month-old cerebral organoids. Remarkably, OGD resulted in hyperexcitability, with increased power and spontaneous events compared to other common convulsants tested at the population level. These findings characterize OGD as the stimulus most capable of inducing hyperexcitable changes in cerebral organoid tissue, which could be extended to future modelling of neonatal epilepsies in cerebral organoids.
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Kuroda T, Matsuda N, Ishibashi Y, Suzuki I. Detection of astrocytic slow oscillatory activity and response to seizurogenic compounds using planar microelectrode array. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1050150. [PMID: 36703996 PMCID: PMC9872017 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1050150] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the development of the planar microelectrode array (MEA), it has become popular to evaluate compounds based on the electrical activity of rodent and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. However, there are no reports recording spontaneous human astrocyte activity from astrocyte-only culture sample by MEA. It is becoming clear that astrocytes play an important role in various neurological diseases, and astrocytes are expected to be excellent candidates for targeted therapeutics for the treatment of neurological diseases. Therefore, measuring astrocyte activity is very important for drug development for astrocytes. Recently, astrocyte activity has been found to be reflected in the low-frequency band < 1 Hz, which is much lower than the frequency band for recording neural activity. Here, we separated the signals obtained from human primary astrocytes cultured on MEA into seven frequency bands and successfully recorded the extracellular electrical activity of human astrocytes. The slow waveforms of spontaneous astrocyte activity were observed most clearly in direct current potentials < 1 Hz. We established nine parameters to assess astrocyte activity and evaluated five seizurogenic drug responses in human primary astrocytes and human iPSC-derived astrocytes. Astrocytes demonstrated the most significant dose-dependent changes in pilocarpine. Furthermore, in a principal component analysis using those parameter sets, the drug responses to each seizurogenic compound were separated. In this paper, we report the spontaneous electrical activity measurement of astrocytes alone using MEA for the first time and propose that the MEA measurement focusing on the low-frequency band could be useful as one of the methods to assess drug response in vitro.
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25
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Whye D, Wood D, Saber WA, Norabuena EM, Makhortova NR, Sahin M, Buttermore ED. A Robust Pipeline for the Multi-Stage Accelerated Differentiation of Functional 3D Cortical Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Curr Protoc 2023; 3:e641. [PMID: 36633423 PMCID: PMC9839317 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.641] [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] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Disordered cellular development, abnormal neuroanatomical formations, and dysfunction of neuronal circuitry are among the pathological manifestations of cortical regions in the brain that are often implicated in complex neurodevelopmental disorders. With the advancement of stem cell methodologies such as cerebral organoid generation, it is possible to study these processes in vitro using 3D cellular platforms that mirror key developmental stages occurring throughout embryonic neurogenesis. Patterning-based stem cell models of directed neuronal development offer one approach to accomplish this, but these protocols often require protracted periods of cell culture to generate diverse cell types and current methods are plagued by a lack of specificity, reproducibility, and temporal control over cell derivation. Although ectopic expression of transcription factors offers another avenue to rapidly generate neurons, this process of direct lineage conversion bypasses critical junctures of neurodevelopment during which disease-relevant manifestations may occur. Here, we present a directed differentiation approach for generating human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cortical organoids with accelerated lineage specification to generate functionally mature cortical neurons in a shorter timeline than previously established protocols. This novel protocol provides precise guidance for the specification of neuronal cell type identity as well as temporal control over the pace at which cortical lineage trajectories are established. Furthermore, we present assays that can be used as tools to interrogate stage-specific developmental signaling mechanisms. By recapitulating major components of embryonic neurogenesis, this protocol allows for improved in vitro modeling of cortical development while providing a platform that can be utilized to uncover disease-specific mechanisms of disordered development at various stages across the differentiation timeline. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: 3D hPSC neural induction Support Protocol 1: Neural rosette formation assay Support Protocol 2: Neurosphere generation Support Protocol 3: Enzymatic dissociation, NSC expansion, and cryopreservation Basic Protocol 2: 3D neural progenitor expansion Basic Protocol 3: 3D accelerated cortical lineage patterning and terminal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dosh Whye
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Delaney Wood
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Wardiya Afshar Saber
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Erika M. Norabuena
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Nina R. Makhortova
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Elizabeth D. Buttermore
- Human Neuron Core, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
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26
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Blood brain barrier-on-a-chip to model neurological diseases. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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27
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Han X, Matsuda N, Ishibashi Y, Odawara A, Takahashi S, Tooi N, Kinoshita K, Suzuki I. A functional neuron maturation device provides convenient application on microelectrode array for neural network measurement. Biomater Res 2022; 26:84. [PMID: 36539898 PMCID: PMC9768978 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-022-00324-z] [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: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microelectrode array (MEA) systems are valuable for in vitro assessment of neurotoxicity and drug efficiency. However, several difficulties such as protracted functional maturation and high experimental costs hinder the use of MEA analysis requiring human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Neural network functional parameters are also needed for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation. METHODS In the present study, we produced a cost effective nanofiber culture platform, the SCAD device, for long-term culture of hiPSC-derived neurons and primary peripheral neurons. The notable advantage of SCAD device is convenient application on multiple MEA systems for neuron functional analysis. RESULTS We showed that the SCAD device could promote functional maturation of cultured hiPSC-derived neurons, and neurons responded appropriately to convulsant agents. Furthermore, we successfully analyzed parameters for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation, i.e., low-frequency components and synaptic propagation velocity of the signal, potentially reflecting neural network functions from neurons cultured on SCAD device. Finally, we measured the axonal conduction velocity of peripheral neurons. CONCLUSIONS Neurons cultured on SCAD devices might constitute a reliable in vitro platform to investigate neuron functions, drug efficacy and toxicity, and neuropathological mechanisms by MEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Han
- grid.444756.00000 0001 2165 0596Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577 Japan
| | - Naoki Matsuda
- grid.444756.00000 0001 2165 0596Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577 Japan
| | - Yuto Ishibashi
- grid.444756.00000 0001 2165 0596Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577 Japan
| | - Aoi Odawara
- grid.444756.00000 0001 2165 0596Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577 Japan
| | - Sayuri Takahashi
- grid.444756.00000 0001 2165 0596Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577 Japan
| | - Norie Tooi
- Stem Cell & Device Laboratory, Inc. (SCAD), OFFICE-ONE Shijo Karasuma 11F, 480, Niwatoriboko-Cho, Shimogyo-Ku, Kyoto, 600-8491 Japan
| | - Koshi Kinoshita
- Stem Cell & Device Laboratory, Inc. (SCAD), OFFICE-ONE Shijo Karasuma 11F, 480, Niwatoriboko-Cho, Shimogyo-Ku, Kyoto, 600-8491 Japan
| | - Ikuro Suzuki
- grid.444756.00000 0001 2165 0596Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8577 Japan
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28
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Tesiye MR, Gol M, Fadardi MR, Kani SNM, Costa AM, Ghasemi-Kasman M, Biagini G. Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Their Interaction with Antiseizure Medications. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244129. [PMID: 36552892 PMCID: PMC9777461 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a life-threatening neurological disease that affects approximately 70 million people worldwide. Although the vast majority of patients may be successfully managed with currently used antiseizure medication (ASM), the search for alternative therapies is still necessary due to pharmacoresistance in about 30% of patients with epilepsy. Here, we review the effects of ASMs on stem cell treatment when they could be, as expected, co-administered. Indeed, it has been reported that ASMs produce significant effects on the differentiation and determination of stem cell fate. In addition, we discuss more recent findings on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in pre-clinical and clinical investigations. In this regard, their ability to differentiate into various cell types, reach damaged tissues and produce and release biologically active molecules with immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties make them a high-potential therapeutic tool to address neuroinflammation in different neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Overall, the characteristics of MSCs to be genetically engineered, in order to replace dysfunctional elements with the aim of restoring normal tissue functioning, suggested that these cells could be good candidates for the treatment of epilepsy refractory to ASMs. Further research is required to understand the potential of stem cell treatment in epileptic patients and its interaction with ASMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Rahimi Tesiye
- Faculty of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 19839-69411, Iran
| | - Mohammad Gol
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- PhD School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (CEM), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | | | | | - Anna-Maria Costa
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Maryam Ghasemi-Kasman
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol 47176-47745, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol 47176-47745, Iran
- Correspondence: (M.G.-K.); (G.B.)
| | - Giuseppe Biagini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.G.-K.); (G.B.)
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Human In Vitro Models of Epilepsy Using Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11243957. [PMID: 36552721 PMCID: PMC9776452 DOI: 10.3390/cells11243957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The challenges in making animal models of complex human epilepsy phenotypes with varied aetiology highlights the need to develop alternative disease models that can address the limitations of animal models by effectively recapitulating human pathophysiology. The advances in stem cell technology provide an opportunity to use human iPSCs to make disease-in-a-dish models. The focus of this review is to report the current information and progress in the generation of epileptic patient-specific iPSCs lines, isogenic control cell lines, and neuronal models. These in vitro models can be used to study the underlying pathological mechanisms of epilepsies, anti-seizure medication resistance, and can also be used for drug testing and drug screening with their isogenic control cell lines.
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30
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Chear S, Perry S, Wilson R, Bindoff A, Talbot J, Ware TL, Grubman A, Vickers JC, Pébay A, Ruddle JB, King AE, Hewitt AW, Cook AL. Lysosomal alterations and decreased electrophysiological activity in CLN3 disease patient-derived cortical neurons. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049651. [PMID: 36453132 PMCID: PMC10655821 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
CLN3 disease is a lysosomal storage disorder associated with fatal neurodegeneration that is caused by mutations in CLN3, with most affected individuals carrying at least one allele with a 966 bp deletion. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we corrected the 966 bp deletion mutation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of a compound heterozygous patient (CLN3 Δ 966 bp and E295K). We differentiated these isogenic iPSCs, and iPSCs from an unrelated healthy control donor, to neurons and identified disease-related changes relating to protein synthesis, trafficking and degradation, and in neuronal activity, which were not apparent in CLN3-corrected or healthy control neurons. CLN3 neurons showed numerous membrane-bound vacuoles containing diverse storage material and hyperglycosylation of the lysosomal LAMP1 protein. Proteomic analysis showed increase in lysosomal-related proteins and many ribosomal subunit proteins in CLN3 neurons, accompanied by downregulation of proteins related to axon guidance and endocytosis. CLN3 neurons also had lower electrophysical activity as recorded using microelectrode arrays. These data implicate inter-related pathways in protein homeostasis and neurite arborization as contributing to CLN3 disease, and which could be potential targets for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sueanne Chear
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Sharn Perry
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Aidan Bindoff
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Jana Talbot
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Tyson L. Ware
- Department of Paediatrics, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Alexandra Grubman
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - James C. Vickers
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jonathan B. Ruddle
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
| | - Anna E. King
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Alex W. Hewitt
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Anthony L. Cook
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
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Yokoi S, Ito T, Sahashi K, Nakatochi M, Nakamura R, Tohnai G, Fujioka Y, Ishigaki S, Udagawa T, Izumi Y, Morita M, Kano O, Oda M, Sone T, Okano H, Atsuta N, Katsuno M, Okada Y, Sobue G. The SYNGAP1 3'UTR Variant in ALS Patients Causes Aberrant SYNGAP1 Splicing and Dendritic Spine Loss by Recruiting HNRNPK. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8881-8896. [PMID: 36261283 PMCID: PMC9698725 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0455-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a pathogenic RNA-binding protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We previously reported that FUS stabilizes Synaptic Ras-GTPase activating protein 1 (Syngap1) mRNA at its 3' untranslated region (UTR) and maintains spine maturation. To elucidate the pathologic roles of this mechanism in ALS patients, we identified the SYNGAP1 3'UTR variant rs149438267 in seven (four males and three females) out of 807 ALS patients at the FUS binding site from a multicenter cohort in Japan. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived motor neurons with the SYNGAP1 variant showed aberrant splicing, increased isoform α1 levels, and decreased isoform γ levels, which caused dendritic spine loss. Moreover, the SYNGAP1 variant excessively recruited FUS and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HNRNPK), and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) blocking HNRNPK altered aberrant splicing and ameliorated dendritic spine loss. These data suggest that excessive recruitment of RNA-binding proteins, especially HNRNPK, as well as changes in SYNGAP1 isoforms, are crucial for spine formation in motor neurons.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is not yet known which RNAs cause the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We previously reported that Fused in sarcoma (FUS), a pathogenic RNA-binding protein in ALS, stabilizes synaptic Ras-GTPase activating protein 1 (Syngap1) mRNA at its 3' untranslated region (UTR) and maintains dendritic spine maturation. To elucidate whether this mechanism is crucial for ALS, we identified the SYNGAP1 3'UTR variant rs149438267 at the FUS binding site. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived motor neurons with the SYNGAP1 variant showed aberrant splicing, which caused dendritic spine loss along with excessive recruitment of FUS and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HNRNPK). Our findings that dendritic spine loss is because of excess recruitment of RNA-binding proteins provide a basis for the future exploration of ALS-related RNA-binding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Yokoi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Takuji Ito
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
- Department of Neural iPSC Research, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Kentaro Sahashi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakatochi
- Public Health Informatics Unit, Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 461-8673, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Genki Tohnai
- Division of ALS Research, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yusuke Fujioka
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Ishigaki
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Udagawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Yuishin Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Mitsuya Morita
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Japan
| | - Osamu Kano
- Department of Neurology, Toho University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan
| | - Masaya Oda
- Department of Neurology, Vihara Hananosato Hospital, Miyoshi 728-0001, Japan
| | - Takefumi Sone
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-0016, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-0016, Japan
| | - Naoki Atsuta
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yohei Okada
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
- Department of Neural iPSC Research, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
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Habibey R, Striebel J, Schmieder F, Czarske J, Busskamp V. Long-term morphological and functional dynamics of human stem cell-derived neuronal networks on high-density micro-electrode arrays. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:951964. [PMID: 36267241 PMCID: PMC9578684 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.951964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive electrophysiological characterizations of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neuronal networks are essential to determine to what extent these in vitro models recapitulate the functional features of in vivo neuronal circuits. High-density micro-electrode arrays (HD-MEAs) offer non-invasive recording with the best spatial and temporal resolution possible to date. For 3 months, we tracked the morphology and activity features of developing networks derived from a transgenic hiPSC line in which neurogenesis is inducible by neurogenic transcription factor overexpression. Our morphological data revealed large-scale structural changes from homogeneously distributed neurons in the first month to the formation of neuronal clusters over time. This led to a constant shift in position of neuronal cells and clusters on HD-MEAs and corresponding changes in spatial distribution of the network activity maps. Network activity appeared as scarce action potentials (APs), evolved as local bursts with longer duration and changed to network-wide synchronized bursts with higher frequencies but shorter duration over time, resembling the emerging burst features found in the developing human brain. Instantaneous firing rate data indicated that the fraction of fast spiking neurons (150–600 Hz) increases sharply after 63 days post induction (dpi). Inhibition of glutamatergic synapses erased burst features from network activity profiles and confirmed the presence of mature excitatory neurotransmission. The application of GABAergic receptor antagonists profoundly changed the bursting profile of the network at 120 dpi. This indicated a GABAergic switch from excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmission during circuit development and maturation. Our results suggested that an emerging GABAergic system at older culture ages is involved in regulating spontaneous network bursts. In conclusion, our data showed that long-term and continuous microscopy and electrophysiology readouts are crucial for a meaningful characterization of morphological and functional maturation in stem cell-derived human networks. Most importantly, assessing the level and duration of functional maturation is key to subject these human neuronal circuits on HD-MEAs for basic and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouhollah Habibey
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Johannes Striebel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Felix Schmieder
- Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jürgen Czarske
- Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Competence Center for Biomedical Computational Laser Systems (BIOLAS), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- School of Science, Institute of Applied Physics, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Volker Busskamp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- *Correspondence: Volker Busskamp,
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Kreir M, Floren W, Policarpo R, De Bondt A, Van den Wyngaert I, Teisman A, Gallacher DJ, Lu HR. Is the forming of neuronal network activity in human-induced pluripotent stem cells important for the detection of drug-induced seizure risks? Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 931:175189. [PMID: 35987255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175189] [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: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional network activity is a characteristic for neuronal cells, and the complexity of the network activity represents the necessary substrate to support complex brain functions. Drugs that drastically increase the neuronal network activity may have a potential higher risk for seizures in human. Although there has been some recent considerable progress made using cultures from different types of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived neurons, one of the primary limitations is the lack of - or very low - network activity. METHOD In the present study, we investigated whether the limited neuronal network activity in commercial hiPSC-neurons (CNS.4U®) is capable of detecting drug-induced potential seizure risks. Therefore, we compared the hiPSC-results to those in rat primary neurons with known high neuronal network activity in vitro. RESULTS Gene expression and electrical activity from in vitro developing neuronal networks were assessed at multiple time-points. Transcriptomes of 7, 28, and 50 days in vitro were analyzed and compared to those from human brain tissues. Data from measurements of electrical activity using multielectrode arrays (MEAs) indicate that neuronal networks matured gradually over time, albeit in hiPSC this developed slower than rat primary cultures. The response of neuronal networks to neuronal active reference drugs modulating glutamatergic, acetylcholinergic and GABAergic pathways could be detected in both hiPSC-neurons and rat primary neurons. However, in comparison, GABAergic responses were limited in hiPSC-neurons. CONCLUSION Overall, despite a slower network development and lower network activity, CNS.4U® hiPSC-neurons can be used to detect drug induced changes in neuronal network activity, as shown by well-known seizurogenic drugs (affecting e.g., the Glycine receptor and Na+ channel). However, lower sensitivity to GABA antagonists has been observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Kreir
- Global Safety Pharmacology, Predictive & Investigative Translational Toxicology, Nonclinical Safety, Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium.
| | - Wim Floren
- Global Safety Pharmacology, Predictive & Investigative Translational Toxicology, Nonclinical Safety, Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Rafaela Policarpo
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Belgium
| | - An De Bondt
- High Dimensional & Computational Biology, Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Ilse Van den Wyngaert
- High Dimensional & Computational Biology, Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Ard Teisman
- Global Safety Pharmacology, Predictive & Investigative Translational Toxicology, Nonclinical Safety, Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - David J Gallacher
- Global Safety Pharmacology, Predictive & Investigative Translational Toxicology, Nonclinical Safety, Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Hua Rong Lu
- Global Safety Pharmacology, Predictive & Investigative Translational Toxicology, Nonclinical Safety, Janssen Research and Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
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Huang B, He Y, Rofaani E, Liang F, Huang X, Shi J, Wang L, Yamada A, Peng J, Chen Y. Automatic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells toward synchronous neural networks on an arrayed monolayer of nanofiber membrane. Acta Biomater 2022; 150:168-180. [PMID: 35907558 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.07.038] [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: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Automatic differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) facilitates the generation of cortical neural networks and studies of brain functions. Here, we present a method of directed differentiation of hiPSCs with a substrate made of a honeycomb microframe and a monolayer of crosslinked gelatin nanofibers in the form of an array of nanofiber membranes. Neural precursor cells (NPCs) were firstly derived from hiPSCs and then placed on the nanofiber membranes for automatically controlled neural differentiation over a long period. Due to the strong modulation of the substrate stiffness and permeability, most cells were found in the center area of the honeycomb compartments, giving rise to regular and inter-connected cortical neural clusters. More importantly, the neural activities of the clusters were synchronized proving the reliability of the method. Our results showed that the self-organization, as well as the neural activities of differentiating neural cells, were more efficient in the nanofiber membrane compared to the types of the substrate such as glass and nanofiber-covered glass. In addition to the inherent advantages such as manpower saving and fewer risks of contamination and human error, automatic differentiation avoided undesired shaking which might have critical effects on the formation of synchronous neural clusters. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : Synchronization of cortical neural activities is essential for information processing and human cognition. By automated differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells on arrayed monolayer of nanofiber membrane, synchronous neural clusters could be formed. Such an approach would allow creating a variety of neural networks with regular and interconnected clusters for systematic studies of human cortical functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boxin Huang
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Yong He
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Elrade Rofaani
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Feng Liang
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Xiaochen Huang
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jian Shi
- MesoBioTech, 231 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001, Paris, France
| | - Li Wang
- MesoBioTech, 231 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001, Paris, France
| | - Ayako Yamada
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Juan Peng
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Yong Chen
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France.
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Rosholm KR, Badone B, Karatsiompani S, Nagy D, Seibertz F, Voigt N, Bell DC. Adventures and Advances in Time Travel With Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Automated Patch Clamp. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:898717. [PMID: 35813069 PMCID: PMC9258620 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.898717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Hollywood blockbuster “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” a fantastical fable unfolds of a man’s life that travels through time reversing the aging process; as the tale progresses, the frail old man becomes a vigorous, vivacious young man, then man becomes boy and boy becomes baby. The reality of cellular time travel, however, is far more wondrous: we now have the ability to both reverse and then forward time on mature cells. Four proteins were found to rewind the molecular clock of adult cells back to their embryonic, “blank canvas” pluripotent stem cell state, allowing these pluripotent stem cells to then be differentiated to fast forward their molecular clocks to the desired adult specialist cell types. These four proteins – the “Yamanaka factors” – form critical elements of this cellular time travel, which deservedly won Shinya Yamanaka the Nobel Prize for his lab’s work discovering them. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) hold much promise in our understanding of physiology and medicine. They encapsulate the signaling pathways of the desired cell types, such as cardiomyocytes or neurons, and thus act as model cells for defining the critical ion channel activity in healthy and disease states. Since hiPSCs can be derived from any patient, highly specific, personalized (or stratified) physiology, and/or pathophysiology can be defined, leading to exciting developments in personalized medicines and interventions. As such, hiPSC married with high throughput automated patch clamp (APC) ion channel recording platforms provide a foundation for significant physiological, medical and drug discovery advances. This review aims to summarize the current state of affairs of hiPSC and APC: the background and recent advances made; and the pros, cons and challenges of these technologies. Whilst the authors have yet to finalize a fully functional time traveling machine, they will endeavor to provide plausible future projections on where hiPSC and APC are likely to carry us. One future projection the authors are confident in making is the increasing necessity and adoption of these technologies in the discovery of the next blockbuster, this time a life-enhancing ion channel drug, not a fantastical movie.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadla R. Rosholm
- Sophion Bioscience A/S, Ballerup, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Kadla R. Rosholm,
| | | | | | - David Nagy
- Sophion Bioscience Inc., Woburn, MA, United States
| | - Fitzwilliam Seibertz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Niels Voigt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Recent Advancements in In Vitro Models of Traumatic Brain Injury. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Schmieder F, Habibey R, Striebel J, Büttner L, Czarske J, Busskamp V. Tracking connectivity maps in human stem cell-derived neuronal networks by holographic optogenetics. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/7/e202101268. [PMID: 35418473 PMCID: PMC9008225 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Holographic optogenetic stimulation of human iPSC–derived neuronal networks was exploited to map precise functional connectivity motifs and their long-term dynamics during network development. Neuronal networks derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells have been exploited widely for modeling neuronal circuits, neurological diseases, and drug screening. As these networks require extended culturing periods to functionally mature in vitro, most studies are based on immature networks. To obtain insights on long-term functional features, we improved a glia–neuron co-culture protocol within multi-electrode arrays, facilitating continuous assessment of electrical features in weekly intervals. By full-field optogenetic stimulation, we detected an earlier onset of neuronal firing and burst activity compared with spontaneous activity. Full-field stimulation enhanced the number of active neurons and their firing rates. Compared with full-field stimulation, which evoked synchronized activity across all neurons, holographic stimulation of individual neurons resulted in local activity. Single-cell holographic stimulation facilitated to trace propagating evoked activities of 400 individually stimulated neurons per multi-electrode array. Thereby, we revealed precise functional neuronal connectivity motifs. Holographic stimulation data over time showed increasing connection numbers and strength with culture age. This holographic stimulation setup has the potential to establish a profound functional testbed for in-depth analysis of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Schmieder
- Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rouhollah Habibey
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Johannes Striebel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lars Büttner
- Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jürgen Czarske
- Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany .,Competence Center for Biomedical Computational Laser Systems (BIOLAS), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Institute of Applied Physics, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Volker Busskamp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Comparative microelectrode array data of the functional development of hPSC-derived and rat neuronal networks. Sci Data 2022; 9:120. [PMID: 35354837 PMCID: PMC8969177 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01242-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a dataset of microelectrode array (MEA) recordings from human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived and rat embryonic cortical neurons during their in vitro maturation. The data were prepared to assess extracellularly recorded spontaneous activity and to compare the functional development of these neuronal networks. In addition to recordings of spontaneous activity, we provide pharmacological responses of hPSC-derived and rat cortical cultures at their mature stage. Together with the recorded electrode raw data, we share the analysis code to form a comprehensive dataset including spike times, spike waveforms, burst activity and network synchronization metrics calculated with two different connectivity estimators. Moreover, we provide the analysis code that produced the key scientific findings published previously with this dataset. This large dataset enables investigation of the functional aspects of maturing cortical neuronal networks and provides substantial parameters to assess the differences and similarities between hPSC-derived and rat cortical networks in vitro. This publicly available dataset will be beneficial, especially for experimental and computational neuroscientists. Measurement(s) | extracellular electrophysiological activity | Technology Type(s) | microelectrode array | Factor Type(s) | days in vitro • dosage | Sample Characteristic - Organism | hPSC-derived neuronal cultures • rat neuronal cultures | Sample Characteristic - Environment | functional development • pharmacological response |
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Impaired Functional Connectivity Underlies Fragile X Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042048. [PMID: 35216162 PMCID: PMC8878121 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited intellectual disability, is caused by a developmentally regulated silencing of the FMR1 gene, but its effect on human neuronal network development and function is not fully understood. Here, we isolated isogenic human embryonic stem cell (hESC) subclones—one with a full FX mutation and one that is free of the mutation (control) but shares the same genetic background—differentiated them into induced neurons (iNs) by forced expression of NEUROG-1, and compared the functional properties of the derived neuronal networks. High-throughput image analysis demonstrates that FX-iNs have significantly smaller cell bodies and reduced arborizations than the control. Both FX- and control-neurons can discharge repetitive action potentials, and FX neuronal networks are also able to generate spontaneous excitatory synaptic currents with slight differences from the control, demonstrating that iNs generate more mature neuronal networks than the previously used protocols. MEA analysis demonstrated that FX networks are hyperexcitable with significantly higher spontaneous burst-firing activity compared to the control. Most importantly, cross-correlation analysis enabled quantification of network connectivity to demonstrate that the FX neuronal networks are significantly less synchronous than the control, which can explain the origin of the development of intellectual dysfunction associated with FXS.
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Matsuda N, Odawara A, Kinoshita K, Okamura A, Shirakawa T, Suzuki I. Raster plots machine learning to predict the seizure liability of drugs and to identify drugs. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2281. [PMID: 35145132 PMCID: PMC8831568 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05697-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro microelectrode array (MEA) assessment using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons holds promise as a method of seizure and toxicity evaluation. However, there are still issues surrounding the analysis methods used to predict seizure and toxicity liability as well as drug mechanisms of action. In the present study, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI) capable of predicting the seizure liability of drugs and identifying drugs using deep learning based on raster plots of neural network activity. The seizure liability prediction AI had a prediction accuracy of 98.4% for the drugs used to train it, classifying them correctly based on their responses as either seizure-causing compounds or seizure-free compounds. The AI also made concentration-dependent judgments of the seizure liability of drugs that it was not trained on. In addition, the drug identification AI implemented using the leave-one-sample-out scheme could distinguish among 13 seizure-causing compounds as well as seizure-free compound responses, with a mean accuracy of 99.9 ± 0.1% for all drugs. These AI prediction models are able to identify seizure liability concentration-dependence, rank the level of seizure liability based on the seizure liability probability, and identify the mechanism of the action of compounds. This holds promise for the future of in vitro MEA assessment as a powerful, high-accuracy new seizure liability prediction method.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Matsuda
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - A Odawara
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan
| | - K Kinoshita
- Drug Safety Research Labs, Astellas Pharma Inc., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - A Okamura
- Drug Safety Research Labs, Astellas Pharma Inc., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - T Shirakawa
- Drug Safety Research Labs, Astellas Pharma Inc., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - I Suzuki
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, 35-1 Yagiyama Kasumicho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 982-8577, Japan.
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Yokoi R, Shigemoto-Kuroda T, Matsuda N, Odawara A, Suzuki I. Electrophysiological responses to seizurogenic compounds dependent on E/I balance in human iPSC-derived cortical neural networks. J Pharmacol Sci 2022; 148:267-278. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Wasilewski D, Villalba-Moreno ND, Stange I, Glatzel M, Sepulveda-Falla D, Krasemann S. Reactive Astrocytes Contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Neurotoxicity and Synaptotoxicity in a Neuron-Astrocyte Co-culture Assay. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:739411. [PMID: 35126055 PMCID: PMC8813976 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.739411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) include deposition and accumulation of amyloid- β (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangle formation, and neuronal loss. Pathogenesis of presymptomatic disease stages remains elusive, although studies suggest that the early structural and functional alterations likely occur at neuronal dendritic spines. Presymptomatic alterations may also affect different CNS cell types. However, specific contributions of these cell types as cause or consequence of pathology are difficult to study in vivo. There is a shortage of relatively simple, well-defined, and validated in vitro models that allow a straightforward interpretation of results and recapitulate aspects of pathophysiology. For instance, dissecting the AD-related processes (e.g., neurotoxicity vs. synaptotoxicity) may be difficult with the common cell-based systems such as neuronal cell lines or primary neurons. To investigate and characterize the impact of reactive astrocytes on neuronal morphology in the context of AD-related cues, we modified an in vitro co-culture assay of primary mouse neurons and primary mouse astrocytes based on the so-called Banker “sandwich” co-culture assay. Here, we provide a simple and modular assay with fully differentiated primary mouse neurons to study the paracrine interactions between the neurons and the astrocytes in the co-culture setting. Readouts were obtained from both cell types in our assay. Astrocyte feeder cells were pre-exposed to neuroinflammatory conditions by means of Aβ42, Aβ40, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Non-cell autonomous toxic effects of reactive astrocytes on neurons were assessed using the Sholl analysis to evaluate the dendritic complexity, whereas synaptic puncta served as a readout of synaptotoxicity. Here, we show that astrocytes actively contribute to the phenotype of the primary neurons in an AD-specific context, emphasizing the role of different cell types in AD pathology. The cytokine expression pattern was significantly altered in the treated astrocytes. Of note, the impact of reactive astrocytes on neurons was highly dependent on the defined cell ratios. Our co-culture system is modular, of low cost, and allows us to probe aspects of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation between the two major CNS cell types, neurons, and astrocytes, under well-defined experimental conditions. Our easy-to-follow protocol, including work-flow figures, may also provide a methodological outline to study the interactions of astrocytes and neurons in the context of other diseases in the future.
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Using induced pluripotent stem cells to investigate human neuronal phenotypes in 1q21.1 deletion and duplication syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:819-830. [PMID: 34112971 PMCID: PMC9054650 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01182-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Copy Number Variation (CNV) at the 1q21.1 locus is associated with a range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in humans, including abnormalities in head size and motor deficits. Yet, the functional consequences of these CNVs (both deletion and duplication) on neuronal development remain unknown. To determine the impact of CNV at the 1q21.1 locus on neuronal development, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells from individuals harbouring 1q21.1 deletion or duplication and differentiated them into functional cortical neurons. We show that neurons with 1q21.1 deletion or duplication display reciprocal phenotype with respect to proliferation, differentiation potential, neuronal maturation, synaptic density and functional activity. Deletion of the 1q21.1 locus was also associated with an increased expression of lower cortical layer markers. This difference was conserved in the mouse model of 1q21.1 deletion, which displayed altered corticogenesis. Importantly, we show that neurons with 1q21.1 deletion and duplication are associated with differential expression of calcium channels and demonstrate that physiological deficits in neurons with 1q21.1 deletion or duplication can be pharmacologically modulated by targeting Ca2+ channel activity. These findings provide biological insight into the neuropathological mechanism underlying 1q21.1 associated brain disorder and indicate a potential target for therapeutic interventions.
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A kainic acid-induced seizure model in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons for studying the role of IL-6 in the functional activity. Stem Cell Res 2022; 60:102665. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2022.102665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Cadherin-13 is a critical regulator of GABAergic modulation in human stem-cell-derived neuronal networks. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1-18. [PMID: 33972691 PMCID: PMC8960401 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01117-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Activity in the healthy brain relies on a concerted interplay of excitation (E) and inhibition (I) via balanced synaptic communication between glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. A growing number of studies imply that disruption of this E/I balance is a commonality in many brain disorders; however, obtaining mechanistic insight into these disruptions, with translational value for the patient, has typically been hampered by methodological limitations. Cadherin-13 (CDH13) has been associated with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. CDH13 localizes at inhibitory presynapses, specifically of parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) expressing GABAergic neurons. However, the mechanism by which CDH13 regulates the function of inhibitory synapses in human neurons remains unknown. Starting from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, we established a robust method to generate a homogenous population of SST and MEF2C (PV-precursor marker protein) expressing GABAergic neurons (iGABA) in vitro, and co-cultured these with glutamatergic neurons at defined E/I ratios on micro-electrode arrays. We identified functional network parameters that are most reliably affected by GABAergic modulation as such, and through alterations of E/I balance by reduced expression of CDH13 in iGABAs. We found that CDH13 deficiency in iGABAs decreased E/I balance by means of increased inhibition. Moreover, CDH13 interacts with Integrin-β1 and Integrin-β3, which play opposite roles in the regulation of inhibitory synaptic strength via this interaction. Taken together, this model allows for standardized investigation of the E/I balance in a human neuronal background and can be deployed to dissect the cell-type-specific contribution of disease genes to the E/I balance.
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Microglia-like Cells Promote Neuronal Functions in Cerebral Organoids. Cells 2021; 11:cells11010124. [PMID: 35011686 PMCID: PMC8750120 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cerebral organoids, derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, offer a unique in vitro research window to the development of the cerebral cortex. However, a key player in the developing brain, the microglia, do not natively emerge in cerebral organoids. Here we show that erythromyeloid progenitors (EMPs), differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells, migrate to cerebral organoids, and mature into microglia-like cells and interact with synaptic material. Patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings show that the microglia-like population supported the emergence of more mature and diversified neuronal phenotypes displaying repetitive firing of action potentials, low-threshold spikes and synaptic activity, while multielectrode array recordings revealed spontaneous bursting activity and increased power of gamma-band oscillations upon pharmacological challenge with NMDA. To conclude, microglia-like cells within the organoids promote neuronal and network maturation and recapitulate some aspects of microglia-neuron co-development in vivo, indicating that cerebral organoids could be a useful biorealistic human in vitro platform for studying microglia-neuron interactions.
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Functional Characterization of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Models of the Brain with Microelectrode Arrays. Cells 2021; 11:cells11010106. [PMID: 35011667 PMCID: PMC8750870 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neuron cultures have emerged as models of electrical activity in the human brain. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) measure changes in the extracellular electric potential of cell cultures or tissues and enable the recording of neuronal network activity. MEAs have been applied to both human subjects and hPSC-derived brain models. Here, we review the literature on the functional characterization of hPSC-derived two- and three-dimensional brain models with MEAs and examine their network function in physiological and pathological contexts. We also summarize MEA results from the human brain and compare them to the literature on MEA recordings of hPSC-derived brain models. MEA recordings have shown network activity in two-dimensional hPSC-derived brain models that is comparable to the human brain and revealed pathology-associated changes in disease models. Three-dimensional hPSC-derived models such as brain organoids possess a more relevant microenvironment, tissue architecture and potential for modeling the network activity with more complexity than two-dimensional models. hPSC-derived brain models recapitulate many aspects of network function in the human brain and provide valid disease models, but certain advancements in differentiation methods, bioengineering and available MEA technology are needed for these approaches to reach their full potential.
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Autar K, Guo X, Rumsey JW, Long CJ, Akanda N, Jackson M, Narasimhan NS, Caneus J, Morgan D, Hickman JJ. A functional hiPSC-cortical neuron differentiation and maturation model and its application to neurological disorders. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 17:96-109. [PMID: 34942087 PMCID: PMC8758945 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The maturation and functional characteristics of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-cortical neurons has not been fully documented. This study developed a phenotypic model of hiPSC-derived cortical neurons, characterized their maturation process, and investigated its application for disease modeling with the integration of multi-electrode array (MEA) technology. Immunocytochemistry analysis indicated early-stage neurons (day 21) were simultaneously positive for both excitatory (vesicular glutamate transporter 1 [VGlut1]) and inhibitory (GABA) markers, while late-stage cultures (day 40) expressed solely VGlut1, indicating a purely excitatory phenotype without containing glial cells. This maturation process was further validated utilizing patch clamp and MEA analysis. Particularly, induced long-term potentiation (LTP) successfully persisted for 1 h in day 40 cultures, but only achieved LTP in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin in day 21 cultures. This system was also applied to epilepsy modeling utilizing bicuculline and its correction utilizing the anti-epileptic drug valproic acid. Characterization of human cortical neuronal differentiation to a mature phenotype Microelectrode evaluation of development from a mixed to pure excitatory population Utilization of defined culture stage to create an epilepsy model Manipulation of immaturity with inhibitors for maintaining long-term potentiation
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaveena Autar
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Xiufang Guo
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - John W Rumsey
- Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Christopher J Long
- Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Nesar Akanda
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Max Jackson
- Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | | | - Julbert Caneus
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Dave Morgan
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids Research Center, 400 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - James J Hickman
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA; Hesperos Inc., 12501 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826, USA.
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Yokoi R, Shibata M, Odawara A, Ishibashi Y, Nagafuku N, Matsuda N, Suzuki I. Analysis of signal components < 500 Hz in brain organoids coupled to microelectrode arrays: A reliable test-bed for preclinical seizure liability assessment of drugs and screening of antiepileptic drugs. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 28:101148. [PMID: 34693037 PMCID: PMC8517166 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101148] [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: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain organoids with three-dimensional structure and tissue-like function are highly demanded for brain disease research and drug evaluation. However, to our knowledge, methods for measuring and analyzing brain organoid function have not been developed yet. This study focused on the frequency components of an obtained waveform below 500 Hz using planner microelectrode array (MEA) and evaluated the response to the convulsants pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and strychnine as well as the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) perampanel and phenytoin. Sudden and persistent seizure-like firing was observed with PTZ administration, displaying a concentration-dependent periodic activity with the frequency component enhanced even in one oscillation characteristic. On the other hand, in the administration of AEDs, the frequency of oscillation decreased in a concentration-dependent manner and the intensity of the frequency component in one oscillation also decreased. Interestingly, at low doses of phenytoin, a group of synchronized bursts was formed, which was different from the response to the perampanel. Frequency components contained information on cerebral organoid function, and MEA was proven useful in predicting the seizure liability of drugs and evaluating the effect of AEDs with a different mechanism of action. In addition, frequency component analysis of brain organoids using MEA is an important analysis method to perform in vitro to in vivo extrapolation in the future, which will help explore the function of the organoid itself, study human brain developments, and treat various brain diseases. Frequency analysis <500 Hz was performed in brain organoids coupled to planner microelectrode arrays (MEA). Concentration-dependent changes in frequency components were detected in responses to convulsants and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Analysis of signal components <500 Hz in brain organoids is a useful method for preclinical seizure liability assessment of drugs and screening of antiepileptic drugs.
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