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Huang M, Tailor J, Zhen Q, Gillmor AH, Miller ML, Weishaupt H, Chen J, Zheng T, Nash EK, McHenry LK, An Z, Ye F, Takashima Y, Clarke J, Ayetey H, Cavalli FMG, Luu B, Moriarity BS, Ilkhanizadeh S, Chavez L, Yu C, Kurian KM, Magnaldo T, Sevenet N, Koch P, Pollard SM, Dirks P, Snyder MP, Largaespada DA, Cho YJ, Phillips JJ, Swartling FJ, Morrissy AS, Kool M, Pfister SM, Taylor MD, Smith A, Weiss WA. Engineering Genetic Predisposition in Human Neuroepithelial Stem Cells Recapitulates Medulloblastoma Tumorigenesis. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 25:433-446.e7. [PMID: 31204176 PMCID: PMC6731167 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Human neural stem cell cultures provide progenitor cells that are potential cells of origin for brain cancers. However, the extent to which genetic predisposition to tumor formation can be faithfully captured in stem cell lines is uncertain. Here, we evaluated neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells, representative of cerebellar progenitors. We transduced NES cells with MYCN, observing medulloblastoma upon orthotopic implantation in mice. Significantly, transcriptomes and patterns of DNA methylation from xenograft tumors were globally more representative of human medulloblastoma compared to a MYCN-driven genetically engineered mouse model. Orthotopic transplantation of NES cells generated from Gorlin syndrome patients, who are predisposed to medulloblastoma due to germline-mutated PTCH1, also generated medulloblastoma. We engineered candidate cooperating mutations in Gorlin NES cells, with mutation of DDX3X or loss of GSE1 both accelerating tumorigenesis. These findings demonstrate that human NES cells provide a potent experimental resource for dissecting genetic causation in medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miller Huang
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jignesh Tailor
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK; Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Qiqi Zhen
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Aaron H Gillmor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew L Miller
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Holger Weishaupt
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Justin Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tina Zheng
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Emily K Nash
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Lauren K McHenry
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Zhenyi An
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Fubaiyang Ye
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Takashima
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - James Clarke
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Harold Ayetey
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Florence M G Cavalli
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Betty Luu
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Shirin Ilkhanizadeh
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Lukas Chavez
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chunying Yu
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kathreena M Kurian
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Level 1, Learning and Research Building, Southmead Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Thierry Magnaldo
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice UMR CNRS 7284 INSERM U1081 UNS/UCA, Nice, France
| | - Nicolas Sevenet
- Institut Bergonie & INSERM U1218, Universite de Bordeaux, 229 cours de l'Argonne, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Philipp Koch
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim and Hector Institut for Translational Brain Research (HITBR gGmbH), Mannheim, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steven M Pollard
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Peter Dirks
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael P Snyder
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David A Largaespada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Yoon Jae Cho
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Joanna J Phillips
- Departments of Neurological Surgery and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - A Sorana Morrissy
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada; The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - William A Weiss
- Department of Neurology and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Departments of Pediatrics, Neurosurgery and Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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The Neurosphere Assay (NSA) Applied to Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs). Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1953:139-149. [PMID: 30912020 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9145-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the mammalian brain has raised many expectations as these unique cells might recapitulate different neurological diseases, including brain tumors, both from a functional and molecular perspective. Proper in vitro culturing of NSCs has emerged as a critical methodological issue, given that it should preserve the in vivo features of NSCs, with particular emphasis on cell heterogeneity. At the same time, the methodology for NSC culturing should allow the production of large amounts of cells to be exploited not only for prospective clinical applications but also for drug screening. Direct in vitro selection of NSCs and, very recently, cancer stem cells (CSCs) by means of defined serum-free conditions represents the most reliable methodology to obtain long-term expanding SC lines. Here we describe the methods currently employed to enrich for NSCs/CSCs based on the neurosphere assay (NSA) and their adaptation to specific assays for testing the efficacy of neuroactive compounds.
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3
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O'Duibhir E, Carragher NO, Pollard SM. Accelerating glioblastoma drug discovery: Convergence of patient-derived models, genome editing and phenotypic screening. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017; 80:198-207. [PMID: 27825983 PMCID: PMC6128397 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) continue to face a bleak prognosis. It is critical that new effective therapeutic strategies are developed. GBM stem cells have molecular hallmarks of neural stem and progenitor cells and it is possible to propagate both non-transformed normal neural stem cells and GBM stem cells, in defined, feeder-free, adherent culture. These primary stem cell lines provide an experimental model that is ideally suited to cell-based drug discovery or genetic screens in order to identify tumour-specific vulnerabilities. For many solid tumours, including GBM, the genetic disruptions that drive tumour initiation and growth have now been catalogued. CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing technologies have recently emerged, transforming our ability to functionally annotate the human genome. Genome editing opens prospects for engineering precise genetic changes in normal and GBM-derived neural stem cells, which will provide more defined and reliable genetic models, with critical matched pairs of isogenic cell lines. Generation of more complex alleles such as knock in tags or fluorescent reporters is also now possible. These new cellular models can be deployed in cell-based phenotypic drug discovery (PDD). Here we discuss the convergence of these advanced technologies (iPS cells, neural stem cell culture, genome editing and high content phenotypic screening) and how they herald a new era in human cellular genetics that should have a major impact in accelerating glioblastoma drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eoghan O'Duibhir
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, CRUK Edinburgh Centre, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil O Carragher
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, CRUK Edinburgh Centre, University of Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Steven M Pollard
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, CRUK Edinburgh Centre, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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4
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Cell type-dependent Erk-Akt pathway crosstalk regulates the proliferation of fetal neural progenitor cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26547. [PMID: 27211495 PMCID: PMC4876380 DOI: 10.1038/srep26547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor (NP) cells are the multipotent cells that produce neurons and glia in the central nervous system. Compounds regulating their proliferation are key to both understanding brain development and unlocking their potential in regenerative repair. We discuss a chemical screen that unexpectedly identified inhibitors of Erk signaling potently promoting the self-renewing divisions of fetal NP cells. This occurred through crosstalk between Erk and Akt signaling cascades. The crosstalk mechanism is cell type-specific, and is not detected in adult NP cells as well as brain tumor cells. The mechanism was also shown to be independent from the GSK-3 signaling pathway, which has been reported to be a major regulator of NP cell homeostasis and inhibitors to which were also identified in the screen. In vitro Erk inhibition led to the prolonged rapid expansion of fetal NP cells while retaining their multipotency. In vivo inhibitor administration significantly inhibited the neuronal differentiation, and resulted in increased proliferative progenitor cells in the ventricular/subventricular zone (VZ/SVZ) of the embryonic cortex. Our results uncovered a novel regulating pathway for NP cell proliferation in the developing brain. The discovery provides a pharmacological basis for in vitro expansion and in vivo manipulation of NP cells.
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5
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Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Szewczyk M, Prinos P, Lima-Fernandes E, Ackloo S, Arrowsmith C. Chemical Biology Approaches for Characterization of Epigenetic Regulators. Methods Enzymol 2016; 574:79-103. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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6
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Rhim JH, Luo X, Xu X, Gao D, Zhou T, Li F, Qin L, Wang P, Xia X, Wong STC. A High-content screen identifies compounds promoting the neuronal differentiation and the midbrain dopamine neuron specification of human neural progenitor cells. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16237. [PMID: 26542303 PMCID: PMC4635364 DOI: 10.1038/srep16237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Small molecule compounds promoting the neuronal differentiation of stem/progenitor cells are of pivotal importance to regenerative medicine. We carried out a high-content screen to systematically characterize known bioactive compounds, on their effects on the neuronal differentiation and the midbrain dopamine (mDA) neuron specification of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from the ventral mesencephalon of human fetal brain. Among the promoting compounds three major pharmacological classes were identified including the statins, TGF-βRI inhibitors, and GSK-3 inhibitors. The function of each class was also shown to be distinct, either to promote both the neuronal differentiation and mDA neuron specification, or selectively the latter, or promote the former but suppress the latter. We then carried out initial investigation on the possible mechanisms underlying, and demonstrated their applications on NPCs derived from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Our study revealed the potential of several small molecule compounds for use in the directed differentiation of human NPCs. The screening result also provided insight into the signaling network regulating the differentiation of human NPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Heon Rhim
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Xiangjian Luo
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Xiaoyun Xu
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Dongbing Gao
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Tieling Zhou
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Fuhai Li
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Xiaofeng Xia
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Stephen T C Wong
- Chao Center for BRAIN, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030.,Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065
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Manganelli G, Masullo U, Filosa S. HTS/HCS to screen molecules able to maintain embryonic stem cell self-renewal or to induce differentiation: overview of protocols. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2015; 10:802-19. [PMID: 25007774 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-014-9528-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells, combining self-renewal ability with wide range tissue-specific cell differentiation, represent one of the most powerful model systems in basic research, drug discovery and biomedical applications. In the field of drug development, ES cells are instrumental in high-throughput/content screening (HTS/HCS) for the evaluation of large compound libraries to test biological activity and toxic properties. Since it is a high priority to test new compounds in vitro, before starting animal and human treatments, there is an increasing demand for new in vitro models that can be used in HTS/HCS to facilitate drug development. In order to achieve this objective, several methods for ES cell self-renewal or differentiation have been evaluated to assess their compatibility with HTS/HCS. This review describes protocols used to screen molecules able to maintain self-renewal or to induce differentiation in ectodermal, mesodermal, endodermal, and their derivative cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genesia Manganelli
- Istituto di Bioscienze e BioRisorse , UOS Napoli -CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131, Naples, Italy,
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Viswanathan P, Gaskell T, Moens N, Culley OJ, Hansen D, Gervasio MKR, Yeap YJ, Danovi D. Human pluripotent stem cells on artificial microenvironments: a high content perspective. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:150. [PMID: 25071572 PMCID: PMC4078252 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-renewing stem cell populations are increasingly considered as resources for cell therapy and tools for drug discovery. Human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells in particular offer a virtually unlimited reservoir of homogeneous cells and can be differentiated toward diverse lineages. Many diseases show impairment in self-renewal or differentiation, abnormal lineage choice or other aberrant cell behavior in response to chemical or physical cues. To investigate these responses, there is a growing interest in the development of specific assays using hPS cells, artificial microenvironments and high content analysis. Several hurdles need to be overcome that can be grouped into three areas: (i) availability of robust, homogeneous, and consistent cell populations as a starting point; (ii) appropriate understanding and use of chemical and physical microenvironments; (iii) development of assays that dissect the complexity of cell populations in tissues while mirroring specific aspects of their behavior. Here we review recent progress in the culture of hPS cells and we detail the importance of the environment surrounding the cells with a focus on synthetic material and suitable high content analysis approaches. The technologies described, if properly combined, have the potential to create a paradigm shift in the way diseases are modeled and drug discovery is performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyalakshmi Viswanathan
- HipSci Cell Phenotyping, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College LondonLondon, UK
| | | | - Nathalie Moens
- HipSci Cell Phenotyping, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College LondonLondon, UK
| | - Oliver J. Culley
- HipSci Cell Phenotyping, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College LondonLondon, UK
| | - Darrick Hansen
- HipSci Cell Phenotyping, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College LondonLondon, UK
| | - Mia K. R. Gervasio
- HipSci Cell Phenotyping, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College LondonLondon, UK
| | - Yee J. Yeap
- HipSci Cell Phenotyping, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College LondonLondon, UK
| | - Davide Danovi
- HipSci Cell Phenotyping, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College LondonLondon, UK
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9
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Stem cells expanded from the human embryonic hindbrain stably retain regional specification and high neurogenic potency. J Neurosci 2013; 33:12407-22. [PMID: 23884946 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0130-13.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell lines that faithfully maintain the regional identity and developmental potency of progenitors in the human brain would create new opportunities in developmental neurobiology and provide a resource for generating specialized human neurons. However, to date, neural progenitor cultures derived from the human brain have either been short-lived or exhibit restricted, predominantly glial, differentiation capacity. Pluripotent stem cells are an alternative source, but to ascertain definitively the identity and fidelity of cell types generated solely in vitro is problematic. Here, we show that hindbrain neuroepithelial stem (hbNES) cells can be derived and massively expanded from early human embryos (week 5-7, Carnegie stage 15-17). These cell lines are propagated in adherent culture in the presence of EGF and FGF2 and retain progenitor characteristics, including SOX1 expression, formation of rosette-like structures, and high neurogenic capacity. They generate GABAergic, glutamatergic and, at lower frequency, serotonergic neurons. Importantly, hbNES cells stably maintain hindbrain specification and generate upper rhombic lip derivatives on exposure to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). When grafted into neonatal rat brain, they show potential for integration into cerebellar development and produce cerebellar granule-like cells, albeit at low frequency. hbNES cells offer a new system to study human cerebellar specification and development and to model diseases of the hindbrain. They also provide a benchmark for the production of similar long-term neuroepithelial-like stem cells (lt-NES) from pluripotent cell lines. To our knowledge, hbNES cells are the first demonstration of highly expandable neuroepithelial stem cells derived from the human embryo without genetic immortalization.
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Xia X, Wong ST. Concise review: a high-content screening approach to stem cell research and drug discovery. Stem Cells 2013; 30:1800-7. [PMID: 22821636 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput screening (HTS) is a technology widely used for early stages of drug discovery in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Recent hardware and software improvements have enabled HTS to be used in combination with subcellular resolution microscopy, resulting in cell image-based HTS, called high-content screening (HCS). HCS allows the acquisition of deeper knowledge at a single-cell level such that more complex biological systems can be studied in a high-throughput manner. The technique is particularly well-suited for stem cell research and drug discovery, which almost inevitably require single-cell resolutions for the detection of rare phenotypes in heterogeneous cultures. With growing availability of facilities, instruments, and reagent libraries, small-to-moderate scale HCS can now be carried out in regular academic labs. We envision that the HCS technique will play an increasing role in both basic mechanism study and early-stage drug discovery on stem cells. Here, we review the development of HCS technique and its past application on stem cells and discuss possible future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Xia
- Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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11
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Abstract
The discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the mammalian brain has raised many expectations as these unique cells might recapitulate different neurological diseases, including brain tumors, both from a functional and molecular perspective. Proper in vitro culturing of NSCs has emerged as a critical methodological issue, given that it should preserve the in vivo features of NSCs, with particular emphasis on cell heterogeneity. At the same time, the methodology for NSC culturing should allow the production of large amounts of cells to be exploited not only for prospective clinical applications, but also for drug screening. Direct in vitro selection of NSCs and, very recently, cancer stem cells (CSCs) by means of defined serum-free conditions represents the most reliable methodology to obtain long-term expanding SC lines. Here we describe the methods currently employed to enrich for NSCs/CSCs based on the NeuroSphere Assay (NSA) and their adaptation to specific assays for testing the efficacy of neuroactive compounds.
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12
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McLaren D, Gorba T, Marguerie de Rotrou A, Pillai G, Chappell C, Stacey A, Lingard S, Falk A, Smith A, Koch P, Brüstle O, Vickers R, Tinsley J, Flanders D, Bello P, Craig S. Automated large-scale culture and medium-throughput chemical screen for modulators of proliferation and viability of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuroepithelial-like stem cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 18:258-68. [PMID: 23042076 DOI: 10.1177/1087057112461446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to demonstrate proof-of-concept feasibility for the use of human neural stem cells (NSCs) for high-throughput screening (HTS) applications. For this study, an adherent human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived long-term, self-renewing, neuroepithelial-like stem (lt-NES) cell line was selected as a representative NSC. Here, we describe the automated large-scale serum-free culture ("scale-up") of human lt-NES cells on the CompacT SelecT cell culture robotic platform, followed by their subsequent automated "scale-out" into a microwell plate format. We also report a medium-throughput screen of 1000 compounds to identify modulators of neural stem cell proliferation and/or survival. The screen was performed on two independent occasions using a cell viability assay with end-point reading resulting in the identification of 24 potential hit compounds, 5 of which were found to increase the proliferation and/or survival of human lt-NES on both occasions. Follow-up studies confirmed a dose-dependent effect of one of the hit compounds, which was a Cdk-2 modulator. This approach could be further developed as part of a strategy to screen compounds to either improve the procedures for the in vitro expansion of neural stem cells or to potentially modulate endogenous neural stem cell behavior in the diseased nervous system.
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13
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Danovi D, Folarin AA, Baranowski B, Pollard SM. High content screening of defined chemical libraries using normal and glioma-derived neural stem cell lines. Methods Enzymol 2012; 506:311-29. [PMID: 22341231 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-391856-7.00040-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Small molecules with potent biological effects on the fate of normal and cancer-derived stem cells represent both useful research tools and new drug leads for regenerative medicine and oncology. Long-term expansion of mouse and human neural stem cells is possible using adherent monolayer culture. These cultures represent a useful cellular resource to carry out image-based high content screening of small chemical libraries. Improvements in automated microscopy, desktop computational power, and freely available image processing tools, now means that such chemical screens are realistic to undertake in individual academic laboratories. Here we outline a cost effective and versatile time lapse imaging strategy suitable for chemical screening. Protocols are described for the handling and screening of human fetal Neural Stem (NS) cell lines and their malignant counterparts, Glioblastoma-derived neural stem cells (GNS). We focus on identification of cytostatic and cytotoxic "hits" and discuss future possibilities and challenges for extending this approach to assay lineage commitment and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Danovi
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Zhao WN, Cheng C, Theriault KM, Sheridan SD, Tsai LH, Haggarty SJ. A high-throughput screen for Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway modulators in human iPSC-derived neural progenitors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 17:1252-63. [PMID: 22923789 DOI: 10.1177/1087057112456876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling has emerged as a central player in pathways implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. To identify potential novel therapeutics for these disorders, high-throughput screening (HTS) assays reporting on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in disease-relevant contexts are needed. The use of human patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models provides ideal disease-relevant context if these stem cell cultures can be adapted for HTS-compatible formats. Here, we describe a sensitive, HTS-compatible Wnt/β-catenin signaling reporter system generated in homogeneous, expandable neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human iPSCs. We validated this system by demonstrating dose-responsive stimulation by several known Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway modulators, including Wnt3a, a glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibitor, and the bipolar disorder therapeutic lithium. These responses were robust and reproducible over time across many repeated assays. We then conducted a screen of ~1500 compounds from a library of Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs and known bioactives and confirmed the HTS hits, revealing multiple chemical and biological classes of novel small-molecule probes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Generating these type of pathway-selective, cell-based phenotypic assays in human iPSC-derived neural cells will advance the field of human experimental neurobiology toward the goal of identifying and validating targets for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ning Zhao
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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15
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Shedding light on filovirus infection with high-content imaging. Viruses 2012; 4:1354-71. [PMID: 23012631 PMCID: PMC3446768 DOI: 10.3390/v4081354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Revised: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microscopy has been instrumental in the discovery and characterization of microorganisms. Major advances in high-throughput fluorescence microscopy and automated, high-content image analysis tools are paving the way to the systematic and quantitative study of the molecular properties of cellular systems, both at the population and at the single-cell level. High-Content Imaging (HCI) has been used to characterize host-virus interactions in genome-wide reverse genetic screens and to identify novel cellular factors implicated in the binding, entry, replication and egress of several pathogenic viruses. Here we present an overview of the most significant applications of HCI in the context of the cell biology of filovirus infection. HCI assays have been recently implemented to quantitatively study filoviruses in cell culture, employing either infectious viruses in a BSL-4 environment or surrogate genetic systems in a BSL-2 environment. These assays are becoming instrumental for small molecule and siRNA screens aimed at the discovery of both cellular therapeutic targets and of compounds with anti-viral properties. We discuss the current practical constraints limiting the implementation of high-throughput biology in a BSL-4 environment, and propose possible solutions to safely perform high-content, high-throughput filovirus infection assays. Finally, we discuss possible novel applications of HCI in the context of filovirus research with particular emphasis on the identification of possible cellular biomarkers of virus infection.
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16
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Erdmann G, Volz C, Boutros M. Systematic approaches to dissect biological processes in stem cells by image-based screening. Biotechnol J 2012; 7:768-78. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201200117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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17
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Martinez Y, Dubois-Dauphin M, Krause KH. Generation and applications of human pluripotent stem cells induced into neural lineages and neural tissues. Front Physiol 2012; 3:47. [PMID: 22457650 PMCID: PMC3307166 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a new and exciting field in modern medicine, now the focus of many researchers and media outlets. The hype is well-earned because of the potential of stem cells to contribute to disease modeling, drug screening, and even therapeutic approaches. In this review, we focus first on neural differentiation of these cells. In a second part we compare the various cell types available and their advantages for in vitro modeling. Then we provide a “state-of-the-art” report about two major biomedical applications: (1) the drug and toxicity screening and (2) the neural tissue replacement. Finally, we made an overview about current biomedical research using differentiated hPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Martinez
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
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18
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Kitambi SS, Chandrasekar G. Stem cells: a model for screening, discovery and development of drugs. STEM CELLS AND CLONING-ADVANCES AND APPLICATIONS 2011; 4:51-9. [PMID: 24198530 PMCID: PMC3781757 DOI: 10.2147/sccaa.s16417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The identification of normal and cancerous stem cells and the recent advances made in isolation and culture of stem cells have rapidly gained attention in the field of drug discovery and regenerative medicine. The prospect of performing screens aimed at proliferation, directed differentiation, and toxicity and efficacy studies using stem cells offers a reliable platform for the drug discovery process. Advances made in the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from normal or diseased tissue serves as a platform to perform drug screens aimed at developing cell-based therapies against conditions like Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. This review discusses the application of stem cells and cancer stem cells in drug screening and their role in complementing, reducing, and replacing animal testing. In addition to this, target identification and major advances in the field of personalized medicine using induced pluripotent cells are also discussed.
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Hook L, Vives J, Fulton N, Leveridge M, Lingard S, Bootman MD, Falk A, Pollard SM, Allsopp TE, Dalma-Weiszhausz D, Tsukamoto A, Uchida N, Gorba T. Non-immortalized human neural stem (NS) cells as a scalable platform for cellular assays. Neurochem Int 2011; 59:432-44. [PMID: 21762743 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2011.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Revised: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 06/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The utilization of neural stem cells and their progeny in applications such as disease modelling, drug screening or safety assessment will require the development of robust methods for consistent, high quality uniform cell production. Previously, we described the generation of adherent, homogeneous, non-immortalized mouse and human neural stem cells derived from both brain tissue and pluripotent embryonic stem cells (Conti et al., 2005; Sun et al., 2008). In this study, we report the isolation or derivation of stable neurogenic human NS (hNS) lines from different regions of the 8-9 gestational week fetal human central nervous system (CNS) using new serum-free media formulations including animal component-free conditions. We generated more than 20 adherent hNS lines from whole brain, cortex, lobe, midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord. We also compared the adherent hNS to some aspects of the human CNS-stem cells grown as neurospheres (hCNS-SCns), which were derived from prospectively isolated CD133(+)CD24(-/lo) cells from 16 to 20 gestational week fetal brain. We found, by RT-PCR and Taqman low-density array, that some of the regionally isolated lines maintained their regional identity along the anteroposterior axis. These NS cells exhibit the signature marker profile of neurogenic radial glia and maintain neurogenic and multipotential differentiation ability after extensive long-term expansion. Similarly, hCNS-SC can be expanded either as neurospheres or in extended adherent monolayer with a morphology and marker expression profile consistent with radial glia NS cells. We demonstrate that these lines can be efficiently genetically modified with standard nucleofection protocols for both protein overexpression and siRNA knockdown of exogenously expressed and endogenous genes exemplified with GFP and Nestin. To investigate the functional maturation of neuronal progeny derived from hNS we (a) performed Agilent whole genome microarray gene expression analysis from cultures undergoing neuronal differentiation for up to 32 days and found increased expression over time for a number of drugable target genes including neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels and (b) conducted a neuropharmacology study utilizing Fura-2 Ca(2+) imaging which revealed a clear shift from an initial glial reaction to carbachol to mature neuron-specific responses to glutamate and potassium after prolonged neuronal differentiation. Fully automated culture and scale-up of select hNS was achieved; cells supplied by the robot maintained the molecular profile of multipotent NS cells and performed faithfully in neuronal differentiation experiments. Here, we present validation and utility of a human neural lineage-restricted stem cell-based assay platform, including scale-up and automation, genetic engineering and functional characterization of differentiated progeny.
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Bai RY, Staedtke V, Riggins GJ. Molecular targeting of glioblastoma: Drug discovery and therapies. Trends Mol Med 2011; 17:301-312. [PMID: 21411370 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2011.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2010] [Revised: 01/10/2011] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), patient prognosis remains poor. Although there is growing evidence that molecular targeting could translate into better survival for GBM, current clinical data show limited impact on survival. Recent progress in GBM genomics implicate several activated pathways and numerous mutated genes. This molecular diversity can partially explain therapeutic resistance and several approaches have been postulated to target molecular changes. Furthermore, most drugs are unable to reach effective concentrations within the tumor owing to elevated intratumoral pressure, restrictive vasculature and other limiting factors. Here, we describe the preclinical and clinical developments in treatment strategies of GBM. We review the current clinical trials for GBM and discuss the challenges and future directions of targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren-Yuan Bai
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, CRB II Rm. 257, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Verena Staedtke
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, CRB II Rm. 257, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Gregory J Riggins
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, CRB II Rm. 257, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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