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Paprocka J, Kaminiów K, Kozak S, Sztuba K, Emich-Widera E. Stem Cell Therapies for Cerebral Palsy and Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1606. [PMID: 34942908 PMCID: PMC8699362 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11121606] [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: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral palsy (CP) are some of the most common neurodevelopmental diseases. They have multifactorial origin, which means that each case may manifest differently from the others. In patients with ASD, symptoms associated with deficits in social communication and characteristic, repetitive types of behaviors or interests are predominant, while in patients with CP, motor disability is diagnosed with accompanying cognitive impairment of various degrees. In order to minimize their adverse effects, it is necessary to promptly diagnose and incorporate appropriate management, which can significantly improve patient quality of life. One of the therapeutic possibilities is stem cell therapy, already known from other branches of medicine, with high hopes for safe and effective treatment of these diseases. Undoubtedly, in the future we will have to face the challenges that will arise due to the still existing gaps in knowledge and the heterogeneity of this group of patients. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize briefly the latest achievements and advances in stem cell therapy for ASD and CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Paprocka
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland;
| | - Konrad Kaminiów
- Students’ Scientific Society, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (K.K.); (S.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Sylwia Kozak
- Students’ Scientific Society, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (K.K.); (S.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Karolina Sztuba
- Students’ Scientific Society, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (K.K.); (S.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Ewa Emich-Widera
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland;
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Human stem cell-derived GABAergic neurons functionally integrate into human neuronal networks. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22050. [PMID: 34764308 PMCID: PMC8585944 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01270-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-releasing interneurons modulate neuronal network activity in the brain by inhibiting other neurons. The alteration or absence of these cells disrupts the balance between excitatory and inhibitory processes, leading to neurological disorders such as epilepsy. In this regard, cell-based therapy may be an alternative therapeutic approach. We generated light-sensitive human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived GABAergic interneurons (hdIN) and tested their functionality. After 35 days in vitro (DIV), hdINs showed electrophysiological properties and spontaneous synaptic currents comparable to mature neurons. In co-culture with human cortical neurons and after transplantation (AT) into human brain tissue resected from patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, light-activated channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) expressing hdINs induced postsynaptic currents in human neurons, strongly suggesting functional efferent synapse formation. These results provide a proof-of-concept that hESC-derived neurons can integrate and modulate the activity of a human host neuronal network. Therefore, this study supports the possibility of precise temporal control of network excitability by transplantation of light-sensitive interneurons.
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Moriya F, Shimba K, Kotani K, Jimbo Y. Modulation of dynamics in a pre-existing hippocampal network by neural stem cells on a microelectrode array. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34380120 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac1c88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Neural stem cells (NSCs) are continuously produced throughout life in the hippocampus, which is a vital structure for learning and memory. NSCs in the brain incorporate into the functional hippocampal circuits and contribute to processing information. However, little is known about the mechanisms of NSCs' activity in a pre-existing neuronal network. Here, we investigate the role of NSCs in the neuronal activity of a pre-existing hippocampalin vitronetwork grown on microelectrode arrays.Approach.We assessed the change in internal dynamics of the network by additional NSCs based on spontaneous activity. We also evaluated the networks' ability to discriminate between different input patterns by measuring evoked activity in response to external inputs.Main results.Analysis of spontaneous activity revealed that additional NSCs prolonged network bursts with longer intervals, generated a lower number of initiating patterns, and decreased synchronization among neurons. Moreover, the network with NSCs showed higher synchronicity in close connections among neurons responding to external inputs and a larger difference in spike counts and cross-correlations during evoked response between two different inputs. Taken together, our results suggested that NSCs alter the internal dynamics of the pre-existing hippocampal network and produce more specific responses to external inputs, thus enhancing the ability of the network to differentiate two different inputs.Significance.We demonstrated that NSCs improve the ability to distinguish external inputs by modulating the internal dynamics of a pre-existing network in a hippocampal culture. Our results provide novel insights into the relationship between NSCs and learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumika Moriya
- The Department of Precision Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.,The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenta Shimba
- The Department of Precision Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Kotani
- The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Jimbo
- The Department of Precision Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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Keshmiri Neghab H, Soheilifar MH, Grusch M, Ortega MM, Esmaeeli Djavid G, Saboury AA, Goliaei B. The state of the art of biomedical applications of optogenetics. Lasers Surg Med 2021; 54:202-216. [PMID: 34363230 DOI: 10.1002/lsm.23463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Optogenetics has opened new insights into biomedical research with the ability to manipulate and control cellular activity using light in combination with genetically engineered photosensitive proteins. By stimulating with light, this method provides high spatiotemporal and high specificity resolution, which is in contrast to conventional pharmacological or electrical stimulation. Optogenetics was initially introduced to control neural activities but was gradually extended to other biomedical fields. STUDY DESIGN In this paper, firstly, we summarize the current optogenetic tools stimulated by different light sources, including lasers, light-emitting diodes, and laser diodes. Second, we outline the variety of biomedical applications of optogenetics not only for neuronal circuits but also for various kinds of cells and tissues from cardiomyocytes to ganglion cells. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of this technique for treating neurological disorders, cardiac arrhythmia, visual impairment, hearing loss, and urinary bladder diseases as well as clarify the mechanisms underlying cancer progression and control of stem cell differentiation. CONCLUSION We sought to summarize the various types of promising applications of optogenetics to treat a broad spectrum of disorders. It is conceivable to expect that optogenetics profits a growing number of patients suffering from a range of different diseases in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Keshmiri Neghab
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Michael Grusch
- Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manoela Marques Ortega
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Tumor Biology and Bioactive Compounds, São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gholamreza Esmaeeli Djavid
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Saboury
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Goliaei
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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The Potential of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Treat and Model Alzheimer's Disease. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:5511630. [PMID: 34122554 PMCID: PMC8172295 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5511630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An estimated 6.2 million Americans aged 65 or older are currently living with Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease that disrupts an individual's ability to function independently through the degeneration of key regions in the brain, including but not limited to the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, and the motor cortex. The cause of this degeneration is not known, but research has found two proteins that undergo posttranslational modifications: tau, a protein concentrated in the axons of neurons, and amyloid precursor protein (APP), a protein concentrated near the synapse. Through mechanisms that have yet to be elucidated, the accumulation of these two proteins in their abnormal aggregate forms leads to the neurodegeneration that is characteristic of AD. Until the invention of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in 2006, the bulk of research was carried out using transgenic animal models that offered little promise in their ability to translate well from benchtop to bedside, creating a bottleneck in the development of therapeutics. However, with iPSC, patient-specific cell cultures can be utilized to create models based on human cells. These human cells have the potential to avoid issues in translatability that have plagued animal models by providing researchers with a model that closely resembles and mimics the neurons found in humans. By using human iPSC technology, researchers can create more accurate models of AD ex vivo while also focusing on regenerative medicine using iPSC in vivo. The following review focuses on the current uses of iPSC and how they have the potential to regenerate damaged neuronal tissue, in the hopes that these technologies can assist in getting through the bottleneck of AD therapeutic research.
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Bartley AF, Fischer M, Bagley ME, Barnes JA, Burdette MK, Cannon KE, Bolding MS, Foulger SH, McMahon LL, Weick JP, Dobrunz LE. Feasibility of cerium-doped LSO particles as a scintillator for x-ray induced optogenetics. J Neural Eng 2021; 18:10.1088/1741-2552/abef89. [PMID: 33730704 PMCID: PMC8656171 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abef89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Non-invasive light delivery into the brain is needed forin vivooptogenetics to avoid physical damage. An innovative strategy could employ x-ray activation of radioluminescent particles (RLPs) to emit localized light. However, modulation of neuronal or synaptic function by x-ray induced radioluminescence from RLPs has not yet been demonstrated.Approach.Molecular and electrophysiological approaches were used to determine if x-ray dependent radioluminescence emitted from RLPs can activate light sensitive proteins. RLPs composed of cerium doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO:Ce), an inorganic scintillator that emits blue light, were used as they are biocompatible with neuronal function and synaptic transmission.Main results.We show that 30 min of x-ray exposure at a rate of 0.042 Gy s-1caused no change in the strength of basal glutamatergic transmission during extracellular field recordings in mouse hippocampal slices. Additionally, long-term potentiation, a robust measure of synaptic integrity, was induced after x-ray exposure and expressed at a magnitude not different from control conditions (absence of x-rays). We found that x-ray stimulation of RLPs elevated cAMP levels in HEK293T cells expressing OptoXR, a chimeric opsin receptor that combines the extracellular light-sensitive domain of rhodopsin with an intracellular second messenger signaling cascade. This demonstrates that x-ray radioluminescence from LSO:Ce particles can activate OptoXR. Next, we tested whether x-ray activation of the RLPs can enhance synaptic activity in whole-cell recordings from hippocampal neurons expressing channelrhodopsin-2, both in cell culture and acute hippocampal slices. Importantly, x-ray radioluminescence caused an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in both systems, indicating activation of channelrhodopsin-2 and excitation of neurons.Significance.Together, our results show that x-ray activation of LSO:Ce particles can heighten cellular and synaptic function. The combination of LSO:Ce inorganic scintillators and x-rays is therefore a viable method for optogenetics as an alternative to more invasive light delivery methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aundrea F Bartley
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Máté Fischer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Micah E Bagley
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Justin A Barnes
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Mary K Burdette
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, United States of America
| | - Kelli E Cannon
- Department of Vision Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Mark S Bolding
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Stephen H Foulger
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, United States of America
- Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States of America
| | - Lori L McMahon
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Jason P Weick
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Lynn E Dobrunz
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
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7
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Yin X, Dawson TM, Dawson VL. Integration of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (hiPSC)-Derived Neurons into Rat Brain Circuits. Bio Protoc 2020; 10:e3746. [PMID: 33659406 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Human neuron transplantation offers novel opportunities for modeling human neurologic diseases and potentially replacement therapies. However, the complex structure of the human cerebral cortex, which is organized in six layers with tightly interconnected excitatory and inhibitory neuronal networks, presents significant challenges for in vivo transplantation techniques to obtain a balanced, functional and homeostatically stable neuronal network. Here, we present a protocol to introduce human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neural progenitors to rat brains. Using this approach, hiPSC-derived neurons structurally integrate into the rat forebrain, exhibit electrophysiological characteristics, including firing, excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity, and establish neuronal connectivity with the host circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiling Yin
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Ted M Dawson
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Soloman H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Adrienne Helis Malvin Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, USA.,Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, USA
| | - Valina L Dawson
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Soloman H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.,Adrienne Helis Malvin Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, USA.,Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, USA
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8
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Transplanted Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Wire and Fire with Balanced Excitation-Inhibition in Rat Cortex. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0041-20.2020. [PMID: 32299834 PMCID: PMC7163081 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0041-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Highlighted Research Paper:Neurons Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Integrate into Rat Brain Circuits and Maintain Both Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Activities. Xiling Yin, Jin-Chong Xu, Gun-sik Cho, Chulan Kwon, Ted M. Dawson and Valina L. Dawson.
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9
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Bitar M, Barry G. Building a Human Brain for Research. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:22. [PMID: 32132903 PMCID: PMC7040093 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maina Bitar
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Guy Barry
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.,The School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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10
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Dong Y, Xiong M, Chen Y, Tao Y, Li X, Bhattacharyya A, Zhang SC. Plasticity of Synaptic Transmission in Human Stem Cell-Derived Neural Networks. iScience 2020; 23:100829. [PMID: 31981924 PMCID: PMC6993006 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.100829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term potentiation and depression, inferred from analysis on brain slices, are considered the cellular processes underlying learning and memory formation. They have not so far been demonstrated in human stem cell-derived neurons. By expressing channelrhodopsin in hESCs-derived glutamate neurons and co-culturing them with GABA neurons, we found that blue light stimulation increased the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and decreased the ratio of paired pulse facilitation (PPF) in non-ChR2-expressing GABA neurons, indicating a facilitating action at the presynaptic terminals. When paired with postsynaptic depolarization, the repetitive stimulation significantly increased the amplitude of light-evoked EPSCs that persisted during the period, indicating long-term potentiation (LTP). In contrast, low-frequency light stimulation induced long-term depression (LTD). These effects were blocked by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonists, suggesting NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity in human neural networks. Furthermore, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons of patient with Down syndrome showed absence of LTP or LTD. Thus, our platform offers a versatile model for assessing human neural plasticity under physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dong
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; School of Physical Education & Health Care, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Man Xiong
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Yuejun Chen
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Yezheng Tao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Xiang Li
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Su-Chun Zhang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Program in Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
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11
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Ryu J, Vincent PFY, Ziogas NK, Xu L, Sadeghpour S, Curtin J, Alexandris AS, Stewart N, Sima R, du Lac S, Glowatzki E, Koliatsos VE. Optogenetically transduced human ES cell-derived neural progenitors and their neuronal progenies: Phenotypic characterization and responses to optical stimulation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224846. [PMID: 31710637 PMCID: PMC6844486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetically engineered human neural progenitors (hNPs) are viewed as promising tools in regenerative neuroscience because they allow the testing of the ability of hNPs to integrate within nervous system of an appropriate host not only structurally, but also functionally based on the responses of their differentiated progenies to light. Here, we transduced H9 embryonic stem cell-derived hNPs with a lentivirus harboring human channelrhodopsin (hChR2) and differentiated them into a forebrain lineage. We extensively characterized the fate and optogenetic functionality of hChR2-hNPs in vitro with electrophysiology and immunocytochemistry. We also explored whether the in vivo phenotype of ChR2-hNPs conforms to in vitro observations by grafting them into the frontal neocortex of rodents and analyzing their survival and neuronal differentiation. Human ChR2-hNPs acquired neuronal phenotypes (TUJ1, MAP2, SMI-312, and synapsin 1 immunoreactivity) in vitro after an average of 70 days of coculturing with CD1 astrocytes and progressively displayed both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter signatures by immunocytochemistry and whole-cell patch clamp recording. Three months after transplantation into motor cortex of naïve or injured mice, 60–70% of hChR2-hNPs at the transplantation site expressed TUJ1 and had neuronal cytologies, whereas 60% of cells also expressed ChR2. Transplant-derived neurons extended axons through major commissural and descending tracts and issued synaptophysin+ terminals in the claustrum, endopiriform area, and corresponding insular and piriform cortices. There was no apparent difference in engraftment, differentiation, or connectivity patterns between injured and sham subjects. Same trends were observed in a second rodent host, i.e. rat, where we employed longer survival times and found that the majority of grafted hChR2-hNPs differentiated into GABAergic neurons that established dense terminal fields and innervated mostly dendritic profiles in host cortical neurons. In physiological experiments, human ChR2+ neurons in culture generated spontaneous action potentials (APs) 100–170 days into differentiation and their firing activity was consistently driven by optical stimulation. Stimulation generated glutamatergic and GABAergic postsynaptic activity in neighboring ChR2- cells, evidence that hChR2-hNP-derived neurons had established functional synaptic connections with other neurons in culture. Light stimulation of hChR2-hNP transplants in vivo generated complicated results, in part because of the variable response of the transplants themselves. Our findings show that we can successfully derive hNPs with optogenetic properties that are fully transferrable to their differentiated neuronal progenies. We also show that these progenies have substantial neurotransmitter plasticity in vitro, whereas in vivo they mostly differentiate into inhibitory GABAergic neurons. Furthermore, neurons derived from hNPs have the capacity of establishing functional synapses with postsynaptic neurons in vitro, but this outcome is technically challenging to explore in vivo. We propose that optogenetically endowed hNPs hold great promise as tools to explore de novo circuit formation in the brain and, in the future, perhaps launch a new generation of neuromodulatory therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon Ryu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Philippe F. Y. Vincent
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nikolaos K. Ziogas
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Leyan Xu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shirin Sadeghpour
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John Curtin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Athanasios S. Alexandris
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Stewart
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Richard Sima
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sascha du Lac
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Vassilis E. Koliatsos
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Chen ZZ, Niu YY. Stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease using non-human primate models. Zool Res 2019; 40:349-357. [PMID: 31343853 PMCID: PMC6755115 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy (SCT) for Parkinson's disease (PD) has received considerable attention in recent years. Non-human primate (NHP) models of PD have played an instrumental role in the safety and efficacy of emerging PD therapies and facilitated the translation of initiatives for human patients. NHP models of PD include primates with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced parkinsonism, who are responsive to dopamine replacement therapies, similar to human PD patients. Extensive research in SCT has been conducted to better treat the progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration that underlies PD. For effective application of SCT in PD, however, a number of basic parameters still need to be tested and optimized in NHP models, including preparation and storage of cells for engraftment, methods of transplantation, choice of target sites, and timelines for recovery. In this review, we discuss the current status of NHP models of PD in stem cell research. We also analyze the advances and remaining challenges for successful clinical translation of SCT for this persistent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Zhen Chen
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming Yunnan 650500, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming Yunnan 650500
| | - Yu-Yu Niu
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming Yunnan 650500, China; E-mail:
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13
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Neurons Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Integrate into Rat Brain Circuits and Maintain Both Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Activities. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0148-19.2019. [PMID: 31413152 PMCID: PMC6709226 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0148-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human cerebral cortex is a complex structure with tightly interconnected excitatory and inhibitory neuronal networks. In order to study human cortical function, we recently developed a method to generate cortical neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that form both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal networks resembling the composition of the human cortex. These cultures and organoids recapitulate neuronal populations representative of the six cortical layers and a balanced excitatory and inhibitory network that is functional and homeostatically stable. To determine whether hiPSC-derived neurons can integrate and retain physiologic activities in vivo, we labeled hiPSCs with red fluorescent protein (RFP) and introduced hiPSC-derived neural progenitors to rat brains. Efficient neural induction, followed by differentiation resulted in a RFP+ neural population with traits of forebrain identity and a balanced synaptic activity composed of both excitatory neurons and inhibitory interneurons. Ten weeks after transplantation, grafted cells structurally integrated into the rat forebrain. Remarkably, these hiPSC-derived neurons were able to fire, exhibiting both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents, which culminates in the establishment of neuronal connectivity with the host circuitry. This study demonstrates that neural progenitors derived from hiPSCs can differentiate into functional cortical neurons and can participate in neural network activity through functional synaptic integration in vivo, thereby contributing to information processing.
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14
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Sakai K, Teshima TF, Nakashima H, Ueno Y. Graphene-based neuron encapsulation with controlled axonal outgrowth. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:13249-13259. [PMID: 31149690 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr04165f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal constructs with tuneable 3D geometry can contribute greatly to the construction of brain-like functional tissues for transplantable grafts and robust experimental models. In this study, we propose a self-folding graphene/polymer bilayer film that forms a micro-roll for neuron encapsulation, and highlight the importance of employing pores on the micro-roll to allow neurons to interact with their surroundings. The micro-patterns and varied thicknesses of the bilayer provide control over the 3D geometries of the micro-roll. The pores facilitate the diffusion of reagents, resulting in the adequate loading of probes for imaging and the successful stimulation of the encapsulated neurons. Moreover, the encapsulated neurons inside the micro-roll are functionally integrated into surrounding neuronal networks by extending their axons through the pores. Thus, our method for encapsulating neurons with a porous graphene-laden film allows the construction of precisely shaped neuronal tissues that interact with their surroundings. We believe that the method will open a new avenue for the reconstruction of functional neuronal tissues and is potentially applicable to other self-folding bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Sakai
- NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan.
| | - Tetsuhiko F Teshima
- NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Nakashima
- NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan.
| | - Yuko Ueno
- NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan.
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15
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Zhao X, Bhattacharyya A. Human Models Are Needed for Studying Human Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:829-857. [PMID: 30526865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of animal models of neurological disease has been instrumental in furthering our understanding of neurodevelopment and brain diseases. However, animal models are limited in revealing some of the most fundamental aspects of development, genetics, pathology, and disease mechanisms that are unique to humans. These shortcomings are exaggerated in disorders that affect the brain, where the most significant differences between humans and animal models exist, and could underscore failures in targeted therapeutic interventions in affected individuals. Human pluripotent stem cells have emerged as a much-needed model system for investigating human-specific biology and disease mechanisms. However, questions remain regarding whether these cell-culture-based models are sufficient or even necessary. In this review, we summarize human-specific features of neurodevelopment and the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, present discrepancies between animal models and human diseases, demonstrate how human stem cell models can provide meaningful information, and discuss the challenges that exist in our pursuit to understand distinctively human aspects of neurodevelopment and brain disease. This information argues for a more thoughtful approach to disease modeling through consideration of the valuable features and limitations of each model system, be they human or animal, to mimic disease characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA.
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI 53705, USA.
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16
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Peng JJ, Sha R, Li MX, Chen LT, Han XH, Guo F, Chen H, Huang XL. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes functional recovery and differentiation of human neural stem cells in rats after ischemic stroke. Exp Neurol 2018; 313:1-9. [PMID: 30529277 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells hold great promise as a regenerative therapy for ischemic stroke by improving functional outcomes in animal models. However, there are some limitations regarding the cell transplantation, including low rate of survival and differentiation. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been widely used in clinical trials as post-stroke rehabilitation in ischemic stroke and has shown to alleviate functional deficits following stroke. The present study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of combined human neural stem cells (hNSCs) with rTMS in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. The results showed that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) were successfully differentiated into forebrain hNSCs for transplantation and hNSCs transplantation combined with rTMS could accelerate the functional recovery after ischemic stroke in rats. Furthermore, this combination not only significantly enhanced neurogenesis and the protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but also rTMS promoted the neural differentiation of hNSCs. Our findings are presented for the first time to evaluate therapeutic benefits of combined hNSCs and rTMS for functional recovery after ischemic stroke, and indicated that the combination of hNSCs with rTMS might be a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao-Jiao Peng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Rong Sha
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ming-Xing Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lu-Ting Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Feng Guo
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Xiao-Lin Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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17
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Hu Y, Fang KH, Shen LP, Cao SY, Yuan F, Su Y, Xu M, Pan Y, Chen Y, Liu Y. The telomerase inhibitor AZT enhances differentiation and prevents overgrowth of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:8722-8733. [PMID: 29628445 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.809889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based cell-replacement therapy has emerged as a promising approach for addressing numerous neurological diseases. However, hPSC transplantation has the potential to cause human cell overgrowth and cancer, which represents a major obstacle to implementing hPSC-based therapies. Inhibition of the overgrowth of transplanted cells could help reduce the risk for hPSC transplantation-induced tumorigenesis. In this study, we report that the telomerase inhibitor azidothymidine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine; AZT) enhances the differentiation of cortical neurons and significantly suppresses the proliferation of hPSC-derived cortical progenitors. Using human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells in culture, we found that AZT effectively reduces the number of dividing progenitors without inducing cell death. Furthermore, AZT promoted differentiation of cortical progenitors and maturation of cortical neurons. Of note, AZT-pretreated, hPSC-derived neural progenitors exhibited decreased proliferation and increased differentiation into cortical neurons when transplanted into the mouse brain. In summary, our findings indicate that AZT prevents the overgrowth of hPSC-derived neural precursors and enhances the differentiation of cortical neurons in both cell cultures and hPSC-transplanted mouse brain. We propose that our work could inform clinical applications of hPSC-based cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Hu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine.,Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Kai-Heng Fang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and
| | - Lu-Ping Shen
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and
| | - Shi-Ying Cao
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and
| | - Fang Yuan
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and
| | - Yuwen Su
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and
| | - Min Xu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and
| | - Yufeng Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China, and
| | - Yaoyu Chen
- Division of Hematology, Jiangsu Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210029, China
| | - Yan Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, .,Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, and.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
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18
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Huo HQ, Qu ZY, Yuan F, Ma L, Yao L, Xu M, Hu Y, Ji J, Bhattacharyya A, Zhang SC, Liu Y. Modeling Down Syndrome with Patient iPSCs Reveals Cellular and Migration Deficits of GABAergic Neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2018. [PMID: 29526735 PMCID: PMC5998838 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain of Down syndrome (DS) patients exhibits fewer interneurons in the cerebral cortex, but its underlying mechanism remains unknown. By morphometric analysis of cortical interneurons generated from DS and euploid induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we found that DS GABA neurons are smaller and with fewer neuronal processes. The proportion of calretinin over calbindin GABA neurons is reduced, and the neuronal migration capacity is decreased. Such phenotypes were replicated following transplantation of the DS GABAergic progenitors into the mouse medial septum. Gene expression profiling revealed altered cell migratory pathways, and correction of the PAK1 pathway mitigated the cell migration deficit in vitro. These results suggest that impaired migration of DS GABAergic neurons may contribute to the reduced number of interneurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in DS patients. DS iPSC-derived GABA interneurons show cellular deficits DS GABA interneurons exhibit decreased migration in vitro and in vivo RNA-seq reveals that expression of PAK1 is disrupted in the DS interneurons Regulation of PAK1 pathway rescues the defects of migration
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Qin Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Zhuang-Yin Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Fang Yuan
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Lixiang Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lin Yao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Min Xu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Jing Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology and Neuroscience University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Su-Chun Zhang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology and Neuroscience University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
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19
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Wang ZB, Qin DD, Hu XT. Engrafted newborn neurons could functionally integrate into the host neuronal network. Zool Res 2018; 38:5-6. [PMID: 28271666 PMCID: PMC5368382 DOI: 10.13918/j.issn.2095-8137.2017.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Bo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Dong-Dong Qin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Xin-Tian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
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20
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Hsu CC, Serio A, Amdursky N, Besnard C, Stevens MM. Fabrication of Hemin-Doped Serum Albumin-Based Fibrous Scaffolds for Neural Tissue Engineering Applications. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:5305-5317. [PMID: 29381329 PMCID: PMC5814958 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b18179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Neural tissue engineering (TE) represents a promising new avenue of therapy to support nerve recovery and regeneration. To recreate the complex environment in which neurons develop and mature, the ideal biomaterials for neural TE require a number of properties and capabilities including the appropriate biochemical and physical cues to adsorb and release specific growth factors. Here, we present neural TE constructs based on electrospun serum albumin (SA) fibrous scaffolds. We doped our SA scaffolds with an iron-containing porphyrin, hemin, to confer conductivity, and then functionalized them with different recombinant proteins and growth factors to ensure cell attachment and proliferation. We demonstrated the potential for these constructs combining topographical, biochemical, and electrical stimuli by testing them with clinically relevant neural populations derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Our scaffolds could support the attachment, proliferation, and neuronal differentiation of hiPSC-derived neural stem cells (NSCs), and were also able to incorporate active growth factors and release them over time, which modified the behavior of cultured cells and substituted the need for growth factor supplementation by media change. Electrical stimulation on the doped SA scaffold positively influenced the maturation of neuronal populations, with neurons exhibiting more branched neurites compared to controls. Through promotion of cell proliferation, differentiation, and neurite branching of hiPSC-derived NSCs, these conductive SA fibrous scaffolds are of broad application in nerve regeneration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chen Hsu
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Institute
of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College
London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Andrea Serio
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Institute
of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College
London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Nadav Amdursky
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Institute
of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College
London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Cyril Besnard
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Institute
of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College
London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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21
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Bai SM, Wang Q, Yu XL, Chen T, Yang J, Shi JT, Tsai RY, Huang H. Grafted Neural Stem Cells Show Lesion-Specific Migration in Radiation-Injured Rat Brains. RSC Adv 2018; 8:5797-5805. [PMID: 29963303 PMCID: PMC6023401 DOI: 10.1039/c7ra10151a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) exhibit preferential homing toward some types of brain lesion, but their migratory property during radiation brain injury (RBI) remains unexplored. Here, we use the superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to determine the migration of transplanted NSCs in two partial RBI models in real time, created by administering 30–55 Gy of radiation to the right or posterior half of the adult rat brain. SPIO-labeled NSCs were stereotactically grafted into the uninjured side one week after RBI. The migration of SPIO-labeled NSCs in live radiation-injured brains was traced by MRI for up to 28 days after engraftment and quantified for their moving distances and speeds. A high labeling efficiency (>90%) was achieved by incubating NSCs with 100 μg ml−1 of SPIO for 12–24 hours. Upon stereotactic transplantation into the healthy side of the brain, SPIO-labeled NSCs were distinctively detected as hypointense signals on T2-weighted images (T2WI), showed sustained survival for up to 4 weeks, and exhibited directional migration to the radiation-injured side of the brain with a speed of 86–127 μm per day. The moving kinetics of grafted NSCs displayed no difference in brains receiving a high (55 Gy) vs. moderate (45 Gy) dose of radiation, but was slower in the right RBI model than in the posterior RBI model. This study shows that NSCs can be effectively labeled by SPIO and traced in vivo by MRI, and that grafted NSCs exhibit directional migration toward RBI sites in a route-dependent but radiation dose-independent manner. Neural stem cells (NSCs) exhibit preferential homing toward some types of brain lesion, but their migratory property during radiation brain injury (RBI) remains unexplored.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Shou-Min Bai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Li Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Tian Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Robert Yl Tsai
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Hai Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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22
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Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provide a model to study early neural development, model pathological processes, and develop therapeutics. The generation of functionally specialized neural subtypes from hPSCs relies on fundamental developmental principles learned from animal studies. Manipulation of these principles enables production of highly enriched neural types with functional attributes that resemble those in the brain. Further development to promote faster maturation or aging as well as circuit integration will help realize the potential of hPSC-derived neural cells in disease modeling and cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Tao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Su-Chun Zhang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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23
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Nagy J, Kobolák J, Berzsenyi S, Ábrahám Z, Avci HX, Bock I, Bekes Z, Hodoscsek B, Chandrasekaran A, Téglási A, Dezső P, Koványi B, Vörös ET, Fodor L, Szél T, Németh K, Balázs A, Dinnyés A, Lendvai B, Lévay G, Román V. Altered neurite morphology and cholinergic function of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from a patient with Kleefstra syndrome and autism. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1179. [PMID: 28742076 PMCID: PMC5538124 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to establish an in vitro Kleefstra syndrome (KS) disease model using the human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology. Previously, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patient with Kleefstra syndrome (KS-ASD) carrying a deleterious premature termination codon mutation in the EHMT1 gene was identified. Patient specific hiPSCs generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the KS-ASD patient were differentiated into post-mitotic cortical neurons. Lower levels of EHMT1 mRNA as well as protein expression were confirmed in these cells. Morphological analysis on neuronal cells differentiated from the KS-ASD patient-derived hiPSC clones showed significantly shorter neurites and reduced arborization compared to cells generated from healthy controls. Moreover, density of dendritic protrusions of neuronal cells derived from KS-ASD hiPSCs was lower than that of control cells. Synaptic connections and spontaneous neuronal activity measured by live cell calcium imaging could be detected after 5 weeks of differentiation, when KS-ASD cells exhibited higher sensitivity of calcium responses to acetylcholine stimulation indicating a lower nicotinic cholinergic tone at baseline condition in KS-ASD cells. In addition, gene expression profiling of differentiated neuronal cells from the KS-ASD patient revealed higher expression of proliferation-related genes and lower mRNA levels of genes involved in neuronal maturation and migration. Our data demonstrate anomalous neuronal morphology, functional activity and gene expression in KS-ASD patient-specific hiPSC-derived neuronal cultures, which offers an in vitro system that contributes to a better understanding of KS and potentially other neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nagy
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary,Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Gedeon Richter Plc. Gyömrői út 19-21., Budapest 1103, Hungary. E-mail:
| | | | - S Berzsenyi
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Z Ábrahám
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - H X Avci
- BioTalentum Ltd., Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - I Bock
- BioTalentum Ltd., Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Z Bekes
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - B Hodoscsek
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - P Dezső
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - B Koványi
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - E T Vörös
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - L Fodor
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - T Szél
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - K Németh
- Autism Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
| | - A Balázs
- Autism Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - B Lendvai
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - G Lévay
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - V Román
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
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24
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Cao SY, Hu Y, Chen C, Yuan F, Xu M, Li Q, Fang KH, Chen Y, Liu Y. Enhanced derivation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical glutamatergic neurons by a small molecule. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3282. [PMID: 28607372 PMCID: PMC5468244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03519-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) play important role in studying the function of human glutamatergic neurons and related disease pathogenesis. However, the current hPSC-derived cortical system produced a significant number of inhibitory GABAergic neurons that reduced the purity of excitatory neurons. In this study, we established a robust hPSC-derived cortical neurogenesis system by applying the SHH inhibitor cyclopamine. Cyclopamine specified the dorsal cortical fate in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced the generation of cortical glutamatergic neurons, expressing PAX6, TBR1, TBR2, CTIP2, SATB2, and vesicular glutamate transporters (vGLUT). In contrast, the ventral patterning was inhibited and the GABAergic neurons were significantly reduced to 12% with the treatment of cyclopamine. In addition, we applied our current method to generate trisomy 21 iPSC-derived glutamatergic neurons that showed a robust reduction of vesicular glutamate transporters in the glutamatergic neurons with trisomy 21, revealing the developmental deficits in cortical glutamatergic neurons. Our method enriched the generation of cortical glutamatergic neurons which may facilitate the study of human neurological diseases and cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Ying Cao
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Student Affairs, Kangda college of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Yao Hu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang Yuan
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Xu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Li
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kai-Heng Fang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yaoyu Chen
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Larsen ZH, Chander P, Joyner JA, Floruta CM, Demeter TL, Weick JP. Effects of Ethanol on Cellular Composition and Network Excitability of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:2339-2350. [PMID: 27717039 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in animal models results in excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) imbalance in neocortex due to alterations in the GABAergic interneuron (IN) differentiation and migration. Thus, E/I imbalance is a potential cause for intellectual disability in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), but whether ethanol (EtOH) changes glutamatergic and GABAergic IN specification during human development remains unknown. Here, we created a human cellular model of PAE/FASD and tested the hypothesis that EtOH exposure during differentiation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons (hPSNs) would cause the aberrant production of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, resulting in E/I imbalance. METHODS We applied 50 mM EtOH daily to differentiating hPSNs for 50 days to model chronic first-trimester exposure. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunocytochemical, and electrophysiological analysis to examine the effects of EtOH on hPSN specification and functional E/I balance. RESULTS We found that EtOH did not alter neural induction nor general forebrain patterning and had no effect on the expression of markers of excitatory cortical pyramidal neurons. In contrast, our data revealed highly significant changes to levels of transcripts involved with IN precursor development (e.g., GSX2, DLX1/2/5/6, NR2F2) as well as mature IN specification (e.g., SST, NPY). Interestingly, EtOH did not affect the number of GABAergic neurons generated nor the frequency or amplitude of miniature excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents. CONCLUSIONS Similar to in vivo rodent studies, EtOH significantly and specifically altered the expression of genes involved with IN specification from hPSNs, but did not cause imbalances of synaptic excitation-inhibition. Thus, our findings corroborate previous studies pointing to aberrant neuronal differentiation as an underlying mechanism of intellectual disability in FASD. However, in contrast to rodent binge models, our chronic exposure model suggests possible compensatory mechanisms that may cause more subtle defects of network processing rather than gross alterations in total E/I balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe H Larsen
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Praveen Chander
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Jason A Joyner
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Crina M Floruta
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Tess L Demeter
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Jason P Weick
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Wei JK, Wang WC, Zhai RW, Zhang YH, Yang SC, Rizak J, Li L, Xu LQ, Liu L, Pan MK, Hu YZ, Ghanemi A, Wu J, Yang LC, Li H, Lv LB, Li JL, Yao YG, Xu L, Feng XL, Yin Y, Qin DD, Hu XT, Wang ZB. Neurons Differentiated from Transplanted Stem Cells Respond Functionally to Acoustic Stimuli in the Awake Monkey Brain. Cell Rep 2016; 16:1016-1025. [PMID: 27425612 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.06.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we examine whether neurons differentiated from transplanted stem cells can integrate into the host neural network and function in awake animals, a goal of transplanted stem cell therapy in the brain. We have developed a technique in which a small "hole" is created in the inferior colliculus (IC) of rhesus monkeys, then stem cells are transplanted in situ to allow for investigation of their integration into the auditory neural network. We found that some transplanted cells differentiated into mature neurons and formed synaptic input/output connections with the host neurons. In addition, c-Fos expression increased significantly in the cells after acoustic stimulation, and multichannel recordings indicated IC specific tuning activities in response to auditory stimulation. These results suggest that the transplanted cells have the potential to functionally integrate into the host neural network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Kuan Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650204, China
| | - Wen-Chao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650204, China
| | - Rong-Wei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650204, China
| | - Yu-Hua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Shang-Chuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Joshua Rizak
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Ling Li
- Medical Imaging Department, Kunming General Hospital of PLA, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China
| | - Li-Qi Xu
- Medical Imaging Department, Kunming General Hospital of PLA, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China
| | - Li Liu
- Medical Imaging Department, Kunming General Hospital of PLA, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China
| | - Ming-Ke Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Ying-Zhou Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Abdelaziz Ghanemi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Li-Chuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Long-Bao Lv
- Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Jia-Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Yong-Gang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiao-Li Feng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Yong Yin
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, China
| | - Dong-Dong Qin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Xin-Tian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.
| | - Zheng-Bo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.
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Choline Ameliorates Disease Phenotypes in Human iPSC Models of Rett Syndrome. Neuromolecular Med 2016; 18:364-77. [PMID: 27379379 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-016-8421-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a postnatal neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects girls. Mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene account for approximately 95 % of all RTT cases. To model RTT in vitro, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts of two RTT patients with different mutations (MECP2 (R306C) and MECP2 (1155Δ32)) in their MECP2 gene. We found that these iPSCs were capable of differentiating into functional neurons. Compared to control neurons, the RTT iPSC-derived cells had reduced soma size and a decreased amount of synaptic input, evident both as fewer Synapsin 1-positive puncta and a lower frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents. Supplementation of the culture media with choline rescued all of these defects. Choline supplementation may act through changes in the expression of choline acetyltransferase, an important enzyme in cholinergic signaling, and also through alterations in the lipid metabolite profiles of the RTT neurons. Our study elucidates the possible mechanistic pathways for the effect of choline on human RTT cell models, thereby illustrating the potential for using choline as a nutraceutical to treat RTT.
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Probing Neural Transplant Networks In Vivo with Optogenetics and Optogenetic fMRI. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:8612751. [PMID: 27293449 PMCID: PMC4880717 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8612751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how stem cell-derived neurons functionally integrate into the brain upon transplantation has been a long sought-after goal of regenerative medicine. However, methodological limitations have stood as a barrier, preventing key insight into this fundamental problem. A recently developed technology, termed optogenetic functional magnetic resonance imaging (ofMRI), offers a possible solution. By combining targeted activation of transplanted neurons with large-scale, noninvasive measurements of brain activity, ofMRI can directly visualize the effect of engrafted neurons firing on downstream regions. Importantly, this tool can be used to identify not only whether transplanted neurons have functionally integrated into the brain, but also which regions they influence and how. Furthermore, the precise control afforded over activation enables the input-output properties of engrafted neurons to be systematically studied. This review summarizes the efforts in stem cell biology and neuroimaging that made this development possible and outlines its potential applications for improving and optimizing stem cell-based therapies in the future.
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Shining Light on the Sprout of Life: Optogenetics Applications in Stem Cell Research and Therapy. J Membr Biol 2016; 249:215-20. [DOI: 10.1007/s00232-016-9883-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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5-HT2 receptors mediate functional modulation of GABAa receptors and inhibitory synaptic transmissions in human iPS-derived neurons. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20033. [PMID: 26837719 PMCID: PMC4738270 DOI: 10.1038/srep20033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitors differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) hold potentials for treating neurological diseases. Serotonin has potent effects on neuronal functions through multiple receptors, underlying a variety of neural disorders. Glutamate and GABA receptors have been proven functional in neurons differentiated from iPS, however, little is known about 5-HT receptor-mediated modulation in such neuronal networks. In the present study, human iPS were differentiated into cells possessing featured physiological properties of cortical neurons. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to examine the involvement of 5-HT2 receptors in functional modulation of GABAergic synaptic transmission. We found that serotonin and DOI (a selective agonist of 5-HT2A/C receptor) reversibly reduced GABA-activated currents, and this 5-HT2A/C receptor mediated inhibition required G protein, PLC, PKC, and Ca2+ signaling. Serotonin increased the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs), which could be mimicked by α-methylserotonin, a 5-HT2 receptor agonist. In contrast, DOI reduced both frequency and amplitude of mIPSCs. These findings suggested that in iPS-derived human neurons serotonin postsynaptically reduced GABAa receptor function through 5-HT2A/C receptors, but presynaptically other 5-HT2 receptors counteracted the action of 5-HT2A/C receptors. Functional expression of serotonin receptors in human iPS-derived neurons provides a pre-requisite for their normal behaviors after grafting.
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Chen HI, Jgamadze D, Serruya MD, Cullen DK, Wolf JA, Smith DH. Neural Substrate Expansion for the Restoration of Brain Function. Front Syst Neurosci 2016; 10:1. [PMID: 26834579 PMCID: PMC4724716 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2016.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Restoring neurological and cognitive function in individuals who have suffered brain damage is one of the principal objectives of modern translational neuroscience. Electrical stimulation approaches, such as deep-brain stimulation, have achieved the most clinical success, but they ultimately may be limited by the computational capacity of the residual cerebral circuitry. An alternative strategy is brain substrate expansion, in which the computational capacity of the brain is augmented through the addition of new processing units and the reconstitution of network connectivity. This latter approach has been explored to some degree using both biological and electronic means but thus far has not demonstrated the ability to reestablish the function of large-scale neuronal networks. In this review, we contend that fulfilling the potential of brain substrate expansion will require a significant shift from current methods that emphasize direct manipulations of the brain (e.g., injections of cellular suspensions and the implantation of multi-electrode arrays) to the generation of more sophisticated neural tissues and neural-electric hybrids in vitro that are subsequently transplanted into the brain. Drawing from neural tissue engineering, stem cell biology, and neural interface technologies, this strategy makes greater use of the manifold techniques available in the laboratory to create biocompatible constructs that recapitulate brain architecture and thus are more easily recognized and utilized by brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Isaac Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical CenterPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dennis Jgamadze
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mijail D Serruya
- Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D Kacy Cullen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical CenterPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - John A Wolf
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical CenterPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Douglas H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Kirwan P, Turner-Bridger B, Peter M, Momoh A, Arambepola D, Robinson HPC, Livesey FJ. Development and function of human cerebral cortex neural networks from pluripotent stem cells in vitro. Development 2016; 142:3178-87. [PMID: 26395144 PMCID: PMC4582178 DOI: 10.1242/dev.123851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
A key aspect of nervous system development, including that of the cerebral cortex, is the formation of higher-order neural networks. Developing neural networks undergo several phases with distinct activity patterns in vivo, which are thought to prune and fine-tune network connectivity. We report here that human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cerebral cortex neurons form large-scale networks that reflect those found in the developing cerebral cortex in vivo. Synchronised oscillatory networks develop in a highly stereotyped pattern over several weeks in culture. An initial phase of increasing frequency of oscillations is followed by a phase of decreasing frequency, before giving rise to non-synchronous, ordered activity patterns. hPSC-derived cortical neural networks are excitatory, driven by activation of AMPA- and NMDA-type glutamate receptors, and can undergo NMDA-receptor-mediated plasticity. Investigating single neuron connectivity within PSC-derived cultures, using rabies-based trans-synaptic tracing, we found two broad classes of neuronal connectivity: most neurons have small numbers (<10) of presynaptic inputs, whereas a small set of hub-like neurons have large numbers of synaptic connections (>40). These data demonstrate that the formation of hPSC-derived cortical networks mimics in vivo cortical network development and function, demonstrating the utility of in vitro systems for mechanistic studies of human forebrain neural network biology. Summary: Human PSC-derived cerebral cortex neurons form large-scale functional networks that change over time and mimic those found in the developing cerebral cortex in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kirwan
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Benita Turner-Bridger
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Manuel Peter
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Ayiba Momoh
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Devika Arambepola
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Hugh P C Robinson
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Frederick J Livesey
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
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Functional Properties of Human Stem Cell-Derived Neurons in Health and Disease. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:4190438. [PMID: 27274733 PMCID: PMC4870377 DOI: 10.1155/2016/4190438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell-derived neurons from various source materials present unique model systems to examine the fundamental properties of central nervous system (CNS) development as well as the molecular underpinnings of disease phenotypes. In order to more accurately assess potential therapies for neurological disorders, multiple strategies have been employed in recent years to produce neuronal populations that accurately represent in vivo regional and transmitter phenotypes. These include new technologies such as direct conversion of somatic cell types into neurons and glia which may accelerate maturation and retain genetic hallmarks of aging. In addition, novel forms of genetic manipulations have brought human stem cells nearly on par with those of rodent with respect to gene targeting. For neurons of the CNS, the ultimate phenotypic characterization lies with their ability to recapitulate functional properties such as passive and active membrane characteristics, synaptic activity, and plasticity. These features critically depend on the coordinated expression and localization of hundreds of ion channels and receptors, as well as scaffolding and signaling molecules. In this review I will highlight the current state of knowledge regarding functional properties of human stem cell-derived neurons, with a primary focus on pluripotent stem cells. While significant advances have been made, critical hurdles must be overcome in order for this technology to support progression toward clinical applications.
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Livesey MR, Magnani D, Hardingham GE, Chandran S, Wyllie DJA. Functional properties of in vitro excitatory cortical neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells. J Physiol 2015; 594:6573-6582. [PMID: 26608229 PMCID: PMC5108911 DOI: 10.1113/jp270660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The in vitro derivation of regionally defined human neuron types from patient‐derived stem cells is now established as a resource to investigate human development and disease. Characterization of such neurons initially focused on the expression of developmentally regulated transcription factors and neural markers, in conjunction with the development of protocols to direct and chart the fate of differentiated neurons. However, crucial to the understanding and exploitation of this technology is to determine the degree to which neurons recapitulate the key functional features exhibited by their native counterparts, essential for determining their usefulness in modelling human physiology and disease in vitro. Here, we review the emerging data concerning functional properties of human pluripotent stem cell‐derived excitatory cortical neurons, in the context of both maturation and regional specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Livesey
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Dario Magnani
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Giles E Hardingham
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - David J A Wyllie
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, 560065, India
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Avaliani N, Sørensen AT, Ledri M, Bengzon J, Koch P, Brüstle O, Deisseroth K, Andersson M, Kokaia M. Optogenetics reveal delayed afferent synaptogenesis on grafted human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors. Stem Cells 2015; 32:3088-98. [PMID: 25183299 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Reprogramming of somatic cells into pluripotency stem cell state has opened new opportunities in cell replacement therapy and disease modeling in a number of neurological disorders. It still remains unknown, however, to what degree the grafted human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) differentiate into a functional neuronal phenotype and if they integrate into the host circuitry. Here, we present a detailed characterization of the functional properties and synaptic integration of hiPSC-derived neurons grafted in an in vitro model of hyperexcitable epileptic tissue, namely organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSCs), and in adult rats in vivo. The hiPSCs were first differentiated into long-term self-renewing neuroepithelial stem (lt-NES) cells, which are known to form primarily GABAergic neurons. When differentiated in OHSCs for 6 weeks, lt-NES cell-derived neurons displayed neuronal properties such as tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium currents and action potentials (APs), as well as both spontaneous and evoked postsynaptic currents, indicating functional afferent synaptic inputs. The grafted cells had a distinct electrophysiological profile compared to host cells in the OHSCs with higher input resistance, lower resting membrane potential, and APs with lower amplitude and longer duration. To investigate the origin of synaptic afferents to the grafted lt-NES cell-derived neurons, the host neurons were transduced with Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and optogenetically activated by blue light. Simultaneous recordings of synaptic currents in grafted lt-NES cell-derived neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp technique at 6 weeks after grafting revealed limited synaptic connections from host neurons. Longer differentiation times, up to 24 weeks after grafting in vivo, revealed more mature intrinsic properties and extensive synaptic afferents from host neurons to the lt-NES cell-derived neurons, suggesting that these cells require extended time for differentiation/maturation and synaptogenesis. However, even at this later time point, the grafted cells maintained a higher input resistance. These data indicate that grafted lt-NES cell-derived neurons receive ample afferent input from the host brain. Since the lt-NES cells used in this study show a strong propensity for GABAergic differentiation, the host-to-graft synaptic afferents may facilitate inhibitory neurotransmitter release, and normalize hyperexcitable neuronal networks in brain diseases, for example, such as epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Avaliani
- Epilepsy Center, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
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Epigenetic changes in the developing brain: Effects on behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:6789-95. [PMID: 26034282 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1501482112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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Daadi MM, Klausner JQ, Bajar B, Goshen I, Lee-Messer C, Lee SY, Winge MCG, Ramakrishnan C, Lo M, Sun G, Deisseroth K, Steinberg GK. Optogenetic Stimulation of Neural Grafts Enhances Neurotransmission and Downregulates the Inflammatory Response in Experimental Stroke Model. Cell Transplant 2015; 25:1371-80. [PMID: 26132738 DOI: 10.3727/096368915x688533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Compelling evidence suggests that transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) from multiple sources ameliorates motor deficits after stroke. However, it is currently unknown to what extent the electrophysiological activity of grafted NSC progeny participates in the improvement of motor deficits and whether excitatory phenotypes of the grafted cells are beneficial or deleterious to sensorimotor performances. To address this question, we used optogenetic tools to drive the excitatory outputs of the grafted NSCs and assess the impact on local circuitry and sensorimotor performance. We genetically engineered NSCs to express the Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a light-gated cation channel that evokes neuronal depolarization and initiation of action potentials with precise temporal control to light stimulation. To test the function of these cells in a stroke model, rats were subjected to an ischemic stroke and grafted with ChR2-NSCs. The grafted NSCs identified with a human-specific nuclear marker survived in the peri-infarct tissue and coexpressed the ChR2 transgene with the neuronal markers TuJ1 and NeuN. Gene expression analysis in stimulated versus vehicle-treated animals showed a differential upregulation of transcripts involved in neurotransmission, neuronal differentiation, regeneration, axonal guidance, and synaptic plasticity. Interestingly, genes involved in the inflammatory response were significantly downregulated. Behavioral analysis demonstrated that chronic optogenetic stimulation of the ChR2-NSCs enhanced forelimb use on the stroke-affected side and motor activity in an open field test. Together these data suggest that excitatory stimulation of grafted NSCs elicits beneficial effects in experimental stroke model through cell replacement and non-cell replacement, anti-inflammatory/neurotrophic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel M Daadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Abstract
Stem cell-based therapies hold considerable promise for many currently devastating neurological disorders. Substantial progress has been made in the derivation of disease-relevant human donor cell populations. Behavioral data in relevant animal models of disease have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy for several cell-based approaches. Consequently, cGMP grade cell products are currently being developed for first in human clinical trials in select disorders. Despite the therapeutic promise, the presumed mechanism of action of donor cell populations often remains insufficiently validated. It depends greatly on the properties of the transplanted cell type and the underlying host pathology. Several new technologies have become available to probe mechanisms of action in real time and to manipulate in vivo cell function and integration to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Results from such studies generate crucial insight into the nature of brain repair that can be achieved today and push the boundaries of what may be possible in the future.
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Chinchalongporn V, Koppensteiner P, Prè D, Thangnipon W, Bilo L, Arancio O. Connectivity and circuitry in a dish versus in a brain. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2015; 7:44. [PMID: 26045718 PMCID: PMC4456047 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-015-0129-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In order to understand and find therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders, disease models that recapitulate the connectivity and circuitry of patients’ brain are needed. Owing to many limitations of animal disease models, in vitro neuronal models using patient-derived stem cells are currently being developed. However, prior to employing neurons as a model in a dish, they need to be evaluated for their electrophysiological properties, including both passive and active membrane properties, dynamics of neurotransmitter release, and capacity to undergo synaptic plasticity. In this review, we survey recent attempts to study these issues in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. Although progress has been made, there are still many hurdles to overcome before human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons can fully recapitulate all of the above physiological properties of adult mature neurons. Moreover, proper integration of neurons into pre-existing circuitry still needs to be achieved. Nevertheless, in vitro neuronal stem cell-derived models hold great promise for clinical application in neurological diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vorapin Chinchalongporn
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain P&S Bldg, Room 12-420D, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, CUMC, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhonpathom 73170 Thailand
| | - Peter Koppensteiner
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain P&S Bldg, Room 12-420D, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, CUMC, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Deborah Prè
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain P&S Bldg, Room 12-420D, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, CUMC, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Wipawan Thangnipon
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhonpathom 73170 Thailand
| | - Leonilda Bilo
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain P&S Bldg, Room 12-420D, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, CUMC, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ottavio Arancio
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain P&S Bldg, Room 12-420D, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA ; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, CUMC, New York, NY 10032 USA
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Xu L, Ryu J, Hiel H, Menon A, Aggarwal A, Rha E, Mahairaki V, Cummings BJ, Koliatsos VE. Transplantation of human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in an animal model of diffuse traumatic axonal injury: survival and differentiation. Stem Cell Res Ther 2015; 6:93. [PMID: 25971252 PMCID: PMC4453242 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-015-0087-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Diffuse axonal injury is an extremely common type of traumatic brain injury encountered in motor vehicle crashes, sports injuries, and in combat. Although many cases of diffuse axonal injury result in chronic disability, there are no current treatments for this condition. Its basic lesion, traumatic axonal injury, has been aggressively modeled in primate and rodent animal models. The inexorable axonal and perikaryal degeneration and dysmyelination often encountered in traumatic axonal injury calls for regenerative therapies, including therapies based on stem cells and precursors. Here we explore the proof of concept that treatments based on transplants of human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells can replace or remodel myelin and, eventually, contribute to axonal regeneration in traumatic axonal injury. Methods We derived human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from the human embryonic stem cell line H9, purified and characterized them. We then transplanted these human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells into the deep sensorimotor cortex next to the corpus callosum of nude rats subjected to traumatic axonal injury based on the impact acceleration model of Marmarou. We explored the time course and spatial distribution of differentiation and structural integration of these cells in rat forebrain. Results At the time of transplantation, over 90 % of human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells expressed A2B5, PDGFR, NG2, O4, Olig2 and Sox10, a profile consistent with their progenitor or early oligodendrocyte status. After transplantation, these cells survived well and migrated massively via the corpus callosum in both injured and uninjured brains. Human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells displayed a striking preference for white matter tracts and were contained almost exclusively in the corpus callosum and external capsule, the striatopallidal striae, and cortical layer 6. Over 3 months, human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells progressively matured into myelin basic protein(+) and adenomatous polyposis coli protein(+) oligodendrocytes. The injured environment in the corpus callosum of impact acceleration subjects tended to favor maturation of human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Electron microscopy revealed that mature transplant-derived oligodendrocytes ensheathed host axons with spiral wraps intimately associated with myelin sheaths. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, instead of differentiating locally, human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells migrate massively along white matter tracts and differentiate extensively into ensheathing oligodendrocytes. These features make them appealing candidates for cellular therapies of diffuse axonal injury aiming at myelin remodeling and axonal protection or regeneration. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-015-0087-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyan Xu
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Jiwon Ryu
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Hakim Hiel
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Adarsh Menon
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Ayushi Aggarwal
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Rha
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Vasiliki Mahairaki
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Brian J Cummings
- Departments of Physical and Medical Rehabilitation, Neurological Surgery, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Vassilis E Koliatsos
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Direct in vivo assessment of human stem cell graft-host neural circuits. Neuroimage 2015; 114:328-37. [PMID: 25936696 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.03.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the potential of stem cell-derived neural transplants for treating intractable neurological diseases, the global effects of a transplant's electrical activity on host circuitry have never been measured directly, preventing the systematic optimization of such therapies. Here, we overcome this problem by combining optogenetics, stem cell biology, and neuroimaging to directly map stem cell-driven neural circuit formation in vivo. We engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to express channelrhodopsin-2 and transplanted resulting neurons to striatum of rats. To non-invasively visualize the function of newly formed circuits, we performed high-field functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during selective stimulation of transplanted cells. fMRI successfully detected local and remote neural activity, enabling the global graft-host neural circuit function to be assessed. These results demonstrate the potential of a novel neuroimaging-based platform that can be used to identify how a graft's electrical activity influences the brain network in vivo.
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Su CTE, Yoon SI, Marcy G, Chin EWM, Augustine GJ, Goh ELK. An optogenetic approach for assessing formation of neuronal connections in a co-culture system. J Vis Exp 2015:e52408. [PMID: 25742527 PMCID: PMC4354644 DOI: 10.3791/52408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we describe a protocol to generate a co-culture consisting of 2 different neuronal populations. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are reprogrammed from human fibroblasts using episomal vectors. Colonies of iPSCs can be observed 30 days after initiation of fibroblast reprogramming. Pluripotent colonies are manually picked and grown in neural induction medium to permit differentiation into neural progenitor cells (NPCs). iPSCs rapidly convert into neuroepithelial cells within 1 week and retain the capability to self-renew when maintained at a high culture density. Primary mouse NPCs are differentiated into astrocytes by exposure to a serum-containing medium for 7 days and form a monolayer upon which embryonic day 18 (E18) rat cortical neurons (transfected with channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)) are added. Human NPCs tagged with the fluorescent protein, tandem dimer Tomato (tdTomato), are then seeded onto the astrocyte/cortical neuron culture the following day and allowed to differentiate for 28 to 35 days. We demonstrate that this system forms synaptic connections between iPSC-derived neurons and cortical neurons, evident from an increase in the frequency of synaptic currents upon photostimulation of the cortical neurons. This co-culture system provides a novel platform for evaluating the ability of iPSC-derived neurons to create synaptic connections with other neuronal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin T E Su
- Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
| | - Su-In Yoon
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University
| | - Guillaume Marcy
- Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
| | - Eunice W M Chin
- Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
| | | | - Eyleen L K Goh
- Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School;
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45
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Sanders JI, Kepecs A. A low-cost programmable pulse generator for physiology and behavior. FRONTIERS IN NEUROENGINEERING 2014; 7:43. [PMID: 25566051 PMCID: PMC4263096 DOI: 10.3389/fneng.2014.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Precisely timed experimental manipulations of the brain and its sensory environment are often employed to reveal principles of brain function. While complex and reliable pulse trains for temporal stimulus control can be generated with commercial instruments, contemporary options remain expensive and proprietary. We have developed Pulse Pal, an open source device that allows users to create and trigger software-defined trains of voltage pulses with high temporal precision. Here we describe Pulse Pal’s circuitry and firmware, and characterize its precision and reliability. In addition, we supply online documentation with instructions for assembling, testing and installing Pulse Pal. While the device can be operated as a stand-alone instrument, we also provide application programming interfaces in several programming languages. As an inexpensive, flexible and open solution for temporal control, we anticipate that Pulse Pal will be used to address a wide range of instrumentation timing challenges in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua I Sanders
- Neuroscience, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Kepecs Lab, Cold Spring Harbor NY, USA
| | - Adam Kepecs
- Neuroscience, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Kepecs Lab, Cold Spring Harbor NY, USA
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Tang Y, Wang J, Lin X, Wang L, Shao B, Jin K, Wang Y, Yang GY. Neural stem cell protects aged rat brain from ischemia-reperfusion injury through neurogenesis and angiogenesis. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2014; 34:1138-47. [PMID: 24714034 PMCID: PMC4083376 DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2014.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) show therapeutic potential for ischemia in young-adult animals. However, the effect of aging on NSC therapy is largely unknown. In this work, NSCs were transplanted into aged (24-month-old) and young-adult (3-month-old) rats at 1 day after stroke. Infarct volume and neurobehavioral outcomes were examined. The number of differentiated NSCs was compared in aged and young-adult ischemic rats and angiogenesis and neurogenesis were also determined. We found that aged rats developed larger infarcts than young-adult rats after ischemia (P<0.05). The neurobehavioral outcome was also worse for aged rats comparing with young-adult rats. Brain infarction and neurologic deficits were attenuated after NSC transplantation in both aged and young-adult rats. The number of survived NSCs in aged rats was similar to that of the young-adult rats (P>0.05) and most of them were differentiated into glial fibrillary acidic protein(+) (GFAP(+)) cells. More importantly, angiogenesis and neurogenesis were greatly enhanced in both aged and young-adult rats after transplantation compared with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control (P<0.05), accompanied by increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our results showed that NSC therapy reduced ischemic brain injury, along with increased angiogenesis and neurogenesis in aged rats, suggesting that aging-related microenvironment does not preclude a beneficial response to NSCs transplantation during cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohui Tang
- Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Center, Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jixian Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Lin
- Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Center, Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liuqing Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research the First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Neurology, Wenzhou Medical College, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bei Shao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research the First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Neurology, Wenzhou Medical College, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kunlin Jin
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Yongting Wang
- Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Center, Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Yuan Yang
- 1] Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Center, Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China [2] Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
Positive predictions were made in the aftermath of the development of induced pluripotent stem cell technology for the use of patient-specific iPSCs to model neurological diseases, including dementia. Here, we review the current state of the field and explore how close we are to the goal of in vitro models that capture all aspects of the cell and molecular biology of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick J Livesey
- Gurdon Institute, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
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48
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McCusker CD, Gardiner DM. Understanding positional cues in salamander limb regeneration: implications for optimizing cell-based regenerative therapies. Dis Model Mech 2014; 7:593-9. [PMID: 24872456 PMCID: PMC4036467 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.013359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Regenerative medicine has reached the point where we are performing clinical trials with stem-cell-derived cell populations in an effort to treat numerous human pathologies. However, many of these efforts have been challenged by the inability of the engrafted populations to properly integrate into the host environment to make a functional biological unit. It is apparent that we must understand the basic biology of tissue integration in order to apply these principles to the development of regenerative therapies in humans. Studying tissue integration in model organisms, where the process of integration between the newly regenerated tissues and the ‘old’ existing structures can be observed and manipulated, can provide valuable insights. Embryonic and adult cells have a memory of their original position, and this positional information can modify surrounding tissues and drive the formation of new structures. In this Review, we discuss the positional interactions that control the ability of grafted cells to integrate into existing tissues during the process of salamander limb regeneration, and discuss how these insights could explain the integration defects observed in current cell-based regenerative therapies. Additionally, we describe potential molecular tools that can be used to manipulate the positional information in grafted cell populations, and to promote the communication of positional cues in the host environment to facilitate the integration of engrafted cells. Lastly, we explain how studying positional information in current cell-based therapies and in regenerating limbs could provide key insights to improve the integration of cell-based regenerative therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine D McCusker
- Francisco J. Ayala School of Biological Sciences, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, CA 92602, USA.
| | - David M Gardiner
- Francisco J. Ayala School of Biological Sciences, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, CA 92602, USA
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Dage JL, Colvin EM, Fouillet A, Langron E, Roell WC, Li J, Mathur SX, Mogg AJ, Schmitt MG, Felder CC, Merchant KM, Isaac J, Broad LM, Sher E, Ursu D. Pharmacological characterisation of ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels expressed in human iPSC-derived forebrain neurons. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:1105-24. [PMID: 24429870 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3384-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Genetic causes, or predisposition, are increasingly accepted to be part of the ethiopathogenesis of many neuropsychiatric diseases. While genes can be studied in any type of cells, their physiological function in human brain cells is difficult to evaluate, particularly in living subjects. METHODS As a first step towards the characterisation of human inducible pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients, we used gene expression and functional studies to define the regional identity of the typical forebrain differentiation, demonstrate expression patterns of genes of interest in ASD and understand the properties of 'control' iPSC-derived neurons (iCell-Neurons™), with a focus on receptors and ion channels that play a central role in synaptic physio-pathology. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The gene expression profile of the iCell-Neurons™ closely resembled that observed in neonatal prefrontal cortex tissues. Functional studies, performed mainly using calcium flux assays, demonstrated the presence of ionotropic glutamate (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate) and gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. Voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels were also identified using similar techniques. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results reported here suggest that iCell-Neurons™ are a good cellular model of a relatively immature forebrain human neuron population that can be used both as a control in comparison to patients cells, and as host cells in which mutations, insertions and deletions can be used in order to study the molecular mechanisms of ASD and other neurological disorders in an isogenic cellular background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L Dage
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, 46285, USA
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Illes S, Jakab M, Beyer F, Gelfert R, Couillard-Despres S, Schnitzler A, Ritter M, Aigner L. Intrinsically active and pacemaker neurons in pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal populations. Stem Cell Reports 2014; 2:323-36. [PMID: 24672755 PMCID: PMC3964285 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Revised: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons generated from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) self-organize into functional neuronal assemblies in vitro, generating synchronous network activities. Intriguingly, PSC-derived neuronal assemblies develop spontaneous activities that are independent of external stimulation, suggesting the presence of thus far undetected intrinsically active neurons (IANs). Here, by using mouse embryonic stem cells, we provide evidence for the existence of IANs in PSC-neuronal networks based on extracellular multielectrode array and intracellular patch-clamp recordings. IANs remain active after pharmacological inhibition of fast synaptic communication and possess intrinsic mechanisms required for autonomous neuronal activity. PSC-derived IANs are functionally integrated in PSC-neuronal populations, contribute to synchronous network bursting, and exhibit pacemaker properties. The intrinsic activity and pacemaker properties of the neuronal subpopulation identified herein may be particularly relevant for interventions involving transplantation of neural tissues. IANs may be a key element in the regulation of the functional activity of grafted as well as preexisting host neuronal networks. PSC-neuronal assemblies harbor intrinsically active neurons (IANs) IANs remain active after inhibition of fast glutamatergic synaptic transmission Autonomous activities of PSC IANs depend on persistent active sodium currents PSC IANs contribute to concerted network activity and have pacemaker properties
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Illes
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria, Austria ; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Martin Jakab
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Felix Beyer
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Renate Gelfert
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria, Austria ; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sébastien Couillard-Despres
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria, Austria ; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria ; Institute of Experimental Neuroregeneration, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Alfons Schnitzler
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus Ritter
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ludwig Aigner
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria, Austria ; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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