1
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Hosseini SM, Borys B, Karimi-Abdolrezaee S. Neural stem cell therapies for spinal cord injury repair: an update on recent preclinical and clinical advances. Brain 2024; 147:766-793. [PMID: 37975820 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a leading cause of lifelong disabilities. Permanent sensory, motor and autonomic impairments after SCI are substantially attributed to degeneration of spinal cord neurons and axons, and disintegration of neural network. To date, minimal regenerative treatments are available for SCI with an unmet need for new therapies to reconstruct the damaged spinal cord neuron-glia network and restore connectivity with the supraspinal pathways. Multipotent neural precursor cells (NPCs) have a unique capacity to generate neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Due to this capacity, NPCs have been an attractive cell source for cellular therapies for SCI. Transplantation of NPCs has been extensively tested in preclinical models of SCI in the past two decades. These studies have identified opportunities and challenges associated with NPC therapies. While NPCs have the potential to promote neuroregeneration through various mechanisms, their low long-term survival and integration within the host injured spinal cord limit the functional benefits of NPC-based therapies for SCI. To address this challenge, combinatorial strategies have been developed to optimize the outcomes of NPC therapies by enriching SCI microenvironment through biomaterials, genetic and pharmacological therapies. In this review, we will provide an in-depth discussion on recent advances in preclinical NPC-based therapies for SCI. We will discuss modes of actions and mechanism by which engrafted NPCs contribute to the repair process and functional recovery. We will also provide an update on current clinical trials and new technologies that have facilitated preparation of medical-grade human NPCs suitable for transplantation in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Ben Borys
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Soheila Karimi-Abdolrezaee
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
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2
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Marzoog BA. Transcription Factors in Brain Regeneration: A Potential Novel Therapeutic Target. Curr Drug Targets 2024; 25:46-61. [PMID: 38444255 DOI: 10.2174/0113894501279977231210170231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors play a crucial role in providing identity to each cell population. To maintain cell identity, it is essential to balance the expression of activator and inhibitor transcription factors. Cell plasticity and reprogramming offer great potential for future therapeutic applications, as they can regenerate damaged tissue. Specific niche factors can modify gene expression and differentiate or transdifferentiate the target cell to the required fate. Ongoing research is being carried out on the possibilities of transcription factors in regenerating neurons, with neural stem cells (NSCs) being considered the preferred cells for generating new neurons due to their epigenomic and transcriptome memory. NEUROD1/ASCL1, BRN2, MYTL1, and other transcription factors can induce direct reprogramming of somatic cells, such as fibroblasts, into neurons. However, the molecular biology of transcription factors in reprogramming and differentiation still needs to be fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basheer Abdullah Marzoog
- World-Class Research Center, Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare», I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
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3
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Liao C, Guan Y, Zheng J, Wang X, Wang M, Zhu Z, Peng Q, Wang HH, Li M. Development of synthetic modulator enabling long-term propagation and neurogenesis of human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells. Biol Res 2023; 56:59. [PMID: 37951961 PMCID: PMC10638775 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00471-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are essential for in vitro drug screening and cell-based therapies for brain-related disorders, necessitating well-defined and reproducible culture systems. Current strategies employing protein growth factors pose challenges in terms of both reproducibility and cost. In this study, we developed a novel DNA-based modulator to regulate FGFR signaling in NPCs, thereby facilitating the long-term maintenance of stemness and promoting neurogenesis. This DNA-based FGFR-agonist effectively stimulated FGFR1 phosphorylation and activated the downstream ERK signaling pathway in human embryonic stem cell (HESC)-derived NPCs. We replaced the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the culture medium with our DNA-based FGFR-agonist to artificially modulate FGFR signaling in NPCs. Utilizing a combination of cell experiments and bioinformatics analyses, we showed that our FGFR-agonist could enhance NPC proliferation, direct migration, and promote neurosphere formation, thus mimicking the functions of bFGF. Notably, transcriptomic analysis indicated that the FGFR-agonist could specifically influence the transcriptional program associated with stemness while maintaining the neuronal differentiation program, closely resembling the effects of bFGF. Furthermore, our culture conditions allowed for the successful propagation of NPCs through over 50 passages while retaining their ability to efficiently differentiate into neurons. Collectively, our approach offers a highly effective method for expanding NPCs, thereby providing new avenues for disease-in-dish research and drug screening aimed at combating neural degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceheng Liao
- College of Biology, Hunan University, 27 Tianma Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Ying Guan
- Joint Institute of Tobacco and Health, 367 Hongjin Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650202, Yunnan, China
| | - Jihui Zheng
- College of Biology, Hunan University, 27 Tianma Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Xue Wang
- College of Biology, Hunan University, 27 Tianma Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Meixia Wang
- College of Biology, Hunan University, 27 Tianma Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Zhouhai Zhu
- Joint Institute of Tobacco and Health, 367 Hongjin Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650202, Yunnan, China
| | - Qiyuan Peng
- Joint Institute of Tobacco and Health, 367 Hongjin Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650202, Yunnan, China
| | - Hong-Hui Wang
- College of Biology, Hunan University, 27 Tianma Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China.
| | - Meng Li
- Joint Institute of Tobacco and Health, 367 Hongjin Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650202, Yunnan, China.
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4
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Radoszkiewicz K, Hribljan V, Isakovic J, Mitrecic D, Sarnowska A. Critical points for optimizing long-term culture and neural differentiation capacity of rodent and human neural stem cells to facilitate translation into clinical settings. Exp Neurol 2023; 363:114353. [PMID: 36841464 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Despite several decades of research on the nature and functional properties of neural stem cells, which brought great advances in regenerative medicine, there is still a plethora of ambiguous protocols and interpretations linked to their applications. Here, we present a whole spectrum of protocol elements that should be standardized in order to obtain viable cell cultures and facilitate their translation into clinical settings. Additionally, this review also presents outstanding limitations and possible problems to be encountered when dealing with protocol optimization. Most importantly, we also outline the critical points that should be considered before starting any experiments utilizing neural stem cells or interpreting their results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Radoszkiewicz
- Translational Platform for Regenerative Medicine, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5 Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Valentina Hribljan
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 12, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jasmina Isakovic
- Omnion Research International Ltd, Heinzelova 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dinko Mitrecic
- Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 12, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anna Sarnowska
- Translational Platform for Regenerative Medicine, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5 Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
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5
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Seo JH, Jang SW, Jeon YJ, Eun SY, Hong YJ, Do JT, Chae JI, Choi HW. Acceleration of Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition (MET) during Direct Reprogramming Using Natural Compounds. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 32:1245-1252. [PMID: 36224763 PMCID: PMC9668095 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2208.08042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be generated from somatic cells using Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM). Small molecules can enhance reprogramming. Licochalcone D (LCD), a flavonoid compound present mainly in the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata, acts on known signaling pathways involved in transcriptional activity and signal transduction, including the PGC1-α and MAPK families. In this study, we demonstrated that LCD improved reprogramming efficiency. LCD-treated iPSCs (LCD-iPSCs) expressed pluripotency-related genes Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Prdm14. Moreover, LCD-iPSCs differentiated into all three germ layers in vitro and formed chimeras. The mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) is critical for somatic cell reprogramming. We found that the expression levels of mesenchymal genes (Snail2 and Twist) decreased and those of epithelial genes (DSP, Cldn3, Crb3, and Ocln) dramatically increased in OR-MEF (OG2+/+/ROSA26+/+) cells treated with LCD for 3 days, indicating that MET effectively occurred in LCD-treated OR-MEF cells. Thus, LCD enhanced the generation of iPSCs from somatic cells by promoting MET at the early stages of reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hye Seo
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Si Won Jang
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Joo Jeon
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - So Young Eun
- Musculoskeletal and Immune Disease Research Institute School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Yean Ju Hong
- Department of Psychiatry and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, McLean Hospital and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Jeong Tae Do
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-il Chae
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea,Corresponding authors J.I. Chae E-mail:
| | - Hyun Woo Choi
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea,Department of Animal Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea,
H.W. Choi Phone: 82-63-270-2554 Fax: 82-63-270-2612 E-mail:
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6
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Zhang SY, Zhao J, Ni JJ, Li H, Quan ZZ, Qing H. Application and prospects of high-throughput screening for in vitro neurogenesis. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:393-419. [PMID: 35949394 PMCID: PMC9244953 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i6.393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, high-throughput screening (HTS) has made great contributions to new drug discovery. HTS technology is equipped with higher throughput, minimized platforms, more automated and computerized operating systems, more efficient and sensitive detection devices, and rapid data processing systems. At the same time, in vitro neurogenesis is gradually becoming important in establishing models to investigate the mechanisms of neural disease or developmental processes. However, challenges remain in generating more mature and functional neurons with specific subtypes and in establishing robust and standardized three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models with neural cells cultured in 3D matrices or organoids representing specific brain regions. Here, we review the applications of HTS technologies on in vitro neurogenesis, especially aiming at identifying the essential genes, chemical small molecules and adaptive microenvironments that hold great prospects for generating functional neurons or more reproductive and homogeneous 3D organoids. We also discuss the developmental tendency of HTS technology, e.g., so-called next-generation screening, which utilizes 3D organoid-based screening combined with microfluidic devices to narrow the gap between in vitro models and in vivo situations both physiologically and pathologically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Aerospace Medical Center, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jun-Jun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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7
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Schiro LE, Bauer US, Sandvig A, Sandvig I. Isolation and comparison of neural stem cells from the adult rat brain and spinal cord canonical neurogenic niches. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101426. [PMID: 35693206 PMCID: PMC9184809 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present a unified protocol for the extraction, culture, and basic characterization of rat neural stem cells (NSCs) from all three canonical neurogenic niches in the brain and spinal cord. We describe tissue dissection and dissociation, cell culture, followed by EdU labeling and characterization of NSCs. By yielding considerable numbers of viable cells per animal, this protocol enables the establishment of substantial, long-term cell banks, thus offering cost and labor efficiency while significantly reducing the numbers of animals used. Extraction, culture, and characterization of adult neurogenic niche neural stem cells Comparison of neural stem cells from the different neurogenic niches High yield of viable neural stem cells obtainable per animal
Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
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8
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Conversion of Human Fibroblasts into Induced Neural Stem Cells by Small Molecules. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031740. [PMID: 35163660 PMCID: PMC8835839 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) reprogrammed from somatic cells hold great potentials for drug discovery, disease modelling and the treatment of neurological diseases. Although studies have shown that human somatic cells can be converted into iNSCs by introducing transcription factors, these iNSCs are unlikely to be used for clinical application due to the safety concern of using exogenous genes and viral transduction vectors. Here, we report the successful conversion of human fibroblasts into iNSCs using a cocktail of small molecules. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that these human iNSCs (hiNSCs) have similar gene expression profiles to bona fide NSCs, can proliferate, and are capable of differentiating into glial cells and functional neurons. This study collectively describes a novel approach based on small molecules to produce hiNSCs from human fibroblasts, which may be useful for both research and therapeutic purposes.
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9
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Liu D, Bobrovskaya L, Zhou XF. Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders: The Perspective of Promising Cells. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1142. [PMID: 34827135 PMCID: PMC8614777 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurological disorders are big public health challenges that are afflicting hundreds of millions of people around the world. Although many conventional pharmacological therapies have been tested in patients, their therapeutic efficacies to alleviate their symptoms and slow down the course of the diseases are usually limited. Cell therapy has attracted the interest of many researchers in the last several decades and has brought new hope for treating neurological disorders. Moreover, numerous studies have shown promising results. However, none of the studies has led to a promising therapy for patients with neurological disorders, despite the ongoing and completed clinical trials. There are many factors that may affect the outcome of cell therapy for neurological disorders due to the complexity of the nervous system, especially cell types for transplantation and the specific disease for treatment. This paper provides a review of the various cell types from humans that may be clinically used for neurological disorders, based on their characteristics and current progress in related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xin-Fu Zhou
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.L.); (L.B.)
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10
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Icariin Promotes Survival, Proliferation, and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells In Vitro and in a Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:9974625. [PMID: 34257671 PMCID: PMC8249160 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9974625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves the degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain. Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for treating AD. Icariin (ICA) is the main active component in Epimedium, a traditional Chinese herb. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of ICA on the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the basal forebrain of a fimbria-fornix transection (FFT) rat model. In the present study, ICA promoted the survival, proliferation, and migration of NSCs in vitro. In FFT rats, ICA promoted the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs into neurons and increased the number of cholinergic neurons in the MS and VDB of the basal forebrain. These results suggest that combination therapy of ICA oral administration and NSC transplantation may provide a new potential and effective approach for AD therapy.
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11
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Liu D, Pavathuparambil Abdul Manaph N, Al-Hawwas M, Bobrovskaya L, Xiong LL, Zhou XF. Coating Materials for Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Culture and Differentiation. Stem Cells Dev 2020; 29:463-474. [PMID: 32106778 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2019.0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) have a potential to treat various neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, and Spinal Cord Injury. However, the limitation of NSPC sources and the difficulty to maintain their stemness or to differentiate them into specific therapeutic cells are the main hurdles for clinical research and application. Thus, for obtaining a therapeutically relevant number of NSPCs in vitro, it is important to understand factors regulating their behaviors and to establish a protocol for stable NSPC proliferation and differentiation. Coating materials for cell culture, such as Matrigel, laminin, collagen, and other coating materials, can significantly affect NSPC characteristics. This article provides a review of coating materials for NSPC culturing in both two dimensions and three dimensions, and their functions in NSPC proliferation and differentiation, and presents a useful guide to select coating materials for researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghui Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Mohammed Al-Hawwas
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Larisa Bobrovskaya
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Liu-Lin Xiong
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Xin-Fu Zhou
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
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12
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Liu D, Rychkov G, Al-Hawwas M, Manaph NPA, Zhou F, Bobrovskaya L, Liao H, Zhou XF. Conversion of human urine-derived cells into neuron-like cells by small molecules. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:2713-2722. [PMID: 32185687 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05370-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Neural cell transplantation is an effective way for treatment of neurological diseases. However, the absence of transplantable human neurons remains a barrier for clinical therapies. Human urine-derived cells, namely renal cells and urine stem cells, have become a good source of cells for reprogramming or trans-differentiation research. Here, we show that human urine-derived cells can be partially converted into neuron-like cells by applying a cocktail of small molecules. Gene expression analysis has shown that these induced cells expressed some neuron-specific genes, and a proportion of the cells are GABAergic neurons. Moreover, whole-cell patch clamping recording has shown that some induced cells have neuron-specific voltage gated Na+ and K+ currents but have failed to generate Ca2+ currents and action potentials. Taken together, these results suggest that induced neuronal cells from human urine-derived cells may be useful for neurological disease modelling, drug screening and cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghui Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang Street, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Grigori Rychkov
- Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Mohammed Al-Hawwas
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | | | - Fiona Zhou
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Larisa Bobrovskaya
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Hong Liao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang Street, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Xin-Fu Zhou
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
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13
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Pavathuparambil Abdul Manaph N, Sivanathan KN, Nitschke J, Zhou XF, Coates PT, Drogemuller CJ. An overview on small molecule-induced differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into beta cells for diabetic therapy. Stem Cell Res Ther 2019; 10:293. [PMID: 31547868 PMCID: PMC6757413 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-019-1396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of regenerative medicine provides enormous opportunities for generating beta cells from different stem cell sources for cellular therapy. Even though insulin-secreting cells can be generated from a variety of stem cell types like pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells, the ideal functional cells should be generated from patients' own cells and expanded to considerable levels by non-integrative culture techniques. In terms of the ease of isolation, plasticity, and clinical translation to generate autologous cells, mesenchymal stem cell stands superior. Furthermore, small molecules offer a great advantage in terms of generating functional beta cells from stem cells. Research suggests that most of the mesenchymal stem cell-based protocols to generate pancreatic beta cells have small molecules in their cocktail. However, most of the protocols generate cells that mimic the characteristics of human beta cells, thereby generating "beta cell-like cells" as opposed to mature beta cells. Diabetic therapy becomes feasible only when there are robust, functional, and safe cells for replacing the damaged or lost beta cells. In this review, we discuss the current protocols used to generate beta cells from mesenchymal cells, with emphasis on small molecule-mediated conversion into insulin-producing beta cell-like cells. Our data and the data presented from the references within this review would suggest that although mesenchymal stem cells are an attractive cell type for cell therapy they are not readily converted into functional mature beta cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimshitha Pavathuparambil Abdul Manaph
- Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia. .,School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia. .,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia. .,Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Kisha N Sivanathan
- Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.,Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jodie Nitschke
- Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Xin-Fu Zhou
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Patrick T Coates
- Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Christopher John Drogemuller
- Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
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14
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Duan Q, Li S, Wen X, Sunnassee G, Chen J, Tan S, Guo Y. Valproic Acid Enhances Reprogramming Efficiency and Neuronal Differentiation on Small Molecules Staged-Induction Neural Stem Cells: Suggested Role of mTOR Signaling. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:867. [PMID: 31551670 PMCID: PMC6737087 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inducing somatic cells into neural stem cells (iNSCs) in specific ways provides a new cell therapy in a variety of neurological diseases. In the past, iNSCs were generated by transcription factors which increased the risk of mutagenesis, tumor formations, and immune reactions by viral transduction vectors. Therefore, in this study, different small molecules were used to induce mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into iNSCs in different reprogramming stages, which showed high reprogramming efficiency without altering the genome. We demonstrated that the small molecules staged-induction neural stem cells (SMSINS) have the characteristics of neural stem cells (NSCs) in morphology, gene expression, self-renewal and differentiation potential. Furthermore, valproic acid (VPA), one of small molecules, was showed to enhance neural induction with highest efficiency compared with six other small molecules, which were also investigated in the present study. Moreover, our results suggested that activating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling enhanced the induction efficiency and neuronal differentiation. Collectively, our findings indicated that using this induction program allowed us to obtain safe and efficient iNSCs which were free of genetic manipulation. The VPA-mediated mTOR signaling pathway may enhance reprogramming efficiency and neuronal differentiation. So we suggested that this program could be a new method of obtaining iNSCs for the treatment of neurological diseases by cell replacement therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingrui Duan
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siyi Li
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinrui Wen
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gavin Sunnassee
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Tan
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Guo
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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15
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Porterfield V. Neural Progenitor Cell Derivation Methodologies for Drug Discovery Applications. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2019; 18:89-95. [PMID: 31090435 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2019.921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are being used to model brain disorders across the continuum of neurodevelopment, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric disease allowing for the mechanistic unraveling of the neurological disease state. Subsequently, there is a diverse array of cell model systems that can be used for target validation, pharmacodynamic endpoint development, and high-throughput/content assay development and screening. However, to successfully model neurological disorders with iPSCs, the disease-relevant neuron must be first identified, and it is critical to have the appropriate neuronal progenitor cell derivation and neuron differentiation protocols available to produce desired neuronal phenotypes. Moreover, special considerations are necessary if adaptation to high-throughput/content assay systems is anticipated. Discussed here are the three-dimensional embryoid body-neural rosette and two-dimensional monolayer methodologies to derive iPS neural progenitor cells and neurons with a specific focus on cortical neurons. Outlined are some of the commonalities, advantages, and disadvantages associated with both methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Porterfield
- Stem Cell Core Facility, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
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