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Ferrante M, Esposito LE, Stoeckel LE. From palm to practice: prescription digital therapeutics for mental and brain health at the National Institutes of Health. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1433438. [PMID: 39319355 PMCID: PMC11420130 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1433438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs) are emerging as promising tools for treating and managing mental and brain health conditions within the context of daily life. This commentary distinguishes PDTs from other Software as Medical Devices (SaMD) and explores their integration into mental and brain health treatments. We focus on research programs and support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discussing PDT research supported by the NIH's National Institute on Child Health and Development (NICHD), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and National Institute on Aging (NIA). We present a hierarchical natural language processing topic analysis of NIH-funded digital therapeutics research projects. We delineate the PDT landscape across different mental and brain health disorders while highlighting opportunities and challenges. Additionally, we discuss the research foundation for PDTs, the unique therapeutic approaches they employ, and potential strategies to improve their validity, reliability, safety, and effectiveness. Finally, we address the research and collaborations necessary to propel the field forward, ultimately enhancing patient care through innovative digital health solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Ferrante
- Division of Translational Research, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Layla E. Esposito
- Division of Behavioral and Social Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Luke E. Stoeckel
- Division of Extramural Research, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Llaves-López A, Micoli E, Belmonte-Mateos C, Aguilar G, Alba C, Marsal A, Pulido-Salgado M, Rabaneda-Lombarte N, Solà C, Serratosa J, Vidal-Taboada JM, Saura J. Human Microglia-Like Cells Differentiated from Monocytes with GM-CSF and IL-34 Show Phagocytosis of α-Synuclein Aggregates and C/EBPβ-Dependent Proinflammatory Activation. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04289-z. [PMID: 38900366 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04289-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Microglia, the main resident immune cells in the central nervous system, are implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders. Much of our knowledge on microglial biology was obtained using rodent microglial cultures. To understand the role of microglia in human disease, reliable in vitro models of human microglia are necessary. Monocyte-derived microglia-like cells (MDMi) are a promising approach. This study aimed to characterize MDMi cells generated from adult human monocytes using granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-34. To this end, 49 independent cultures of MDMI were prepared, and various methodological and functional studies were performed. We show that with this protocol, adult human monocytes develop into microglia-like cells, a coating is unnecessary, and high cell density seeding is preferable. When compared to monocytes, MDMi upregulate the expression of many, but not all, microglial markers, indicating that, although these cells display a microglia-like phenotype, they cannot be considered bona fide human microglia. At the functional level, MDMi phagocytose α-synuclein aggregates and responds to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by nuclear translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) and the upregulation of proinflammatory genes. Finally, a long-lasting silencing of the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer protein β (C/EBPβ) was achieved by small interfering RNA, resulting in the subsequent downregulation of proinflammatory genes. This supports the hypothesis that C/EBPβ plays a key role in proinflammatory gene program activation in human microglia. Altogether, this study sheds new light on the properties of MDMi cells and supports these cells as a promising in vitro model for studying adult human microglia-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Llaves-López
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elia Micoli
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Carla Belmonte-Mateos
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Gerard Aguilar
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Clara Alba
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anais Marsal
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Pulido-Salgado
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Neus Rabaneda-Lombarte
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, IIBB, CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Carme Solà
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, IIBB, CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan Serratosa
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, IIBB, CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jose M Vidal-Taboada
- Peripheral Nervous System, Neuroscience Department, VHIR, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josep Saura
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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Granzotto A, McQuade A, Chadarevian JP, Davtyan H, Sensi SL, Parker I, Blurton-Jones M, Smith I. ER and SOCE Ca 2+ signals are not required for directed cell migration in human microglia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.18.576126. [PMID: 38293075 PMCID: PMC10827168 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.18.576126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is constantly surveilled by microglia, highly motile and dynamic cells deputed to act as the first line of immune defense in the brain and spinal cord. Alterations in the homeostasis of the CNS are detected by microglia that respond by migrating toward the affected area. Understanding the mechanisms controlling directed cell migration of microglia is crucial to dissect their responses to neuroinflammation and injury. We used a combination of pharmacological and genetic approaches to explore the involvement of calcium (Ca2+) signaling in the directed migration of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia challenged with a purinergic stimulus. This approach mimics cues originating from injury of the CNS. Unexpectedly, simultaneous imaging of microglia migration and intracellular Ca2+ changes revealed that this phenomenon does not require Ca2+ signals generated from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) pathways. Instead, we find evidence that human microglial chemotaxis to purinergic signals is mediated by cyclic AMP in a Ca2+-independent manner. These results challenge prevailing notions, with important implications in neurological conditions characterized by perturbation in Ca2+ homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Granzotto
- UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, United States
- Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Amanda McQuade
- UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Jean Paul Chadarevian
- UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
| | - Stefano L. Sensi
- Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Ian Parker
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
| | - Ian Smith
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
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