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Gazzola M, Martinat C. Unlocking the Complexity of Neuromuscular Diseases: Insights from Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neuromuscular Junctions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15291. [PMID: 37894969 PMCID: PMC10607237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, the use of pluripotent stem cells to mimic the complexities of the human neuromuscular junction has received much attention. Deciphering the key mechanisms underlying the establishment and maturation of this complex synapse has been driven by the dual goals of addressing developmental questions and gaining insight into neuromuscular disorders. This review aims to summarise the evolution and sophistication of in vitro neuromuscular junction models developed from the first differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into motor neurons to recent neuromuscular organoids. We also discuss the potential offered by these models to decipher different neuromuscular diseases characterised by defects in the presynaptic compartment, the neuromuscular junction, and the postsynaptic compartment. Finally, we discuss the emerging field that considers the use of these techniques in drug screening assay and the challenges they will face in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Gazzola
- INSERM U861, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France;
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2
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Cheesbrough A, Harley P, Riccio F, Wu L, Song W, Lieberam I. A scalable human iPSC-based neuromuscular disease model on suspended biobased elastomer nanofiber scaffolds. Biofabrication 2023; 15:045020. [PMID: 37619554 PMCID: PMC10478173 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/acf39e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Many devastating neuromuscular diseases currently lack effective treatments. This is in part due to a lack of drug discovery platforms capable of assessing complex human neuromuscular disease phenotypes in a scalable manner. A major obstacle has been generating scaffolds to stabilise mature contractile myofibers in a multi-well assay format amenable to high content image (HCI) analysis. This study describes the development of a scalable human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-neuromuscular disease model, whereby suspended elastomer nanofibers support long-term stability, alignment, maturation, and repeated contractions of iPSC-myofibers, innervated by iPSC-motor neurons in 96-well assay plates. In this platform, optogenetic stimulation of the motor neurons elicits robust myofiber-contractions, providing a functional readout of neuromuscular transmission. Additionally, HCI analysis provides rapid and automated quantification of axonal outgrowth, myofiber morphology, and neuromuscular synapse number and morphology. By incorporating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-related TDP-43G298Smutant motor neurons and CRISPR-corrected controls, key neuromuscular disease phenotypes are recapitulated, including weaker myofiber contractions, reduced axonal outgrowth, and reduced number of neuromuscular synapses. Treatment with a candidate ALS drug, the receptor-interacting protein kinase-1 (RIPK1)-inhibitor necrostatin-1, rescues these phenotypes in a dose-dependent manner, highlighting the potential of this platform to screen novel treatments for neuromuscular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Cheesbrough
- Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- UCL Centre for Biomaterials in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Harley
- Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Riccio
- Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Lei Wu
- UCL Centre for Biomaterials in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Wenhui Song
- UCL Centre for Biomaterials in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Ivo Lieberam
- Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
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3
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Chang M, Cai Y, Gao Z, Chen X, Liu B, Zhang C, Yu W, Cao Q, Shen Y, Yao X, Chen X, Sun H. Duchenne muscular dystrophy: pathogenesis and promising therapies. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11796-x. [PMID: 37258941 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive, muscle-wasting disease, characterized by progressive deterioration of skeletal muscle that causes rapid loss of mobility. The failure in respiratory and cardiac muscles is the underlying cause of premature death in most patients with DMD. Mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin result in dystrophin deficiency, which is the underlying pathogenesis of DMD. Dystrophin-deficient myocytes are dysfunctional and vulnerable to injury, triggering a series of subsequent pathological changes. In this review, we detail the molecular mechanism of DMD, dystrophin deficiency-induced muscle cell damage (oxidative stress injury, dysregulated calcium homeostasis, and sarcolemma instability) and other cell damage and dysfunction (neuromuscular junction impairment and abnormal differentiation of muscle satellite). We also describe aberrant function of other cells and impaired muscle regeneration due to deterioration of the muscle microenvironment, and dystrophin deficiency-induced multiple organ dysfunction, while summarizing the recent advances in the treatment of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Chang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Cai
- Department of Neurology, Binhai County People's Hospital, Yancheng, 224500, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Boya Liu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiran Yu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianqian Cao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuntian Shen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinlei Yao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoyang Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hualin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Research and Development Center for E-Learning, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100816, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Pinton L, Khedr M, Lionello VM, Sarcar S, Maffioletti SM, Dastidar S, Negroni E, Choi S, Khokhar N, Bigot A, Counsell JR, Bernardo AS, Zammit PS, Tedesco FS. 3D human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived bioengineered skeletal muscles for tissue, disease and therapy modeling. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:1337-1376. [PMID: 36792780 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00790-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle is a complex tissue composed of multinucleated myofibers responsible for force generation that are supported by multiple cell types. Many severe and lethal disorders affect skeletal muscle; therefore, engineering models to reproduce such cellular complexity and function are instrumental for investigating muscle pathophysiology and developing therapies. Here, we detail the modular 3D bioengineering of multilineage skeletal muscles from human induced pluripotent stem cells, which are first differentiated into myogenic, neural and vascular progenitor cells and then combined within 3D hydrogels under tension to generate an aligned myofiber scaffold containing vascular networks and motor neurons. 3D bioengineered muscles recapitulate morphological and functional features of human skeletal muscle, including establishment of a pool of cells expressing muscle stem cell markers. Importantly, bioengineered muscles provide a high-fidelity platform to study muscle pathology, such as emergence of dysmorphic nuclei in muscular dystrophies caused by mutant lamins. The protocol is easy to follow for operators with cell culture experience and takes between 9 and 30 d, depending on the number of cell lineages in the construct. We also provide examples of applications of this advanced platform for testing gene and cell therapies in vitro, as well as for in vivo studies, providing proof of principle of its potential as a tool to develop next-generation neuromuscular or musculoskeletal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Pinton
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Moustafa Khedr
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Valentina M Lionello
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Shilpita Sarcar
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sara M Maffioletti
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan, Italy
| | - Sumitava Dastidar
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Elisa Negroni
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- Center for Research in Myology UMRS974, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Myology Institute AIM, Paris, France
| | - SungWoo Choi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Noreen Khokhar
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anne Bigot
- Center for Research in Myology UMRS974, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Myology Institute AIM, Paris, France
| | - John R Counsell
- UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Andreia Sofia Bernardo
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Saverio Tedesco
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.
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5
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Harley P, Paredes-Redondo A, Grenci G, Viasnoff V, Lin YY, Lieberam I. 3D Compartmentalised Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Neuromuscular Co-cultures. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4624. [PMID: 36908638 PMCID: PMC9993083 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human neuromuscular diseases represent a diverse group of disorders with unmet clinical need, ranging from muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), to neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In many of these conditions, axonal and neuromuscular synapse dysfunction have been implicated as crucial pathological events, highlighting the need for in vitro disease models that accurately recapitulate these aspects of human neuromuscular physiology. The protocol reported here describes the co-culture of neural spheroids composed of human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived motor neurons and astrocytes, and human PSC-derived myofibers in 3D compartmentalised microdevices to generate functional human neuromuscular circuits in vitro. In this microphysiological model, motor axons project from a central nervous system (CNS)-like compartment along microchannels to innervate skeletal myofibers plated in a separate muscle compartment. This mimics the spatial organization of neuromuscular circuits in vivo. Optogenetics, particle image velocimetry (PIV) analysis, and immunocytochemistry are used to control, record, and quantify functional neuromuscular transmission, axonal outgrowth, and neuromuscular synapse number and morphology. This approach has been applied to study disease-specific phenotypes for DMD and ALS by incorporating patient-derived and CRISPR-corrected human PSC-derived motor neurons and skeletal myogenic progenitors into the model, as well as testing candidate drugs for rescuing pathological phenotypes. The main advantages of this approach are: i) its simple design; ii) the in vivo-like anatomical separation between CNS and peripheral muscle; and iii) the amenability of the approach to high power imaging. This opens up the possibility for carrying out live axonal transport and synaptic imaging assays in future studies, in addition to the applications reported in this study. Graphical abstract Graphical abstract abbreviations: Channelrhodopsin-2 (CHR2+), pluripotent stem cell (PSC), motor neurons (MNs), myofibers (MFs), neuromuscular junction (NMJ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Harley
- Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Amaia Paredes-Redondo
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
- Centre for Predictive in vitro Model, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Gianluca Grenci
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 5a Engineering Drive 1, 117411 Singapore
| | - Virgile Viasnoff
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 5a Engineering Drive 1, 117411 Singapore
| | - Yung-Yao Lin
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
- Centre for Predictive in vitro Model, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Ivo Lieberam
- Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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6
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Berzanskyte I, Riccio F, Machado CB, Bradbury EJ, Lieberam I. Enrichment of human embryonic stem cell-derived V3 interneurons using an Nkx2-2 gene-specific reporter. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2008. [PMID: 36737643 PMCID: PMC9898512 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
V3 spinal interneurons are a key element of the spinal circuits, which control motor function. However, to date, there are no effective ways of deriving a pure V3 population from human pluripotent stem cells. Here, we report a method for differentiation and isolation of spinal V3 interneurons, combining extrinsic factor-mediated differentiation and magnetic activated cell sorting. We found that differentiation of V3 progenitors can be enhanced with a higher concentration of Sonic Hedgehog agonist, as well as culturing cells in 3D format. To enable V3 progenitor purification from mixed differentiation cultures, we developed a transgene reporter, with a part of the regulatory region of V3-specific gene Nkx2-2 driving the expression of a membrane marker CD14. We found that in human cells, NKX2-2 initially exhibited co-labelling with motor neuron progenitor marker, but V3 specificity emerged as the differentiation culture progressed. At these later differentiation timepoints, we were able to enrich V3 progenitors labelled with CD14 to ~ 95% purity, and mature them to postmitotic V3 interneurons. This purification tool for V3 interneurons will be useful for in vitro disease modeling, studies of normal human neural development and potential cell therapies for disorders of the spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ieva Berzanskyte
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, 28th Floor Tower Wing, Guy's Campus, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
- The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Federica Riccio
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, 28th Floor Tower Wing, Guy's Campus, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Carolina Barcellos Machado
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, 28th Floor Tower Wing, Guy's Campus, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | | | - Ivo Lieberam
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, 28th Floor Tower Wing, Guy's Campus, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
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7
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Morera C, Kim J, Paredes-Redondo A, Nobles M, Rybin D, Moccia R, Kowala A, Meng J, Garren S, Liu P, Morgan JE, Muntoni F, Christoforou N, Owens J, Tinker A, Lin YY. CRISPR-mediated correction of skeletal muscle Ca 2+ handling in a novel DMD patient-derived pluripotent stem cell model. Neuromuscul Disord 2022; 32:908-922. [PMID: 36418198 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the dystrophin gene cause the most common and currently incurable Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) characterized by progressive muscle wasting. Although abnormal Ca2+ handling is a pathological feature of DMD, mechanisms underlying defective Ca2+ homeostasis remain unclear. Here we generate a novel DMD patient-derived pluripotent stem cell (PSC) model of skeletal muscle with an isogenic control using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-mediated precise gene correction. Transcriptome analysis identifies dysregulated gene sets in the absence of dystrophin, including genes involved in Ca2+ handling, excitation-contraction coupling and muscle contraction. Specifically, analysis of intracellular Ca2+ transients and mathematical modeling of Ca2+ dynamics reveal significantly reduced cytosolic Ca2+ clearance rates in DMD-PSC derived myotubes. Pharmacological assays demonstrate Ca2+ flux in myotubes is determined by both intracellular and extracellular sources. DMD-PSC derived myotubes display significantly reduced velocity of contractility. Compared with a non-isogenic wildtype PSC line, these pathophysiological defects could be rescued by CRISPR-mediated precise gene correction. Our study provides new insights into abnormal Ca2+ homeostasis in DMD and suggests that Ca2+ signaling pathways amenable to pharmacological modulation are potential therapeutic targets. Importantly, we have established a human physiology-relevant in vitro model enabling rapid pre-clinical testing of potential therapies for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Morera
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Stem Cell Laboratory, National Bowel Research Centre, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 2 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom
| | - Jihee Kim
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Stem Cell Laboratory, National Bowel Research Centre, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 2 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom
| | - Amaia Paredes-Redondo
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Stem Cell Laboratory, National Bowel Research Centre, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 2 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Centre for Predictive in vitro Model, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Muriel Nobles
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Denis Rybin
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Robert Moccia
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anna Kowala
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Stem Cell Laboratory, National Bowel Research Centre, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 2 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Centre for Predictive in vitro Model, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Jinhong Meng
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Seth Garren
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Pentao Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jennifer E Morgan
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Muntoni
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jane Owens
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Andrew Tinker
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Yung-Yao Lin
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Stem Cell Laboratory, National Bowel Research Centre, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 2 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom; Centre for Predictive in vitro Model, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
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8
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Cooper F, Tsakiridis A. Towards clinical applications of in vitro-derived axial progenitors. Dev Biol 2022; 489:110-117. [PMID: 35718236 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The production of the tissues that make up the mammalian embryonic trunk takes place in a head-tail direction, via the differentiation of posteriorly-located axial progenitor populations. These include bipotent neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs), which generate both spinal cord neurectoderm and presomitic mesoderm, the precursor of the musculoskeleton. Over the past few years, a number of studies have described the derivation of NMP-like cells from mouse and human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). In turn, these have greatly facilitated the establishment of PSC differentiation protocols aiming to give rise efficiently to posterior mesodermal and neural cell types, which have been particularly challenging to produce using previous approaches. Moreover, the advent of 3-dimensional-based culture systems incorporating distinct axial progenitor-derived cell lineages has opened new avenues toward the functional dissection of early patterning events and cell vs non-cell autonomous effects. Here, we provide a brief overview of the applications of these cell types in disease modelling and cell therapy and speculate on their potential uses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fay Cooper
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, School of Bioscience, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Anestis Tsakiridis
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, School of Bioscience, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom.
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9
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Chesshyre M, Ridout D, Hashimoto Y, Ookubo Y, Torelli S, Maresh K, Ricotti V, Abbott L, Gupta VA, Main M, Ferrari G, Kowala A, Lin YY, Tedesco FS, Scoto M, Baranello G, Manzur A, Aoki Y, Muntoni F. Investigating the role of dystrophin isoform deficiency in motor function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:1360-1372. [PMID: 35083887 PMCID: PMC8977977 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by DMD mutations leading to dystrophin loss. Full-length Dp427 is the primary dystrophin isoform expressed in muscle and is also expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). Two shorter isoforms, Dp140 and Dp71, are highly expressed in the CNS. While a role for Dp140 and Dp71 on DMD CNS comorbidities is well known, relationships between mutations expected to disrupt Dp140 and Dp71 and motor outcomes are not. METHODS Functional outcome data from 387 DMD boys aged 4-15 years were subdivided by DMD mutation expected effects on dystrophin isoform expression; Group 1 (Dp427 absent, Dp140/Dp71 present, n = 201); Group 2 (Dp427/Dp140 absent, Dp71 present, n = 152); and Group 3 (Dp427/Dp140/Dp71 absent, n = 34). Relationships between isoform group and North Star ambulatory assessment (NSAA) scores, 10 m walk/run velocities and rise time velocities were explored using regression analysis. Western blot analysis was used to study Dp427, Dp140 and Dp71 production in myogenic cells (control and DMD human), control skeletal muscle, DMD skeletal muscle from the three isoform groups and cerebral cortex from mice (wild-type and DMD models). Grip strength and rotarod running test were studied in wild-type mice and DMD mouse models. DMD mouse models were mdx (Dp427 absent, Dp140/Dp71 present), mdx52 (Dp427/Dp140 absent, Dp71 present) and DMD-null (lacking all isoforms). RESULTS In DMD boys, mean NSAA scores at 5 years of age were 6.1 points lower in Group 3 than Group 1 (P < 0.01) and 4.9 points lower in Group 3 than Group 2 (P = 0.05). Mean peak NSAA scores were 4.0 points lower in Group 3 than Group 1 (P < 0.01) and 1.6 points lower in Group 2 than Group 1 (P = 0.04). Mean four-limb grip strength was 1.5 g/g lower in mdx52 than mdx mice (P = 0.003) and 1.5 g/g lower in DMD-null than mdx mice (P = 0.002). Dp71 was produced in myogenic cells (control and DMD human) and skeletal muscle from humans in Groups 1 and 2 and mdx mice, but not skeletal muscle from human controls, myogenic cells and skeletal muscle from humans in Group 3 or skeletal muscle from wild-type, mdx52 or DMD-null mice. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the importance of considering expected effects of DMD mutations on dystrophin isoform production when considering patterns of DMD motor impairment and the implications for clinical practice and clinical trials. Our results suggest a complex relationship between dystrophin isoforms expressed in the brain and DMD motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Chesshyre
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Deborah Ridout
- Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Yasumasa Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
| | - Yoko Ookubo
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
| | - Silvia Torelli
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Kate Maresh
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Valeria Ricotti
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Lianne Abbott
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Vandana Ayyar Gupta
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Marion Main
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Giulia Ferrari
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Kowala
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Yung-Yao Lin
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Saverio Tedesco
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Mariacristina Scoto
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Giovanni Baranello
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Adnan Manzur
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
| | - Francesco Muntoni
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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Fralish Z, Lotz EM, Chavez T, Khodabukus A, Bursac N. Neuromuscular Development and Disease: Learning From in vitro and in vivo Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:764732. [PMID: 34778273 PMCID: PMC8579029 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.764732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized cholinergic synaptic interface between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber that translates presynaptic electrical impulses into motor function. NMJ formation and maintenance require tightly regulated signaling and cellular communication among motor neurons, myogenic cells, and Schwann cells. Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) can result in loss of NMJ function and motor input leading to paralysis or even death. Although small animal models have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the NMJ structure and function, the complexities of studying this multi-tissue system in vivo and poor clinical outcomes of candidate therapies developed in small animal models has driven the need for in vitro models of functional human NMJ to complement animal studies. In this review, we discuss prevailing models of NMDs and highlight the current progress and ongoing challenges in developing human iPSC-derived (hiPSC) 3D cell culture models of functional NMJs. We first review in vivo development of motor neurons, skeletal muscle, Schwann cells, and the NMJ alongside current methods for directing the differentiation of relevant cell types from hiPSCs. We further compare the efficacy of modeling NMDs in animals and human cell culture systems in the context of five NMDs: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, and Pompe disease. Finally, we discuss further work necessary for hiPSC-derived NMJ models to function as effective personalized NMD platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Fralish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ethan M Lotz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Taylor Chavez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alastair Khodabukus
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Nenad Bursac
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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