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Barakat A, Munro G, Heegaard AM. Finding new analgesics: Computational pharmacology faces drug discovery challenges. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116091. [PMID: 38412924 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116091] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Despite the worldwide prevalence and huge burden of pain, pain is an undertreated phenomenon. Currently used analgesics have several limitations regarding their efficacy and safety. The discovery of analgesics possessing a novel mechanism of action has faced multiple challenges, including a limited understanding of biological processes underpinning pain and analgesia and poor animal-to-human translation. Computational pharmacology is currently employed to face these challenges. In this review, we discuss the theory, methods, and applications of computational pharmacology in pain research. Computational pharmacology encompasses a wide variety of theoretical concepts and practical methodological approaches, with the overall aim of gaining biological insight through data acquisition and analysis. Data are acquired from patients or animal models with pain or analgesic treatment, at different levels of biological organization (molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral). Distinct methodological algorithms can then be used to analyze and integrate data. This helps to facilitate the identification of biological molecules and processes associated with pain phenotype, build quantitative models of pain signaling, and extract translatable features between humans and animals. However, computational pharmacology has several limitations, and its predictions can provide false positive and negative findings. Therefore, computational predictions are required to be validated experimentally before drawing solid conclusions. In this review, we discuss several case study examples of combining and integrating computational tools with experimental pain research tools to meet drug discovery challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Barakat
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
| | | | - Anne-Marie Heegaard
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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2
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Martínez AL, Brea J, López D, Cosme N, Barro M, Monroy X, Burgueño J, Merlos M, Loza MI. In vitro models for neuropathic pain phenotypic screening in brain therapeutics. Pharmacol Res 2024; 202:107111. [PMID: 38382648 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of brain therapeutics faces a significant challenge due to the low translatability of preclinical results into clinical success. To address this gap, several efforts have been made to obtain more translatable neuronal models for phenotypic screening. These models allow the selection of active compounds without predetermined knowledge of drug targets. In this review, we present an overview of various existing models within the field, examining their strengths and limitations, particularly in the context of neuropathic pain research. We illustrate the usefulness of these models through a comparative review in three crucial areas: i) the development of novel phenotypic screening strategies specifically for neuropathic pain, ii) the validation of the models for both primary and secondary screening assays, and iii) the use of the models in target deconvolution processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Martínez
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Instituto de Investigacións Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Departamento de Farmacoloxía, Farmacia e Tecnoloxía Farmacéutica, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - J Brea
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Instituto de Investigacións Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Departamento de Farmacoloxía, Farmacia e Tecnoloxía Farmacéutica, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - D López
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Instituto de Investigacións Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - N Cosme
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Instituto de Investigacións Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - M Barro
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Instituto de Investigacións Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - X Monroy
- WeLab Barcelona, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Burgueño
- WeLab Barcelona, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Merlos
- WeLab Barcelona, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M I Loza
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Instituto de Investigacións Sanitarias de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Departamento de Farmacoloxía, Farmacia e Tecnoloxía Farmacéutica, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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3
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Röderer P, Belu A, Heidrich L, Siobal M, Isensee J, Prolingheuer J, Janocha E, Valdor M, Hagendorf S, Bahrenberg G, Opitz T, Segschneider M, Haupt S, Nitzsche A, Brüstle O, Hucho T. Emergence of nociceptive functionality and opioid signaling in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neurons. Pain 2023:00006396-990000000-00249. [PMID: 36727909 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have enabled the generation of various difficult-to-access cell types such as human nociceptors. A key challenge associated with human iPSC-derived nociceptors (hiPSCdNs) is their prolonged functional maturation. While numerous studies have addressed the expression of classic neuronal markers and ion channels in hiPSCdNs, the temporal development of key signaling cascades regulating nociceptor activity has remained largely unexplored. In this study, we used an immunocytochemical high-content imaging approach alongside electrophysiological staging to assess metabotropic and ionotropic signaling of large scale-generated hiPSCdNs across 70 days of in vitro differentiation. During this period, the resting membrane potential became more hyperpolarized, while rheobase, action potential peak amplitude, and membrane capacitance increased. After 70 days, hiPSCdNs exhibited robust physiological responses induced by GABA, pH shift, ATP, and capsaicin. Direct activation of protein kinase A type II (PKA-II) through adenylyl cyclase stimulation with forskolin resulted in PKA-II activation at all time points. Depolarization-induced activation of PKA-II emerged after 35 days of differentiation. However, effective inhibition of forskolin-induced PKA-II activation by opioid receptor agonists required 70 days of in vitro differentiation. Our results identify a pronounced time difference between early expression of functionally important ion channels and emergence of regulatory metabotropic sensitizing and desensitizing signaling only at advanced stages of in vitro cultivation, suggesting an independent regulation of ionotropic and metabotropic signaling. These data are relevant for devising future studies into the development and regulation of human nociceptor function and for defining time windows suitable for hiPSCdN-based drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Röderer
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Andreea Belu
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Luzia Heidrich
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Maike Siobal
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Isensee
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jonathan Prolingheuer
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Thoralf Opitz
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michaela Segschneider
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
| | - Simone Haupt
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Anja Nitzsche
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Oliver Brüstle
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn
- LIFE & BRAIN GmbH, Cellomics Unit, Bonn, Germany, Germany
| | - Tim Hucho
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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4
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Tsai NW, Lin CC, Yeh TY, Chiu YA, Chiu HH, Huang HP, Hsieh ST. An induced pluripotent stem cell-based model identifies molecular targets of vincristine neurotoxicity. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049471. [PMID: 36518084 PMCID: PMC10655812 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049471] [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: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
To model peripheral nerve degeneration and investigate molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, we established a cell system of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived sensory neurons exposed to vincristine, a drug that frequently causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Sensory neurons differentiated from iPSCs exhibit distinct neurochemical patterns according to the immunocytochemical phenotypes, and gene expression of peripherin (PRPH, hereafter referred to as Peri) and neurofilament heavy chain (NEFH, hereafter referred to as NF). The majority of iPSC-derived sensory neurons were PRPH positive/NEFH negative, i.e. Peri(+)/NF(-) neurons, whose somata were smaller than those of Peri(+)/NF(+) neurons. On exposure to vincristine, projections from the cell body of a neuron, i.e. neurites, were degenerated quicker than somata, the lethal concentration to kill 50% (LC50) of neurites being below the LC50 for somata, consistent with the clinical pattern of length-dependent neuropathy. We then examined the molecular expression in the MAP kinase signaling pathways of, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (MAPK1/3, hereafter referred to as ERK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK11/12/13/14, hereafter referred to as p38) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (MAPK8/9/10, hereafter referred to as JNK). Regarding these three cascades, only phosphorylation of JNK was upregulated but not that of p38 or ERK1/2. Furthermore, vincristine-treatment resulted in impaired autophagy and reduced autophagic flux. Rapamycin-treatment reversed the effect of impaired autophagy and JNK activation. These results not only established a platform to study peripheral degeneration of human neurons but also provide molecular mechanisms for neurodegeneration with the potential for therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neng-Wei Tsai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chen Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Ti-Yen Yeh
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Yu-An Chiu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Hui Chiu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Po Huang
- Department of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Tsang Hsieh
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
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5
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Mießner H, Seidel J, Smith ESJ. In vitro models for investigating itch. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:984126. [PMID: 36385768 PMCID: PMC9644192 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.984126] [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] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Itch (pruritus) is a sensation that drives a desire to scratch, a behavior observed in many animals. Although generally short-lasting and not causing harm, there are several pathological conditions where chronic itch is a hallmark symptom and in which prolonged scratching can induce damage. Finding medications to counteract the sensation of chronic itch has proven difficult due to the molecular complexity that involves a multitude of triggers, receptors and signaling pathways between skin, immune and nerve cells. While much has been learned about pruritus from in vivo animal models, they have limitations that corroborate the necessity for a transition to more human disease-like models. Also, reducing animal use should be encouraged in research. However, conducting human in vivo experiments can also be ethically challenging. Thus, there is a clear need for surrogate models to be used in pre-clinical investigation of the mechanisms of itch. Most in vitro models used for itch research focus on the use of known pruritogens. For this, sensory neurons and different types of skin and/or immune cells are stimulated in 2D or 3D co-culture, and factors such as neurotransmitter or cytokine release can be measured. There are however limitations of such simplistic in vitro models. For example, not all naturally occurring cell types are present and there is also no connection to the itch-sensing organ, the central nervous system (CNS). Nevertheless, in vitro models offer a chance to investigate otherwise inaccessible specific cell–cell interactions and molecular pathways. In recent years, stem cell-based approaches and human primary cells have emerged as viable alternatives to standard cell lines or animal tissue. As in vitro models have increased in their complexity, further opportunities for more elaborated means of investigating itch have been developed. In this review, we introduce the latest concepts of itch and discuss the advantages and limitations of current in vitro models, which provide valuable contributions to pruritus research and might help to meet the unmet clinical need for more refined anti-pruritic substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Mießner
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Dermatological Skin Care, Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Judith Seidel
- Dermatological Skin Care, Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ewan St. John Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Ewan St. John Smith,
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6
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Labau JIR, Andelic M, Faber CG, Waxman SG, Lauria G, Dib-Hajj SD. Recent advances for using human induced-pluripotent stem cells as pain-in-a-dish models of neuropathic pain. Exp Neurol 2022; 358:114223. [PMID: 36100046 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is amongst the most common non-communicable disorders and the poor effectiveness of current treatment is an unmet need. Although pain is a universal experience, there are significant inter-individual phenotypic differences. Developing models that can accurately recapitulate the clinical pain features is crucial to better understand underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and find innovative treatments. Current data from heterologous expression systems that investigate properties of specific molecules involved in pain signaling, and from animal models, show limited success with their translation into the development of novel treatments for pain. This is in part because they do not recapitulate the native environment in which a particular molecule functions, and due to species-specific differences in the properties of several key molecules that are involved in pain signaling. The limited availability of post-mortem tissue, in particular dorsal root ganglia (DRG), has hampered research using human cells in pre-clinical studies. Human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as an exciting alternative platform to study patient-specific diseases. Sensory neurons that are derived from iPSCs (iPSC-SNs) have provided new avenues towards elucidating peripheral pathophysiological mechanisms, the potential for development of personalized treatments, and as a cell-based system for high-throughput screening for discovering novel analgesics. Nevertheless, reprogramming and differentiation protocols to obtain nociceptors have mostly yielded immature homogenous cell populations that do not recapitulate the heterogeneity of native sensory neurons. To close the gap between native human tissue and iPSCs, alternative strategies have been developed. We will review here recent developments in differentiating iPSC-SNs and their use in pre-clinical translational studies. Direct conversion of stem cells into the cells of interest has provided a more cost- and time-saving method to improve reproducibility and diversity of sensory cell types. Furthermore, multi-cellular strategies that mimic in vivo microenvironments for cell maturation, by improving cell contact and communication (co-cultures), reproducing the organ complexity and architecture (three-dimensional organoid), and providing iPSCs with the full spatiotemporal context and nutrients needed for acquiring a mature phenotype (xenotransplantation), have led to functional sensory neuron-like systems. Finally, this review touches on novel prospective strategies, including fluorescent-tracking to select the differentiated neurons of relevance, and dynamic clamp, an electrophysiological method that allows direct manipulation of ionic conductances that are missing in iPSC-SNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie I R Labau
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Toxicogenomics, Clinical Genomics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Mirna Andelic
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Neuroalgology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Catharina G Faber
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Stephen G Waxman
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
| | - Sulayman D Dib-Hajj
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA.
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7
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Schinke C, Fernandez Vallone V, Ivanov A, Peng Y, Körtvelyessy P, Nolte L, Huehnchen P, Beule D, Stachelscheid H, Boehmerle W, Endres M. Dataset for: Modeling chemotherapy induced neurotoxicity with human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived sensory neurons. Data Brief 2021; 38:107320. [PMID: 34485650 PMCID: PMC8408513 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent and potentially irreversible adverse event of cytotoxic chemotherapy. We evaluate whether sensory neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-DSN) can serve as human disease model system for chemotherapy induced neurotoxicity. Sensory neurons differentiated from two established induced pluripotent stem cell lines were used (s.c. BIHi005-A https://hpscreg.eu/cell-line/BIHi005-A and BIHi004-B https://hpscreg.eu/cell-line/BIHi004-B, Berlin Institute of Health Stem Cell Core Facility). Cell viability and cytotoxicity assays were performed, comparing susceptibility to four neurotoxic and two non-neurotoxic drugs. RNA sequencing analyses in paclitaxel vs. vehicle (DMSO)-treated sensory neurons were performed. Treatment of iPSC-DSN for 24 h with the neurotoxic drugs paclitaxel, bortezomib, vincristine and cisplatin led to a dose dependent decline of cell viability in clinically relevant IC50 ranges, which was not the case for the non-neurotoxic compounds doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil. RNA sequencing analyses at 24 h, i.e. before paclitaxel-induced cell death occurred, revealed the differential expression of genes of neuronal injury, cellular stress response, and sterol pathways in response to 1 µM paclitaxel. Neuroprotective effects of lithium chloride co-incubation, which were previously shown in rodent dorsal root ganglia, could be replicated in human iPSC-DSN. Cell lines from the two different donors BIHi005-A and BIHi004-B showed different responses to the neurotoxic treatment in cell viability and cytotoxicity assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schinke
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Anna-Louisa-Karsch Straße 2, Berlin 10178, Germany
| | - Valeria Fernandez Vallone
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Stem Cell Core Facility, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Andranik Ivanov
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Core Unit Bioinformatics, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Yangfan Peng
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Neurophysiologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Péter Körtvelyessy
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg 39120, Germany
| | - Luca Nolte
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Petra Huehnchen
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Anna-Louisa-Karsch Straße 2, Berlin 10178, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Dieter Beule
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Core Unit Bioinformatics, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Harald Stachelscheid
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Stem Cell Core Facility, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Boehmerle
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Anna-Louisa-Karsch Straße 2, Berlin 10178, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Matthias Endres
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Anna-Louisa-Karsch Straße 2, Berlin 10178, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), partner site Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Berlin, Germany
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8
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Middleton SJ, Barry AM, Comini M, Li Y, Ray PR, Shiers S, Themistocleous AC, Uhelski ML, Yang X, Dougherty PM, Price TJ, Bennett DL. Studying human nociceptors: from fundamentals to clinic. Brain 2021; 144:1312-1335. [PMID: 34128530 PMCID: PMC8219361 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain affects one in five of the general population and is the third most important cause of disability-adjusted life-years globally. Unfortunately, treatment remains inadequate due to poor efficacy and tolerability. There has been a failure in translating promising preclinical drug targets into clinic use. This reflects challenges across the whole drug development pathway, from preclinical models to trial design. Nociceptors remain an attractive therapeutic target: their sensitization makes an important contribution to many chronic pain states, they are located outside the blood-brain barrier, and they are relatively specific. The past decade has seen significant advances in the techniques available to study human nociceptors, including: the use of corneal confocal microscopy and biopsy samples to observe nociceptor morphology, the culture of human nociceptors (either from surgical or post-mortem tissue or using human induced pluripotent stem cell derived nociceptors), the application of high throughput technologies such as transcriptomics, the in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological characterization through microneurography, and the correlation with pain percepts provided by quantitative sensory testing. Genome editing in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived nociceptors enables the interrogation of the causal role of genes in the regulation of nociceptor function. Both human and rodent nociceptors are more heterogeneous at a molecular level than previously appreciated, and while we find that there are broad similarities between human and rodent nociceptors there are also important differences involving ion channel function, expression, and cellular excitability. These technological advances have emphasized the maladaptive plastic changes occurring in human nociceptors following injury that contribute to chronic pain. Studying human nociceptors has revealed new therapeutic targets for the suppression of chronic pain and enhanced repair. Cellular models of human nociceptors have enabled the screening of small molecule and gene therapy approaches on nociceptor function, and in some cases have enabled correlation with clinical outcomes. Undoubtedly, challenges remain. Many of these techniques are difficult to implement at scale, current induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation protocols do not generate the full diversity of nociceptor populations, and we still have a relatively poor understanding of inter-individual variation in nociceptors due to factors such as age, sex, or ethnicity. We hope our ability to directly investigate human nociceptors will not only aid our understanding of the fundamental neurobiology underlying acute and chronic pain but also help bridge the translational gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Middleton
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Allison M Barry
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Maddalena Comini
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pradipta R Ray
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Stephanie Shiers
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Andreas C Themistocleous
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.,Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Megan L Uhelski
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xun Yang
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Patrick M Dougherty
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Theodore J Price
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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9
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Huang X, Roet KCD, Zhang L, Brault A, Berg AP, Jefferson AB, Klug-McLeod J, Leach KL, Vincent F, Yang H, Coyle AJ, Jones LH, Frost D, Wiskow O, Chen K, Maeda R, Grantham A, Dornon MK, Klim JR, Siekmann MT, Zhao D, Lee S, Eggan K, Woolf CJ. Human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis excitability phenotype screen: Target discovery and validation. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109224. [PMID: 34107252 PMCID: PMC8209673 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug development is hampered by poor target selection. Phenotypic screens using neurons differentiated from patient stem cells offer the possibility to validate known and discover novel disease targets in an unbiased fashion. To identify targets for managing hyperexcitability, a pathological feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we design a multi-step screening funnel using patient-derived motor neurons. High-content live cell imaging is used to evaluate neuronal excitability, and from a screen against a chemogenomic library of 2,899 target-annotated compounds, 67 reduce the hyperexcitability of ALS motor neurons carrying the SOD1(A4V) mutation, without cytotoxicity. Bioinformatic deconvolution identifies 13 targets that modulate motor neuron excitability, including two known ALS excitability modulators, AMPA receptors and Kv7.2/3 ion channels, constituting target validation. We also identify D2 dopamine receptors as modulators of ALS motor neuron excitability. This screen demonstrates the power of human disease cell-based phenotypic screens for identifying clinically relevant targets for neurological disorders. Motor neuron hyperexcitability is observed in both ALS patients and their iPSC-derived neurons. Combining a high-content live imaging excitability phenotypic assay, high-throughput screening against a cross-annotated chemogenomic library, and bioinformatic enrichment analysis, Huang et al. identify targets modulating the hyperexcitability of ALS patient-derived motor neurons in an unbiased manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Huang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kasper C D Roet
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Liying Zhang
- Medicine Design, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Amy Brault
- Medicine Design, Pfizer, Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - Allison P Berg
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anne B Jefferson
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Karen L Leach
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Hongying Yang
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anthony J Coyle
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Lyn H Jones
- Medicine Design, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Devlin Frost
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ole Wiskow
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kuchuan Chen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rie Maeda
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alyssa Grantham
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mary K Dornon
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joseph R Klim
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Marco T Siekmann
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dongyi Zhao
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Seungkyu Lee
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kevin Eggan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Clifford J Woolf
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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10
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DuBreuil DM, Chiang BM, Zhu K, Lai X, Flynn P, Sapir Y, Wainger BJ. A high-content platform for physiological profiling and unbiased classification of individual neurons. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2021; 1:100004. [PMID: 34318289 PMCID: PMC8312640 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput physiological assays lose single-cell resolution, precluding subtype-specific analyses of activation mechanism and drug effects. We demonstrate APPOINT (automated physiological phenotyping of individual neuronal types), a physiological assay platform combining calcium imaging, robotic liquid handling, and automated analysis to generate physiological activation profiles of single neurons at large scale. Using unbiased techniques, we quantify responses to sequential stimuli, enabling subgroup identification by physiology and probing of distinct mechanisms of neuronal activation within subgroups. Using APPOINT, we quantify primary sensory neuron activation by metabotropic receptor agonists and identify potential contributors to pain signaling. We expand the role of neuroimmune interactions by showing that human serum directly activates sensory neurons, elucidating a new potential pain mechanism. Finally, we apply APPOINT to develop a high-throughput, all-optical approach for quantification of activation threshold and pharmacologically validate contributions of ion channel families to optical activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. DuBreuil
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Brenda M. Chiang
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kevin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Xiaofan Lai
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Patrick Flynn
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yechiam Sapir
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Brian J. Wainger
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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11
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Xiong C, Chua KC, Stage TB, Priotti J, Kim J, Altman-Merino A, Chan D, Saraf K, Canato Ferracini A, Fattahi F, Kroetz DL. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Sensory Neurons are Sensitive to the Neurotoxic Effects of Paclitaxel. Clin Transl Sci 2020; 14:568-581. [PMID: 33340242 PMCID: PMC7993321 DOI: 10.1111/cts.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose‐limiting adverse event associated with treatment with paclitaxel and other chemotherapeutic agents. The prevention and treatment of CIPN are limited by a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this toxicity. In the current study, a human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived sensory neuron (iPSC‐SN) model was developed for the study of chemotherapy‐induced neurotoxicity. The iPSC‐SNs express proteins characteristic of nociceptor, mechanoreceptor, and proprioceptor sensory neurons and show Ca2+ influx in response to capsaicin, α,β‐meATP, and glutamate. The iPSC‐SNs are relatively resistant to the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel, with half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 38.1 µM (95% confidence interval (CI) 22.9–70.9 µM) for 48‐hour exposure and 9.3 µM (95% CI 5.7–16.5 µM) for 72‐hour treatment. Paclitaxel causes dose‐dependent and time‐dependent changes in neurite network complexity detected by βIII‐tubulin staining and high content imaging. The IC50 for paclitaxel reduction of neurite area was 1.4 µM (95% CI 0.3–16.9 µM) for 48‐hour exposure and 0.6 µM (95% CI 0.09–9.9 µM) for 72‐hour exposure. Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, slower movement of mitochondria down the neurites, and changes in glutamate‐induced neuronal excitability were also observed with paclitaxel exposure. The iPSC‐SNs were also sensitive to docetaxel, vincristine, and bortezomib. Collectively, these data support the use of iPSC‐SNs for detailed mechanistic investigations of genes and pathways implicated in chemotherapy‐induced neurotoxicity and the identification of novel therapeutic approaches for its prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenling Xiong
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Katherina C Chua
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Tore B Stage
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.,Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Josefina Priotti
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey Kim
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Anne Altman-Merino
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Daniel Chan
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Krishna Saraf
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Amanda Canato Ferracini
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.,Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Faranak Fattahi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Deanna L Kroetz
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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12
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Obal D, Wu JC. Induced pluripotent stem cells as a platform to understand patient-specific responses to opioids and anaesthetics. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:4581-4594. [PMID: 32767563 PMCID: PMC7520445 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology may provide unprecedented opportunities to study patient-specific responses to anaesthetics and opioids. In this review, we will (1) examine the advantages and limitations of iPSC technology, (2) summarize studies using iPSCs that have contributed to our current understanding of anaesthetics and opioid action on the cardiovascular system and central nervous system (CNS), and (3) describe how iPSC technology can be used to further develop personalized analgesic and sedative pharmacotherapies with reduced or minimal detrimental cardiovascular effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Detlef Obal
- Stanford Cardiovascular InstituteStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative MedicineStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
- Outcomes Research ConsortiumClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Joseph C. Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular InstituteStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
- Department of RadiologyStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
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13
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Silva MC, Haggarty SJ. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived models and drug screening in CNS precision medicine. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1471:18-56. [PMID: 30875083 PMCID: PMC8193821 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Development of effective therapeutics for neurological disorders has historically been challenging partly because of lack of accurate model systems in which to investigate disease etiology and test new therapeutics at the preclinical stage. Human stem cells, particularly patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) upon differentiation, have the ability to recapitulate aspects of disease pathophysiology and are increasingly recognized as robust scalable systems for drug discovery. We review advances in deriving cellular models of human central nervous system (CNS) disorders using iPSCs along with strategies for investigating disease-relevant phenotypes, translatable biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. Given their potential to identify novel therapeutic targets and leads, we focus on phenotype-based, small-molecule screens employing human stem cell-derived models. Integrated efforts to assemble patient iPSC-derived cell models with deeply annotated clinicopathological data, along with molecular and drug-response signatures, may aid in the stratification of patients, diagnostics, and clinical trial success, shifting translational science and precision medicine approaches. A number of remaining challenges, including the optimization of cost-effective, large-scale culture of iPSC-derived cell types, incorporation of aging into neuronal models, as well as robustness and automation of phenotypic assays to support quantitative drug efficacy, toxicity, and metabolism testing workflows, are covered. Continued advancement of the field is expected to help fully humanize the process of CNS drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Catarina Silva
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
| | - Stephen J. Haggarty
- Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
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14
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De Masi C, Spitalieri P, Murdocca M, Novelli G, Sangiuolo F. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 to human-induced pluripotent stem cells: from gene editing to drug discovery. Hum Genomics 2020; 14:25. [PMID: 32591003 PMCID: PMC7318728 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-020-00276-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system represent two instruments of basic and translational research, which both allow to acquire deep insight about the molecular bases of many diseases but also to develop pharmacological research.This review is focused to draw up the latest technique of gene editing applied on hiPSCs, exploiting some of the genetic manipulation directed to the discovery of innovative therapeutic strategies. There are many expediencies provided by the use of hiPSCs, which can represent a disease model clinically relevant and predictive, with a great potential if associated to CRISPR/Cas9 technology, a gene editing tool powered by ease and precision never seen before.Here, we describe the possible applications of CRISPR/Cas9 to hiPSCs: from drug development to drug screening and from gene therapy to the induction of the immunological response to specific virus infection, such as HIV and SARS-Cov-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia De Masi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Spitalieri
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Murdocca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Sangiuolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
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15
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Atmaramani RR, Black BJ, de la Peña JB, Campbell ZT, Pancrazio JJ. Conserved Expression of Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 Contribute to the Spontaneous and Thermally Evoked Excitability in IL-6 and NGF-Sensitized Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons In Vitro. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:bioengineering7020044. [PMID: 32429423 PMCID: PMC7356605 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7020044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory neurons respond to noxious stimuli by relaying information from the periphery to the central nervous system via action potentials driven by voltage-gated sodium channels, specifically Nav1.7 and Nav1.8. These channels play a key role in the manifestation of inflammatory pain. The ability to screen compounds that modulate voltage-gated sodium channels using cell-based assays assumes that key channels present in vivo is maintained in vitro. Prior electrophysiological work in vitro utilized acutely dissociated tissues, however, maintaining this preparation for long periods is difficult. A potential alternative involves multi-electrode arrays which permit long-term measurements of neural spike activity and are well suited for assessing persistent sensitization consistent with chronic pain. Here, we demonstrate that the addition of two inflammatory mediators associated with chronic inflammatory pain, nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), to adult DRG neurons increases their firing rates on multi-electrode arrays in vitro. Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 proteins are readily detected in cultured neurons and contribute to evoked activity. The blockade of both Nav1.7 and Nav1.8, has a profound impact on thermally evoked firing after treatment with IL-6 and NGF. This work underscores the utility of multi-electrode arrays for pharmacological studies of sensory neurons and may facilitate the discovery and mechanistic analyses of anti-nociceptive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul R. Atmaramani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (R.R.A.); (B.J.B.)
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (J.B.d.l.P.); (Z.T.C.)
| | - Bryan J. Black
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (R.R.A.); (B.J.B.)
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (J.B.d.l.P.); (Z.T.C.)
| | - June Bryan de la Peña
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (J.B.d.l.P.); (Z.T.C.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Zachary T. Campbell
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (J.B.d.l.P.); (Z.T.C.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Joseph J. Pancrazio
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (R.R.A.); (B.J.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-972-883-2138
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16
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Woolf CJ. Capturing Novel Non-opioid Pain Targets. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:74-81. [PMID: 31399256 PMCID: PMC6898770 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The relatively high efficacy of opioids, which have associated risks of addiction, tolerance, and dependence, for the management of acute and terminal pain has been a major driver of the opioid crisis, together with the availability, overprescription, and diversion of these drugs. Eliminating opioids without an effective replacement is, however, no solution, as it substitutes one major problem with another. To deal successfully with the opioid crisis, we need to discover novel analgesics whose mechanisms do not involve the mu opioid receptor but that have high analgesic potency and low risk of adverse effects, particularly no abuse liability. The question is how to achieve this. There are several necessary elements; first, we need to understand the nature of pain and the mechanisms responsible for it, and second, we need to adopt novel and unbiased approaches to the identification and validation of pain targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifford J Woolf
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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17
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Neural In Vitro Models for Studying Substances Acting on the Central Nervous System. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2020; 265:111-141. [PMID: 32594299 DOI: 10.1007/164_2020_367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Animal models have been greatly contributing to our understanding of physiology, mechanisms of diseases, and toxicity. Yet, their limitations due to, e.g., interspecies variation are reflected in the high number of drug attrition rates, especially in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Therefore, human-based neural in vitro models for studying safety and efficacy of substances acting on the CNS are needed. Human iPSC-derived cells offer such a platform with the unique advantage of reproducing the "human context" in vitro by preserving the genetic and molecular phenotype of their donors. Guiding the differentiation of hiPSC into cells of the nervous system and combining them in a 2D or 3D format allows to obtain complex models suitable for investigating neurotoxicity or brain-related diseases with patient-derived cells. This chapter will give an overview over stem cell-based human 2D neuronal and mixed neuronal/astrocyte models, in vitro cultures of microglia, as well as CNS disease models and considers new developments in the field, more specifically the use of brain organoids and 3D bioprinted in vitro models for safety and efficacy evaluation.
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18
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Tadenev ALD, Burgess RW. Model validity for preclinical studies in precision medicine: precisely how precise do we need to be? Mamm Genome 2019; 30:111-122. [PMID: 30953144 PMCID: PMC6606658 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-019-09798-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The promise of personalized medicine is that each patient’s treatment can be optimally tailored to their disease. In turn, their disease, as well as their response to the treatment, is determined by their genetic makeup and the “environment,” which relates to their general health, medical history, personal habits, and surroundings. Developing such optimized treatment strategies is an admirable goal and success stories include examples such as switching chemotherapy agents based on a patient’s tumor genotype. However, it remains a challenge to apply precision medicine to diseases for which there is no known effective treatment. Such diseases require additional research, often using experimentally tractable models. Presumably, models that recapitulate as much of the human pathophysiology as possible will be the most predictive. Here we will discuss the considerations behind such “precision models.” What sort of precision is required and under what circumstances? How can the predictive validity of such models be improved? Ultimately, there is no perfect model, but our continually improving ability to genetically engineer a variety of systems allows the generation of more and more precise models. Furthermore, our steadily increasing awareness of risk alleles, genetic background effects, multifactorial disease processes, and gene by environment interactions also allows increasingly sophisticated models that better reproduce patients’ conditions. In those cases where the research has progressed sufficiently far, results from these models appear to often be translating to effective treatments for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L D Tadenev
- The Center for Precision Genetics, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
| | - Robert W Burgess
- The Center for Precision Genetics, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA.
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19
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Combining Optical Approaches with Human Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells in G Protein-Coupled Receptor Drug Screening and Development. Biomolecules 2018; 8:biom8040180. [PMID: 30567417 PMCID: PMC6315445 DOI: 10.3390/biom8040180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug discovery for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) stands at an interesting juncture. Screening programs are slowly moving away from model heterologous cell systems such as human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells to more relevant cellular, tissue and whole animal platforms. Investigators are now developing analytical approaches as means to undertake different aspects of drug discovery by scaling into increasingly more relevant models all the way down to the single cell level. Such approaches include cellular, tissue slice and whole animal models where biosensors that track signaling events and receptor conformational profiles can be used. Here, we review aspects of biosensor-based imaging approaches that might be used in inducible pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and organoid models, and focus on how such models must be characterized in order to apply them in drug screening.
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20
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Martínez AL, Brea J, Monroy X, Merlos M, Burgueño J, Loza MI. A New Model of Sensorial Neuron-Like Cells for HTS of Novel Analgesics for Neuropathic Pain. SLAS DISCOVERY 2018; 24:158-168. [PMID: 30383474 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218810323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In this study we developed a new translational phenotypic in vitro model for high-throughput screening (HTS) of novel analgesics for treating neuropathic pain, in order to address the poor translation of traditional recombinant models. The immortalized dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neuron-like F11 cell line was selected based on its phenotype after differentiation. The acquisition of neuronal characteristics was evaluated by measuring the expression of TrkA as a DRG neuron marker ( p < 0.01) as well as by measuring the global neurite length ( p < 0.001). The response of F11 cells to ATP and KCl was obtained by measuring intracellular calcium concentration, dynamic mass redistribution, and membrane potential. A KCl-induced increase of intracellular calcium levels was chosen as the readout because of the better signal quality, higher reproducibility, and greater compatibility with HTS assay requirements compared with other methods. The response to KCl differed significantly between differentiated and undifferentiated cells ( p < 0.05), with an EC50 value of 5 mM in differentiated cells. The model was validated by screening the Prestwick Chemical Library. Five hits already proposed for neuropathic-related pain were identified, with IC50 values between 1 and 7 µM. This cell model provides a new tool for screening novel analgesics for the relief of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antón L Martínez
- 1 BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Brea
- 1 BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Xavier Monroy
- 2 Esteve Pharmaceuticals, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Merlos
- 2 Esteve Pharmaceuticals, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Burgueño
- 2 Esteve Pharmaceuticals, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Isabel Loza
- 1 BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Viventi S, Dottori M. Modelling the dorsal root ganglia using human pluripotent stem cells: A platform to study peripheral neuropathies. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 100:61-68. [PMID: 29772357 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are the primary responders to stimuli inducing feelings of touch, pain, temperature, vibration, pressure and muscle tension. They consist of multiple subpopulations based on their morphology, molecular and functional properties. Our understanding of DRG sensory neurons has been predominantly driven by rodent studies and using transformed cell lines, whereas less is known about human sensory DRG neurons simply because of limited availability of human tissue. Although these previous studies have been fundamental for our understanding of the sensory system, it is imperative to profile human DRG subpopulations as it is becoming evident that human sensory neurons do not share the identical molecular and functional properties found in other species. Furthermore, there are wide range of diseases and disorders that directly/indirectly cause sensory neuronal degeneration or dysfunctionality. Having an in vitro source of human DRG sensory neurons is paramount for studying their development, unique neuronal properties and for accelerating regenerative therapies to treat sensory neuropathies. Here we review the major studies describing generation of DRG sensory neurons from human pluripotent stem cells and fibroblasts and the gaps that need to be addressed for using in vitro-generated human DRG neurons to model human DRG tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Viventi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mirella Dottori
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Centre for Molecular and Medical Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Australia.
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