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Hartmann J, Henschel N, Bartmann K, Dönmez A, Brockerhoff G, Koch K, Fritsche E. Molecular and Functional Characterization of Different BrainSphere Models for Use in Neurotoxicity Testing on Microelectrode Arrays. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091270. [PMID: 37174670 PMCID: PMC10177384 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The currently accepted methods for neurotoxicity (NT) testing rely on animal studies. However, high costs and low testing throughput hinder their application for large numbers of chemicals. To overcome these limitations, in vitro methods are currently being developed based on human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) that allow higher testing throughput at lower costs. We applied six different protocols to generate 3D BrainSphere models for acute NT evaluation. These include three different media for 2D neural induction and two media for subsequent 3D differentiation resulting in self-organized, organotypic neuron/astrocyte microtissues. All induction protocols yielded nearly 100% NESTIN-positive hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (hiNPCs), though with different gene expression profiles concerning regional patterning. Moreover, gene expression and immunocytochemistry analyses revealed that the choice of media determines neural differentiation patterns. On the functional level, BrainSpheres exhibited different levels of electrical activity on microelectrode arrays (MEA). Spike sorting allowed BrainSphere functional characterization with the mixed cultures consisting of GABAergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic neurons. A test method for acute NT testing, the human multi-neurotransmitter receptor (hMNR) assay, was proposed to apply such MEA-based spike sorting. These models are promising tools not only in toxicology but also for drug development and disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hartmann
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Noah Henschel
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Kristina Bartmann
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Arif Dönmez
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gabriele Brockerhoff
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Katharina Koch
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF-Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Gurlittstraße 53, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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2
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De Vincentiis S, Baggiani M, Merighi F, Cappello V, Lopane J, Di Caprio M, Costa M, Mainardi M, Onorati M, Raffa V. Low Forces Push the Maturation of Neural Precursors into Neurons. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2205871. [PMID: 37058009 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical stimulation modulates neural development and neuronal activity. In a previous study, magnetic "nano-pulling" is proposed as a tool to generate active forces. By loading neural cells with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), a precise force vector is remotely generated through static magnetic fields. In the present study, human neural stem cells (NSCs) are subjected to a standard differentiation protocol, in the presence or absence of nano-pulling. Under mechanical stimulation, an increase in the length of the neural processes which showed an enrichment in microtubules, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria is found. A stimulation lasting up to 82 days induces a strong remodeling at the level of synapse density and a re-organization of the neuronal network, halving the time required for the maturation of neural precursors into neurons. The MNP-loaded NSCs are then transplanted into mouse spinal cord organotypic slices, demonstrating that nano-pulling stimulates the elongation of the NSC processes and modulates their orientation even in an ex vivo model. Thus, it is shown that active mechanical stimuli can guide the outgrowth of NSCs transplanted into the spinal cord tissue. The findings suggest that mechanical forces play an important role in neuronal maturation which could be applied in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Baggiani
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Cappello
- Center for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Jakub Lopane
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Di Caprio
- Laboratory of Biology "Bio@SNS", Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Marco Mainardi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Marco Onorati
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Vittoria Raffa
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
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3
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Katayama M, Onuma M, Kato N, Nakajima N, Fukuda T. Organoids containing neural-like cells derived from chicken iPSCs respond to poly:IC through the RLR family. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285356. [PMID: 37141289 PMCID: PMC10159107 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
There is still much room for development in pluripotent stem cell research on avian species compared to human stem cell studies. Neural cells are useful for the evaluation of risk assessment of infectious diseases since several avian species die of encephalitis derived from infectious diseases. In this study, we attempted to develop induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology for avian species by forming organoids containing neural-like cells. In our previous study, we established two types iPSCs from chicken somatic cells, the first is iPSCs with PB-R6F reprogramming vector and the second is iPSCs with PB-TAD-7F reprogramming vector. In this study, we first compared the nature of these two cell types using RNA-seq analysis. The total gene expression of iPSCs with PB-TAD-7F was closer to that of chicken ESCs than that of iPSCs with PB-R6F; therefore, we used iPSCs with PB-TAD-7F to form organoids containing neural-like cells. We successfully established organoids containing neural-like cells from iPSCs using PB-TAD-7F. Furthermore, our organoids responded to poly:IC through the RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) family. In this study, we developed iPSCs technology for avian species via organoid formation. In the future, organoids containing neural-like cells from avian iPSCs can develop as a new evaluation tool for infectious disease risk in avian species, including endangered avian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Katayama
- Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Manabu Onuma
- Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Noriko Kato
- Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuyoshi Nakajima
- Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Fukuda
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, Ueda, Morioka-city, Japan
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4
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Chear S, Perry S, Wilson R, Bindoff A, Talbot J, Ware TL, Grubman A, Vickers JC, Pébay A, Ruddle JB, King AE, Hewitt AW, Cook AL. Lysosomal alterations and decreased electrophysiological activity in CLN3 disease patient-derived cortical neurons. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049651. [PMID: 36453132 PMCID: PMC10655821 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049651] [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: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
CLN3 disease is a lysosomal storage disorder associated with fatal neurodegeneration that is caused by mutations in CLN3, with most affected individuals carrying at least one allele with a 966 bp deletion. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we corrected the 966 bp deletion mutation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of a compound heterozygous patient (CLN3 Δ 966 bp and E295K). We differentiated these isogenic iPSCs, and iPSCs from an unrelated healthy control donor, to neurons and identified disease-related changes relating to protein synthesis, trafficking and degradation, and in neuronal activity, which were not apparent in CLN3-corrected or healthy control neurons. CLN3 neurons showed numerous membrane-bound vacuoles containing diverse storage material and hyperglycosylation of the lysosomal LAMP1 protein. Proteomic analysis showed increase in lysosomal-related proteins and many ribosomal subunit proteins in CLN3 neurons, accompanied by downregulation of proteins related to axon guidance and endocytosis. CLN3 neurons also had lower electrophysical activity as recorded using microelectrode arrays. These data implicate inter-related pathways in protein homeostasis and neurite arborization as contributing to CLN3 disease, and which could be potential targets for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sueanne Chear
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Sharn Perry
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Aidan Bindoff
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Jana Talbot
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Tyson L. Ware
- Department of Paediatrics, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Alexandra Grubman
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - James C. Vickers
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jonathan B. Ruddle
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
| | - Anna E. King
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Alex W. Hewitt
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Anthony L. Cook
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
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Ramamurthy RM, Atala A, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Organoids and microphysiological systems: Promising models for accelerating AAV gene therapy studies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1011143. [PMID: 36225917 PMCID: PMC9549755 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1011143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The FDA has predicted that at least 10-20 gene therapy products will be approved by 2025. The surge in the development of such therapies can be attributed to the advent of safe and effective gene delivery vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV). The enormous potential of AAV has been demonstrated by its use in over 100 clinical trials and the FDA’s approval of two AAV-based gene therapy products. Despite its demonstrated success in some clinical settings, AAV-based gene therapy is still plagued by issues related to host immunity, and recent studies have suggested that AAV vectors may actually integrate into the host cell genome, raising concerns over the potential for genotoxicity. To better understand these issues and develop means to overcome them, preclinical model systems that accurately recapitulate human physiology are needed. The objective of this review is to provide a brief overview of AAV gene therapy and its current hurdles, to discuss how 3D organoids, microphysiological systems, and body-on-a-chip platforms could serve as powerful models that could be adopted in the preclinical stage, and to provide some examples of the successful application of these models to answer critical questions regarding AAV biology and toxicity that could not have been answered using current animal models. Finally, technical considerations while adopting these models to study AAV gene therapy are also discussed.
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Baldassari S, Cervetto C, Amato S, Fruscione F, Balagura G, Pelassa S, Musante I, Iacomino M, Traverso M, Corradi A, Scudieri P, Maura G, Marcoli M, Zara F. Vesicular Glutamate Release from Feeder-FreehiPSC-Derived Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810545. [PMID: 36142455 PMCID: PMC9501332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent one of the main and powerful tools for the in vitro modeling of neurological diseases. Standard hiPSC-based protocols make use of animal-derived feeder systems to better support the neuronal differentiation process. Despite their efficiency, such protocols may not be appropriate to dissect neuronal specific properties or to avoid interspecies contaminations, hindering their future translation into clinical and drug discovery approaches. In this work, we focused on the optimization of a reproducible protocol in feeder-free conditions able to generate functional glutamatergic neurons. This protocol is based on a generation of neuroprecursor cells differentiated into human neurons with the administration in the culture medium of specific neurotrophins in a Geltrex-coated substrate. We confirmed the efficiency of this protocol through molecular analysis (upregulation of neuronal markers and neurotransmitter receptors assessed by gene expression profiling and expression of the neuronal markers at the protein level), morphological analysis, and immunfluorescence detection of pre-synaptic and post-synaptic markers at synaptic boutons. The hiPSC-derived neurons acquired Ca2+-dependent glutamate release properties as a hallmark of neuronal maturation. In conclusion, our study describes a new methodological approach to achieve feeder-free neuronal differentiation from hiPSC and adds a new tool for functional characterization of hiPSC-derived neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Baldassari
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Cervetto
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), 56100 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Sarah Amato
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
| | - Floriana Fruscione
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Ganna Balagura
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Simone Pelassa
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Michele Iacomino
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Monica Traverso
- Paediatric Neurology and Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Corradi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Guido Maura
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
| | - Manuela Marcoli
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), 56100 Pisa, Italy
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, Viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Federico Zara
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
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Okada M, Kawagoe Y, Takasugi T, Nozumi M, Ito Y, Fukusumi H, Kanemura Y, Fujii Y, Igarashi M. JNK1-Dependent Phosphorylation of GAP-43 Serine 142 is a Novel Molecular Marker for Axonal Growth. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:2668-2682. [PMID: 35347634 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03580-6] [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: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian axon growth has mechanistic similarities with axon regeneration. The growth cone is an important structure that is involved in both processes, and GAP-43 (growth associated protein-43 kDa) is believed to be the classical molecular marker. Previously, we used growth cone phosphoproteomics to demonstrate that S96 and T172 of GAP-43 in rodents are highly phosphorylated sites that are phosphorylated by c-jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK). We also revealed that phosphorylated (p)S96 and pT172 antibodies recognize growing axons in the developing brain and regenerating axons in adult peripheral nerves. In rodents, S142 is another putative JNK-dependent phosphorylation site that is modified at a lower frequency than S96 and T172. Here, we characterized this site using a pS142-specific antibody. We confirmed that pS142 was detected by co-expressing mouse GAP-43 and JNK1. pS142 antibody labeled growth cones and growing axons in developing mouse neurons. pS142 was sustained until at least nine weeks after birth in mouse brains. The pS142 antibody could detect regenerating axons following sciatic nerve injury in adult mice. Comparison of amino acid sequences indicated that rodent S142 corresponds to human T151, which is predicted to be a substrate of the MAPK family, which includes JNK. Thus, we confirmed that the pS142 antibody recognized human phospho-GAP-43 using activated JNK1, and also that its immunostaining pattern in neurons differentiated from human induced pluripotent cells was similar to those observed in mice. These results indicate that the S142 residue is phosphorylated by JNK1 and that the pS142 antibody is a new candidate molecular marker for axonal growth in both rodents and human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayasu Okada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medical/Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yosuke Kawagoe
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medical/Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Takasugi
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medical/Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Motohiro Nozumi
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medical/Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Ito
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medical/Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hayato Fukusumi
- Department of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yonehiro Kanemura
- Department of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukihiko Fujii
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Michihiro Igarashi
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medical/Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
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