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Dang KM, Zhang YJ, Zhang T, Wang C, Sinner A, Coronica P, Poon JKS. NeuroQuantify - An image analysis software for detection and quantification of neuron cells and neurite lengths using deep learning. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 411:110273. [PMID: 39197681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110273] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The segmentation of cells and neurites in microscopy images of neuronal networks provides valuable quantitative information about neuron growth and neuronal differentiation, including the number of cells, neurites, neurite length and neurite orientation. This information is essential for assessing the development of neuronal networks in response to extracellular stimuli, which is useful for studying neuronal structures, for example, the study of neurodegenerative diseases and pharmaceuticals. NEW METHOD We have developed NeuroQuantify, an open-source software that uses deep learning to efficiently and quickly segment cells and neurites in phase contrast microscopy images. RESULTS NeuroQuantify offers several key features: (i) automatic detection of cells and neurites; (ii) post-processing of the images for the quantitative neurite length measurement based on segmentation of phase contrast microscopy images, and (iii) identification of neurite orientations. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS NeuroQuantify overcomes some of the limitations of existing methods in the automatic and accurate analysis of neuronal structures. It has been developed for phase contrast images rather than fluorescence images. In addition to typical functionality of cell counting, NeuroQuantify also detects and counts neurites, measures the neurite lengths, and produces the neurite orientation distribution. CONCLUSIONS We offer a valuable tool to assess network development rapidly and effectively. The user-friendly NeuroQuantify software can be installed and freely downloaded from GitHub at https://github.com/StanleyZ0528/neural-image-segmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka My Dang
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle D-06120, Germany; Max Planck-University of Toronto Centre for Neural Science and Technology, Canada.
| | - Yi Jia Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Rd., Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada
| | - Tianchen Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Rd., Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Rd., Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada
| | - Anton Sinner
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle D-06120, Germany
| | - Piero Coronica
- Max Planck Computing and Data Facility, Gießenbachstraße 2, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - Joyce K S Poon
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle D-06120, Germany; Max Planck-University of Toronto Centre for Neural Science and Technology, Canada; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Rd., Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada.
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Choi MS, Park SM, Kim S, Jegal H, Lee HA, Han HY, Yoon S, Kim SK, Oh JH. Enhanced electrophysiological activity and neurotoxicity screening of environmental chemicals using 3D neurons from human neural precursor cells purified with PSA-NCAM. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 280:116516. [PMID: 38820819 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
The assessment of neurotoxicity for environmental chemicals is of utmost importance in ensuring public health and environmental safety. Multielectrode array (MEA) technology has emerged as a powerful tool for assessing disturbances in the electrophysiological activity. Although human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived neurons have been used in MEA for neurotoxicity screening, obtaining a substantial and sufficiently active population of neurons from hESCs remains challenging. In this study, we successfully differentiated neurons from a large population of human neuronal precursor cells (hNPC) purified using a polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), referred to as hNPCPSA-NCAM+. The functional characterization demonstrated that hNPCPSA-NCAM+-derived neurons improve functionality by enhancing electrophysiological activity compared to total hNPC-derived neurons. Furthermore, three-dimensional (3D) neurons derived from hNPCPSA-NCAM+ exhibited reduced maturation time and enhanced electrophysiological activity on MEA. We employed subdivided population analysis of active mean firing rate (MFR) based on electrophysiological intensity to characterize the electrophysiological properties of hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons. Based on electrophysiological activity including MFR and burst parameters, we evaluated the sensitivity of hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons on MEA to screen both inhibitory and excitatory neuroactive environmental chemicals. Intriguingly, electrophysiologically active hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons demonstrated good sensitivity to evaluate neuroactive chemicals, particularly in discriminating excitatory chemicals. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of MEA approaches using hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons in the assessment of neurotoxicity associated with environmental chemicals. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate signal intensity thresholds to enhance neurotoxicity prediction and screening of environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Sun Choi
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Myo Park
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Soojin Kim
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jegal
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyang-Ae Lee
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung-Yun Han
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Seokjoo Yoon
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Kyum Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea.
| | - Jung-Hwa Oh
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea.
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Jezsó B, Kálmán S, Farkas KG, Hathy E, Vincze K, Kovács-Schoblocher D, Lilienberg J, Tordai C, Nemoda Z, Homolya L, Apáti Á, Réthelyi JM. Haloperidol, Olanzapine, and Risperidone Induce Morphological Changes in an In Vitro Model of Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Biomolecules 2024; 14:688. [PMID: 38927091 PMCID: PMC11201986 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060688] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) based neuronal differentiation is valuable for studying neuropsychiatric disorders and pharmacological mechanisms at the cellular level. We aimed to examine the effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics on human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs). METHODS Proliferation and neurite outgrowth were measured by live cell imaging, and gene expression levels related to neuronal identity were analyzed by RT-QPCR and immunocytochemistry during differentiation into hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cells following treatment of low- and high-dose antipsychotics (haloperidol, olanzapine, and risperidone). RESULTS Antipsychotics did not modify the growth properties of NPCs after 3 days of treatment. However, the characteristics of neurite outgrowth changed significantly in response to haloperidol and olanzapine. After three weeks of differentiation, mRNA expression levels of the selected neuronal markers increased (except for MAP2), while antipsychotics caused only subtle changes. Additionally, we found no changes in MAP2 or GFAP protein expression levels as a result of antipsychotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, antipsychotic medications promoted neurogenesis in vitro by influencing neurite outgrowth rather than changing cell survival or gene expression. This study provides insights into the effects of antipsychotics on neuronal differentiation and highlights the importance of considering neurite outgrowth as a potential target of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Jezsó
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
- Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE-MTA “Momentum” Motor Enzymology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sára Kálmán
- Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szentháromság utca 5., H-6722 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Kiara Gitta Farkas
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
| | - Edit Hathy
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6., H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Vincze
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6., H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Julianna Lilienberg
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
| | - Csongor Tordai
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6., H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Nemoda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6., H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Homolya
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
| | - Ágota Apáti
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN RCNS, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (B.J.)
| | - János M. Réthelyi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6., H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
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Lilienberg J, Apáti Á, Réthelyi JM, Homolya L. Microglia modulate proliferation, neurite generation and differentiation of human neural progenitor cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:997028. [DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.997028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the primary immune cells of the brain, significantly influence the fate of neurons after neural damage. Depending on the local environment, they exhibit a wide range of phenotypes, including patrolling (naïve), proinflammatory, and anti-inflammatory characteristics, which greatly affects neurotoxicity. Despite the fact that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and hippocampal neurons represent cell populations, which play pivotal role in neural regeneration, interaction between microglia and these cell types is poorly studied. In the present work, we investigated how microglial cells affect the proliferation and neurite outgrowth of human stem cell-derived NPCs, and how microglia stimulation with proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory agents modulates this interaction. We found that naïve microglia slightly diminish NPC proliferation and have no effect on neurite outgrowth. In contrast, proinflammatory stimulated microglia promote both proliferation and neurite generation, whereas microglia stimulated with anti-inflammatory cytokines augment neurite outgrowth leaving NPC proliferation unaffected. We also studied how microglia influence neurite development and differentiation of hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cells differentiated from NPCs. We found that proinflammatory stimulated microglia inhibit axonal development but facilitate dendrite generation in these differentiating neurons. Our results elucidate a fine-tuned modulatory effect of microglial cells on cell types crucial for neural regeneration, opening perspectives for novel regenerative therapeutic interventions.
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