scholarly journals Defective metabolic programming impairs early neuronal morphogenesis in neural cultures and an organoid model of Leigh syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizem Inak ◽  
Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf ◽  
Pawel Lisowski ◽  
Tancredi M. Pentimalli ◽  
René Jüttner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Disease ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Leigh Syndrome ◽  
Metabolic Programming ◽  
Human Model ◽  
Neuronal Morphogenesis ◽  
Severe Manifestation ◽  
Neural Cultures ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Effective Models

AbstractLeigh syndrome (LS) is a severe manifestation of mitochondrial disease in children and is currently incurable. The lack of effective models hampers our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the neuronal pathology of LS. Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and CRISPR/Cas9 engineering, we developed a human model of LS caused by mutations in the complex IV assembly gene SURF1. Single-cell RNA-sequencing and multi-omics analysis revealed compromised neuronal morphogenesis in mutant neural cultures and brain organoids. The defects emerged at the level of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which retained a glycolytic proliferative state that failed to instruct neuronal morphogenesis. LS NPCs carrying mutations in the complex I gene NDUFS4 recapitulated morphogenesis defects. SURF1 gene augmentation and PGC1A induction via bezafibrate treatment supported the metabolic programming of LS NPCs, leading to restored neuronal morphogenesis. Our findings provide mechanistic insights and suggest potential interventional strategies for a rare mitochondrial disease.

scholarly journals SURF1 mutations causative of Leigh syndrome impair human neurogenesis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizem Inak ◽  
Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf ◽  
Pawel Lisowski ◽  
René Jüttner ◽  
Annika Zink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Leigh Syndrome ◽  
Mitochondrial Complex ◽  
Complex Iv ◽  
Disease Mechanisms ◽  
Assembly Factor ◽  
Potential Strategy ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

AbstractMutations in the mitochondrial complex IV assembly factor SURF1 represent a major cause of Leigh syndrome (LS), a rare fatal neurological disorder. SURF1-deficient animals have failed to recapitulate the neuronal pathology of human LS, hindering our understanding of the disease mechanisms. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells from LS patients carrying homozygous SURF1 mutations (SURF1 iPS) and performed biallelic correction via CRISPR/Cas9. In contrast to corrected cells, SURF1 iPS showed impaired neuronal differentiation. Aberrant bioenergetics in SURF1 iPS occurred already in neural progenitor cells (NPCs), disrupting their neurogenic potency. Cerebral organoids from SURF1 iPS were smaller and recapitulated the neurogenesis defects. Our data imply that SURF1 mutations cause a failure in the development of maturing neurons. Using NPC function as an interventional target, we identified SURF1 gene augmentation as a potential strategy for restoring neurogenesis in LS patients carrying SURF1 mutations.

scholarly journals Human iPSC-derived cerebral organoids model features of Leigh Syndrome and reveal abnormal corticogenesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra I. Romero-Morales ◽  
Anuj Rastogi ◽  
Hoor Temuri ◽  
Megan L. Rasmussen ◽  
Gregory Scott McElroy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leigh Syndrome ◽  
Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Model Features

SummaryLeigh syndrome (LS) is a rare, inherited neuro-metabolic disorder that presents with bilateral brain lesions. This disease is caused by defects in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and associated nuclear-encoded proteins. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from three widely available LS fibroblast lines and identified, through whole exome and mitochondrial sequencing, unreported mutations in pyruvate dehydrogenase (GM0372, PDH; GM13411, MT-ATP6/PDH) and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (GM01503, DLD). LS derived cell lines were viable and able to differentiate into key progenitor populations, but we identified several abnormalities in three-dimensional differentiation models of brain development. The DLD-mutant line showed decreased neural rosette (NR) formation, and there were differences in NR lumen area in all three LS lines compared to control. LS-derived cerebral organoids showed defects in neural epithelial bud generation and reduced size when grown for 100 days. Loss of cortical architecture and markers were detected at days 30 and 100. The MT-ATP6/PDH line produced organoid neural progenitor cells with an abnormal mitochondrial morphology characterized by fragmentation and disorganization, and demonstrated increased generation of astrocytes. These studies aim to provide a comprehensive phenotypic characterization of available patient-derived cell lines that could be used as LS model systems.

scholarly journals High-content image-based analysis and proteomic profiling identifies Tau phosphorylation inhibitors in a human iPSC-derived glutamatergic neuronal model of tauopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chialin Cheng ◽  
Surya A. Reis ◽  
Emily T. Adams ◽  
Daniel M. Fass ◽  
Steven P. Angus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Clinical Investigation ◽  
Neuronal Model ◽  
Tau Phosphorylation ◽  
Neuronal Cultures ◽  
Proteomic Profiling ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

AbstractMutations in MAPT (microtubule-associated protein tau) cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD). MAPT mutations are associated with abnormal tau phosphorylation levels and accumulation of misfolded tau protein that can propagate between neurons ultimately leading to cell death (tauopathy). Recently, a p.A152T tau variant was identified as a risk factor for FTD, Alzheimer's disease, and synucleinopathies. Here we used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from a patient carrying this p.A152T variant to create a robust, functional cellular assay system for probing pathophysiological tau accumulation and phosphorylation. Using stably transduced iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells engineered to enable inducible expression of the pro-neural transcription factor Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2), we generated disease-relevant, cortical-like glutamatergic neurons in a scalable, high-throughput screening compatible format. Utilizing automated confocal microscopy, and an advanced image-processing pipeline optimized for analysis of morphologically complex human neuronal cultures, we report quantitative, subcellular localization-specific effects of multiple kinase inhibitors on tau, including ones under clinical investigation not previously reported to affect tau phosphorylation. These results demonstrate the potential for using patient iPSC-derived ex vivo models of tauopathy as genetically accurate, disease-relevant systems to probe tau biochemistry and support the discovery of novel therapeutics for tauopathies.

scholarly journals T9. EPIGENETIC PROFILING IN SCHIZOPHRENIA DERIVED HUMAN INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS (HIPSCS) AND NEURONS

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S234-S234
Author(s):  
Lorna Farrelly ◽  
Shuangping Zhang ◽  
Erin Flaherty ◽  
Aaron Topol ◽  
Nadine Schrode ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Gene Expression Pattern ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Abstract Background Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder affecting ~1% of the world’s population. It is largely heritable with genetic risk reflected by a combination of common variants of small effect and highly penetrant rare mutations. Chromatin modifications are known to play critical roles in the mediation of many neurodevelopmental processes, and, when disturbed, may also contribute to the precipitation of psychiatric disorders, such as SCZ. While a handful of candidate-based studies have measured changes in promoter-bound histone modifications, few mechanistic studies have been carried out to explore how these modifications may affect chromatin to precipitate behavioral phenotypes associated with the disease. Methods We applied an unbiased proteomics approach to evaluate the epigenetic landscape of SCZ in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neurons from SCZ patients vs. matched controls. We utilized proteomics-based, label free liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on purified histones from these cells and confirmed our results by western blotting in postmortem SCZ cortical brain tissues. Furthermore we validated our findings with the application of histone interaction assays and structural and biophysical assessments to identify and confirm novel chromatin ‘readers’. To relate our findings to a SCZ phenotype we used a SCZ rodent model of prepulse inhibition (PPI) to perform pharmacological manipulations and behavioral assessments. Results Using label free mass spectrometry we performed PTM screening of hiPSCs, NPCs and matured neurons derived from SCZ patients and matched controls. We identified, amongst others, altered patterns of hyperacetylation in SCZ neurons. Additionally we identified enhanced binding of particular acetylation ‘reader’ proteins. Pharmacological inhibition of such proteins in an animal model of amphetamine sensitization ameliorated PPI deficits further validating this epigenetic signature in SCZ. Discussion Recent evidence indicates that relevance and patterns of acetylation in epigenetics advances beyond its role in transcription and small molecule inhibitors of these aberrant interactions hold promise as useful therapeutics. This study identifies a role for modulating gene expression changes associated with a SCZ epigenetic signature and warrants further investigation in terms of how this early gene expression pattern perhaps determines susceptibility or severity of the SCZ disease trajectory.

scholarly journals Robust Expression of Functional NMDA Receptors in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neuronal Cultures Using an Accelerated Protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob B. Ruden ◽  
Mrinalini Dixit ◽  
José C. Zepeda ◽  
Brad A. Grueter ◽  
Laura L. Dugan
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽  
Calcium Flux ◽  
Neuronal Cultures ◽  
Mature Neurons ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Nervous System Function ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Human Ipsc

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critical for higher-order nervous system function, but in previously published protocols to convert human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to mature neurons, functional NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are often either not reported or take an extended time to develop. Here, we describe a protocol to convert human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to mature neurons in only 37 days. We demonstrate that the mature neurons express functional NMDARs exhibiting ligand-activated calcium flux, and we document the presence of NMDAR-mediated electrically evoked postsynaptic current. In addition to being more rapid than previous procedures, our protocol is straightforward, does not produce organoids which are difficult to image, and does not involve co-culture with rodent astrocytes. This could enhance our ability to study primate/human-specific aspects of NMDAR function and signaling in health and disease.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial Dynamics Regulation in Skin Fibroblasts from Mitochondrial Disease Patients

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Tokuyama ◽  
Asei Hirai ◽  
Isshin Shiiba ◽  
Naoki Ito ◽  
Keigo Matsuno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Disease ◽  
Mitochondrial Myopathy ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Leigh Syndrome ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Mitochondrial Fragmentation ◽  
Cellular Toxicity ◽  
Morphologic Changes

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that constantly fuse, divide, and move, and their function is regulated and maintained by their morphologic changes. Mitochondrial disease (MD) comprises a group of disorders involving mitochondrial dysfunction. However, it is not clear whether changes in mitochondrial morphology are related to MD. In this study, we examined mitochondrial morphology in fibroblasts from patients with MD (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and Leigh syndrome). We observed that MD fibroblasts exhibited significant mitochondrial fragmentation by upregulation of Drp1, which is responsible for mitochondrial fission. Interestingly, the inhibition of mitochondrial fragmentation by Drp1 knockdown enhanced cellular toxicity and led to cell death in MD fibroblasts. These results suggest that mitochondrial fission plays a critical role in the attenuation of mitochondrial damage in MD fibroblasts.

scholarly journals Developmental excitation-inhibition imbalance underlying psychoses revealed by single-cell analyses of discordant twins-derived cerebral organoids

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 2695-2711
Author(s):  
Tomoyo Sawada ◽  
Thomas E. Chater ◽  
Yohei Sasagawa ◽  
Mika Yoshimura ◽  
Noriko Fujimori-Tonou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Monozygotic Twins ◽  
Monozygotic Twin ◽  
Inhibitory Neurons ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Type Specific ◽  
Discordant Twins ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Human Brains

Abstract Despite extensive genetic and neuroimaging studies, detailed cellular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia and bipolar disorder remain poorly understood. Recent progress in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies enables identification of cell-type-specific pathophysiology. However, its application to psychiatric disorders is challenging because of methodological difficulties in analyzing human brains and the confounds due to a lifetime of illness. Brain organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of the patients are a powerful avenue to investigate the pathophysiological processes. Here, we generated iPSC-derived cerebral organoids from monozygotic twins discordant for psychosis. scRNA-seq analysis of the organoids revealed enhanced GABAergic specification and reduced cell proliferation following diminished Wnt signaling in the patient, which was confirmed in iPSC-derived forebrain neuronal cells. Two additional monozygotic twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia also confirmed the excess GABAergic specification of the patients’ neural progenitor cells. With a well-controlled genetic background, our data suggest that unbalanced specification of excitatory and inhibitory neurons during cortical development underlies psychoses.

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