scholarly journals Human sensorimotor organoids derived from healthy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis stem cells form neuromuscular junctions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
João D. Pereira ◽  
Daniel M. DuBreuil ◽  
Anna-Claire Devlin ◽  
Aaron Held ◽  
Yechiam Sapir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Familial Als ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Human Ipsc ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Individual Human

AbstractHuman induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) hold promise for modeling diseases in individual human genetic backgrounds and thus for developing precision medicine. Here, we generate sensorimotor organoids containing physiologically functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and apply the model to different subgroups of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using a range of molecular, genomic, and physiological techniques, we identify and characterize motor neurons and skeletal muscle, along with sensory neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and vasculature. Organoid cultures derived from multiple human iPSC lines generated from individuals with ALS and isogenic lines edited to harbor familial ALS mutations show impairment at the level of the NMJ, as detected by both contraction and immunocytochemical measurements. The physiological resolution of the human NMJ synapse, combined with the generation of major cellular cohorts exerting autonomous and non-cell autonomous effects in motor and sensory diseases, may prove valuable to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of ALS.

scholarly journals A Cultured Sensorimotor Organoid Model Forms Human Neuromuscular Junctions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
João D. Pereira ◽  
Daniel M. DuBreuil ◽  
Anna-Claire Devlin ◽  
Aaron Held ◽  
Yechiam Sapir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Familial Als ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Individual Human

AbstractHuman induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold promise for modeling diseases in individual human genetic backgrounds and thus for developing precision medicine. Here, we generate sensorimotor organoids containing physiologically functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) within a cultured organoid system and apply the model to different subgroups of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using a range of molecular, genomic, and physiological techniques, we identify and characterize motor neurons and skeletal muscle, along with sensory neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and vasculature. Organoid cultures derived from ALS subject iPSC lines and isogenic lines edited to harbor familial ALS mutations all show impairment at the level of the NMJ, as detected by both contraction and immunocytochemical measurements. The physiological resolution of the human NMJ synapse, combined with the generation of major cellular cohorts exerting autonomous and non-cell autonomous effects in motor and sensory diseases, may prove valuable for more comprehensive disease modeling.

scholarly journals Motor Neuron Generation from iPSCs from Identical Twins Discordant for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily R. Seminary ◽  
Stephanie Santarriaga ◽  
Lynn Wheeler ◽  
Marie Mejaki ◽  
Jenica Abrudan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Motor Neuron ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Identical Twins ◽  
Sporadic Als ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of the upper and lower motor neurons. Approximately 10% of cases are caused by specific mutations in known genes, with the remaining cases having no known genetic link. As such, sporadic cases have been more difficult to model experimentally. Here, we describe the generation and differentiation of ALS induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed from discordant identical twins. Whole genome sequencing revealed no relevant mutations in known ALS-causing genes that differ between the twins. As protein aggregation is found in all ALS patients and is thought to contribute to motor neuron death, we sought to characterize the aggregation phenotype of the sporadic ALS induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Motor neurons from both twins had high levels of insoluble proteins that commonly aggregate in ALS that did not robustly change in response to exogenous glutamate. In contrast, established genetic ALS iPSC lines demonstrated insolubility in a protein- and genotype-dependent manner. Moreover, whereas the genetic ALS lines failed to induce autophagy after glutamate stress, motor neurons from both twins and independent controls did activate this protective pathway. Together, these data indicate that our unique model of sporadic ALS may provide key insights into disease pathology and highlight potential differences between sporadic and familial ALS.

scholarly journals Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for SOD1-Associated Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pathogenesis Studies

Acta Naturae ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Chestkov ◽  
E. A. Vasilieva ◽  
S. N. Illarioshkin ◽  
M. A. Lagarkova ◽  
S. L. Kiselev
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Ips Cells ◽  
The Body ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

The genetic reprogramming technology allows one to generate pluripotent stem cells for individual patients. These cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), can be an unlimited source of specialized cell types for the body. Thus, autologous somatic cell replacement therapy becomes possible, as well as the generation of in vitro cell models for studying the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and drug discovery. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that leads to a loss of upper and lower motor neurons. About 10% of cases are genetically inherited, and the most common familial form of ALS is associated with mutations in the SOD1 gene. We used the reprogramming technology to generate induced pluripotent stem cells with patients with familial ALS. Patient-specific iPS cells were obtained by both integration and transgene-free delivery methods of reprogramming transcription factors. These iPS cells have the properties of pluripotent cells and are capable of direct differentiation into motor neurons.

scholarly journals CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Correction to Understand ALS

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3801
Author(s):  
Yeomin Yun ◽  
Yoon Ha
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Gene Correction ◽  
Genetic Origin ◽  
Sporadic Cases ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. ALS has a diverse genetic origin; at least 20 genes have been shown to be related to ALS. Most familial and sporadic cases of ALS are caused by variants of the SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and TARDBP genes. Genome editing using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated system 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) can provide insights into the underlying genetics and pathophysiology of ALS. By correcting common mutations associated with ALS in animal models and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), CRISPR/Cas9 has been used to verify the effects of ALS-associated mutations and observe phenotype differences between patient-derived and gene-corrected iPSCs. This technology has also been used to create mutations to investigate the pathophysiology of ALS. Here, we review recent studies that have used CRISPR/Cas9 to understand the genetic underpinnings of ALS.

scholarly journals Advances in Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Shed Light on Drug Discovery for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1301-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jui-Hao Lee ◽  
Jen-Wei Liu ◽  
Shinn-Zong Lin ◽  
Horng-Jyh Harn ◽  
Tzyy-Wen Chiou
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are generated through reprogramming adult somatic cells by expressing specific transcription factors, can differentiate into derivatives of the three embryonic germ layers and accelerate rapid advances in stem cell research. Neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have benefited enormously from iPSC technology. This approach can be particularly important for creating iPSCs from patients with familial or sporadic forms of ALS. Motor neurons differentiated from the ALS-patient-derived iPSC can help to determine the relationship between cellular phenotype and genotype. Patient-derived iPSCs facilitate the development of new drugs and/or drug screening for ALS treatment and allow the exploration of the possible mechanism of ALS disease. In this article, we reviewed ALS-patient-specific iPSCs with various genetic mutations, progress in drug development for ALS disease, functional assays showing the differentiation of iPSCs into mature motor neurons, and promising biomarkers in ALS patients for the evaluation of drug candidates.

scholarly journals Derivation and Identification of Motor Neurons from Human Urine-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Yi ◽  
Bingbing Xie ◽  
Ben Liu ◽  
Xuan Wang ◽  
Li Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Therapeutic Development ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
Promising Source ◽  
First Time

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have provided new opportunities for motor neuron disease (MND) modeling, drug screening, and cellular therapeutic development. Among the various types of iPSCs, urine-derived iPSCs have become a promising source of stem cells because they can be safely and noninvasively isolated and easily reprogrammed. Here, for the first time, we differentiated urine-derived iPSCs (urine-iPSCs) into motor neurons (MNs) and compared the capacity of urine-iPSCs and cord-blood-derived iPSCs (B-iPSCs) to differentiate into MNs. With the use of small molecules, mature MNs were generated from urine-iPSCs as early as 26 days in culture. Furthermore, in coculture with muscle cells, MNs projected long axons and formed neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Immunofluorescence and PCR confirmed the expression levels of both MN and NMJ markers. The comparison of the ratios of positive labeling for MN markers between urine-iPSCs and B-iPSCs demonstrated that the differentiation potentials of these cells were not significantly different. The abovementioned results indicate that urine-iPSCs are a new, promising source of stem cells for MND modeling and further cellular therapeutic development.

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