scholarly journals A fully automated high-throughput workflow for 3D-based chemical screening in human midbrain organoids

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Renner ◽  
Martha Grabos ◽  
Katharina J Becker ◽  
Theresa E Kagermeier ◽  
Jie Wu ◽  
...  

Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems have fueled hopes to bring about the next generation of more physiologically relevant high-throughput screens (HTS). However, current protocols yield either complex but highly heterogeneous aggregates (‘organoids’) or 3D structures with less physiological relevance (‘spheroids’). Here, we present a scalable, HTS-compatible workflow for the automated generation, maintenance, and optical analysis of human midbrain organoids in standard 96-well-plates. The resulting organoids possess a highly homogeneous morphology, size, global gene expression, cellular composition, and structure. They present significant features of the human midbrain and display spontaneous aggregate-wide synchronized neural activity. By automating the entire workflow from generation to analysis, we enhance the intra- and inter-batch reproducibility as demonstrated via RNA sequencing and quantitative whole mount high-content imaging. This allows assessing drug effects at the single-cell level within a complex 3D cell environment in a fully automated HTS workflow.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (32) ◽  
pp. eaaz1457
Author(s):  
Riya Muckom ◽  
Xiaoping Bao ◽  
Eric Tran ◽  
Evelyn Chen ◽  
Abirami Murugappan ◽  
...  

The emergence of several cell therapy candidates in the clinic is an encouraging sign for human diseases/disorders that currently have no effective treatment; however, scalable production of these cell therapies has become a bottleneck. To overcome this barrier, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture strategies have been considered for enhanced cell production. Here, we demonstrate a high-throughput 3D culture platform used to systematically screen 1200 culture conditions with varying doses, durations, dynamics, and combinations of signaling cues to derive oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and midbrain dopaminergic neurons from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Statistical models of the robust dataset reveal previously unidentified patterns about cell competence to Wnt, retinoic acid, and sonic hedgehog signals, and their interactions, which may offer insights into the combinatorial roles these signals play in human central nervous system development. These insights can be harnessed to optimize production of hPSC-derived cell replacement therapies for a range of neurological indications.


Lab on a Chip ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1755-1763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Chen ◽  
Yue Wu ◽  
Zheng Ao ◽  
Hongwei Cai ◽  
Asael Nunez ◽  
...  

Three-dimensional (3D) culture of multicellular spheroids, offering a desirable biomimetic microenvironment, is appropriate for recapitulating tissue cellular adhesive complexity and revealing a more realistic drug response.


Soft Matter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaemin Kim ◽  
Erik Mailand ◽  
Ida Ang ◽  
Mahmut Selman Sakar ◽  
Nikolaos Bouklas

The combination of high-throughput three-dimensional (3D) culture systems and experimentally-validated computational models accelerate the study of cell-ECM interactions and tissue-scale deformation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Leary ◽  
Claire Rhee ◽  
Benjamin T. Wilks ◽  
Jeffrey R. Morgan

Accurately predicting the human response to new compounds is critical to a wide variety of industries. Standard screening pipelines (including both in vitro and in vivo models) often lack predictive power. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems of human cells, a more physiologically relevant platform, could provide a high-throughput, automated means to test the efficacy and/or toxicity of novel substances. However, the challenge of obtaining high-magnification, confocal z stacks of 3D spheroids and understanding their respective quantitative limitations must be overcome first. To address this challenge, we developed a method to form spheroids of reproducible size at precise spatial locations across a 96-well plate. Spheroids of variable radii were labeled with four different fluorescent dyes and imaged with a high-throughput confocal microscope. 3D renderings of the spheroid had a complex bowl-like appearance. We systematically analyzed these confocal z stacks to determine the depth of imaging and the effect of spheroid size and dyes on quantitation. Furthermore, we have shown that this loss of fluorescence can be addressed through the use of ratio imaging. Overall, understanding both the limitations of confocal imaging and the tools to correct for these limits is critical for developing accurate quantitative assays using 3D spheroids.


Author(s):  
A. F. Marshall ◽  
J. W. Steeds ◽  
D. Bouchet ◽  
S. L. Shinde ◽  
R. G. Walmsley

Convergent beam electron diffraction is a powerful technique for determining the crystal structure of a material in TEM. In this paper we have applied it to the study of the intermetallic phases in the Cu-rich end of the Cu-Zr system. These phases are highly ordered. Their composition and structure has been previously studied by microprobe and x-ray diffraction with sometimes conflicting results.The crystalline phases were obtained by annealing amorphous sputter-deposited Cu-Zr. Specimens were thinned for TEM by ion milling and observed in a Philips EM 400. Due to the large unit cells involved, a small convergence angle of diffraction was used; however, the three-dimensional lattice and symmetry information of convergent beam microdiffraction patterns is still present. The results are as follows:1) 21 at% Zr in Cu: annealed at 500°C for 5 hours. An intermetallic phase, Cu3.6Zr (21.7% Zr), space group P6/m has been proposed near this composition (2). The major phase of our annealed material was hexagonal with a point group determined as 6/m.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (29) ◽  
pp. 4778-4788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Heredia-Soto ◽  
Andrés Redondo ◽  
José Juan Pozo Kreilinger ◽  
Virginia Martínez-Marín ◽  
Alberto Berjón ◽  
...  

Sarcomas are tumours of mesenchymal origin, which can arise in bone or soft tissues. They are rare but frequently quite aggressive and with a poor outcome. New approaches are needed to characterise these tumours and their resistance mechanisms to current therapies, responsible for tumour recurrence and treatment failure. This review is focused on the potential of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models, including multicellular tumour spheroids (MCTS) and organoids, and the latest data about their utility for the study on important properties for tumour development. The use of spheroids as a particularly valuable alternative for compound high throughput screening (HTS) in different areas of cancer biology is also discussed, which enables the identification of new therapeutic opportunities in commonly resistant tumours.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1088-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne A. Lapierre ◽  
Elizabeth H. Manning ◽  
Kenya M. Mitchell ◽  
Cathy M. Caldwell ◽  
James R. Goldenring

MARK2 regulates the establishment of polarity in Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells in part through phosphorylation of serine 227 of Rab11-FIP2. We identified Eps15 as an interacting partner of phospho-S227-Rab11-FIP2 (pS227-FIP2). During recovery from low calcium, Eps15 localized to the lateral membrane before pS227-FIP2 arrival. Later in recovery, Eps15 and pS227-FIP2 colocalized at the lateral membrane. In MDCK cells expressing the pseudophosphorylated FIP2 mutant FIP2(S227E), during recovery from low calcium, Eps15 was trapped and never localized to the lateral membrane. Mutation of any of the three NPF domains within GFP-FIP2(S227E) rescued Eps15 localization at the lateral membrane and reestablished single-lumen cyst formation in GFP-FIP2(S227E)–expressing cells in three-dimensional (3D) culture. Whereas expression of GFP-FIP2(S227E) induced the loss of E-cadherin and occludin, mutation of any of the NPF domains of GFP-FIP2(S227E) reestablished both proteins at the apical junctions. Knockdown of Eps15 altered the spatial and temporal localization of pS227-FIP2 and also elicited formation of multiple lumens in MDCK 3D cysts. Thus an interaction of Eps15 and pS227-FIP2 at the appropriate time and location in polarizing cells is necessary for proper establishment of epithelial polarity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2491
Author(s):  
Yujin Park ◽  
Kang Moo Huh ◽  
Sun-Woong Kang

The process of evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of drugs is important in the production of new drugs to treat diseases. Testing in humans is the most accurate method, but there are technical and ethical limitations. To overcome these limitations, various models have been developed in which responses to various external stimuli can be observed to help guide future trials. In particular, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture has a great advantage in simulating the physical and biological functions of tissues in the human body. This article reviews the biomaterials currently used to improve cellular functions in 3D culture and the contributions of 3D culture to cancer research, stem cell culture and drug and toxicity screening.


2021 ◽  
pp. 039139882098680
Author(s):  
Xuefeng Zhang ◽  
Nan Wang ◽  
Yuhua Huang ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
...  

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) culture has been reported to increase the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The present study assessed the therapeutic efficacy of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from 3D cultures of human placental MSCs (hPMSCs) for acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: The supernatants from monolayer culture (2D) and 3D culture of hPMSCs were ultra-centrifuged for EVs isolation. C57BL/6 male mice were submitted to 45 min bilateral ischemia of kidney, followed by renal intra-capsular administration of EVs within a 72 h reperfusion period. Histological, immunohistochemical, and ELISA analyses of kidney samples were performed to evaluate cell death and inflammation. Kidney function was evaluated by measuring serum creatinine and urea nitrogen. The miRNA expression profiles of EVs from 2D and 3D culture of hPMSCs were evaluated using miRNA microarray analysis. Results: The 3D culture of hPMSCs formed spheroids with different diameters depending on the cell density seeded. The hPMSCs produced significantly more EVs in 3D culture than in 2D culture. More importantly, injection of EVs from 3D culture of hPMSCs into mouse kidney with ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-AKI was more beneficial in protecting from progression of I/R than those from 2D culture. The EVs from 3D culture of hPMSCs were more efficient against apoptosis and inflammation than those from 2D culture, which resulted in a reduction in tissue damage and amelioration of renal function. MicroRNA profiling analysis revealed that a set of microRNAs were significantly changed in EVs from 3D culture of hPMSCs, especially miR-93-5p. Conclusion: The EVs from 3D culture of hPMSCs have therapeutic potential for I/R-AKI.


Author(s):  
Terry Riss ◽  
O. Joseph Trask

AbstractAlong with the increased use of more physiologically relevant three-dimensional cell culture models comes the responsibility of researchers to validate new assay methods that measure events in structures that are physically larger and more complex compared to monolayers of cells. It should not be assumed that assays designed using monolayers of cells will work for cells cultured as larger three-dimensional masses. The size and barriers for penetration of molecules through the layers of cells result in a different microenvironment for the cells in the outer layer compared to the center of three-dimensional structures. Diffusion rates for nutrients and oxygen may limit metabolic activity which is often measured as a marker for cell viability. For assays that lyse cells, the penetration of reagents to achieve uniform cell lysis must be considered. For live cell fluorescent imaging assays, the diffusion of fluorescent probes and penetration of photons of light for probe excitation and fluorescent emission must be considered. This review will provide an overview of factors to consider when implementing assays to interrogate three dimensional cell culture models.


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