Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kanako Takahashi, Yuto Ishibashi, Kaori Chujo, Ikuro Suzuki, Kaoru Sato
Summary: This study investigated the functions of L-glutamate transporters and their contribution to the tolerance of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural cells to excitotoxicity. The results showed that EAAT1 and EAAT2 are the predominant L-Glu transporters in these cells and their uptake potentials are responsible for the tolerance of hiPSC-derived neurons to excitotoxicity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Matthew D. Smith, Xitiz Chamling, Alexander J. Gill, Hector Martinez, Weifeng Li, Kathryn C. Fitzgerald, Elias S. Sotirchos, Dorota Moroziewicz, Lauren Bauer, Daniel Paull, Marjan Gharagozloo, Pavan Bhargava, Donald J. Zack, Valentina Fossati, Peter A. Calabresi
Summary: This study isolated and purified human astrocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells, and compared their characteristics with rodent astrocytes. The study found that reactive astrocytes can inhibit the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), limiting their remyelination capacity. Additionally, OPCs exposed to astrocyte conditioned media showed induction of immune pathways.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ying Zhang, Jun Wei, Jiani Cao, Kehua Zhang, Yaojin Peng, Hongkui Deng, Jiuhong Kang, Guangjin Pan, Yong Zhang, Boqiang Fu, Shijun Hu, Jie Na, Yan Liu, Lei Wang, Lingmin Liang, Huanxin Zhu, Yu Zhang, Zi-Bing Jin, Jie Hao, Aijin Ma, Tongbiao Zhao, Junying Yu
Summary: "Requirements for Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells" is the first set of guidelines in China on human-induced pluripotent stem cells. It provides detailed technical requirements and aims to promote international standardization.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tan Huang, Sharida Fakurazi, Pike-See Cheah, King-Hwa Ling
Summary: In this study, the role of REST-target genes in Down syndrome was investigated in human brain tissues, cerebral organoids, and neural cells. The findings suggest that REST-targeted DEGs are involved in multiple signaling pathways and cellular processes, including nervous system development, cell differentiation, fatty acid metabolism, and inflammation. REST is proposed as a critical regulator and a promising therapeutic target in modulating gene expression in the DS brain.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ingrid Battistella, Alessandro Cutarelli, Jacopo Zasso, Massimo Clerici, Carlo Sala, Matteo Marcatili, Luciano Conti
Summary: Astrocytes have important functions in coordinating various homeostatic processes in the central nervous system. A new protocol for generating mature astrocytes from hiPSCs has been developed, allowing for the study of astrocyte functions in human cell contexts and patient-specific settings. The optimized monolayer procedure presented in this study enables the efficient differentiation of hiPSC-derived cortical progenitors into mature astrocytes, providing a valuable tool for investigating the role of these cells in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric diseases and for drug development and biomarker discovery/validation.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Lin Yin, Feng-yuan Wang, Wei Zhang, Xi Wang, Yan-hong Tang, Teng Wang, Yu-ting Chen, Cong-xin Huang
Summary: This study investigates the role of retinoic acid (RA) and Wnt signaling in the induction of sinus node-like cells. The results show that combining RA with Wnt signaling within a specific period can induce the production of sinus node-like cells.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Stefano Stifani
Summary: Astrocytes play important roles in the nervous system, providing support and participating in neuroinflammation. Research on the pathophysiology of ALS needs to consider the diversity of astrocytes, and using human induced pluripotent stem cells is an effective approach to explore this.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Julia Vallverdu, Raquel A. Martinez Garcia de la Torre, Inge Mannaerts, Stefaan Verhulst, Ayla Smout, Mar Coll, Silvia Arino, Teresa Rubio-Tomas, Beatriz Aguilar-Bravo, Celia Martinez-Sanchez, Delia Blaya, Catherine M. Verfaillie, Leo A. van Grunsven, Pau Sancho-Bru
Summary: Human iPSCs are differentiated into HSCs with growth factors for in vitro modeling. The protocol yields iPSC-HSCs with phenotypic and functional characteristics of primary HSCs, suitable for high-throughput in vitro studies. Coculturing iPSC-HSCs with hepatocytes allows for the formation of 3D hepatic spheroids, enabling modeling and drug screening studies.
Review
Cell Biology
Xue Jiang, Yihuan Chen, Xiaofeng Liu, Lingqun Ye, Miao Yu, Zhenya Shen, Wei Lei, Shijun Hu
Summary: Researchers have discovered the contribution of genetic defects to the pathogenesis of primary cardiomyopathy and tried to explain the pathogenesis of these diseases by establishing various disease models. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provides an unprecedented opportunity to further investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of inherited cardiomyopathies in vitro using patient-specific hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. The development of defects in genetically modified animal models differs notably from human diseases at the molecular level.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Taiki Satoh, Marcelo A. S. Toledo, Janik Boehnke, Kathrin Olschok, Niclas Flosdorf, Katrin Goetz, Caroline Kuestermann, Stephanie Sontag, Kristin Sere, Steffen Koschmieder, Tim H. Bruemmendorf, Nicolas Chatain, Yoh-ichi Tagawa, Martin Zenke
Summary: Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells that can be divided into different subsets, with the DC3 subset having proinflammatory properties. Human iPS cell-derived DC3 exhibit similar characteristics to blood DC3 in vitro. The JAK2 V617F mutation enhances DC3 production and biases towards erythrocytes and megakaryocytes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Steven A. Hill, Marissa Fu, A. Denise R. Garcia
Summary: Astrocytes are complex cells performing essential functions in the nervous system. The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating the molecular identity and functional properties of astrocytes, and is active in specific subpopulations of these cells throughout the brain.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Kevin Hayes, Yun-Kyo Kim, Martin F. Pera
Summary: Nodal is a crucial factor in mammalian embryonic development and the maintenance of pluripotent stem cells. Its signaling pathway may play an important role in regulating self-renewal in hPSC.
Article
Cell Biology
Peng Cui, Ping Zhang, Lin Yuan, Li Wang, Xin Guo, Guanghui Cui, Yanmin Zhang, Minghua Li, Xiaowei Zhang, Xiaoqiang Li, Yuxin Yin, Zhendong Yu
Summary: HIF-1α knockdown affects the pluripotency and self-renewal potential of hiPSCs, promoting NSC differentiation and development potential possibly through the MFN2-mediated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gee Euhn Choi, Chang Woo Chae, Mo Ran Park, Jee Hyeon Yoon, Young Hyun Jung, Hyun Jik Lee, Ho Jae Han
Summary: Exposure to prenatal stress has irreversible effects on neurogenesis and can lead to cognitive and neuropsychiatric abnormalities in adulthood. This study identified glucocorticoid as a key factor impairing neurogenesis and inducing abnormal behaviors. The researchers also discovered that astrocytes derived from neural stem cells exhibited neurotoxic properties after glucocorticoid treatment. Additionally, the study revealed that cortisol-treated astrocytic conditioned media inhibited glutamatergic synaptic formation and transmission in differentiating neurons. Restoring the expression of neuroligin 1 and neuronal FGFR1 through FGF2 treatment improved glutamatergic synaptogenesis and overall neurogenesis. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the impact of prenatal stress on brain development.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Petros Stathakos, Natalia Jimenez-Moreno, Lucy A. Crompton, Paul A. Nistor, Jennifer L. Badger, Peter A. Barbuti, Talitha L. Kerrigan, Andrew D. Randall, Maeve A. Caldwell, Jon D. Lane
Summary: Macroautophagy/autophagy cytoplasmic quality control pathways are crucial for neural development and maintaining functional neuronal populations in the adult brain. Declining neuronal autophagy pathways contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, highlighting the need for reliable human neuronal model systems for research and therapeutic interventions. HiPSC neural model systems show promise in meeting this demand but may face limitations in generating ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons efficiently for functional and imaging-based in vitro assays.