The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.
Cells. 2023 Feb 8;12(4):545. doi: 10.3390/cells12040545.
A multitude of in vitro models based on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons (MNs) have been developed to investigate the underlying causes of selective MN degeneration in motor neuron diseases (MNDs). For instance, spheroids are simple 3D models that have the potential to be generated in large numbers that can be used across different assays. In this study, we generated MN spheroids and developed a workflow to analyze them. To start, the morphological profiling of the spheroids was achieved by developing a pipeline to obtain measurements of their size and shape. Next, we confirmed the expression of different MN markers at the transcript and protein levels by qPCR and immunocytochemistry of tissue-cleared samples, respectively. Finally, we assessed the capacity of the MN spheroids to display functional activity in the form of action potentials and bursts using a microelectrode array approach. Although most of the cells displayed an MN identity, we also characterized the presence of other cell types, namely interneurons and oligodendrocytes, which share the same neural progenitor pool with MNs. In summary, we successfully developed an MN 3D model, and we optimized a workflow that can be applied to perform its morphological, gene expression, protein, and functional profiling over time.
已经开发了许多基于诱导多能干细胞(iPSC)衍生的运动神经元(MNs)的体外模型,以研究运动神经元疾病(MNDs)中 MN 选择性退化的潜在原因。例如,球体是简单的 3D 模型,具有大量生成的潜力,可以在不同的测定中使用。在这项研究中,我们生成了 MN 球体并开发了一种分析它们的工作流程。首先,通过开发一种获取其大小和形状测量值的管道来实现球体的形态分析。接下来,我们通过 qPCR 和组织清除样本的免疫细胞化学分别证实了不同 MN 标志物在转录和蛋白水平上的表达。最后,我们使用微电极阵列方法评估 MN 球体以动作电位和爆发的形式显示功能活性的能力。尽管大多数细胞表现出 MN 特性,但我们还鉴定了其他细胞类型的存在,即神经元和少突胶质细胞,它们与 MN 共享相同的神经祖细胞池。总之,我们成功开发了一种 MN 3D 模型,并优化了一种工作流程,可以应用于随时间对其形态、基因表达、蛋白质和功能进行分析。
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