scholarly journals Mood Stabilizers in Psychiatric Disorders and Mechanisms Learnt from In Vitro Model Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9315
Author(s):  
Ritu Nayak ◽  
Idan Rosh ◽  
Irina Kustanovich ◽  
Shani Stern
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Lithium Treatment ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Mood Stabilizers ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia are psychiatric disorders that manifest unusual mental, behavioral, and emotional patterns leading to suffering and disability. These disorders span heterogeneous conditions with variable heredity and elusive pathophysiology. Mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproic acid (VPA) have been shown to be effective in BD and, to some extent in schizophrenia. This review highlights the efficacy of lithium and VPA treatment in several randomized, controlled human trials conducted in patients suffering from BD and schizophrenia. Furthermore, we also address the importance of using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a disease model for mirroring the disease’s phenotypes. In BD, iPSC-derived neurons enabled finding an endophenotype of hyperexcitability with increased hyperpolarizations. Some of the disease phenotypes were significantly alleviated by lithium treatment. VPA studies have also reported rescuing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and reducing activity. Another significant contribution of iPSC models can be attributed to studying the molecular etiologies of schizophrenia such as abnormal differentiation of patient-derived neural stem cells, decreased neuronal connectivity and neurite number, impaired synaptic function, and altered gene expression patterns. Overall, despite significant advances using these novel models, much more work remains to fully understand the mechanisms by which these disorders affect the patients’ brains.

scholarly journals Parkin Mutation Affects Clock Gene-Dependent Energy Metabolism

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Consiglia Pacelli ◽  
Giovannina Rotundo ◽  
Lucia Lecce ◽  
Marta Menga ◽  
Eris Bidollari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Quality Control ◽  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Mitochondrial Quality Control ◽  
Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism ◽  
Tight Connection ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Growing evidence highlights a tight connection between circadian rhythms, molecular clockworks, and mitochondrial function. In particular, mitochondrial quality control and bioenergetics have been proven to undergo circadian oscillations driven by core clock genes. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by a selective loss of dopaminergic neurons. Almost half of the autosomal recessive forms of juvenile parkinsonism have been associated with mutations in the PARK2 gene coding for parkin, shown to be involved in mitophagy-mediated mitochondrial quality control. The aim of this study was to investigate, in fibroblasts from genetic PD patients carrying parkin mutations, the interplay between mitochondrial bioenergetics and the cell autonomous circadian clock. Using two different in vitro synchronization protocols, we demonstrated that normal fibroblasts displayed rhythmic oscillations of both mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic activity. Conversely, in fibroblasts obtained from PD patients, a severe damping of the bioenergetic oscillatory patterns was observed. Analysis of the core clock genes showed deregulation of their expression patterns in PD fibroblasts, which was confirmed in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) derived thereof. The results from this study support a reciprocal interplay between the clockwork machinery and mitochondrial energy metabolism, point to a parkin-dependent mechanism of regulation, and unveil a hitherto unappreciated level of complexity in the pathophysiology of PD and eventually other neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract P482: Elucidating And Characterizing The Molecular Mechanistic Role Of Phospholamban L39 Stop In The Pathophysiology Of Cardiomyopathy Using Patient-derived Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells And Humanized Knock-in Mouse Model Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anichavezhi Devendran ◽  
Rasheed Bailey ◽  
Sumanta Kar ◽  
Francesca Stillitano ◽  
Irene Turnbull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical condition associated with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. The contractile dysfunction and arrhythmogenesis related to HF has been linked to the remodelling of calcium (Ca ++ ) handling. Phospholamban (PLN) has emerged as a key regulator of intracellular Ca ++ concentration. Of the PLN mutations, L39X is intriguing as it has not been fully characterized. This mutation is believed to be functionally equivalent to PLN null (KO) but contrary to PLN KO mice, L39X carriers develop a lethal cardiomyopathy (CMP). Our study aims at using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) from homozygous L39X carriers to elucidate the role of L39X in human pathophysiology. Our plan also involves the characterization of humanized L39X knock-in mice (KM), which we hypothesize will develop a CMP from mis-localization of PLN and disruption of Ca ++ signalling. Methodology and Results: Mononuclear cells from Hom L39X carriers were obtained to generate 11 integration-free patient-specific iPSC clones. The iPSC-CMs were derived using established protocols. Compared to the WT iPSC-CMs, the Hom L39X derived-CMs PLN had an abnormal cytoplasmic distribution and formed intracellular aggregates, with the loss of perinuclear localization. There was also a 70% and 50% reduction of mRNA and protein expression of PLN respectively in L39X compared to WT iPSC-CMs. These findings indicated that L39X PLN is both under-expressed and mis-localized within the cell. To validate this observation in-vivo, we genetically modified FVB mice to harbour the human L39X. Following electroporation, positively transfected mouse embryonic stem cells were injected into host blastocysts to make humanized KM that were subsequently used to generate either a protamine-Cre (endogenous PLN driven expression) or a cardiac TNT mouse (i.e., CMP specific). Conclusion: Our data confirm an abnormal intracellular distribution of PLN, with the loss of perinuclear accumulation and mis-localization, suggestive of ineffective targeting to or retention of L39X. The mouse model will be critically important to validate the in-vitro observations and provides an ideal platform for future studies centred on the development of novel therapeutic strategies including virally delivered CRISPR/Cas9 for in-vivo gene editing and testing of biochemical signalling pathways.

scholarly journals Standards for Deriving Nonhuman Primate-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Neural Stem Cells and Dopaminergic Lineage

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 2788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang Yang ◽  
Hyenjong Hong ◽  
April Torres ◽  
Kristen Malloy ◽  
Gourav Choudhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Neural Stem Cells ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
The Body ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Humans and nonhuman primates (NHP) are similar in behavior and in physiology, specifically the structure, function, and complexity of the immune system. Thus, NHP models are desirable for pathophysiology and pharmacology/toxicology studies. Furthermore, NHP-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may enable transformative developmental, translational, or evolutionary studies in a field of inquiry currently hampered by the limited availability of research specimens. NHP-iPSCs may address specific questions that can be studied back and forth between in vitro cellular assays and in vivo experimentations, an investigational process that in most cases cannot be performed on humans because of safety and ethical issues. The use of NHP model systems and cell specific in vitro models is evolving with iPSC-based three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems and organoids, which may offer reliable in vitro models and reduce the number of animals used in experimental research. IPSCs have the potential to give rise to defined cell types of any organ of the body. However, standards for deriving defined and validated NHP iPSCs are missing. Standards for deriving high-quality iPSC cell lines promote rigorous and replicable scientific research and likewise, validated cell lines reduce variability and discrepancies in results between laboratories. We have derived and validated NHP iPSC lines by confirming their pluripotency and propensity to differentiate into all three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) according to standards and measurable limits for a set of marker genes. The iPSC lines were characterized for their potential to generate neural stem cells and to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons. These iPSC lines are available to the scientific community. NHP-iPSCs fulfill a unique niche in comparative genomics to understand gene regulatory principles underlying emergence of human traits, in infectious disease pathogenesis, in vaccine development, and in immunological barriers in regenerative medicine.

scholarly journals Controlling the Switch from Neurogenesis to Pluripotency during Marmoset Monkey Somatic Cell Reprogramming with Self-Replicating mRNAs and Small Molecules

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2422
Author(s):  
Stoyan Petkov ◽  
Ralf Dressel ◽  
Ignacio Rodriguez-Polo ◽  
Rüdiger Behr
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Common Marmoset ◽  
Animal Disease ◽  
Neural Lineage ◽  
Equine Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Somatic Cell Reprogramming ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold enormous potential for the development of cell-based therapies; however, the safety and efficacy of potential iPSC-based treatments need to be verified in relevant animal disease models before their application in the clinic. Here, we report the derivation of iPSCs from common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) using self-replicating mRNA vectors based on the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE-mRNAs). By transfection of marmoset fibroblasts with VEE-mRNAs carrying the human OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, and c-MYC and culture in the presence of small molecule inhibitors CHIR99021 and SB431542, we first established intermediate primary colonies with neural progenitor-like properties. In the second reprogramming step, we converted these colonies into transgene-free pluripotent stem cells by further culturing them with customized marmoset iPSC medium in feeder-free conditions. Our experiments revealed a novel paradigm for flexible reprogramming of somatic cells, where primary colonies obtained by a single VEE-mRNA transfection can be directed either toward the neural lineage or further reprogrammed to pluripotency. These results (1) will further enhance the role of the common marmoset as animal disease model for preclinical testing of iPSC-based therapies and (2) establish an in vitro system to experimentally address developmental signal transduction pathways in primates.

scholarly journals A NOVEL ORGANOID MODEL OF IN VITRO SPERMATOGENESIS USING HUMAN INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Alice Robinson ◽  
Ryan Flannigan ◽  
Luke Witherspoon ◽  
Stephanie Willerth
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Testicular Tissue ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Testicular Cells ◽  
In Vitro Systems ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Infertility is thought to be caused by genetic mutations and dysfunction in the cellular niche where spermatogenesis takes place. An understanding of the specialized cellular processes which drive spermatogenesis is needed to develop treatments; however, the development of in vitro systems to study these cells has been hindered by our reliance on rarely available human testicular tissues for research. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be used to derive human testicular-like cells, and thus provide an avenue for the development of in vitro testicular model systems. Therefore, this study set out to engineer a human testicular tissue model using hiPSCs for the first time. We demonstrate the ability of hiPSC-derived testicular cells to self-organize and mature into testicular-like tissues using organoid culture. Moreover, we show that hiPSC-derived testicular organoids promote testicular somatic cell maturation and spermatogenesis up to the post-meiotic spermatid stage. These hiPSC-derived testicular organoids have the potential to replace rarely available primary testicular tissues to further infertility research in an in vitro setting.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From a Patient with Reticular Dysgenesis Recapitulate Defective Myelopoiesis in-Vitro: A Disease Model to Enhance Our Understanding of a Rare Disease.

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 2142-2142
Author(s):  
Katja G. Weinacht ◽  
Kerstin Felgentreff ◽  
Alex Devine ◽  
Axel Schambach ◽  
Waleed Al-herz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Rare Disease ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Adenylate Kinase ◽  
Genetic Defect ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Maturation Arrest ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Abstract Abstract 2142 Reticular dysgenesis (RD) is one of the most severe forms of combined immunodeficiency characterized by severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) and impaired lymphocyte development. Origin of the neutropenia is thought to be an early differentiation arrest at the promyelocte stage. Recently the disease has been mapped to mutations in the gene encoding for Adenylate Kinase 2 (AK2). Adenylate kinase 2 is a phosphokinase implicated in mitochondrial energy homeostasis. The exact mechanism, however, how a defect in this ubiquitously expressed enzyme selectively manifests in defective granulopoiesis and lymphopoiesis remains poorly understood. A significant obstacle to the study of rare diseases like Reticular Dysgenesis has been the inadequacy of animal models and limited availability of patient specimens. We have successfully generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient with Reticular Dysgenesis and proven genetic defect in Adenylate Kinase 2 (AK2). Myeloid precursors derived from the AK2-deficient iPSCs morphologically mimic the myeloid maturation arrest seen in the bone marrow of patients with this condition (Figure 1). We are currently using this in-vitro model as a platform to study the mechanisms underlying the maturation arrest on a cellular and molecular level. Summary: Here we report a pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based disease model for Reticular Dysgenesis. This model does not only accurately recapitulate the myeloid disease phenotype observed in vivo but enables us to study previously unknown disease pathology. This is an example how iPSC technology enhances our understanding of a rare disease that has thus far been limited by the availability of study material. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Mini Review; Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Oocytes

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaifang Wang ◽  
Maryam Farzaneh
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Human Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Human Oocyte ◽  
Differentiation Potential ◽  
Cell Lineages ◽  
Cell Based Therapy ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is one of the main diseases causing female infertility that occurs in about 1% of women between 30-40 years of age. There are few effective methods for the treatment of women with POI. In the past few years, stem cell-based therapy as one of the most highly investigated new therapies has emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of POI. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into any type of cell. Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) as a type of pluripotent stem cells are the most powerful candidate for the treatment of POI. Human-induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) are derived from adult somatic cells by the treatment with exogenous defined factors to create an embryonic-like pluripotent state. Both hiPSCs and hESCs can proliferate and give rise to ectodermal, mesodermal, endodermal, and germ cell lineages. After ovarian stimulation, the number of available oocytes is limited and the yield of total oocytes with high quality is low. Therefore, a robust and reproducible in-vitro culture system that supports the differentiation of human oocytes from PSCs is necessary. Very few studies have focused on the derivation of oocyte-like cells from hiPSCs and the details of hPSCs differentiation into oocytes have not been fully investigated. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the differentiation potential of hPSCs into human oocyte-like cells.

scholarly journals Rapid target validation in a Cas9-inducible hiPSC derived kidney model

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasaman Shamshirgaran ◽  
Anna Jonebring ◽  
Anna Svensson ◽  
Isabelle Leefa ◽  
Mohammad Bohlooly-Y ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Target Validation ◽  
Direct Differentiation ◽  
Kidney Organoids

AbstractRecent advances in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), genome editing technologies and 3D organoid model systems highlight opportunities to develop new in vitro human disease models to serve drug discovery programs. An ideal disease model would accurately recapitulate the relevant disease phenotype and provide a scalable platform for drug and genetic screening studies. Kidney organoids offer a high cellular complexity that may provide greater insights than conventional single-cell type cell culture models. However, genetic manipulation of the kidney organoids requires prior generation of genetically modified clonal lines, which is a time and labor consuming procedure. Here, we present a methodology for direct differentiation of the CRISPR-targeted cell pools, using a doxycycline-inducible Cas9 expressing hiPSC line for high efficiency editing to eliminate the laborious clonal line generation steps. We demonstrate the versatile use of genetically engineered kidney organoids by targeting the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) genes: PKD1 and PKD2. Direct differentiation of the respective knockout pool populations into kidney organoids resulted in the formation of cyst-like structures in the tubular compartment. Our findings demonstrated that we can achieve > 80% editing efficiency in the iPSC pool population which resulted in a reliable 3D organoid model of ADPKD. The described methodology may provide a platform for rapid target validation in the context of disease modeling.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document