Turner and colleagues recently argued that countries with unclear laws and regulations regarding stem cells, exosomes, and other regenerative medicine products should develop and enforce more comprehensive regulatory structures. We fully agree with this opinion and discuss that failure to do so may lead to troubling predicaments, such as the Japanese cases, where patients are at risk of serious complications or even death.
{"title":"The urgent need for clear and concise regulations on exosome-based interventions.","authors":"Misao Fujita, Taichi Hatta, Tsunakuni Ikka, Tatsuo Onishi","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Turner and colleagues recently argued that countries with unclear laws and regulations regarding stem cells, exosomes, and other regenerative medicine products should develop and enforce more comprehensive regulatory structures. We fully agree with this opinion and discuss that failure to do so may lead to troubling predicaments, such as the Japanese cases, where patients are at risk of serious complications or even death.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1517-1519"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11589178/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142508284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Organoids, self-organized cell aggregates, contribute significantly to developing disease models and cell-based therapies. Organoid-to-organoid variations, however, are inevitable despite the use of the latest differentiation protocols. Here, we focused on the morphology of organoids formed in a cerebral organoid differentiation culture and assessed their cellular compositions by single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. The data revealed that organoids primarily composed of non-neuronal cells, such as those from the neural crest and choroid plexus, showed unique morphological features. Moreover, we demonstrate that non-destructive morphological analysis can accurately distinguish organoids composed of cerebral cortical tissues from other cerebral tissues, thus enhancing experimental accuracy and reliability to ensure the safety of cell-based therapies.
{"title":"Validation of non-destructive morphology-based selection of cerebral cortical organoids by paired morphological and single-cell RNA-seq analyses.","authors":"Megumi Ikeda, Daisuke Doi, Hayao Ebise, Yuki Ozaki, Misaki Fujii, Tetsuhiro Kikuchi, Kenji Yoshida, Jun Takahashi","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Organoids, self-organized cell aggregates, contribute significantly to developing disease models and cell-based therapies. Organoid-to-organoid variations, however, are inevitable despite the use of the latest differentiation protocols. Here, we focused on the morphology of organoids formed in a cerebral organoid differentiation culture and assessed their cellular compositions by single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. The data revealed that organoids primarily composed of non-neuronal cells, such as those from the neural crest and choroid plexus, showed unique morphological features. Moreover, we demonstrate that non-destructive morphological analysis can accurately distinguish organoids composed of cerebral cortical tissues from other cerebral tissues, thus enhancing experimental accuracy and reliability to ensure the safety of cell-based therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1635-1646"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11589179/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142406812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-12Epub Date: 2024-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.009
Shay Kinreich, Anna Bialer-Tsypin, Ruth Viner-Breuer, Gal Keshet, Roni Suhler, Patrick Siang Lin Lim, Tamar Golan-Lev, Ofra Yanuka, Adi Turjeman, Oren Ram, Eran Meshorer, Dieter Egli, Atilgan Yilmaz, Nissim Benvenisty
Mapping the essential pathways for neuronal differentiation can uncover new therapeutics and models for neurodevelopmental disorders. We thus utilized a genome-wide loss-of-function library in haploid human embryonic stem cells, differentiated into caudal neuronal cells. We show that essential genes for caudal neurogenesis are enriched for secreted and membrane proteins and that a large group of neurological conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders, manifest early neuronal phenotypes. Furthermore, essential transcription factors are enriched with homeobox (HOX) genes demonstrating synergistic regulation and surprising non-redundant functions between HOXA6 and HOXB6 paralogs. Moreover, we establish the essentialome of imprinted genes during neurogenesis, demonstrating that maternally expressed genes are non-essential in pluripotent cells and their differentiated germ layers, yet several are essential for neuronal development. These include Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome- and Angelman syndrome-related genes, for which we suggest a novel regulatory pathway. Overall, our work identifies essential pathways for caudal neuronal differentiation and stage-specific phenotypes of neurological disorders.
{"title":"Genome-wide screening reveals essential roles for HOX genes and imprinted genes during caudal neurogenesis of human embryonic stem cells.","authors":"Shay Kinreich, Anna Bialer-Tsypin, Ruth Viner-Breuer, Gal Keshet, Roni Suhler, Patrick Siang Lin Lim, Tamar Golan-Lev, Ofra Yanuka, Adi Turjeman, Oren Ram, Eran Meshorer, Dieter Egli, Atilgan Yilmaz, Nissim Benvenisty","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mapping the essential pathways for neuronal differentiation can uncover new therapeutics and models for neurodevelopmental disorders. We thus utilized a genome-wide loss-of-function library in haploid human embryonic stem cells, differentiated into caudal neuronal cells. We show that essential genes for caudal neurogenesis are enriched for secreted and membrane proteins and that a large group of neurological conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders, manifest early neuronal phenotypes. Furthermore, essential transcription factors are enriched with homeobox (HOX) genes demonstrating synergistic regulation and surprising non-redundant functions between HOXA6 and HOXB6 paralogs. Moreover, we establish the essentialome of imprinted genes during neurogenesis, demonstrating that maternally expressed genes are non-essential in pluripotent cells and their differentiated germ layers, yet several are essential for neuronal development. These include Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome- and Angelman syndrome-related genes, for which we suggest a novel regulatory pathway. Overall, our work identifies essential pathways for caudal neuronal differentiation and stage-specific phenotypes of neurological disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1598-1619"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11589199/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142565036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
At different stages of spermatogenesis, germ cell mitochondria differ remarkably in morphology, architecture, and functions. However, it remains elusive how mitochondria change their features during spermatogonial differentiation, which in turn impacts spermatogonial stem cell fate decision. In this study, we observed that mitochondrial fusion and fission were both upregulated during spermatogonial differentiation. As a result, the mitochondrial morphology remained unaltered. Enhanced mitochondrial fusion and fission promoted spermatogonial differentiation, while the deficiency in DRP1-mediated fission led to a stage-specific blockage of spermatogenesis at differentiating spermatogonia. Our data further revealed that increased expression of pro-fusion factor MFN1 upregulated mitochondrial metabolism, whereas DRP1 specifically regulated mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in differentiating spermatogonia. Taken together, our findings unveil how proper spermatogonial differentiation is precisely controlled by concurrently accelerated and properly balanced mitochondrial fusion and fission in a germ cell stage-specific manner, thereby providing critical insights about mitochondrial contribution to stem cell fate decision.
{"title":"Accelerated mitochondrial dynamics promote spermatogonial differentiation.","authors":"Zhaoran Zhang, Junru Miao, Hanben Wang, Izza Ali, Duong Nguyen, Wei Chen, Yuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>At different stages of spermatogenesis, germ cell mitochondria differ remarkably in morphology, architecture, and functions. However, it remains elusive how mitochondria change their features during spermatogonial differentiation, which in turn impacts spermatogonial stem cell fate decision. In this study, we observed that mitochondrial fusion and fission were both upregulated during spermatogonial differentiation. As a result, the mitochondrial morphology remained unaltered. Enhanced mitochondrial fusion and fission promoted spermatogonial differentiation, while the deficiency in DRP1-mediated fission led to a stage-specific blockage of spermatogenesis at differentiating spermatogonia. Our data further revealed that increased expression of pro-fusion factor MFN1 upregulated mitochondrial metabolism, whereas DRP1 specifically regulated mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in differentiating spermatogonia. Taken together, our findings unveil how proper spermatogonial differentiation is precisely controlled by concurrently accelerated and properly balanced mitochondrial fusion and fission in a germ cell stage-specific manner, thereby providing critical insights about mitochondrial contribution to stem cell fate decision.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1548-1563"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11589200/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142406811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-12Epub Date: 2024-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.001
Nina Doorn, Eva J H F Voogd, Marloes R Levers, Michel J A M van Putten, Monica Frega
Fragmented network bursts (NBs) are observed as a phenotypic driver in many patient-derived neuronal networks on multi-electrode arrays (MEAs), but the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unknown. Here, we used our previously developed biophysically detailed in silico model to investigate these mechanisms. Fragmentation of NBs in our model simulations occurred only when the level of short-term synaptic depression (STD) was enhanced, suggesting that STD is a key player. Experimental validation with Dynasore, an STD enhancer, induced fragmented NBs in healthy neuronal networks in vitro. Additionally, we showed that strong asynchronous neurotransmitter release, NMDA currents, or short-term facilitation (STF) can support the emergence of multiple fragments in NBs by producing excitation that persists after high-frequency firing stops. Our results provide important insights into disease mechanisms and potential pharmaceutical targets for neurological disorders modeled using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons.
在多电极阵列(MEA)上观察到,在许多源自患者的神经元网络中,网络爆发碎片(NBs)是一种表型驱动因素,但这种现象背后的病理生理学机制尚不清楚。在此,我们利用之前开发的生物物理详细硅学模型来研究这些机制。在我们的模型模拟中,只有当短期突触抑制(STD)水平增强时才会发生 NB 分裂,这表明 STD 是一个关键因素。在体外健康神经元网络中,使用 STD 增强剂 Dynasore 进行的实验验证诱发了 NB 分裂。此外,我们还发现,强烈的异步神经递质释放、NMDA 电流或短期促进(STF)可以在高频发射停止后产生持续的兴奋,从而支持 NB 中多个片段的出现。我们的研究结果为利用人类诱导多能干细胞(hiPSC)衍生神经元模拟神经系统疾病的发病机制和潜在药物靶点提供了重要见解。
{"title":"Breaking the burst: Unveiling mechanisms behind fragmented network bursts in patient-derived neurons.","authors":"Nina Doorn, Eva J H F Voogd, Marloes R Levers, Michel J A M van Putten, Monica Frega","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fragmented network bursts (NBs) are observed as a phenotypic driver in many patient-derived neuronal networks on multi-electrode arrays (MEAs), but the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unknown. Here, we used our previously developed biophysically detailed in silico model to investigate these mechanisms. Fragmentation of NBs in our model simulations occurred only when the level of short-term synaptic depression (STD) was enhanced, suggesting that STD is a key player. Experimental validation with Dynasore, an STD enhancer, induced fragmented NBs in healthy neuronal networks in vitro. Additionally, we showed that strong asynchronous neurotransmitter release, NMDA currents, or short-term facilitation (STF) can support the emergence of multiple fragments in NBs by producing excitation that persists after high-frequency firing stops. Our results provide important insights into disease mechanisms and potential pharmaceutical targets for neurological disorders modeled using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1583-1597"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11589196/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142376045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-12Epub Date: 2024-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.10.003
Justin J Belair-Hickey, Ahmed Fahmy, Wenbo Zhang, Rifat S Sajid, Brenda L K Coles, Michael W Salter, Derek van der Kooy
Direct reprogramming involves the conversion of differentiated cell types without returning to an earlier developmental state. Here, we explore how heterogeneity in developmental lineage and maturity of the starting cell population contributes to direct reprogramming using the conversion of murine fibroblasts into neurons. Our hypothesis is that a single lineage of cells contributes to most reprogramming and that a rare elite precursor with intrinsic bias is the source of reprogrammed neurons. We find that nearly all reprogrammed neurons are derived from the neural crest (NC) lineage. Moreover, when rare proliferating NC precursors are selectively ablated, there is a large reduction in the number of reprogrammed neurons. Previous interpretations of this paradigm are that it demonstrates a cell fate conversion across embryonic germ layers (mesoderm to ectoderm). Our interpretation is that this is actually directed differentiation of a neural lineage stem cell in the skin that has intrinsic bias to produce neuronal progeny.
{"title":"Neural crest precursors from the skin are the primary source of directly reprogrammed neurons.","authors":"Justin J Belair-Hickey, Ahmed Fahmy, Wenbo Zhang, Rifat S Sajid, Brenda L K Coles, Michael W Salter, Derek van der Kooy","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Direct reprogramming involves the conversion of differentiated cell types without returning to an earlier developmental state. Here, we explore how heterogeneity in developmental lineage and maturity of the starting cell population contributes to direct reprogramming using the conversion of murine fibroblasts into neurons. Our hypothesis is that a single lineage of cells contributes to most reprogramming and that a rare elite precursor with intrinsic bias is the source of reprogrammed neurons. We find that nearly all reprogrammed neurons are derived from the neural crest (NC) lineage. Moreover, when rare proliferating NC precursors are selectively ablated, there is a large reduction in the number of reprogrammed neurons. Previous interpretations of this paradigm are that it demonstrates a cell fate conversion across embryonic germ layers (mesoderm to ectoderm). Our interpretation is that this is actually directed differentiation of a neural lineage stem cell in the skin that has intrinsic bias to produce neuronal progeny.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1620-1634"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11589197/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142565073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In mammals, X chromosome dosage is balanced between sexes through the silencing of one X chromosome in females. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that the inactivation of the X chromosome is accompanied by the upregulation of the active X chromosome (Xa) during mouse embryogenesis. Here, we have investigated if the reactivation of inactive-X (Xi) leads to the loss of Xa upregulation in different cellular or developmental contexts. We find that while Xi reactivation and loss of Xa upregulation are tightly coupled in mouse embryonic epiblast and induced pluripotent stem cells, that is not the case in germ cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that partial reactivation of Xi in mouse extra-embryonic endoderm stem cells and human B cells does not result in the loss of Xa upregulation. Finally, we have established a mathematical model for the transcriptional coordination of two X chromosomes. Together, we conclude that the reactivation of Xi is not always synchronized with the loss of Xa upregulation.
在哺乳动物中,X 染色体的剂量通过雌性的一条 X 染色体沉默而在两性之间实现平衡。最近的单细胞 RNA 测序分析表明,在小鼠胚胎发育过程中,X 染色体的失活伴随着活性 X 染色体(Xa)的上调。在此,我们研究了非活性-X(Xi)的再激活是否会导致 Xa 在不同细胞或发育环境中失去上调。我们发现,在小鼠胚胎上胚层和诱导多能干细胞中,Xi 的再激活和 Xa 上调的丧失是紧密联系在一起的,但在生殖细胞中却不是这样。此外,我们还证明,在小鼠胚外内胚层干细胞和人类 B 细胞中,Xi 的部分再激活不会导致 Xa 上调的丧失。最后,我们建立了两个 X 染色体转录协调的数学模型。综上所述,我们得出结论:Xi 的重新激活并不总是与 Xa 上调的丧失同步进行。
{"title":"Lineage-specific dynamics of loss of X upregulation during inactive-X reactivation.","authors":"Hemant Chandru Naik, Deepshikha Chandel, Sudeshna Majumdar, Maniteja Arava, Runumi Baro, Harshavardhan Bv, Kishore Hari, Parichitran Ayyamperumal, Avinchal Manhas, Mohit Kumar Jolly, Srimonta Gayen","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In mammals, X chromosome dosage is balanced between sexes through the silencing of one X chromosome in females. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that the inactivation of the X chromosome is accompanied by the upregulation of the active X chromosome (Xa) during mouse embryogenesis. Here, we have investigated if the reactivation of inactive-X (Xi) leads to the loss of Xa upregulation in different cellular or developmental contexts. We find that while Xi reactivation and loss of Xa upregulation are tightly coupled in mouse embryonic epiblast and induced pluripotent stem cells, that is not the case in germ cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that partial reactivation of Xi in mouse extra-embryonic endoderm stem cells and human B cells does not result in the loss of Xa upregulation. Finally, we have established a mathematical model for the transcriptional coordination of two X chromosomes. Together, we conclude that the reactivation of Xi is not always synchronized with the loss of Xa upregulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1564-1582"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11589478/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142565072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-08Epub Date: 2024-09-26DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.010
Aldana D Gojanovich, Nhat T T Le, Robert C C Mercer, Seonmi Park, Bei Wu, Alice Anane, Janelle S Vultaggio, Gustavo Mostoslavsky, David A Harris
Genetic prion diseases are caused by mutations in PRNP, which encodes the prion protein (PrPC). Why these mutations are pathogenic, and how they alter the properties of PrPC are poorly understood. We have consented and accessed 22 individuals of a multi-generational Israeli family harboring the highly penetrant E200K PRNP mutation and generated a library of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) representing nine carriers and four non-carriers. iPSC-derived neurons from E200K carriers display abnormal synaptic architecture characterized by misalignment of postsynaptic NMDA receptors with the cytoplasmic scaffolding protein PSD95. Differentiated neurons from mutation carriers do not produce PrPSc, the aggregated and infectious conformer of PrP, suggesting that loss of a physiological function of PrPC may contribute to the disease phenotype. Our study shows that iPSC-derived neurons can provide important mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of genetic prion diseases and can offer a powerful platform for testing candidate therapeutics.
{"title":"Abnormal synaptic architecture in iPSC-derived neurons from a multi-generational family with genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.","authors":"Aldana D Gojanovich, Nhat T T Le, Robert C C Mercer, Seonmi Park, Bei Wu, Alice Anane, Janelle S Vultaggio, Gustavo Mostoslavsky, David A Harris","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genetic prion diseases are caused by mutations in PRNP, which encodes the prion protein (PrP<sup>C</sup>). Why these mutations are pathogenic, and how they alter the properties of PrP<sup>C</sup> are poorly understood. We have consented and accessed 22 individuals of a multi-generational Israeli family harboring the highly penetrant E200K PRNP mutation and generated a library of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) representing nine carriers and four non-carriers. iPSC-derived neurons from E200K carriers display abnormal synaptic architecture characterized by misalignment of postsynaptic NMDA receptors with the cytoplasmic scaffolding protein PSD95. Differentiated neurons from mutation carriers do not produce PrP<sup>Sc</sup>, the aggregated and infectious conformer of PrP, suggesting that loss of a physiological function of PrP<sup>C</sup> may contribute to the disease phenotype. Our study shows that iPSC-derived neurons can provide important mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of genetic prion diseases and can offer a powerful platform for testing candidate therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1474-1488"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11561462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142354092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-08Epub Date: 2024-09-26DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.008
Yutaro Miyoshi, Antonio Lucena-Cacace, Yu Tian, Yasuko Matsumura, Kanae Tani, Misato Nishikawa, Megumi Narita, Takeshi Kimura, Koh Ono, Yoshinori Yoshida
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), particularly in directing cell fate toward epicardial derivatives, is crucial for regenerative medicine using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived epicardium. Although transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) plays a pivotal role in epicardial biology, orchestrating EMT during embryonic development via downstream signaling through SMAD proteins, the function of SMAD proteins in the epicardium in maintaining vascular homeostasis or mediating the differentiation of various epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs) is not yet well understood. Our study reveals that TGF-β-independent SMAD3 expression autonomously predicts epicardial cell specification and lineage maintenance, acting as a key mediator in promoting the angiogenic-oriented specification of the epicardium into cardiac pericyte progenitors. This finding uncovers a novel role for SMAD3 in the human epicardium, particularly in generating cardiac pericyte progenitors that enhance cardiac microvasculature angiogenesis. This insight opens new avenues for leveraging epicardial biology in developing more effective cardiac regeneration strategies.
{"title":"SMAD3 mediates the specification of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived epicardium into progenitors for the cardiac pericyte lineage.","authors":"Yutaro Miyoshi, Antonio Lucena-Cacace, Yu Tian, Yasuko Matsumura, Kanae Tani, Misato Nishikawa, Megumi Narita, Takeshi Kimura, Koh Ono, Yoshinori Yoshida","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the molecular mechanisms of epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), particularly in directing cell fate toward epicardial derivatives, is crucial for regenerative medicine using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived epicardium. Although transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) plays a pivotal role in epicardial biology, orchestrating EMT during embryonic development via downstream signaling through SMAD proteins, the function of SMAD proteins in the epicardium in maintaining vascular homeostasis or mediating the differentiation of various epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs) is not yet well understood. Our study reveals that TGF-β-independent SMAD3 expression autonomously predicts epicardial cell specification and lineage maintenance, acting as a key mediator in promoting the angiogenic-oriented specification of the epicardium into cardiac pericyte progenitors. This finding uncovers a novel role for SMAD3 in the human epicardium, particularly in generating cardiac pericyte progenitors that enhance cardiac microvasculature angiogenesis. This insight opens new avenues for leveraging epicardial biology in developing more effective cardiac regeneration strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1399-1416"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11561457/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142354106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-08Epub Date: 2024-09-12DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.003
Hanwen Zhang, Ada McCarroll, Lilia Peyton, Sol Díaz de León-Guerrerro, Siwei Zhang, Prarthana Gowda, David Sirkin, Mahmoud ElAchwah, Alexandra Duhe, Whitney G Wood, Brandon Jamison, Gregory Tracy, Rebecca Pollak, Ronald P Hart, Carlos N Pato, Jennifer G Mulle, Alan R Sanders, Zhiping P Pang, Jubao Duan
Translating genetic findings for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders (NPDs) into actionable disease biology would benefit from large-scale and unbiased functional studies of NPD genes. Leveraging the cytosine base editing (CBE) system, we developed a pipeline for clonal loss-of-function (LoF) allele mutagenesis in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by introducing premature stop codons (iSTOP) that lead to mRNA nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) or protein truncation. We tested the pipeline for 23 NPD genes on 3 hiPSC lines and achieved highly reproducible, efficient iSTOP editing in 22 genes. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we confirmed their pluripotency, absence of chromosomal abnormalities, and NMD. Despite high editing efficiency, three schizophrenia risk genes (SETD1A, TRIO, and CUL1) only had heterozygous LoF alleles, suggesting their essential roles for cell growth. We found that CUL1-LoF reduced neurite branches and synaptic puncta density. This iSTOP pipeline enables a scaled and efficient LoF mutagenesis of NPD genes, yielding an invaluable shareable resource.
{"title":"Scaled and efficient derivation of loss-of-function alleles in risk genes for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in human iPSCs.","authors":"Hanwen Zhang, Ada McCarroll, Lilia Peyton, Sol Díaz de León-Guerrerro, Siwei Zhang, Prarthana Gowda, David Sirkin, Mahmoud ElAchwah, Alexandra Duhe, Whitney G Wood, Brandon Jamison, Gregory Tracy, Rebecca Pollak, Ronald P Hart, Carlos N Pato, Jennifer G Mulle, Alan R Sanders, Zhiping P Pang, Jubao Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Translating genetic findings for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders (NPDs) into actionable disease biology would benefit from large-scale and unbiased functional studies of NPD genes. Leveraging the cytosine base editing (CBE) system, we developed a pipeline for clonal loss-of-function (LoF) allele mutagenesis in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by introducing premature stop codons (iSTOP) that lead to mRNA nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) or protein truncation. We tested the pipeline for 23 NPD genes on 3 hiPSC lines and achieved highly reproducible, efficient iSTOP editing in 22 genes. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we confirmed their pluripotency, absence of chromosomal abnormalities, and NMD. Despite high editing efficiency, three schizophrenia risk genes (SETD1A, TRIO, and CUL1) only had heterozygous LoF alleles, suggesting their essential roles for cell growth. We found that CUL1-LoF reduced neurite branches and synaptic puncta density. This iSTOP pipeline enables a scaled and efficient LoF mutagenesis of NPD genes, yielding an invaluable shareable resource.</p>","PeriodicalId":21885,"journal":{"name":"Stem Cell Reports","volume":" ","pages":"1489-1504"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11561461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142295962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}