Neurons grown in the laboratory

By Hannah Simmons, BSc

Neurons grown in the laboratory provide a new and highly effective tool for the analysis of central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

Photo credit: bettervector / Shutterstock

Animal models (such as rodents) often give results that are not comparable to humans and thus limit the utility of their applications in research. However, these cells are of human origin, hence the development of these neurons grown in laboratory in vitro studies that are more accurate and specific to the human disease.

What are the induced pluripotent stem cells?

] Induced pluripotent stem cells (CIPEs) are a new but important research area, first developed by Shinya Yamanaka, who received a Nobel Prize for his contribution in 2012. These are somatic cells reprogrammed for return to an embryonic state. that they can be differentiated into any type of adult cell.

This area of ​​research is very exciting because these cells could be used to treat many chronic diseases without the ethical concerns of other stem cell treatments. For example, they could be used to develop heart cells to replace those lost in heart disease.

To generate these stem cells, four transcription factors are introduced into fibroblast cells, called Oct3 / 4, Sox2. Klf4 and C-Myc. This brings the differentiated adult cell back to an undifferentiated embryonic state, similar in morphology, proliferation, antigens, epigenetic status of pluripotent cell-specific genes and telomerase activity to ESC

These iPSCs are therefore very similar to embryonic stem cells. (CES), and have shown that they can be induced to develop into muscle, neuronal, epithelial and cardiac cells.

The formation of neurons by the differentiation of iPSCs

Recent studies have developed neuronal cells grown in the laboratory. Induced pluripotent stem cells, which contain more than 99% of the genes found in a normal fetal neuron. This is an important and very important breakthrough that allows researchers to test experimental drugs on neurons prior to clinical trials and to identify the causes of nervous system disorders.

How to differentiate iSPC into neurons

Neuronal differentiation, including embryoid body formation and stromal infant co-culture. Overall, a perfect method has not yet been identified and these methods are still under development.

Embryoid Body Formation

Cultivated without the presence of stem cell growth factors, stem cells grow intermediate called an embryoid body. This intermediate can then be induced to form specific cell types under highly specific conditions.

Co-culture of stromal feeder

Co-culture of feeder stromal is a common method used to differentiate stem cells into neurons. In this method, the stem cells are directed to a specific differentiation by their "niche", which includes interactions with neighboring cells, the extracellular matrix, interactions between cells and other presence molecules, such as the factors growth and cytokines. Through the application of co-culture, cells are endowed with the physical, molecular and structural properties of a neuronal niche that leads to neuronal differentiation.

Laboratory-grown neurons today

A plethora of studies in several fields of research currently apply laboratory neurons to their research methods. For example, a recent study has generated motor neurons from an individual with spinal muscular atrophy.

This allowed to model and better understand the pathology of the disease, which allowed to obtain powerful and revolutionary information. These neurons have also been used in research for a wide range of other conditions, such as autism, spinal cord injury, as well as brain damage.

Reviewed by Dr. Tomislav Meštrović, MD, PhD [19659006] Further reading