title: WNT-C59, a Small-Molecule WNT Inhibitor, Efficiently Induces Anterior Cortex That Includes Cortical Motor Neurons From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.
abstract: The recapitulation of human neural development in a controlled, defined manner from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has considerable potential for studies of human neural development, circuit formation and function, and the construction of in vitro models of neurological diseases. The inhibition of Wnt signaling, often by the recombinant protein DKK1, is important for the induction of cortical neurons. Here, we report a novel differentiation method using a small-molecule WNT inhibitor, WNT-C59 (C59), to efficiently induce human anterior cortex. We compared two types of small molecules, C59 and XAV939 (XAV), as substitutes for DKK1 to induce cortical neurons from PSCs in serum-free embryoid body-like aggregate culture. DKK1 and XAV inhibited only the canonical pathway of Wnt signaling, whereas C59 inhibited both the canonical and noncanonical pathways. C59 efficiently induced CTIP2+/COUP-TF1- cells, which are characteristic of the cells found in the anterior cortex. In addition, when grafted into the cortex of adult mice, the C59-induced cells showed abundant axonal fiber extension toward the spinal cord. These results raise the possibility of C59 contributing to cell replacement therapy for motor neuron diseases or insults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For a cell therapy against damaged corticospinal tract caused by neurodegenerative diseases or insults, cortical motor neurons are needed. Currently, their induction from pluripotent stem cells is considered very promising; however, an efficient protocol to induce motor neurons is not available. For efficient induction of anterior cortex, where motor neurons are located, various WNT inhibitors were investigated. It was found that one of them could induce anterior cortical cells efficiently. In addition, when grafted into the cortex of adult mice, the induced cells showed more abundant axonal fiber extension toward spinal cord. These results raise the possibility that this inhibitor contributes to a cell-replacement therapy for motor neuron diseases or insults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motono
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ioroi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan jbtaka@cira.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044482:Benzeneacetamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: C579131:2-(4-(2-methylpyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-N-(4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)acetamide; D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D011725:Pyridines; D051153:Wnt Proteins
keywords: Cell transplantation; Cortical motor neuron; Neural differentiation; Pluripotent stem cells; Wnt signaling