title: Development of a Scalable, High-Throughput-Compatible Assay to Detect Tau Aggregates Using iPSC-Derived Cortical Neurons Maintained in a Three-Dimensional Culture Format.
abstract: Tau aggregation is the pathological hallmark that best correlates with the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), formed of hyperphosphorylated tau, leads to neuronal dysfunction and loss, and is directly associated with the cognitive decline observed in AD patients. The limited success in targeting β-amyloid pathologies has reinforced the hypothesis of blocking tau phosphorylation, aggregation, and/or spreading as alternative therapeutic entry points to treat AD. Identification of novel therapies requires disease-relevant and scalable assays capable of reproducing key features of the pathology in an in vitro setting. Here we use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a virtually unlimited source of human cortical neurons to develop a robust and scalable tau aggregation model compatible with high-throughput screening (HTS). We downscaled cell culture conditions to 384-well plate format and used Matrigel to introduce an extra physical protection against cell detachment that reduces shearing stress and better recapitulates pathological conditions. We complemented the assay with AlphaLISA technology for the detection of tau aggregates in a high-throughput-compatible format. The assay is reproducible across users and works with different commercially available iPSC lines, representing a highly translational tool for the identification of novel treatments against tauopathies, including AD.
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Medda
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Versweyveld
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diels
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barnham
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bretteville
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buist
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verheyen
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Royaux
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebneth
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium ACABRER8@its.jnj.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Socorro
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D066329:Protein Aggregates / Q000235:genetics; D024801:Tauopathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D066329:Protein Aggregates; D016875:tau Proteins
keywords: 3D culture; neurodegeneration; scaffolding biomaterials; tauopathies