Sustained synchronized neuronal network activity in a human astrocyte co-culture system.
Impaired neuronal network function is a hallmark of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease and is typically studied using genetically modified cellular and animal models. Weak predictive capacity and poor translational value of these models urge for better human derived in vitro models. The implementation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) allows studying pathologies in differentiated disease-relevant and patient-derived neuronal cells. However, the differentiation process and growth conditions of hiPSC-derived neurons are non-trivial. In order to study neuronal network formation and (mal)function in a fully humanized system, we have established an in vitro co-culture model of hiPSC-derived cortical neurons and human primary astrocytes that recapitulates neuronal network synchronization and connectivity within three to four weeks after final plating. Live cell calcium imaging, electrophysiology and high content image analyses revealed an increased maturation of network functionality and synchronicity over time for co-cultures compared to neuronal monocultures. The cells express GABAergic and glutamatergic markers and respond to inhibitors of both neurotransmitter pathways in a functional assay. The combination of this co-culture model with quantitative imaging of network morphofunction is amenable to high throughput screening for lead discovery and drug optimization for neurological diseases.
Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, Diepenbeek, B-3590, Belgium.
Jacobine
J
Kuijlaars
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Tutu
T
Oyelami
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Annick
A
Diels
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Jutta
J
Rohrbacher
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Sofie
S
Versweyveld
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Giulia
G
Meneghello
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Marianne
M
Tuefferd
Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium.
Peter
P
Verstraelen
Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium.
Jan R
JR
Detrez
Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium.
Marlies
M
Verschuuren
Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium.|Ghent University, Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.
Winnok H
WH
De Vos
Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, Diepenbeek, B-3590, Belgium.|Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Theo
T
Meert
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Pieter J
PJ
Peeters
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Miroslav
M
Cik
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
Rony
R
Nuydens
Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, Diepenbeek, B-3590, Belgium.
Bert
B
Brône
Janssen Research &Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium.
An
A
Verheyen
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents