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Deriving Dorsal Spinal Sensory Interneurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Sandeep Gupta1, Daniel Sivalingam1, Samantha Hain2
1Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Stem Cell Reports
|January 17, 2018
Summary
Scientists developed a new protocol to generate sensory interneurons (INs) from human stem cells. This breakthrough is crucial for developing cellular replacement therapies to restore sensory perception in patients with neurological conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Stem Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Cellular replacement therapies aim to restore function in neurological conditions using stem cell-derived neurons.
- While motor neuron differentiation is established, protocols for sensory interneurons (INs) are lacking.
- Sensory INs are vital for environmental perception and integrating sensory information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a directed differentiation protocol for generating sensory INs from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).
- To enable the creation of cellular replacement therapies for restoring sensory function after neurological injury.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a directed differentiation protocol involving retinoic acid and bone morphogenetic protein 4.
- Focused on the temporal competence state of neural progenitors during differentiation.
- Applied the protocol to both hESCs and hiPSCs.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated three distinct classes of sensory INs: dI1 (proprioceptive), dI2, and dI3 (mechanosensory).
- Demonstrated the protocol's efficacy with both hESCs and hiPSCs.
- Highlighted the importance of progenitor competence state for successful differentiation.
Conclusions:
- A novel protocol for deriving sensory INs from human pluripotent stem cells has been established.
- This protocol overcomes a significant hurdle in developing comprehensive cellular replacement therapies for neurological disorders.
- The generated sensory INs hold promise for restoring sensory connections and perception in injured patients.
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