Human pluripotent stem cell-derived models of the hippocampus
1Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|November 18, 2024
Summary
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer a novel way to study the human hippocampus, crucial for memory and navigation. This review explores hPSC-derived hippocampal models for understanding development and disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- The human hippocampus is vital for memory and spatial navigation.
- Studying human hippocampal development and disease is challenging due to brain inaccessibility.
- Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology provides a model system for human biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for deriving hippocampal lineages from hPSCs.
- To evaluate the in vitro replication of in vivo hippocampal features.
- To highlight diseases modeled using hPSC-derived hippocampal cultures and suggest future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on hPSC differentiation into hippocampal lineages.
- Analysis of 2D monolayer and 3D organoid models.
- Evaluation of disease modeling applications using hPSC-derived cultures.
Main Results:
- Established methods exist for deriving hippocampal lineages from hPSCs.
- hPSC models replicate key aspects of in vivo hippocampal development and structure.
- Various neurological and psychiatric diseases have been successfully modeled in vitro.
Conclusions:
- hPSC-derived hippocampal models are powerful tools for studying human brain development and disease.
- Further refinement of these models will enhance our understanding of neurological disorders.
- This field holds significant promise for future therapeutic strategies.
