In Vitro Modeling of Down Syndrome Neurogenesis Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Down syndrome (DS), caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, is a leading cause of intellectual disability. One of the key factors contributing to this intellectual disability is impaired neurogenesis observed from fetal stages onwards. To study these neurodevelopmental abnormalities, human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) generated using cells obtained from DS patients provide a valuable and relevant model. Here, a comprehensive protocol is described for recapitulating DS-impaired neurogenesis observed during DS fetal stages. This protocol utilizes a pair of DS-hiPSCs having three copies of chromosome 21 and its isogenic euploid hiPSCs having two copies of chromosome 21. Importantly, the protocol described here recapitulates DS-impaired neurogenesis and found that biphasic cell cycle defect, i.e., reduced proliferation of DS neural progenitor cells (NPC) during the early phase of the neurogenic stage followed by increased proliferation of DS NPC during the late phase of the neurogenic stage is the cause of DS impaired neurogenesis. Increased proliferation of DS NPC during the late phase of the neurogenic stage leads to delayed exit from the cell cycle, causing reduced generation of post-mitotic neurons from DS NPCs. This protocol includes detailed steps for the maintenance of hiPSCs, their differentiation into neural lineages displaying biphasic cell cycle defect during the neurogenic stage, and the subsequent validation of reduced neural differentiation in DS cells. By following this methodology, researchers can create a robust experimental system that mimics the neurodevelopmental conditions of DS, enabling them to explore the specific alterations in brain development caused by trisomy 21.