Protocol for inducing dorsal spinal sensory interneurons from mouse embryonic stem cell-derived neuromesodermal...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Neuroscience
• Stem Cell Biology

Background:

• Dorsal sensory interneurons (dIs) are vital for sensory processing and motor control.
• Deriving specific dI subtypes from stem cells is challenging but crucial for research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a reproducible protocol for deriving dorsal sensory spinal interneurons from mouse embryonic stem cells.
• To differentiate specific dI subtypes (dI1-dI6) using distinct chemical induction methods.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and inducing differentiation through a neuromesodermal progenitor (NMP) stage.
• Employing retinoic acid (RA) to induce dI4-dI6 subtypes, mediating pain, itch, touch, and sensorimotor integration.
• Using RA combined with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) to generate dI1-dI3 subtypes, involved in proprioception and mechanosensation.

Main Results:

• Successfully established a two-step protocol for dI differentiation.
• Demonstrated the ability to generate distinct dI subtypes based on specific inductive cues.
• Provided a detailed method for generating functionally diverse dIs from mESCs.

Conclusions:

• The presented protocol offers a reliable method for generating various dorsal sensory interneuron subtypes.
• This protocol facilitates research into the specific functions of dI subtypes in sensory processing and motor control.
• The study provides a valuable resource for developmental neurobiology and stem cell research.