This work was supported by a grant from the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM, grant number G170244014). We appreciate the assistance of Mahima Dewan and Clara Selbrede in adhesive removal pilot studies. Kryslaine Radomski performed preliminary brain injury and cell transplantation surgeries. Amanda Fu and Laura Tucker of the USU CNRM Preclinical Studies core laboratory provided valuable advice on animal surgeries and behavior testing, respectively.

<ol>
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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Mild CCI as a model system for testing experimental regenerative therapy 
The CCI model is a valuable tool for investigating mechanisms of tissue dysfunction after mechanical injury to the cortex. The tunability of the injury parameters is an attractive feature of this model. Altering the Z depth of impact, the velocity, or dwell time can increase or decrease severity of the injury as desired by the investigator10,25. The mild CCI model of c...

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a general term for the acquired injury to the brain due to either indirect mechanical forces (rotational acceleration/deceleration or contra-coup) from blows to the head or direct damage from objects or blast waves. TBI has been estimated to be the cause of roughly 9% of worldwide deaths and observed in an estimated 50 million cases per year1,2. A 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that in 2013, there were a total of 2.8 million hospital visits and deaths due to TBI in the United States3. Many milder TBIs go unreported every year. Serious TBI can lead to lifelong impairment of cognition, motor function, and overall quality of life. The consequences of mild TBI, especially repetitive sport-related TBI, have been only recently appreciated for their insidious health effects4,5. &#160;
Preclinical modeling is a vital component of developing new mechanistic insights and potential restorative therapy for TBI. The controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI is an open-head model of mechanical contusion injury to the cortex. The impact parameters can be modified to produce CCI injuries that range from mild to severe6. CCI injuries are focal rather than diffuse, as seen with other closed head models of TBI. CCI can be performed to induce a unilateral injury, such that the contralateral cortex can serve as an internal comparator. This protocol demonstrates the characteristics of a mild CCI to a portion of the cortex that encompasses primary somatosensory and motor regions. This cortical area was chosen for its involvement in sensorimotor behaviors for which numerous behavior tests can detect injury-induced deficits7. Behavioral improvements due to therapeutic interventions for TBI can be detected, as well.
A hallmark of TBI is widespread neural dysfunction in the injured region. Injured neurons undergo cell death, and neuronal network connectivity is disrupted8,9. TBI disrupts recruitment of endogenous stem cells, which leads to further downstream behavior deficits10,11.&#160; Transplantation of neural stem cells and stem cell-derived cells has been explored as a possibility to restore function in the injured brain. In addition to the potential to restore damaged neural circuitry, transplanted cells exert paracrine effects that promote neuronal survival and functional recovery from TBI12. A variety of cell types have been transplanted preclinically to evaluate their restorative potential in models of neurologic disorders13,14,15. The recent popularization of induced pluripotent stem cell technology16 has facilitated the development of numerous human stem cell lines for experimental use. Preclinical testing with hiPSC-derived cells is an important first step to characterizing a given cell line&#8217;s potential therapeutic efficacy against human diseases. This laboratory has developed protocols for differentiating hiPSCs to neural phenotypes17 in pursuit of transplantable cells to aid recovery from traumatic brain injury.
Experiments in this protocol use a unilateral CCI to induce TBI to the left somatosensory and motor cortex of adult mice. A mild CCI injury results in a sustained functional deficit in the right forepaw that is used to track the effects of hiPSC-derived neural cell engraftment on functional recovery. Forepaw sensorimotor testing in this protocol was adapted from the methodology established by Bouet and colleagues18 and demonstrated previously by Fleming and colleagues19.&#160; This protocol outlines a complete workflow for performing an experimental brain injury, therapeutic transplantation of hiPS cells, and behavioral and histologic analysis of experimental outcome measures.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:774px;" width="773">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">1 ml syringes</td>
			<td style="width:201px;">Becton Dickinson (BD)</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">&#160;309659</td>
			<td style="width:212px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">1.7 ml flip top test tubes</td>
			<td>Denville</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">C2170</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">10 microliter syringe</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">7635-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">25G Precision Glide syringe needles</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson (BD)</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">&#160;305122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">70% ethanol</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Product of choice; varies by region</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">acetaminophen oral suspension</td>
			<td>Tylenol (Children&#39;s)</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Dilute to 1 mg/ml in water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">anesthetic vaporizer</td>
			<td>Vetland</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">521-11-22</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">animal handling cloth</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Purchase from department store</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Betadine</td>
			<td>Purdue Products</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">NDC-67618-151-32</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">compressed oxygen</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Product of choice; varies by region</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">cyclosporine A</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">30024-100mg</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">DAB staining kit</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">SK-4100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">D8418-500ml</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">DMEM</td>
			<td>Invitrogen (ThermoFisher)</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">A14430-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">donkey anti-mouse IgG antibody, HRP conjugated</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">715-035-151</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">electrical tape</td>
			<td>3M Corporation</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Purchase from department store</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">fine tweezers</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">11254-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">91106-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">glass capillary pipettes, 1 mm OD, 0.58 mm ID</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">1B100F-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">High Speed Rotary Micromotor Kit</td>
			<td>Foredom Electric Co.&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">K.1070 - K.107018</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Ideal Micro Drill Burr Set Of 5</td>
			<td>Cell Point Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">60-1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Impact One Stereotaxic Impactor for CCI&#160;</td>
			<td>Leica Biosystems</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">39463920</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">isoflurane</td>
			<td>Baxter</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">NDC-10019-360-60</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">lab bench timers</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">14-649-17</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Micropipette puller</td>
			<td>MicroData Instruments, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">PMP-102</td>
			<td>Any puller will suffice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Microscope cover slips</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">12-545-E</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Microscope slide mounting medium</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Product of choice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">mirror</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Purchase from department store</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">mouse anti-human nuclear antigen antibody</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">MAB1281</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Mouse on Mouse blocking kit</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">BMK-2202</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">needle holder hemostat</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">12002-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">ophthalmic ointment</td>
			<td>Falcon Pharmaceuticals</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">NDC-61314-631-36</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">ophthalmic spring scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">15018-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">plastic box</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Purchase from department store</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">plastic cylinder</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Purchase from department store</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">QSI motorized syringe pump</td>
			<td>Stoelting</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">53311</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Removable needle compression fitting</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">55750-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">small rodent stereotaxic frame</td>
			<td>Stoelting</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">51925</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">small scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">14060-09</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">StemPro Accutase</td>
			<td>Invitrogen (ThermoFisher)</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">A1110501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Sterile alcohol prep pads</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">06-669-62</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">sterile cotton swabs/Kendall Q-tips</td>
			<td>Tyco Healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">540500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Sterile saline</td>
			<td>Hospira</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">NDC-0409-1966-07</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Stopwatches (2)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">06-662-56</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">Superfrost Plus Gold microscope slides</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">15-188-48</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:238px;">sutures - 5.0 silk with curved needle</td>
			<td>Oasis</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">MV-682</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

controlled cortical impact model of mouse brain injury with therapeutic transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural cells

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Disease pathology due to TBI progresses from the primary mechanical insult to secondary injury processes, including apoptosis and inflammation. Animal modeling has been valuable in the search to unravel injury mechanisms and evaluate potential neuroprotective therapies. This protocol describes the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of focal, open-head TBI. Specifically, parameters for producing a mild unilateral cortical injury are described. Behavioral consequences of CCI are analyzed using the adhesive tape removal test of bilateral sensorimotor integration. Regarding experimental therapy for TBI pathology, this protocol also illustrates a process for transplanting cultured cells into the brain. Neural cell cultures derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were chosen for their potential to show superior functional restoration in human TBI patients. Chronic survival of hiPSCs in the host mouse brain tissue is detected using a modified DAB immunohistochemical process.

Craniectomy surgery facilitates experimental brain injury and therapeutic cell transplantation: the controlled cortical impact model of brain injury and subsequent cell transplantation therapy require careful removal of the overlying skull. The craniectomy may be performed on any dorsal surface of the skull to permit manipulations to the brain region of interest. The diagram in Figure 1 depicts a 5 mm diameter craniectomy schematic to uncover primary somatosensory and motor ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Controlled Cortical Impact Model of Mouse Brain Injury with Therapeutic Transplantation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cells at JoVE.co

Controlled Cortical Impact Model of Mouse Brain Injury with Therapeutic Transplantation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cells

This protocol demonstrates methodologies for a mouse model of open-skull traumatic brain injury and transplantation of cultured human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells into the injury site. Behavioral and histologic tests of outcomes from these procedures are also described in brief.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Disease pathology due to TBI progresses from the primary mechanical ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

10.6K Views.  Uniformed Services University. This protocol demonstrates methodologies for a mouse model of open-skull traumatic brain injury and transplantation of cultured human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells into the injury site. Behavioral and histologic tests of outcomes from these procedures are also described in brief.

Video: Controlled Cortical Impact Model of Mouse Brain Injury with Therapeutic Transplantation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cells

Culturing Human Pluripotent and Neural Stem Cells in an Enclosed Cell Culture System for Basic and Preclinical Research

This paper describes how to use a custom manufactured, commercially available enclosed cell culture system for basic and preclinical research. Biosafety cabinets (BSCs) and incubators have long been the standard for culturing and expanding cell lines for basic and preclinical research. However, as the focus of many stem cell laboratories shifts from basic research to clinical translation, additional requirements are needed of the cell culturing system. All processes must be well documented and have exceptional requirements for sterility and reproducibility. In traditional incubators, gas concentrations and temperatures widely fluctuate anytime the cells are removed for feeding, passaging, or other manipulations. Such interruptions contribute to an environment that is not the standard for cGMP and GLP guidelines. These interruptions must be minimized especially when cells are utilized for therapeutic purposes. The motivation to move from the standard BSC and incubator system to a closed system is that such interruptions can be made negligible. Closed systems provide a work space to feed and manipulate cell cultures and maintain them in a controlled environment where temperature and gas concentrations are consistent. This way, pluripotent and multipotent stem cells can be maintained at optimum health from the moment of their derivation all the way to their eventual use in therapy.

Here is a protocol to grow pluripotent stem cells (PSC) and neural stem cells (NSC) in an enclosed cell culture system that permits maximum sterility and reproducibility, replacing the traditional biosafety cabinet and incubator. This equipment meets clinical good manufacturing practice (cGMP) and clinical good lab practice (cGLP) guidelines.

This paper describes how to use a custom manufactured, commercially available enclosed cell culture system for basic and preclinical research. Biosafety ...

Rapid Neuronal Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Measuring Network Activity on Micro-electrode Arrays

Neurons derived from human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) provide a promising new tool for studying neurological disorders. In the past decade, many protocols for differentiating hiPSCs into neurons have been developed. However, these protocols are often slow with high variability, low reproducibility, and low efficiency. In addition, the neurons obtained with these protocols are often immature and lack adequate functional activity both at the single-cell and network levels unless the neurons are cultured for several months. Partially due to these limitations, the functional properties of hiPSC-derived neuronal networks are still not well characterized. Here, we adapt a recently published protocol that describes production of human neurons from hiPSCs by forced expression of the transcription factor neurogenin-212. This protocol is rapid (yielding mature neurons within 3 weeks) and efficient, with nearly 100% conversion efficiency of transduced cells (&#62;95% of DAPI-positive cells are MAP2 positive). Furthermore, the protocol yields a homogeneous population of excitatory neurons that would allow the investigation of cell-type specific contributions to neurological disorders. We modified the original protocol by generating stably transduced hiPSC cells, giving us explicit control over the total number of neurons. These cells are then used to generate hiPSC-derived neuronal networks on micro-electrode arrays. In this way, the spontaneous electrophysiological activity of hiPSC-derived neuronal networks can be measured and characterized, while retaining interexperimental consistency in terms of cell density. The presented protocol is broadly applicable, especially for mechanistic and pharmacological studies on human neuronal networks.

We modify and implement a previously published protocol describing the rapid, reproducible, and efficient differentiation of human&#160;induced&#160;Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) into excitatory cortical neurons12. Specifically, our modification allows for control of neuronal cell density and use on micro-electrode arrays to measure electrophysiological properties at the network level.

Neurons derived from human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) provide a promising new tool for studying neurological disorders. In the past decade, ...

Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiac Cells for Myocardial Repair

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) must be fully differentiated into specific cell types before administration, but conventional protocols for differentiating hiPSCs into cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), endothelial cells (hiPSC-ECs), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are often limited by low yield, purity, and/or poor phenotypic stability. Here, we present novel protocols for generating hiPSC-CMs, -ECs, and -SMCs that are substantially more efficient than conventional methods, as well as a method for combining cell injection with a cytokine-containing patch created over the site of administration. The patch improves both the retention of the injected cells, by sealing the needle track to prevent the cells from being squeezed out of the myocardium, and cell survival, by releasing insulin-like growth factor (IGF) over an extended period. In a swine model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, the rate of engraftment was more than two-fold greater when the cells were administered with the cytokine-containing patch comparing to the cells without patch, and treatment with both the cells and the patch, but not with the cells alone, was associated with significant improvements in cardiac function and infarct size.

We present three novel and more efficient protocols for differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells and a delivery method that improves the engraftment of transplanted cells by combining cell injection with patch-mediated cytokine delivery.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) must be fully differentiated into specific cell types before administration, but conventional protocols for ...

Generation of Standardized and Reproducible Forebrain-type Cerebral Organoids from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The human cortex is highly expanded and exhibits a complex structure with specific functional areas, providing higher brain function, such as cognition. Efforts to study human cerebral cortex development have been limited by the availability of model systems. Translating results from rodent studies to the human system is restricted by species differences and studies on human primary tissues are hampered by a lack of tissue availability as well as ethical concerns. Recent development in human pluripotent stem cell (PSC) technology include the generation of three-dimensional (3D) self-organizing organotypic culture systems, which mimic to a certain extent human-specific brain development in vitro. Currently, various protocols are available for the generation of either whole brain or brain-region specific organoids. The method for the generation of homogeneous and reproducible forebrain-type organoids from induced PSC (iPSC), which we previously established and describe here, combines the intrinsic ability of PSC to self-organize with guided differentiation towards the anterior neuroectodermal lineage and matrix embedding to support the formation of a continuous neuroepithelium. More specifically, this protocol involves: (1) the generation of iPSC aggregates, including the conversion of iPSC colonies to a confluent monolayer culture; (2) the induction of anterior neuroectoderm; (3) the embedding of neuroectodermal aggregates in a matrix scaffold; (4) the generation of forebrain-type organoids from neuroectodermal aggregates; and (5) the fixation and validation of forebrain-type organoids. As such, this protocol provides an easily applicable system for the generation of standardized and reproducible iPSC-derived cortical tissue structures in vitro.

Cerebral organoids represent a new model system to investigate early human brain development in vitro. This article provides the detailed methodology to efficiently generate homogeneous dorsal forebrain-type organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells including critical characterization and validation steps.

The human cortex is highly expanded and exhibits a complex structure with specific functional areas, providing higher brain function, such as cognition. ...

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocyte-like Cells for Drug Discovery

The ability to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) provides new opportunities to study inborn errors in hepatic metabolism. However, to provide a platform that supports the identification of small molecules that can potentially be used to treat liver disease, the procedure requires a culture format that is compatible with screening thousands of compounds. Here, we describe a protocol using completely defined culture conditions, which allow the reproducible differentiation of human iPSCs to hepatocyte-like cells in 96-well tissue culture plates. We also provide an example of using the platform to screen compounds for their ability to lower Apolipoprotein B (APOB) produced from iPSC-derived hepatocytes generated from a familial hypercholesterolemia patient. The availability of a platform that is compatible with drug discovery should allow researchers to identify novel therapeutics for diseases that affect the liver.

The protocol presented here describes a platform for identifying small molecules for the treatment of liver disease. A step-by-step description is presented detailing how to differentiate iPSCs into cells with hepatocyte characteristics in 96-well plates, and to use the cells to screen for small molecules with potential therapeutic activity.

The ability to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) provides new opportunities to study inborn ...

A Familial Hypercholesterolemia Human Liver Chimeric Mouse Model Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocytes

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is mostly caused by low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mutations and results in an increased risk of early-onset cardiovascular disease due to marked elevation of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in blood. Statins are the first line of lipid-lowering drugs for treating FH and other types of hypercholesterolemia, but new approaches are emerging, in particular PCSK9 antibodies, which are now being tested in clinical trials. To explore novel therapeutic approaches for FH, either new drugs or new formulations, we need appropriate in vivo models. However, differences in the lipid metabolic profiles compared to humans are a key problem of the available animal models of FH. To address this issue, we have generated a human liver chimeric mouse model using FH induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocytes (iHeps). We used Ldlr-/-/Rag2-/-/Il2rg-/- (LRG) mice to avoid immune rejection of transplanted human cells and to assess the effect of LDLR-deficient iHeps in an LDLR null background. Transplanted FH iHeps could repopulate 5-10% of the LRG mouse liver based on human albumin staining. Moreover, the engrafted iHeps responded to lipid-lowering drugs and recapitulated clinical observations of increased efficacy of PCSK9 antibodies compared to statins. Our human liver chimeric model could thus be useful for preclinical testing of new therapies to FH. Using the same protocol, similar human liver chimeric mice for other FH genetic variants, or mutations corresponding to other inherited liver diseases, may also be generated.

Here, we present a protocol to generate a human liver chimeric mouse model of familial hypercholesterolemia using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes. This is a valuable model for testing new therapies for hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is mostly caused by low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mutations and results in an increased risk of early-onset ...

Microfluidic Assay for the Assessment of Leukocyte Adhesion to Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Endothelial Cells (hiPSC-ECs)

Endothelial cells (ECs) are essential for the regulation of inflammatory responses by either limiting or facilitating leukocyte recruitment into affected tissues via a well-characterized cascade of pro-adhesive receptors which are upregulated on the leukocyte cell surface upon the inflammatory trigger. Inflammatory responses differ between individuals in the population and the genetic background can contribute to these differences. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been shown to be a reliable source of ECs (hiPSC-ECs), thus representing an unlimited source of cells that capture the genetic identity and any genetic variants or mutations of the donor. hiPSC-ECs can therefore be used for modeling inflammatory responses in donor-specific cells. Inflammatory responses can be modeled by determining leukocyte adhesion to the hiPSC-ECs under physiological flow. This step-by-step protocol provides a detailed description of the experimental setup and data analysis for the assessment of inflammatory responses in hiPSC-ECs and the analysis of leukocyte adhesion under physiological flow.

Microfluidic Assay for the Assessment of Leukocyte Adhesion to Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Endothelial Cells hiPSC-ECs

This step-by-step protocol provides a detailed description of the experimental setup and data analysis for the assessment of inflammatory responses in hiPSC-ECs and the analysis of leukocyte adhesion under physiological flow.

Endothelial cells (ECs) are essential for the regulation of inflammatory responses by either limiting or facilitating leukocyte recruitment into affected ...

Generation of 3D Skin Organoid from Cord Blood-derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The skin is the body&#8217;s largest organ and has many functions. The skin acts as a physical barrier and protector of the body and regulates bodily functions. Biomimetics is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems1. Skin biomimetics is a useful tool for in vitro disease research and in vivo regenerative medicine. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the characteristic of unlimited proliferation and the ability of differentiation to three germ layers. Human iPSCs are generated from various primary cells, such as blood cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and more. Among them, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) have emerged as an alternative cell source from the perspective of allogeneic regenerative medicine. CBMCs are useful in regenerative medicine because human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing is essential to the cell banking system. We provide a method for the differentiation of CBMC-iPSCs into keratinocytes and fibroblasts and for generation of a 3D skin organoid. CBMC-iPSC-derived keratinocytes and fibroblasts have characteristics similar to a primary cell line. The 3D skin organoids are generated by overlaying an epidermal layer onto a dermal layer. By transplanting this 3D skin organoid, a humanized mice model is generated. This study shows that a 3D human iPSC-derived skin organoid may be a novel, alternative tool for dermatologic research in vitro and in vivo.

We propose a protocol that shows how to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cell-derived keratinocytes and fibroblasts and generate a 3D skin organoid, using these keratinocytes and fibroblasts. This protocol contains an additional step of generating a humanized mice model. The technique presented here will improve dermatologic research.

The skin is the body&#8217;s largest organ and has many functions. The skin acts as a physical barrier and protector of the body and regulates bodily ...

In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

In response to signals such as WNTs, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and sonic hedgehog (SHH) secreted from surrounding tissues, somites (SMs) give rise to multiple cell types, including the myotome (MYO), sclerotome (SCL), dermatome (D), and syndetome (SYN), which in turn develop into skeletal muscle, axial skeleton, dorsal dermis, and axial tendon/ligament, respectively. Therefore, the generation of SMs and their derivatives from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is critical to obtain pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) for application in regenerative medicine and for disease research in the field of orthopedic surgery. Although the induction protocols for MYO and SCL from PSCs have been previously reported by several researchers, no study has yet demonstrated the induction of SYN and D from iPSCs. Therefore, efficient induction of fully competent SMs remains a major challenge. Here, we recapitulate human SM patterning with human iPSCs in vitro by mimicking the signaling environment during chick/mouse SM development, and report on methods of systematic induction of SM derivatives (MYO, SCL, D, and SYN) from human iPSCs under chemically defined conditions through the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) and SM states. Knowledge regarding chick/mouse&#160;SM development was successfully applied to the induction of SMs with human iPSCs. This method could be a novel tool for studying human somitogenesis and patterning without the use of embryos and for cell-based therapy and disease modeling.

We present here a protocol for the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into each somite derivative (myotome, sclerotome, dermatome, and syndetome) in chemically defined conditions, which has applications in future disease modeling and cell-based therapies in orthopedic surgery.

In response to signals such as WNTs, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and sonic hedgehog (SHH) secreted from surrounding tissues, somites (SMs) give ...

Generation of Induced Neural Stem Cells from Peripheral Mononuclear Cells and Differentiation Toward Dopaminergic Neuron Precursors for Transplantation Studies

Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD) is caused by degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons at the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in the ventral mesencephalon (VM). Cell replacement therapy holds great promise for treatment of PD. Recently, induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) have emerged as a potential candidate for cell replacement therapy due to the reduced risk of tumor formation and the plasticity to give rise to region-specific neurons and glia. iNSCs can be reprogrammed from autologous somatic cellular sources, such as fibroblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) and various other types of cells. Compared with other types of somatic cells, PBMNCs are an appealing starter cell type because of the ease to access and expand in culture. Sendai virus (SeV), an RNA non-integrative virus, encoding reprogramming factors including human OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC, has a negative-sense, single-stranded, non-segmented genome that does not integrate into host genome, but only replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells, offering an efficient and safe vehicle for reprogramming. In this study, we describe a protocol in which iNSCs are obtained by reprogramming PBMNCs, and differentiated into specialized VM DA neurons by a two-stage method. Then DA precursors are transplanted into unilaterally 6-hyroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned PD mouse models to evaluate the safety and efficacy for treatment of PD. This method provides a platform to investigate the functions and therapeutic effects of patient-specific DA neural cells in vitro and in vivo.

The protocol presents the reprogramming of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to induce neural stem cells by Sendai virus infection, differentiation of iNSCs into dopaminergic neurons, transplantation of DA precursors into the unilaterally-lesioned Parkinson&#39;s disease mouse models, and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of iNSC-derived DA precursors for PD treatment.