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Method Article
This protocol describes a method for generating cortical interneuron progenitors and post-mitotic interneuron precursors from mouse embryonic stem cells using a modified embryoid body-to-monolayer method. These progenitors/precursors can be used in vitro or fluorescently sorted and transplanted into neonatal neocortex for studying fate determination, or used in therapeutic applications.
GABAergic cortical interneurons are a heterogeneous population of cells that play critical roles in regulating the output of excitatory pyramidal neurons as well as synchronizing the outputs of pyramidal neuron ensembles. Deficits in interneuron function have been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy. The derivation of cortical interneurons from embryonic stem cells not only allows for the study of their development and function, but provides insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cortical interneuron-related disorders. Interneurons also have the remarkable capacity to survive, migrate, and integrate into host cortical circuitry post-transplantation, making them ideal candidates for use in cell-based therapies. Here, we present a scalable, highly efficient, modified embryoid body-to-monolayer method for the derivation of Nkx2.1-expressing interneuron progenitors and their progeny from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Using a Nkx2.1::mCherry:Lhx6::GFP dual reporter mESC line, Nkx2.1 progenitors or their Lhx6-expressing post-mitotic progeny can be isolated via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and subsequently used in a number of downstream applications. We also provide methods to enrich for parvalbumin (PV) or somatostatin (SST) interneuron subgroups, which may be helpful for studying aspects of fate determination or for use in therapeutic applications that would benefit from interneuron subgroup-enriched transplantations.
In both mice and humans, roughly half of all cortical inhibitory interneurons (CIns) originate within a transient subcortical structure known as the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), where the neuroepithelial progenitors of CIns and other neuronal and glial subgroups express the transcription factor Nkx2.11,2. CIn subgroups or subtypes are defined by intersecting morphological, neurochemical, electrophysiological, and connectivity characteristics3,4. The MGE-derived CIns can be grouped into mostly non-overlapping subgroups based on their expression of either PV or SST, the expression of which correlates with particular electrophysiological and connectivity tendencies5. Dysfunction of interneurons, especially those in the PV subgroup, has been implicated in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders and diseases6,7. The overall goal of this method is to produce stem cell-derived mitotic progenitors and migratory precursors enriched for either PV or SST CIn fate for studying cortical interneuron biology and for use in cell-based therapies.
We have developed a scalable, highly efficient method for the derivation of Nkx2.1-expressing interneuron progenitors and their progeny from mESCs. Using a Nkx2.1::mCherry:Lhx6::GFP dual reporter mESC line8, Nkx2.1 progenitors or their Lhx6-expressing post-mitotic progeny can be isolated via FACS and subsequently used in a number of downstream applications. By manipulating a number of signaling pathways, duration of culture, and mode of neurogenesis, we can obtain millions of fluorescently labeled interneuron precursors suitable for a host of downstream applications.
Although several other methods exist for generating MGE-like progenitors from mESCs9,10,11,12,13,14, our method, which relies on the Wnt antagonist XAV-939, is particularly efficient at generating Foxg1/Nkx2.1 co-expressing telencephalic progenitors. In addition, the ability to select for interneuron progenitors or their post-mitotic Lhx6-expressing progeny via our dual reporter system, greatly enhances the capacity to generate distinct progenitors and their progeny.
NOTE: The dual reporter mESC line described in this protocol is available upon request (sande@mail.med.upenn.edu).
1. Media Preparation
NOTE: Warm all media to 37 °C before use in cell culture.
2. Culturing mESCs
3. Differentiating mESCs Toward MGE-like Telencephalic Progenitors
4. SST-enriching Protocol: "DD12 GFP High Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)" (continuation from step 3.7)
5. PV-enriching Protocol: "DD11/DD17 mCherry + aPKCi" (continuation from step 3.7)
6. PV-enriching Protocol: "DD17 mCherry Low SHH" (continuation from step 3.7)
The protocol described in this paper is a modified version of our published protocols15,16,17 and has been optimized for use with our Nkx2.1::mCherry:Lhx6::GFP dual-reporter mESC line. By adding the Wnt inhibitor XAV-939 from DD0-5, combined with re-plating at DD8, we achieve robust Nkx2.1 induction, wherein upwards of 50% of all DAPI+ nuclei in culture are also Nkx2.1 expressing (
While this method is highly effective at patterning J1-derived mESCs (SCRC-1010), we have experienced variable success with other mESC lines and clonal isolates. For instance, Foxg1::venus mESCs (EB3-derived; Danjo et al.13) respond poorly to this protocol and Foxg1 induction by DD12 is typically on the order of 1-2%. For reasons that we do not fully understand, another Nkx2.1::mCherry:Lhx6::GFP dual reporter clone (termed JQ59) that was isolated simultaneously as the line described in th...
The authors have nothing to disclose.
We are grateful to Qing Xu for developing the Nkx2.1::mCherry:Lhx6:GFP dual reporter mESC line as well as Jennifer Tyson, Asif Maroof, and Tim Petros for their early work on helping to develop this protocol. We also thank the CHOP flow cytometry core for technical assistance. This work was supported by an NIH R01 MH066912 (SA) and F30 MH105045-02 (DT).
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Bottle-top vacuum filter system | Corning | CLS430769 | |
Test Tube with Cell Strainer Snap Cap | ThermoFisher | Corning 352235 | |
Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (CF-1 MEF IRR 7M) | MTI-Globalstem | GSC-6101G | 1 vial of 7M MEFs is sufficient for four 10-cm TC plates. References: 29,35 |
FBS | Atlanta Biologicals | S11150H | |
Primocin | Invivogen | Ant-pm-2 | Also known as antimicrobial agent. Do not filter with base media -- add after filtration. References: 9,11,36,37 |
N2 supplement-B | Stemcell Technologies | 7156 | Do not filter with base media -- add after filtration |
Glutamax (100x) | ThermoFisher | 35050061 | Also known as L-alanine-L-glutamine. References: 9,11,38,39 |
KnockOut Serum Replacement (KSR) | ThermoFisher | 10828028 | Also known as serum-free medium supplement. References: 9,11 |
L-glutamine (100x) | ThermoFisher | 25030081 | |
MEM-NEAA (100x) | ThermoFisher | 11140050 | |
2-Mercaptoethanol | ThermoFisher | 21985023 | |
KnockOut DMEM | ThermoFisher | 10829018 | Also known as non-glutamine containing DMEM. References: 9,11 |
Hyclone FBS | VWR | 82013-578 | Also known as stem cell grade FBS. References: 9,11 |
Tissue culture treated dish (10cm) | BD Falcon | 353003 | |
Non-adherent sterile petri dish (10cm) | VWR | 25384-342 | |
Leukemia inhibitory factor (mLIF) | Chemicon | ESG1107 | Do not freeze, store at 4'C. References: 9,11 |
DMEM/F12 | ThermoFisher | 11330032 | |
0.1% Gelatin Solution | ATCC | ATCC PCS-999-027 | |
Laminin | Sigma | L2020 | |
Poly-L-lysine | Sigma | P6282 | |
Trypsin-EDTA (0.05%) | ThermoFisher | 25300054 | |
Accutase | ThermoFisher | A1110501 | Also known as non-trypsin containing cell dissociation reagent. References: 9,11 |
RQ1 RNase-Free DNase | Promega | M610A | |
LDN-193189 | Stemgent | 04-0074 | Resuspend in DMSO and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
XAV939 | Stemgent | 04-0046 | Resuspend in DMSO and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
rhFGF-2 | R&D Systems | 233-FB | Resuspend in PBS with 0.1% BSA and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
rhIGF-2 | R&D Systems | 291-G1 | Resuspend in PBS with 0.1% BSA and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
ROCK inhibitor (Y-27632) | Tocris | 1254 | Resuspend in DMSO and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
Smoothened agonist (SAG) | Millipore | 566660-1MG | Resuspend in H20 and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
rm Sonic Hedgehog/SHH | R&D Systems | 464-SH-025 | Resuspend in PBS with 0.1% BSA and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
PKCζ Pseudosubstrate Inhibitor, Myristoylated | EMD Millipore | 539624 | Resuspend in H20 and store at -80'C in single use aliquots |
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