Name: developing hipsc derived serum free embryoid bodies for the interrogation of 3-d stem cell cultures using physiologically relevant assays
Uploaded: 2017-07-20T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Developing HiPSC Derived Serum Free Embryoid Bodies for the Interrogation of 3-D Stem Cell Cultures Using Physiologically Relevant Assays at JoVE.com

We thank Elizabeth Benevides for proofreading the article. We thank Drs. John Hussman and Gene Blatt for their helpful discussions and comments.

1. Generation of Neural Progenitor Cells
<ol>
	<li>Maintain hiPSCs derived from fibroblasts and PBMCs in 6-well plates on a &#947;-irradiated mouse embryonic feeder (MEF) cell layer in human iPSC medium supplemented with small-molecules (see the Materials Table). 
	NOTE: Daily maintenance is a modified version of previously reported procedures1,16.
	<ol>
		<li>Plate 6 x 105 MEFs onto each well of a 6-well tissue culture grade pl...

<ol>
	<li>Nestor, M. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differentiation+of+serum-free+embryoid+bodies+from+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells+into+networks.">Differentiation of serum-free embryoid bodies from human induced pluripotent stem cells into networks.</a> Stem Cell Res. 10 (3), 454-463 (2013).</li><li>Eiraku, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Self-organized+formation+of+polarized+cortical+tissues+from+ESCs+and+its+active+manipulation+by+extrinsic+signals.">Self-organized formation of polarized cortical tissues from ESCs and its active manipulation by extrinsic signals.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 3 (5), 519-532 (2008).</li><li>Sasai, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Next-generation+regenerative+medicine:+organogenesis+from+stem+cells+in+3D+culture.">Next-generation regenerative medicine: organogenesis from stem cells in 3D culture.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 12 (5), 520-530 (2013).</li><li>Song, S., Abbott, L. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cortical+development+and+remapping+through+spike+timing-dependent+plasticity.">Cortical development and remapping through spike timing-dependent plasticity.</a> Neuron. 3 (2), 339-350 (2001).</li><li>Pre, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+time+course+analysis+of+the+electrophysiological+properties+of+neurons+differentiated+from+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells+(iPSCs).">A time course analysis of the electrophysiological properties of neurons differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).</a> PLoS One. 9 (7), e103418 (2014).</li><li>Sproul, A. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+and+molecular+profiling+of+PSEN1+familial+Alzheimer's+disease+iPSC-derived+neural+progenitors.">Characterization and molecular profiling of PSEN1 familial Alzheimer's disease iPSC-derived neural progenitors.</a> PLoS One. 9 (1), e84547 (2014).</li><li>Stoppini, L., Buchs, P. A., Muller, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+simple+method+for+organotypic+cultures+of+nervous+tissue.">A simple method for organotypic cultures of nervous tissue.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 37 (2), 173-182 (1991).</li><li>Nicholas, C. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+maturation+of+hPSC-derived+forebrain+interneurons+requires+an+extended+timeline+and+mimics+human+neural+development.">Functional maturation of hPSC-derived forebrain interneurons requires an extended timeline and mimics human neural development.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 12 (5), 573-586 (2013).</li><li>Cukier, H. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exome+sequencing+of+extended+families+with+autism+reveals+genes+shared+across+neurodevelopmental+and+neuropsychiatric+disorders.">Exome sequencing of extended families with autism reveals genes shared across neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.</a> Mol Autism. 5 (1), (2014).</li><li>Marchetto, M. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+model+for+neural+development+and+treatment+of+Rett+syndrome+using+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells.">A model for neural development and treatment of Rett syndrome using human induced pluripotent stem cells.</a> Cell. 143 (4), 527-539 (2010).</li><li>Choi, S. H., Tanzi, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=iPSCs+to+the+rescue+in+Alzheimer's+research.">iPSCs to the rescue in Alzheimer's research.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 10 (3), 235-236 (2012).</li><li>Yagi, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modeling+familial+Alzheimer's+disease+with+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Modeling familial Alzheimer's disease with induced pluripotent stem cells.</a> Hum Mol Genet. 20 (23), 4530-4539 (2011).</li><li>Mariani, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modeling+human+cortical+development+in+vitro+using+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Modeling human cortical development in vitro using induced pluripotent stem cells.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109 (31), 12770-12775 (2012).</li><li>Quadrato, G., Brown, J., Arlotta, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+promises+and+challenges+of+human+brain+organoids+as+models+of+neuropsychiatric+disease.">The promises and challenges of human brain organoids as models of neuropsychiatric disease.</a> Nat Med. 22 (11), 1220-1228 (2016).</li><li>Nestor, M. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+Inducible+Pluripotent+Stem+Cells+and+Autism+Spectrum+Disorder:+Emerging+Technologies.">Human Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Emerging Technologies.</a> Autism Res. 9 (5), 513-535 (2016).</li><li>Nestor, M. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+a+subpopulation+of+developing+cortical+interneurons+from+human+iPSCs+within+serum-free+embryoid+bodies.">Characterization of a subpopulation of developing cortical interneurons from human iPSCs within serum-free embryoid bodies.</a> Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 308 (3), C209-C219 (2015).</li><li>Nestor, M. W., Hoffman, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+cycling+rates+of+Kv4.2+channels+in+proximal+and+distal+dendrites+of+hippocampal+CA1+pyramidal+neurons.">Differential cycling rates of Kv4.2 channels in proximal and distal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.</a> Hippocampus. 22 (5), 969-980 (2012).</li><li>Nestor, M. W., Mok, L. P., Tulapurkar, M. E., Thompson, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasticity+of+neuron-glial+interactions+mediated+by+astrocytic+EphARs.">Plasticity of neuron-glial interactions mediated by astrocytic EphARs.</a> J Neurosci. 27 (47), 12817-12828 (2007).</li><li>Woodard, C. M., Campos, B. A., Kuo, S. H., Nirenberg, M. J., Nestor, M. W., Zimmer, M., Mosharov, E. V., Sulzer, D., Zhou, H., Paull, D., Clark, L., Schadt, E. E., Sardi, S. P., Rubin, L., Eggan, K., Brock, M., Lipnick, S., Rao, M., Chang, S., Li, A., Noggle, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=iPSC-Derived+Dopamine+Neurons+Reveal+Differences+Between+Monozygotic+Twins+Discordant+for+Parkinson's+Disease.">iPSC-Derived Dopamine Neurons Reveal Differences Between Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Parkinson's Disease.</a> Cell Rep. 9 (4), 1173-1182 (2014).</li><li>Huang, S. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tankyrase+inhibition+stabilizes+axin+and+antagonizes+Wnt+signalling.">Tankyrase inhibition stabilizes axin and antagonizes Wnt signalling.</a> Nature. 461 (7264), 614-620 (2009).</li><li>Chambers, S. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Highly+efficient+neural+conversion+of+human+ES+and+iPS+cells+by+dual+inhibition+of+SMAD+signaling.">Highly efficient neural conversion of human ES and iPS cells by dual inhibition of SMAD signaling.</a> Nat Biotechnol. 27 (3), 275-280 (2009).</li><li>Kriks, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dopamine+neurons+derived+from+human+ES+cells+efficiently+engraft+in+animal+models+of+Parkinson's+disease.">Dopamine neurons derived from human ES cells efficiently engraft in animal models of Parkinson's disease.</a> Nature. 480 (7378), 547-551 (2011).</li><li>Maroof, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Directed+differentiation+and+functional+maturation+of+cortical+interneurons+from+human+embryonic+stem+cells.">Directed differentiation and functional maturation of cortical interneurons from human embryonic stem cells.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 12 (5), 559-572 (2013).</li><li>Pasca, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+cortical+neurons+and+astrocytes+from+human+pluripotent+stem+cells+in+3D+culture.">Functional cortical neurons and astrocytes from human pluripotent stem cells in 3D culture.</a> Nat Methods. 12 (7), 671-678 (2015).</li><li>Yan, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=iPS+cells+reprogrammed+from+human+mesenchymal-like+stem/progenitor+cells+of+dental+tissue+origin.">iPS cells reprogrammed from human mesenchymal-like stem/progenitor cells of dental tissue origin.</a> Stem Cells Dev. 19 (4), 469-480 (2010).</li><li>Wang, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Generation+of+clinical-grade+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells+in+Xeno-free+conditions.">Generation of clinical-grade human induced pluripotent stem cells in Xeno-free conditions.</a> Stem Cell Res Ther. 6, 223 (2015).</li><li>Kwon, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuronal+Differentiation+of+a+Human+Induced+Pluripotent+Stem+Cell+Line+(FS-1)+Derived+from+Newborn+Foreskin+Fibroblasts.">Neuronal Differentiation of a Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Line (FS-1) Derived from Newborn Foreskin Fibroblasts.</a> Int J Stem Cells. 5 (2), 140-145 (2012).</li><li>Li, X. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coordination+of+sonic+hedgehog+and+Wnt+signaling+determines+ventral+and+dorsal+telencephalic+neuron+types+from+human+embryonic+stem+cells.">Coordination of sonic hedgehog and Wnt signaling determines ventral and dorsal telencephalic neuron types from human embryonic stem cells.</a> Development. 136 (23), 4055-4063 (2009).</li><li>Sheridan, S. D., Surampudi, V., Rao, R. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+embryoid+bodies+derived+from+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells+as+a+means+to+assess+pluripotency.">Analysis of embryoid bodies derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells as a means to assess pluripotency.</a> Stem Cells Int. , 738910 (2012).</li><li>Smith, Q., Stukalin, E., Kusuma, S., Gerecht, S., Sun, S. X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stochasticity+and+Spatial+Interaction+Govern+Stem+Cell+Differentiation+Dynamics.">Stochasticity and Spatial Interaction Govern Stem Cell Differentiation Dynamics.</a> Sci Rep. 5, 12617 (2015).</li></ol>

The protocol described here provides the conditions for differentiating a hiPSC source into a 3-D structure that recapitulates an early developmental stage of the frontal cortex. This procedure yields structures that can be interrogated for electrophysiology while also being amenable to microscopy. The final morphology of the SFEB resembles that of organotypic brain slice cultures and allows high quality detailed confocal imaging. This protocol can successfully generate SFEBs from both fibroblast and peripheral-blood mon...

We have previously reported a 3-D model system, generated from patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that recapitulates some aspects of early cortical network development1. This 3-D model, a serum-free embryoid body (SFEB), improves on previous simple aggregation hiPSC models2,3. A growing body of work is revealing that 3-D structures like our SFEBs, approximate aspects of neural development commonly observed in vivo and at an earlier time point than observed in 2-dimensional (2-D)/monolayer hiPSC models4,5. Initial studies have been focused on the self-organizing complexity of 3-D bodies without demonstrating their physiological complexity2.
The protocol described here has been used on undifferentiated hiPSCs derived from fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). These cells are maintained on &#947;-irradiated mouse embryonic feeders (MEFs). These hiPSC colonies are manually cleaned of spontaneously differentiated cells, enzymatically harvested, and resuspended in medium containing Rho-Kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (ROCKi). Undifferentiated hiPSCs are subjected to dissociation and centrifugation before being transferred to 96-well low adhesion V-bottom plates. After plating, neural induction is initiated using dual SMAD inhibition (SB431542 and LDN193189 along with dickkopf 1 (DKK-1)) to drive an anterior-frontal forebrain neuronal-fate lineage6. After 14 days, the SFEBs are transferred to cell culture inserts in a 6-well plate. Once transferred, the round SFEBs begin to spread and thin, while maintaining local network connections as is often observed in hippocampal organotypic slice culture preparations using similar cell culture inserts1,7.
The use of an SFEB based 3-D platform in this format is amenable to the efficient production of cortical networks that may be interrogated using cell based physiological assays such as calcium imaging or electrophysiological assays such as single cell recordings or multi-electrode array (MEA)1. Although 3-D systems bear the markers of early cortical development, other studies have shown that these 3-D bodies may require longer incubation times to allow for the inherently slower pace of human tissue development8. This SFEB protocol successfully generates 3-D SFEBs from undifferentiated hiPSCs that captures aspects of the early development of the cortex.
The potential of SFEBs to model network aberrations in neurological disorders is a strength of this system. The hiPSCs derived from patient tissue can be grown into cells of the nervous system that are subject to assays relating to cell biology as well as concomitant gene expression. Human iPSCs are being used to ascertain the genetic profile of large groups of individuals with varying neurological disorders with complex etiologies such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia9, Rett Syndrome10, and Alzheimer&#39;s disease11,12. Until recently, iPSC models were typically monolayer preparations that, while proficient in evaluating molecular interactions, were inadequate in deciphering the complex cellular interactions seen in vivo. Animal models have been the default substitute for recreating the whole-organ platform. These animal models are plagued by poor translation of findings and have limited ability to replicate human genetic profiles identified by large genetic screening studies. Thus, the development of 3-D systems from iPSCs adds a needed layer of complexity in human disease modeling13,14. The next step for 3D hiPSC platforms is to accommodate the large scale requirements of high throughput screening using cell based assays15.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1173">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:573px;">SFEB Neuronal Differentiation Cell culture Media. Reagents. Components&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:183px;"></td>
			<td style="width:164px;"></td>
			<td style="width:253px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">STEMdiff Neural Induction Medium (hiPSC Media)</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>0-5835</td>
			<td>250ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">PluriQ ES-DMEM Medium (MEF Media)</td>
			<td>GlobalStem</td>
			<td>GSM-2001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company&#160;</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">DM1 Media Components</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">D-MEM/F-12 (1X), Glutamax liquid, 1:1</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">10565018</td>
			<td>385ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Knockout Serum Replacement</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">10828028</td>
			<td>20% 100ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Pen/Strep</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">15140122</td>
			<td>5ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Glutamax 200mM</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">35050061</td>
			<td>5ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">MEM Non-Essential Amino Acids Solution 10 mM (100X), liquid</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">11140050</td>
			<td>5ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">2-Mercaptoethanol (1,000X), liquid</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">21985023</td>
			<td>900ul</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company&#160;</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">DM2 Media Components</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">D-MEM/F-12 (1X), Glutamax liquid, 1:1</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">10565018</td>
			<td>500ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Glutamax 200mM</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">35050061</td>
			<td>5ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Pen/Strep</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">15140122</td>
			<td>5ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">N-2 Supplement (100X), liquid</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">17502048</td>
			<td>10ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company&#160;</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">DM3 Media Components</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">NEUROBASAL Medium (1X), liquid</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">21103049</td>
			<td>500ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">B-27 Supplement Minus Vitamin A (50X), liquid</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">12587010</td>
			<td>10ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Glutamax 200mM</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">35050061</td>
			<td>5ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Pen/Strep</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td align="right">15140122</td>
			<td>5ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company&#160;</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Small Molecules</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Thiazovivin</td>
			<td>Stemgent</td>
			<td>04-0017</td>
			<td>2uM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">SB431542</td>
			<td>Stemgent</td>
			<td>04-0010-10</td>
			<td>1:1000 (10uM)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Dorsomorphin</td>
			<td>Stemgent</td>
			<td>04-0024</td>
			<td>1uM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">LDN-193189</td>
			<td>Stemgent</td>
			<td>04-0074-10</td>
			<td>250nM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Y27632 (ROCKi)</td>
			<td>Stemgent</td>
			<td>04-0012-10</td>
			<td>10uM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company&#160;</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Recombinant Protiens</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">DKK-1</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>120-30</td>
			<td>200ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company&#160;</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Components/Materials</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Cell Culture inserts 0.4uM, 30mm Diameter</td>
			<td>Millicell</td>
			<td>PICM0RG50</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts</td>
			<td>GlobalStem</td>
			<td>GSC-6301G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">96 well V bottom w/Lids</td>
			<td>Evergreen</td>
			<td>222-8031-01V</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>A1110501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">TritonX-100</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td align="right">85111</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td align="right">10010023</td>
			<td>500 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Normal Donkey Serum</td>
			<td>Jackson Labs</td>
			<td>017-000-121</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">Leibovitz&#39;s L-15 Medium</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td align="right">11415114</td>
			<td>500 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">DRAQ5 (Nuclear Marker)&#160;</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>65-0880-96</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">MEA Plates</td>
			<td>Axion Biosystems</td>
			<td>M768-GL1-30Pt200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">6 well flat bottom</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td align="right">353046</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company&#160;</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Antibody</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Nestin</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB5326</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Brn-2</td>
			<td>Protein tech</td>
			<td>14596-1-AP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">VGLUT1&#160;</td>
			<td>Synaptic Systems&#160;</td>
			<td>135 303</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Pax6</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab5790</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Calretinin&#160;</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab702</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Calbindin</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab11426</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">CoupTFII</td>
			<td>R&#38;D Systems</td>
			<td>PPH714700</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Nkx 2.1</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab12650</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tuj1</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab41489</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Reelin</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB5364</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tbr1</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB2261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NFH</td>
			<td>Dako</td>
			<td>M0762</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

developing hipsc derived serum free embryoid bodies for the interrogation of 3-d stem cell cultures using physiologically relevant assays

Although a number of in vitro disease models have been developed using hiPSCs, one limitation is that these two-dimensional (2-D) systems may not represent the underlying cytoarchitectural and functional complexity of the affected individuals carrying suspected disease variants. Conventional 2-D models remain incomplete representations of in vivo-like structures and do not adequately capture the complexity of the brain. Thus, there is an emerging need for more 3-D hiPSC-based models that can better recapitulate the cellular interactions and functions seen in an in vivo system.
Here we report a protocol to develop a 3-D system from undifferentiated hiPSCs based on the serum free embryoid body (SFEB). This 3-D model mirrors aspects of a developing ventralized neocortex and allows for studies into functions integral to living neural cells and intact tissue such as migration, connectivity, communication, and maturation. Specifically, we demonstrate that the SFEBs using our protocol can be interrogated using physiologically relevant and high-content cell based assays such as calcium imaging, and multi-electrode array (MEA) recordings without cryosectioning. In the case of MEA recordings, we demonstrate that SFEBs increase both spike activity and network-level bursting activity during long-term culturing. This SFEB protocol provides a robust and scalable system for the study of developing network formation in a 3-D model that captures aspects of early cortical development.

SFEBs grown using our technique yielded tissue with morphological characteristics that resemble an early developing cortical subventricular zone replete with extensive Tuj1-positive neurons, as well as neural progenitors (Figure 3A). Numerous developing cortical rosettes were observed in the outer layers and inner layers of the SFEB (Figure 3B). The outer edge of the SFEB resembles a developing cortical plate containing postmitot...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Developing HiPSC Derived Serum Free Embryoid Bodies for the Interrogation of 3-D Stem Cell Cultures Using Physiologically Relevant Assays at JoVE.com

Developing HiPSC Derived Serum Free Embryoid Bodies for the Interrogation of 3-D Stem Cell Cultures Using Physiologically Relevant Assays

Here we report a protocol to develop a three-dimensional (3-D) system from human induced-pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) called the serum free embryoid body (SFEB). This 3-D model can be used like an organotypic slice culture to model human cortical development and for the physiological interrogation of developing neural circuits.

Although a number of in vitro disease models have been developed using hiPSCs, one limitation is that these two-dimensional (2-D) systems may not ...

The overall goal of this protocol for the 3D human iPSC serum free embryoid bodies, is to provide an in-vitro system that approximates human early cortical development, which can be used for drug discovery. This method can help answer key questions in the stem cell field such as, how neurons derive from iPSCs, form functional networks in 3D tissue. The main advantage of this technique is that it allows us to model aspects of cortical development in a dish, from human tissue containing the genetics of diseased individuals, thus the system serves as a cell based platform for drugs screening that is scalable and can be used to study many different neurobiological disorders.Although this method can provide insight into neurobiological or neuro development disorders, it can also be applied to other systems, such as those that focus on models of neuroimmune function or neural information. For this protocol, begin with establishing fetal cells. To establish this culture, plate 600, 000 fetal cells into each well of a six well plate, with 300 milliliters of medium per well.After culturing the fetal cells for 48 hours, replace the medium. Incubate the plates for an hour, while preparing the stem cells. Thaw the stem cells in a 37 degrees celsius water bath.Once thawed, transfer the cells to a 15 milliliter conical tube and fill the tube to five milliliters with culture medium, added drop wise. Next, gently centrifuge the cells for four minutes, aspirate the supernatant and gently re-suspend the pellet in one milliliter of stem cell medium with ROCK inhibitor. After quantifying the cell density, plate 300, 000 stem cells onto the feeder cells.Then grow and expand the cultures, periodically selecting for healthy cells, after expansion and freezing cells for backup. Grow the stem cell colonies on standard plates until they reach 50%to 70%confluence. Then, use a mild enzymatic treatment and gentle trituration with the one milliliter pipette tip to harvest the hiPSCs for neuro precursor cell differentiation.Gently centrifuge the suspension, aspirate the supernatant and re-suspend the pellet in five milliliters human iPSC medium. Then, transfer the cell suspension to a 0.1%gelatin coated five centimeter cell culture dish, and incubate the plate for one hour. After an hour, transfer the non-adherent cells to a 15 milliliter centrifuge tube.Then gently rinse the plate with three milliliters of medium and transfer it to the same tube. Next, repeat the re-suspension step with gentle centrifugation, then, determine the cell density and plate the cells into a 96 well, low adhesion V bottom plate at 9, 000 cells per well. Now, spin the plate for three minutes and start culturing the cells.Over the next 14 days, every other day replace half a medium with fresh differentiating medium one. After two weeks of culturing the cells, prepare six well plates with 40 micron cell culture inserts and one milliliter of DM1 medium. Incubate these plates for at least four hours before adding the cultured cells.Next, using a 200 microliter wide mouth pipette tip, collect two week old cell aggregates worth about 20 microliters of medium. Transfer four to six aggregates onto each insert with minimal solution, remove any excess. During this step, it's important to work quickly and with a steady hand, while removing medium from around SFEBs, you may see the SFEBs move across the solution due to surface tension.It's okay to reposition them after the medium is removed. Once all the aggregates are loaded onto inserts, change the medium to one milliliter of DM2 and continue culturing the cells every other day. Replace three fourths of the medium with fresh medium.After 14 days of culture, start adding DM3 medium to the cultures. Continue the culturing for 16 more days to grow the SFEBs. Now gently detach the SFEBs from the insert, using a 200 microliter wide mouth pipette tip.Transfer the SFEBs to 12 well plates, loading four to eight per well. Then, stain them as outline in the text protocol. To prepare the 12 well and the eight plates, first wash them three times with sterile water.Then, wash them once using 75%ethanol and once more with 100%ethanol. Then, bake the plates at 50 degrees celsius for four to five hours upside down, to complete the sterilization process. After baking, add 500 microliters of 0.2%PEI solution to each well and let the plate sit at room temperature for an hour.Then, aspirate the PEI and wash the wells four times with the sterile distilled water and air dry them overnight. The next day, prepare fresh laminant in L15 medium and add 10 microliters to the center of each well. Then, add distilled water to the surrounding reservoirs to prevent evaporation and incubate the plate for one hour at 37 degrees celsius.Be sure to beam the laminant in the center of electrodes, being careful not to exceed the space of the grounding electrodes, if this space exceeded, neurons will grow over the grounding electrodes, causing noise artifacts and affecting fidelity of the recording. Now, add one prepared SFEB into each well, using gentle suction with a wide bore pipette. Then, add 200 microliters of DM2 to each well and culture the plate overnight.Later, to record neural activity, put a plate into the plate reader. Preheat it to 37 degrees celsius. Then, use the software to record 10 minutes of activity from each well.SFEB is grown using the described method, yielded tissue with morphological characteristics that resemble an early developing cortical sub-ventricular zone replete with extensive Tuj1 positive neurons, as well as neuro progenitors. Numerous developing cortical rosettes were observed in the outer layers and in the inner layers of the bodies. The outer edge of the bodies resembles a developing cortical plate containing postmitotic neurons, this is supported by the expression of Brn2, a marker for neuro progenitors and the most ventralised outer cortical layers.The outer layers also contain Reelin positive cells that may be casual gratzel cells or their progenitors. The bodies also expressed markers consistent with the mixed codal and medial ganglionic immenants origin. Based on the expression of cooked TF2 and Nkx2.1 markers.The cultured SFEBs yield at both CalR and CalB positive inter neurons. As well as, VGLUT positive excitatory neurons and Tbr1 positive glutamatergic neural progenitors. Consistent with other reports, 61%of the cells from the bodies were VGLUT positive and 43%were Tbr1 positive.MEM recordings made from the bodies, can be taken for long periods of time and the recordings showed the development of cortical network level bursting. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to grow SFEBs from human iPSCs, characterize the neurula content of punitive developing cortical rosettes with NSFEBs. and perform neurophysiological assays on maturing SFEBs.Generally, individuals new to this method might struggle because it takes time and practice to develop the necessary scientific field for the behavior of iPSCs and the iPSC to arrive neurons in culture. The cultured cells should be monitored daily. Following this procedure, other methods like calcium imaging can be performed in order to answer additional questions, such as, what drug treatments might do to cortical network oscillations.

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Scalable Fluidic Injector Arrays for Viral Targeting of Intact 3-D Brain Circuits

Our understanding of neural circuits--how they mediate the computations that subserve sensation, thought, emotion, and action, and how they are corrupted ...

The Neuroblast Assay: An Assay for the Generation and Enrichment of Neuronal Progenitor Cells from Differentiating Neural Stem Cell Progeny Using Flow Cytometry

Neural stem cells (NSCs) can be isolated and expanded in large-scale, using the neurosphere assay and differentiated into the three major cell types of ...

Live Imaging of Mitosis in the Developing Mouse Embryonic Cortex

Although of short duration, mitosis is a complex and dynamic multi-step process fundamental for development of organs including the brain. In the ...

Feeder-free Derivation of Neural Crest Progenitor Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have great potential for studying human embryonic development, for modeling human diseases in the dish and as a ...

Organotypic Slice Cultures to Study Oligodendrocyte Dynamics and Myelination

NG2 expressing cells (polydendrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursor cells) are the fourth major glial cell population in the central nervous system. During ...

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular parasite with a broad host range, including humans and rodents. In both humans and rodents, Toxoplasma ...

Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons

Therapeutic and mechanistic studies of the presynaptically targeted clostridial neurotoxins (CNTs) have been limited by the need for a scalable, ...

Enumeration of Neural Stem Cells Using Clonal Assays

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew and generate the three major neural lineages &#8212; astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes. ...

Modelling Zika Virus Infection of the Developing Human Brain In Vitro Using Stem Cell Derived Cerebral Organoids

Modelling Zika Virus Infection of the Developing Human Brain In Vitro Using Stem Cell Derived Cerebral Organoids

The recent emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in susceptible populations has led to an abrupt increase in microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental conditions ...

Generation of 3-D Collagen-based Hydrogels to Analyze Axonal Growth and Behavior During Nervous System Development

This protocol uses natural type I collagen to generate three-dimensional (3-D) hydrogel for monitoring and analyzing the axonal growth. The protocol is ...