Thalamus-cortex interactions drive cell type-specific cortical development in human pluripotent stem cell-derived assembloids.

ABSTRACT: The thalamus is pivotal for the development and function of neural circuits in the cerebral cortex. However, how thalamus-cortex interactions influence human cortical development remains unknown primarily because of the inaccessibility of the human embryonic brain. Here, we demonstrate thalamus-dependent gene expression, circuit organization, and neural activity during corticogenesis using human thalamocortical assembloids (hThCAs). Human cortical (hCOs) and thalamic organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells exhibited region-specific gene expression and spontaneous neuronal activity. Upon the fusion of these organoids, hThCAs reconstructed reciprocal thalamus-cortex axonal projections and synaptic connections. Transcriptomic analysis revealed thalamus-dependent acceleration of

SUBMITTER: Nishimura M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12663968 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature