Assessing Gq-GPCR-induced human astrocyte reactivity using bioengineered neural organoids.

ABSTRACT: Astrocyte reactivity can directly modulate nervous system function and immune responses during disease and injury. However, the consequence of human astrocyte reactivity in response to specific contexts and within neural networks is obscure. Here, we devised a straightforward bioengineered neural organoid culture approach entailing transcription factor-driven direct differentiation of neurons and astrocytes from human pluripotent stem cells combined with genetically encoded tools for dual cell-selective activation. This strategy revealed that Gq-GPCR activation via chemogenetics in astrocytes promotes a rise in intracellular calcium followed by induction of immediate early genes and thrombospondin 1. However, astrocytes also undergo NF-κB nuclear translocation and secretion of inflammatory

SUBMITTER: Cvetkovic C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8842185 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature