Project description:Introduction of brain tumor-relevant genetic aberrations initiates different subtypes of brain tumor-like neoplasms in cerebral organoids
Project description:Introduction of brain tumor-relevant genetic aberrations initiates different subtypes of brain tumor-like neoplasms in cerebral organoids
Project description:Pluripotent stem cells (PSC) can differentiate inot any cell type of an organism. Their remarkable capability of self-organization enables the formation of three-dimensional structures that resembles miniature organs, including cerebral organoids. These organoids can recreate early steps of the human cerebral cortex development, and show great potential for modeling human diseases, particularly for those with a developmental component. This data evidences stem cell-derived cerebral organoids as a key model to study brain development and neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Project description:The human brain has changed dramatically from other primate species, but the genetic and developmental mechanisms behind the differences remains unclear. Here we used single cell RNA sequencing based on 10X technology to explore temporal transcriptomic dynamics and cellular heterogeneity in cerebral organoids derived from human and non-human primates chimpanzee and rhesus macaque stem cells. Using cerebral organoids as a proxy of early brain development, we detect a delayed pace of human brain development relative to the other two primate species. Additional human-specific gene expression patterns resolved to different cell states through progenitors to neurons are also found. Our data provide a transcriptomic cell atlas of primate early brain development, and illustrate features that are unique to humans.
Project description:The human brain has changed dramatically from other primate species, but the genetic and developmental mechanisms behind the differences remains unclear. Here we used single cell RNA sequencing based on 10X technology to explore temporal transcriptomic dynamics and cellular heterogeneity in cerebral organoids derived from human and non-human primates chimpanzee and rhesus macaque stem cells. Using cerebral organoids as a proxy of early brain development, we detect a delayed pace of human brain development relative to the other two primate species. Additional human-specific gene expression patterns resolved to different cell states through progenitors to neurons are also found. Our data provide a transcriptomic cell atlas of primate early brain development, and illustrate features that are unique to humans.
Project description:Outer radial glia (oRG) emerged during mammalian evolution as cortical progenitor cells that directly support the development of an enlarged outer subventricular zone (oSVZ) and, in turn, the expansion of the neocortex. The in vitro generation of oRG is essential to model and investigate the underlying mechanisms of human neocortex development and expansion. By activating the STAT3 pathway using LIF, which is not produced in guided cortical organoids, we developed a cerebral organoid differentiation method from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that recapitulates the expansion of a progenitor pool into the oSVZ. The structured oSVZ is composed of progenitor cells expressing specific oRG markers such as GFAP, LIFR, HOPX and closely matching human oRG in vivo. In this microenvironment, cortical neurons showed faster maturation with enhanced metabolic and functional activity. Incorporation of hPSC-derived brain vascular LIF-producing pericytes in cerebral organoids mimicked the effects of LIF treatment. These data indicate that the cellular complexity of the cortical microenvironment, including cell types of the brain vasculature, favors the appearance of oRG and provides a platform to routinely study oRG in hPSC-derived brain organoids.
Project description:Defining molecular controls that orchestrate human brain development is essential for uncovering the complexity behind neurodevelopment and the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Due to the difficulties in accessing embryonic and fetal brain tissues, the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived three-dimensional neural organoids has made it possible to recapitulate this developmental process in vitro and provide a unique opportunity to investigate human brain development and disease. To elucidate the molecular programs that drive this highly dynamic process, here, we generate a comprehensive trans-omic map of the phosphoproteome, proteome, and transcriptome of the initial stages of pluripotency and neural differentiation towards the formation of cerebral organoids. Our integrative analysis uncovers key phospho-signalling events underlying neural lineage differentiation, and their convergence on transcriptional (co-)factors and chromatin remodellers that govern downstream gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Comparative analysis with developing human and mouse embryos using these GRNs demonstrates the fidelity of our early cerebral organoids in modelling embryonic brain development. Finally, we demonstrate biochemical modulation of the AKT signalling as a key molecular switch for controlling human cerebral organoid formation. Our data provides a comprehensive resource to gain insight into the molecular controls in human embryonic brain development and also provide a guide for future development of protocols for human cerebral organoid differentiation.
Project description:We performed transcriptomic studies using microarray assays and conducted bioinformatics analyses to identify signaling pathways associated with ethanol-induced brain injury in cerebral organoids A human message RNA (mRNA) Expression Microarray assay (V4.0) and data analysis services were provided by Arraystar Inc. (Rockville, MD) to assess and compare the global abundance of 17,195 mRNAs across iPSC-derived 2-month cerebral organoids treated with and without ethanol.
