generation-3d-midbrain-organoids-from-human-induced-pluripotent-stem

Generation of 3D Midbrain Organoids from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The development of midbrain organoids (MOs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represents a significant advancement in understanding brain ...

University of Bergen

Alpers' syndrome is an early-onset neurodegenerative disorder usually caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of polymerase-gamma (POLG), which is essential for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. The disease is progressive, incurable, and inevitably it leads to death from drug-resistant status epilepticus. The neurological features of Alpers' syndrome are intractable epilepsy and developmental regression, with no effective treatment; the underlying mechanisms are still elusive, partially due to lack of good experimental models. Here, we generated the patient derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from one Alpers' patient carrying the compound heterozygous mutations of A467T (c.1399G>A) and P589L (c.1766C>T), and further differentiated them into cortical organoids and neural stem cells (NSCs) for mechanistic studies of neural dysfunction in Alpers' syndrome. Patient cortical organoids exhibited a phenotype that faithfully replicated the molecular changes found in patient postmortem brain tissue, as evidenced by cortical neuronal loss and depletion of mtDNA and complex I (CI). Patient NSCs showed mitochondrial dysfunction leading to ROS overproduction and downregulation of the NADH pathway. More importantly, the NAD precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) significantly ameliorated mitochondrial defects in patient brain organoids. Our findings demonstrate that the iPSC model and brain organoids are good  models of Alpers' disease; this first-in-its-kind stem cell platform for Alpers' syndrome enables therapeutic exploration and has identified NR as a viable drug candidate for Alpers' disease and, potentially, other mitochondrial diseases with similar causes.

The NAD Precursor Nicotinamide Riboside Rescues Mitochondrial Defects and Neuronal Loss in iPSC derived Cortical Organoid of Alpers' Disease.

In this research, a 3D brain organoid model is developed to study POLG-related encephalopathy, a mitochondrial disease stemming from POLG mutations. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with these mutations is utilized to generate cortical organoids, which exhibited typical features of the diseases with POLG mutations, such as altered morphology, neuronal loss, and mitochondiral DNA (mtDNA) depletion. Significant dysregulation is also identified in pathways crucial for neuronal development and function, alongside upregulated NOTCH and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Metformin treatment ameliorated many of these abnormalities, except for the persistent affliction of inhibitory dopamine-glutamate (DA GLU) neurons. This novel model effectively mirrors both the molecular and pathological attributes of diseases with POLG mutations, providing a valuable tool for mechanistic understanding and therapeutic screening for POLG-related disorders and other conditions characterized by compromised neuronal mtDNA maintenance and complex I deficiency.

Hallmark Molecular and Pathological Features of POLG Disease are Recapitulated in Cerebral Organoids.

Mitochondrial diseases are associated with neuronal death and mtDNA depletion. Astrocytes respond to injury or stimuli and damage to the central nervous system. Neurodegeneration can cause astrocytes to activate and acquire toxic functions that induce neuronal death. However, astrocyte activation and its impact on neuronal homeostasis in mitochondrial disease remain to be explored. Using patient cells carrying  mutations, we generated iPSCs and then differentiated these into astrocytes. POLG astrocytes exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction including loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, energy failure, loss of complex I and IV, disturbed NAD/NADH metabolism, and mtDNA depletion. Further, POLG derived astrocytes presented an A1-like reactive phenotype with increased proliferation, invasion, upregulation of pathways involved in response to stimulus, immune system process, cell proliferation and cell killing. Under direct and indirect co-culture with neurons, POLG astrocytes manifested a toxic effect leading to the death of neurons. We demonstrate that mitochondrial dysfunction caused by  mutations leads not only to intrinsic defects in energy metabolism affecting both neurons and astrocytes, but also to neurotoxic damage driven by astrocytes. These findings reveal a novel role for dysfunctional astrocytes that contribute to the pathogenesis of POLG diseases.

Article	Year
The NAD Precursor Nicotinamide Riboside Rescues Mitochondrial Defects and Neuronal Loss in iPSC derived Cortical Organoid of Alpers' Disease. International journal of biological sciences\| PubMed ID: 38385069	2024
Hallmark Molecular and Pathological Features of POLG Disease are Recapitulated in Cerebral Organoids. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)\| PubMed ID: 38445970	2024
Activation of Neurotoxic Astrocytes Due to Mitochondrial Dysfunction Triggered by Mutation. International journal of biological sciences\| PubMed ID: 38904024	2024

Tsering Yangzom

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