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Single cell sequencing and retrograde barcode tracing reveal human DA neuron identities based on projection patterns in stem cell-derived grafts

ABSTRACT: Groundbreaking research in the last decade has definitively established human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) as a powerful source for the unlimited generation of dopamine (DA) neurons used in cell-based therapy in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, DA neurons constitute a heterogeneous group of cells with different molecular identities and, consequently, different functions and innervation targets. Moreover, the inaccessibility of the human brain has so far hindered our understanding of the highly complex human DA system and, therefore, the design of DA neuron subtype-specific differentiation protocols for more effective cell replacement therapies. Currently, DA neurons – located in human ventral midbrain – can only be reliably distinguished based on their projection patterns. Here, we used hPSCs to derive and then transplant DA neurons into a rat model of PD. After one year of transplantation, we performed single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) of ~80,000 human nuclei to transcriptionally define cell type composition and obtained a comprehensive map of DA neuron molecular identities. Exploiting the fact that transplanted DA neurons innervated and integrated within the host circuitry, we then combined snRNAseq with axonal retrograde AAV barcoding to trace the projection patterns of molecularly distinct human DA neuron subtypes in the grafts. We thus defined human DA neuron transcriptional profiles based on their target-specific outgrowth in the host brain. The resulting datasets provide an unprecedented resource both for elucidating the molecular basis of human DA neuron diversity as well as for developing more targeted cell-based therapies, with major implications for outcomes of PD patients.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE233885 | GEO | 2024/11/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are a promising source of cells for applications in regenerative medicine. Directed differentiation of hPSCs into specialized cells such as spinal motoneurons or midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons has been achieved. However the effective use of hPSCs for cell therapy has lagged far behind. While mouse PSC-derived DA neurons have shown efficacy in models of Parkinson’s disease, DA neurons derived from human PSCs generally display poor in vivo performance. There are also considerable safety concerns for hPSCs related to their potential for teratoma formation or neural overgrowth. Here we present a novel floor plate-based strategy for the derivation of human DA neurons that efficiently engraft, suggesting that past failures were due to incomplete specification rather than a specific vulnerability of the cells. Midbrain floor plate precursors are derived from hPSCs in days following exposure to small molecule activators of sonic hedgehog (SHH) and canonical WNT signaling. Engraftable midbrain DA neurons are obtained by day 25 and can be maintained in vitro for several months. Extensive in vitro molecular profiling, biochemical and electrophysiological data define developmental progression and confirm identity of hPSC-derived midbrain DA neurons. In vivo survival and function is demonstrated in PD animal models in three host species. Long-term engraftment in 6-OHDA-lesioned mouse and rats demonstrates robust survival of midbrain DA neurons, complete restoration of amphetamine-induced rotation behavior and improvements in tests of forelimb use and akinesia. Finally, scalability is demonstrated by transplantation into Parkinsonian monkeys. Excellent DA neuron survival, function and lack of neural overgrowth in the three animal models tested indicate considerable promise for the development of cell based therapies in PD. Differentiated hESC with three conditions (LSB, LSB/S/F8, LSB/S/F8/CHIR) were subjected to RNA extraction in specific timepoint (day 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 25) and hybridization on Illumina microarrays. Each sample has 3 or 4 biological repeats. Based on previous study* of dual SMAD inhibition neural induction, we developed new midbrain dopamine neuron protocol. It depends on time specific treatment of below factors (LSB/S/F8/CHIR): L (LDN193189 (BMP inhibitor) , day 0-11), SB (SB431542 (TGF-b signal inhibitor), day 0-5), S (SHH + Purmorphamine (Smo agonist), day 1-7), F8 (FGF8, day 1-7) and CHIR (CHIR99021 (GSK3b inhibitor), day 3-13) LSB and LSB/S/F8 are limited control conditions of dual SMAD only (LSB) or traditional patterning with Sonic and FGF (LSB/S/F8) *Chambers,S.M. et al. Highly efficient neural conversion of human ES and iPS cells by dual inhibition of SMAD signaling. Nat. Biotechnol. 27, 275-280 (2009).

Project description:Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for in vitro disease modeling and cell replacement therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Both applications crucially require an in-depth profiling of the disease-relevant, iPSC-derived cell type. Midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells are of substantial interest because of their instrumental value for PD therapy. IPSC-derived mDA neuron-like cells have been generated, however, detailed genetic and epigenetic characterization of strictly purified in vitro generated DA neurons has so far lagged behind. We generated mouse Pitx3gfp/+ iPSC-derived DA neurons that, after fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) allowed comprehensive comparison to mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons from Fac-sorted Pitx3gfp/+ ventral midbrains. We performed detailed analysis of global gene expression and genome-scale DNA methylation of CpG islands (CGIs) by reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. The reprogramming pathway from fibroblasts to iPSCs left parental cell footprints for both gene expression and DNA methylation. However, most gene expression patterns of iPSC-derived DA neurons closely resembled that of primary mdDA neurons with the strongest correlations for mdDA specific genes. Also, for DNA methylation patterns, high similarities were found for the vast majority of CGIs when comparing primary mdDA neurons with iPSC-derived DA neurons. Additionally, we found de novo DNA methylation during in vitro differentiation for hundreds of genes specifically in lineage-committed neural precursors that persisted in iPSC-derived DA neurons. Our study provides novel detailed characteristics of iPSC-derived DA neurons in comparison to the primary cell type. These findings add important information to our knowledge about these biomedically highly valuable, in vitro generated neurons. Microarray expression study comparing 3 samples of facs-sorted, Pitx3-gfp positive cells from each experimental group to a common reference consisting of adult mouse midbrain RNA. Each sample was analysed in normal and opposite dye orientation.

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Single cell sequencing and retrograde barcode tracing reveal human DA neuron identities based on projection patterns in stem cell-derived grafts

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