技术资料

To comprehend the volumetric neural connectivity of a brain organoid,it is crucial to monitor the spatiotemporal electrophysiological signals within the organoid,known as intra-organoid signals. However,previous methods risked damaging the three-dimensional (3D) cytoarchitecture of organoids,either through sectioning or inserting rigid needle-like electrodes. Also,the limited numbers of electrodes in fixed positions with non-adjustable electrode shapes were insufficient for examining the complex neural activity throughout the organoid. Herein,we present a magnetically reshapable 3D multi-electrode array (MEA) using direct printing of liquid metals for electrophysiological analysis of brain organoids. The adaptable distribution and the softness of these printed electrodes facilitate the spatiotemporal recording of intra-organoid signals. Furthermore,the unique capability to reshape these soft electrodes within the organoid using magnetic fields allows a single electrode in the MEA to record from multiple points,effectively increasing the recording site density without the need for additional electrodes. Conventional platforms for electrophysiological recording of organoids have limited recording site density. Here,the authors present the magnetically reshapable 3D liquid metal-based electrode array for high-resolution analysis on neural activities of brain organoids. View Publication

The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases,including Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While prior studies have focused on STING within immune cells,little is known about STING within neurons. Here,we document neuronal activation of the STING pathway in human postmortem cortical and spinal motor neurons from individuals affected by familial or sporadic ALS. This process takes place selectively in the most vulnerable cortical and spinal motor neurons but not in neurons that are less affected by the disease. Concordant STING activation in layer V cortical motor neurons occurs in a mouse model of C9orf72 repeat-associated ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). To establish that STING activation occurs in a neuron-autonomous manner,we demonstrate the integrity of the STING signaling pathway,including both upstream activators and downstream innate immune response effectors,in dissociated mouse cortical neurons and neurons derived from control human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Human iPSC-derived neurons harboring different familial ALS-causing mutations exhibit increased STING signaling with DNA damage as a main driver. The elevated downstream inflammatory markers present in ALS iPSC-derived neurons can be suppressed with a STING inhibitor. Our results reveal an immunophenotype that consists of innate immune signaling driven by the STING pathway and occurs specifically within vulnerable neurons in ALS/FTD.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00401-024-02688-z. View Publication

Background: Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs),including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs),can undergo erythroid differentiation,offering a potentially invaluable resource for generating large quantities of erythroid cells. However,the majority of erythrocytes derived from hPSCs fail to enucleate compared with those derived from cord blood progenitors,with an unknown molecular basis for this difference. The expression of vimentin (VIM) is retained in erythroid cells differentiated from hPSCs but is absent in mature erythrocytes. Further exploration is required to ascertain whether VIM plays a critical role in enucleation and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: In this study,we established a hESC line with reversible vimentin degradation (dTAG-VIM-H9) using the proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) platform. Various time-course studies,including erythropoiesis from CD34+ human umbilical cord blood and three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture from hESCs,morphological analysis,quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR),western blotting,flow cytometry,karyotyping,cytospin,Benzidine-Giemsa staining,immunofluorescence assay,and high-speed cell imaging analysis,were conducted to examine and compare the characteristics of hESCs and those with vimentin degradation,as well as their differentiated erythroid cells. Results: Vimentin expression diminished during normal erythropoiesis in CD34+ cord blood cells,whereas it persisted in erythroid cells differentiated from hESC. Depletion of vimentin using the degradation tag (dTAG) system promotes erythroid enucleation in dTAG-VIM-H9 cells. Nuclear polarization of erythroblasts is elevated by elimination of vimentin. Conclusions: VIM disappear during the normal maturation of erythroid cells,whereas they are retained in erythroid cells differentiated from hPSCs. We found that retention of vimentin during erythropoiesis impairs erythroid enucleation from hPSCs. Using the PROTAC platform,we validated that vimentin degradation by dTAG accelerates the enucleation rate in dTAG-VIM-H9 cells by enhancing nuclear polarization. View Publication

Cell signaling plays a critical role in neurodevelopment,regulating cellular behavior and fate. While multimodal single-cell sequencing technologies are rapidly advancing,scalable and flexible profiling of cell signaling states alongside other molecular modalities remains challenging. Here we present Phospho-seq,an integrated approach that aims to quantify cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins,including those with post-translational modifications,and to connect their activity with cis-regulatory elements and transcriptional targets. We utilize a simplified benchtop antibody conjugation method to create large custom neuro-focused antibody panels for simultaneous protein and scATAC-seq profiling on whole cells,alongside both experimental and computational strategies to incorporate transcriptomic measurements. We apply our workflow to cell lines,induced pluripotent stem cells,and months-old retinal and brain organoids to demonstrate its broad applicability. We show that Phospho-seq can provide insights into cellular states and trajectories,shed light on gene regulatory relationships,and help explore the causes and effects of diverse cell signaling in neurodevelopment. Here,the authors demonstrate Phospho-seq,a single-cell multiomics method capable of quantifying chromatin accessibility alongside intracellular proteins,including post-translationally modified proteins. Then,they apply Phospho-seq to organoid models of neurodevelopment. View Publication

Cardiac differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells is readily achievable,yet derivation of mature cardiomyocytes has been a recognized limitation. Here,a mesoderm priming approach was engineered to boost the maturation of cardiomyocyte progeny derived from pluripotent stem cells under standard cardiac differentiation conditions. Functional and structural hallmarks of maturity were assessed through multiparametric evaluation of cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells following transfection of the mesoderm transcription factor Brachyury prior to initiation of lineage differentiation. Transfection with Brachyury resulted in earlier induction of a cardiopoietic state as hallmarked by early upregulation of the cardiac-specific transcription factors NKX2.5,GATA4,TBX20. Enhanced sarcomere maturity following Brachyury conditioning was documented by an increase in the proportion of cells expressing the ventricular isoform of myosin light chain and an increase in sarcomere length. Mesoderm primed cells displayed increased reliance on mitochondrial respiration as determined by increased mitochondrial size and a greater basal oxygen consumption rate. Further,Brachyury priming drove maturation of calcium handling enabling transfected cells to maintain calcium transient morphology at higher external field stimulation rates and augmented both calcium release and sequestration kinetics. In addition,transfected cells displayed a more mature action potential morphology with increased depolarization and repolarization kinetics. Derived cells transfected with Brachyury demonstrated increased toxicity response to doxorubicin as determined by a compromise in calcium transient morphology. Thus,Brachyury pre-treatment here achieved a streamlined strategy to promote maturity of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes establishing a generalizable platform ready for deployment. View Publication

Presynaptic scaffold proteins,including liprin-?,RIM,and ELKS,are pivotal to the assembly of the active zone and regulating the coupling of calcium signals and neurotransmitter release,yet the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here,we determined the crystal structure of the liprin-?2/RIM1 complex,revealing a multifaceted intermolecular interaction that drives the liprin-?/RIM assembly. Neurodevelopmental disease-associated mutations block the formation of the complex. Disrupting this interaction in cultured human neurons impairs synaptic transmission and reduces the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles. Super-resolution imaging analysis supports a role for liprin-? in recruiting RIM1 to the active zone,presumably by promoting the liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of RIM1. Strikingly,the liprin-?/RIM interaction modulates the competitive distribution of ELKS1 and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) in RIM1 condensates. Disrupting the liprin-?/RIM interaction significantly decreased VGCC accumulation in the condensed phase and rendered release more sensitive to the slow calcium buffer EGTA,suggesting an increased physical distance between VGCC and vesicular calcium sensors. Together,our findings provide a plausible mechanism of the liprin-?/RIM complex in regulating the coupling of calcium channels and primed synaptic vesicles via LLPS for efficient synaptic transmission and uncover the pathological implication of liprin-? mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders. Scaffolding proteins regulate the assembly of the active zone in presynaptic terminals,but the mechanisms of assembly remain poorly understood. This study solves the crystal structure of the liprin-?2/RIM1 complex and shows that this interaction is essential for synaptic transmission and the coupling of calcium channels with primed synaptic vesicles in an LLPS-dependent manner. View Publication

BackgroundSmall extracellular vesicles (EVs),exemplified by exosomes,mediate intercellular communication by transporting proteins,mRNAs,and miRNAs. Post-translational modifications are involved in controlling small EV secretion process. However,whether palmitoylation regulates small EV secretion,remains largely unexplored.MethodsVacuole Membrane Protein 1 (VMP1) was testified to be S-palmitoylated by Palmitoylation assays. VMP1 mutant plasmids were constructed to screen out the exact palmitoylation sites. Small EVs were isolated,identified and compared between wild-type VMP1 or mutant VMP1 transfected cells. Electron microscope and immunofluorescence were used to detect multivesicular body (MVB) number and morphology change when VMP1 was mutated. Immunoprecipitation and Mass spectrum were adopted to identify the protein that interacted with palmitoylated VMP1,while knock down experiment was used to explore the function of targeted protein ALIX. Taking human Sertoli cells (SCs) and human spermatogonial stem cell like cells (SSCLCs) as a model of intercellular communication,SSCLC maintenance was detected by flow cytometry and qPCR at 12 days of differentiation. In vivo,mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection with palmitoylation inhibitor,2-bromopalmitate (2BP) for 3 months.ResultsVMP1 was identified to be palmitoylated at cysteine 263,278 by ZDHHC3. Specifically,palmitoylation of VMP1 regulated its subcellular location and enhanced the amount of small EV secretion. Mutation of VMP1 palmitoylation sites interfered with the morphology and biogenesis of MVBs through suppressing intraluminal vesicle formation. Furthermore,inhibition of VMP1 palmitoylation impeded small EV secretion by affecting the interaction of VMP1 with ALIX,an accessory protein of the ESCRT machinery. Taking SCs and SSCLCs as a model of intercellular communication,we discovered VMP1 palmitoylation in SCs was vital to the growth status of SSCLCs in a co-culture system. Inhibition of VMP1 palmitoylation caused low self-maintenance,increased apoptosis,and decreased proliferation rate of SSCLCs. In vivo,intraperitoneal injection of 2BP inhibited VMP1 palmitoylation and exosomal marker expression in mouse testes,which were closely associated with the level of spermatogenic cell apoptosis and proliferation.ConclusionsOur study revealed a novel mechanism for small EV secretion regulated by VMP1 palmitoylation in Sertoli cells,and demonstrated its pivotal role in intercellular communication and SSC niche.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-024-01529-6. View Publication

Statin drugs lower blood cholesterol levels for cardiovascular disease prevention. Women are more likely than men to experience adverse statin effects,particularly new-onset diabetes (NOD) and muscle weakness. Here we find that impaired glucose homeostasis and muscle weakness in statin-treated female mice are associated with reduced levels of the omega-3 fatty acid,docosahexaenoic acid (DHA),impaired redox tone,and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Statin adverse effects are prevented in females by administering fish oil as a source of DHA,by reducing dosage of the X chromosome or the Kdm5c gene,which escapes X chromosome inactivation and is normally expressed at higher levels in females than males. As seen in female mice,we find that women experience more severe reductions than men in DHA levels after statin administration,and that DHA levels are inversely correlated with glucose levels. Furthermore,induced pluripotent stem cells from women who developed NOD exhibit impaired mitochondrial function when treated with statin,whereas cells from men do not. These studies identify X chromosome dosage as a genetic risk factor for statin adverse effects and suggest DHA supplementation as a preventive co-therapy. Women are more likely than men to experience adverse statin effects,particularly new-onset diabetes and muscle weakness. Here the authors show that statin-treated female mice show reduced levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and that the adverse effects are prevented by administering fish oil as a source of DHA,by reducing dosage of the X chromosome or the Kdm5c gene. View Publication

In this study,we explore the therapeutic feasibility of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) synthase (A4GALT)-specific siRNA-loaded polyhistidine (pHis)-incorporated lipid nanoparticles (HLNPs) for Fabry disease (FD). HLNPs were developed to deliver siRNAs targeting A4GALT using a microfluidic device,with pHis aiding in endosome escape. The therapy was tested on GLA-knockout human-induced pluripotent-stem-cell-derived endothelial cells (GLA-KO-hiPSC-ECs) and podocytes (GLA-KO-hiPSC-PCs). GLA-KO-hiPSCs-ECs or -PCs,upon differentiation,were treated with A4GALT-siRNA-HLNP. Successful intracellular uptake of A4GALT-siRNA-HLNP was confirmed through fluorescence and electron microscopy in both cell types. A4GALT-siRNA-HLNP treatment confirmed both cell types’ stability at 5 ?g/mL. Increased Gb3 deposition and zebra body formation were detected in both cell types,but A4GALT-siRNA-HLNP treatment attenuated these FD phenotypes,demonstrating reduced expression of A4GALT through western blot analysis. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the expression of transcripts associated with FD was restored by A4GALT-siRNA-HLNP treatment in GLA-KO-hiPSCs-ECs,whereas in GLA-KO-hiPSCs-PCs,this effect was relatively less pronounced. Suppression of A4GALT via siRNA/HLNP treatment significantly rescued FD phenotypes especially in EC,presenting a novel therapeutic approach for FD. Graphical abstract This study highlights the therapeutic potential of A4GALT-siRNA delivered via HLNPs for Fabry disease (FD). In GLA-KO-hiPSC-derived endothelial cells and podocytes,treatment reduced Gb3 accumulation,restored transcriptomic changes,and mitigated FD phenotypes,with stronger effects in endothelial cells,supporting its promise as a novel FD therapy. View Publication

IntroductionGlucose Transporter 1-Deficiency Syndrome (GLUT1-DS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding for GLUT1 and characterized by impaired glucose uptake in the brain. This leads to brain hypometabolism and the development of symptoms that include epilepsy,motor dysfunctions and cognitive impairment. The development of patient-specific in vitro models is a valuable tool for understanding the pathophysiology of rare genetic disorders and testing new therapeutic interventions.MethodsIn this study,we generated brain organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived either from a GLUT1-DS patient or a healthy individual. The functional organoids were analyzed for cellular composition,maturity,and electrophysiological activity using a custom-made microelectrode array (MEA) platform,which allowed for the detection of spikes,burst patterns,and epileptiform discharges.ResultsImmunostaining revealed a similar distribution of neurons and astrocytes in both healthy and GLUT1-DS brain organoids,though GLUT1-DS brain organoids exhibited reduced cellular density and smaller overall size. Electrophysiological recordings demonstrated functional spike profiles in both organoid types. Notably,our study demonstrates that brain organoids derived from a GLUT1-DS patient exhibit distinct epileptiform activity and heightened sensitivity to glucose deprivation,reflecting key features of the disorder.DiscussionThese findings validate the use of brain organoids as a model for studying GLUT1-DS and highlight their potential for testing novel therapeutic strategies aimed at improving glucose metabolism and managing epilepsy in patients. View Publication

The emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) has led to the development of novel anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs. Common methods for testing the efficacy of new drugs,including two-dimensional cell culture models or animal models,have several limitations. Therefore,an appropriate model representative of the human organism is required. Here,we developed an M.tb infection model using human lung organoids (hLOs) and demonstrated that M.tb H37Rv can infect lung epithelial cells and human macrophages (hM?s) in hLOs. This novel M.tb infection model can be cultured long-term and split several times while maintaining a similar number of M.tb H37Rv inside the hLOs. Anti-TB drugs reduced the intracellular survival of M.tb in hLOs. Notably,M.tb growth in hLOs was effectively suppressed at each passage by rifampicin and bedaquiline. Furthermore,a reduction in inflammatory cytokine production and intracellular survival of M.tb were observed upon knockdown of MFN2 and HERPUD1 (host-directed therapeutic targets for TB) in our M.tb H37Rv-infected hLO model. Thus,the incorporation of hM?s and M.tb into hLOs provides a powerful strategy for generating an M.tb infection model. This model can effectively reflect host-pathogen interactions and be utilized to test the efficacy of anti-TB drugs and host-directed therapies. Author summaryEstablishment of M.tb infection model is imperative to develop new anti-TB drugs based on the pathogenesis of TB. Various animal models,including mice,rats,guinea pigs,non-human primates,rabbits,cattle,and zebrafish,are commonly used in TB research to mimic TB symptoms and study immune responses to M.tb infection. In vitro models,such as agent-based models allow examination of host-pathogen interactions,early granuloma formation and drug screening,providing cellular-level insights. However,these models may not fully represent human immunopathology owing to differences in immune cell distributions. Lung organoids mimic human lung dynamics and functions,providing crucial insights into immune responses to TB. In this study,an M.tb infection model developed using hLOs demonstrated infection of lung epithelial cells and human macrophages,reflecting host-pathogen interactions. This model is attractive for evaluating the efficacy of anti-TB drugs and host-directed therapies. View Publication

Human genetics analysis has identified many noncoding SNPs associated with diabetic traits,but whether and how these variants contribute to diabetes is largely unknown. Here,we focus on a noncoding variant,rs6048205,and report that the risk-G variant impairs the generation of PDX1+/NKX6-1+ pancreatic progenitor cells and further results in the abnormal decrease of functional ? cells during pancreatic differentiation. Mechanistically,this risk-G variant greatly enhances RXRA binding and over-activates FOXA2 transcription,specifically in the pancreatic progenitor stage,which in turn represses NKX6-1 expression. Consistently,inducible FOXA2 overexpression could phenocopy the differentiation defect. More importantly,mice carrying risk-G exhibit abnormal pancreatic islet architecture and are more sensitive to streptozotocin or a high-fat diet to develop into diabetes eventually. This study not only identifies a causal noncoding variant in diabetes susceptibility but also dissects the underlying gain-of-function mechanism by recruiting stage-specific factors. How GWAS-annotated noncoding SNPs contribute to diabetes remains unclear. Here,the authors report that the noncoding SNP rs6048205 drives stage-specific defects in human pancreatic differentiation and increases diabetes susceptibility in mice. View Publication