技术资料

An intronic G4C2 repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is the major known cause for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),with current evidence for both,loss of function and pathological gain of function disease mechanisms. We screened 96 200 small molecules in C9ORF72 patient iPS neurons for modulation of nuclear G4C2 RNA foci and identified 82 validated hits,including the Brd4 inhibitor JQ1 as well as novel analogs of Spliceostatin-A,a known modulator of SF3B1,the branch point binding protein of the U2-snRNP. Spliceosome modulation by these SF3B1 targeted compounds recruits SRSF1 to nuclear G4C2 RNA,mobilizing it from RNA foci into nucleocytoplasmic export. This leads to increased repeat-associated non-canonical (RAN) translation and ultimately,enhanced cell toxicity. Our data (i) provide a new pharmacological entry point with novel as well as known,publicly available tool compounds for dissection of C9ORF72 pathobiology in C9ORF72 ALS models,(ii) allowing to differentially modulate RNA foci versus RAN translation,and (iii) suggest that therapeutic RNA foci elimination strategies warrant caution due to a potential storage function,counteracting translation into toxic dipeptide repeat polyproteins. Instead,our data support modulation of nuclear export via SRSF1 or SR protein kinases as possible targets for future pharmacological drug discovery. View Publication

Cardiac ventricular pressure overload affects patients with congenital heart defects and can cause cardiac insufficiency. Grafts of stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes are proposed as a complementary treatment to surgical repair of the cardiac defect,aiming to support ventricular function. Here,we report successful engraftment of human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac lineage cells into the heart of immunosuppressed rhesus macaques with a novel surgical model of right ventricular pressure overload. The human troponin+ grafts were detected in low-dose (2 × 106 cells/kg) and high-dose (10 × 106 cells/kg) treatment groups up to 12 weeks post-injection. Transplanted cells integrated and progressively matched the organization of the surrounding host myocardium. Ventricular tachycardia occurred in five out of 16 animals receiving cells,with episodes of incessant tachycardia observed in two animals; ventricular tachycardia events resolved within 19 days. Our results demonstrate that grafted cardiomyocytes mature and integrate into the myocardium of nonhuman primates modeling right ventricular pressure overload. View Publication

The MAPT gene encodes Tau protein,a member of the large family of microtubule-associated proteins. Tau forms large insoluble aggregates that are toxic to neurons in several neurological disorders,and neurofibrillary Tau tangles represent a key pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Lowering Tau expression levels constitutes a potential treatment for AD but the mechanisms that regulate Tau expression at the transcriptional or translational level are not well understood. Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are a particular class of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that can regulate expression of their overlapping protein-coding genes at the epigenetic,transcriptional,or translational level. We and others identified a long non-coding RNA associated with the MAPT gene,named MAPT antisense 1 (MAPT-AS1). We confirmed that MAPT-AS1 is expressed in neurons in human post mortem brain tissue. To study the role of MAPT-AS1 on MAPT expression regulation,we modulated the expression of this lncRNA in human neuroblastoma cell lines and in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived neurons. In contrast to previous reports,we observed no changes on MAPT mRNA or Tau protein levels upon modulation of MAPT-AS1 levels in these cellular models. Our data suggest that MAPT-AS1 does not regulate Tau expression levels in human neurons in vitro. Thus,MAPT-AS1 does not represent a valuable therapeutic target to lower Tau expression in patients affected by tauopathies including AD. View Publication

53BP1 is a well-established DNA damage repair factor that has recently emerged to critically regulate gene expression for tumor suppression and neural development. However,its precise function and regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here,we showed that phosphorylation of 53BP1 at serine 25 by ATM is required for neural progenitor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation in cortical brain organoids. Dynamic phosphorylation of 53BP1-serine 25 controls 53BP1 target genes governing neuronal differentiation and function,cellular response to stress,and apoptosis. Mechanistically,ATM and RNF168 govern 53BP1’s binding to gene loci to directly affect gene regulation,especially at genes for neuronal differentiation and maturation. 53BP1 serine 25 phosphorylation effectively impedes its binding to bivalent or H3K27me3-occupied promoters,especially at genes regulating H3K4 methylation,neuronal functions,and cell proliferation. Beyond 53BP1,ATM-dependent phosphorylation displays wide-ranging effects,regulating factors in neuronal differentiation,cytoskeleton,p53 regulation,as well as key signaling pathways such as ATM,BDNF,and WNT during cortical organoid differentiation. Together,our data suggest that the interplay between 53BP1 and ATM orchestrates essential genetic programs for cell morphogenesis,tissue organization,and developmental pathways crucial for human cortical development. 53BP1 is a DNA damage repair factor that regulates gene expression for tumor suppression and neural development,but its precise regulatory mechanisms are unclear. This study shows that phosphorylation of 53BP1 by ATM kinase is crucial for modulating genetic programs in neural progenitors and cortical organoids. View Publication

Patients with breast cancer show altered expression of genes within the pectoralis major skeletal muscle cells of the breast. Through analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-breast cancer (BRCA),we identified three previously uncharacterized putative novel tumor suppressor genes expressed in normal muscle cells,whose expression was downregulated in breast tumors. We found that NEDD4 binding protein 2-like 1 (N4BP2L1),pleckstrin homology domain-containing family A member 4 (PLEKHA4),and brain-enriched guanylate kinase-associated protein (BEGAIN) that are normally highly expressed in breast myoepithelial cells and smooth muscle cells were significantly downregulated in breast tumor tissues of a cohort of 50 patients with this cancer. Our data revealed that the low expression of PLEKHA4 in patients with menopause below 50 years correlated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Moreover,we identified N4BP2L1 and BEGAIN as potential biomarkers of HER2-positive breast cancer. Furthermore,low BEGAIN expression in breast cancer patients with blood fat,heart problems,and diabetes correlated with a higher risk of this cancer. In addition,protein and RNA expression analysis of TCGA-BRCA revealed N4BP2L1 as a promising diagnostic protein biomarker in breast cancer. In addition,the in silico data of scRNA-seq showed high expression of these genes in several cell types of normal breast tissue,including breast myoepithelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Thus,our results suggest their possible tumor-suppressive function in breast cancer and muscle development. View Publication

ABSTRACTThe gut microbiota and the immune system are closely connected,influencing early?life brain development. Brain?derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF),crucial for neuronal development,has been demonstrated to be produced by certain immune cells. However,the modulation of BDNF during bacterial antigen and metabolite challenge remains elusive. We investigate the effects of bacterial?derived antigens and metabolites on BDNF secretion in human PBMCs. Although BDNF levels were altered during stimulation,a specific cellular origin of BDNF within PBMCs was indeterminate. Positive magnetic separation of monocytes eliminated both the stimulant?induced BDNF secretion and reduced monocyte?platelet aggregates. Conversely,elevated platelet counts significantly increased BDNF levels,indicating that platelets,when interacting with monocytes and exposed to bacterial antigens,are likely the dominant source of BDNF in PBMC cultures. As previously described,platelets are a crucial source of circulating peripheral blood BDNF. Our findings emphasize the importance of the interplay between immune?blood cell complexes during microbial stimulation in regulating BDNF levels. This highlights the necessity of investigating such interactions to better understand the early?life gut?brain axis. Bacterial antigens primarily induce BDNF release from platelets interacting with monocytes in PBMCs. This interplay underscores how immune?blood cell complexes shape BDNF levels which may impact early human development. View Publication

Venoms comprise highly sophisticated bioactive molecules modulating ion channels,receptors,coagulation factors,and the cellular membranes. This array of targets and bioactivities requires advanced high-content bioassays to facilitate the development of novel envenomation treatments and biotechnological and pharmacological agents. In response to the existing gap in venom research,we developed a cutting-edge fluorescence-based high-throughput and high-content cellular assay. This assay enables the simultaneous identification of prevalent cellular activities induced by venoms such as membrane lysis,pore formation,and ion channel modulation. By integrating intracellular calcium with extracellular nucleic acid measurements,we have successfully distinguished these venom mechanisms within a single cellular assay. Our high-content bioassay was applied across three cell types exposed to venom components representing lytic,ion pore-forming or ion channel modulator toxins. Beyond unveiling distinct profiles for these action mechanisms,we found that the pore-forming latrotoxin ?-Lt1a prefers human neuroblastoma to kidney cells and cardiomyocytes,while the lytic bee peptide melittin is not selective. Furthermore,evaluation of snake venoms showed that Elapid species induced rapid membrane lysis,while Viper species showed variable to no activity on neuroblastoma cells. These findings underscore the ability of our high-content bioassay to discriminate between clades and interspecific traits,aligning with clinical observations at venom level,beyond discriminating among ion pore-forming,membrane lysis and ion channel modulation. We hope our research will expedite the comprehension of venom biology and the diversity of toxins that elicit cytotoxic,cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects,and assist in identifying venom components that hold the potential to benefit humankind. Graphical abstractImage 1 Highlights•Optimization of bioassays to study venoms strengthens the discovery of novel drugs and envenomation treatments•We developed a high-content bioassay measuring DNA and [Ca2+]i that investigates multiple mechanisms in venom biology•This bioassay monitored membrane integrity,ion channels and ion pore formation to unravel venom's mechanism of action•We found the latrotoxin ?-Lt1a strikingly prefers neuron-like cells while the ?-helical melittin is non-selective•Evaluation of Elapid and Viper snake venoms demonstrates that this bioassay predicts the phylogeny and clinical findings View Publication

Peptide-based supramolecular nanostructures offer a versatile platform with substantial promise for clinical translation in regenerative medicine. These systems allow for the incorporation of biologically active sequences and can be engineered to modulate tissue-specific parameters such as stiffness,diffusivity,and biodegradability. We developed here a bioactive supramolecular nanostructure containing a peptide designed based on glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor. These nanostructures form scaffolds that mimic important trophic effects provided by this growth factor on iPSC-derived human dopaminergic neurons. Our in vitro data show that the nanostructures promote cell viability,confer neuroprotection against 6-hydroxydopamine toxicity,enhance neuronal morphology,facilitate electrophysiological maturation,and induce genes involved in neuronal survival. We also found that the scaffold promoted axonal extension in midbrain human organoids. These findings suggest that the supramolecular system could be useful to improve outcomes in cell-based therapies for Parkinson’s disease,where progressive dopaminergic degeneration is a hallmark. View Publication

BackgroundStem cell-derived secreted factors could protect neurons in neurodegenerative disease or after injury. The exact neuroprotective components in the secretome remain challenging to discover. Here we developed a cell-to-cell interaction model to identify a retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-protective factor derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).MethodsPrimary RGCs were co-cultured with iPSCs or treated with iPSC-conditioned media in vitro. Cell viability were assayed using live-cell staining,and culture supernatant were analyzed via multiplexed antibody-based assays and ELISA. In vivo tests were carried out under mouse optic nerve crush model and RGC transplantation study in rats. Paired t-tests were used for data analysis between two groups.ResultsRGC viability was significantly enhanced when iPSCs were first stimulated with RGC-derived supernatant before iPSC-conditioned medium was collected and added into RGC culture. A significant increase of stem cell growth factor-beta (SCGF-?) concentration was detected in the latter conditioned medium. SCGF-? enhanced RGC survival in vitro and in vivo,and RGC-derived interleukin-12(p70) (IL-12[p70]) promotes secretion of iPSC-derived SCGF-?. Downstream of this IL-12(p70)-to-SCGF-? axis,ngn2 was significantly upregulated,and was found both necessary and sufficient for RGC survival.ConclusionThis study addresses a longstanding question of how neurons and stem cells interact to promote neuroprotection,and define a novel molecular interaction pathway whereby RGC’s secretion of IL-12(p70) enhances iPSCs’ secretion of SCGF-?,and SCGF-? protects RGCs via upregulating ngn2,suggesting that neurons may call on stem cells for their own protection.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-025-04198-5. View Publication

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD),which affects 1 in 3500 to 5000 newborn boys worldwide,is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and degeneration. The reduced muscle regeneration capacity presented by patients is associated with increased fibrosis. Satellite cells (SCs) are skeletal muscle stem cells that play an important role in adult muscle maintenance and regeneration. The absence or mutation of dystrophin in DMD is hypothesized to impair SC asymmetric division,leading to cell cycle arrest. Methods: To overcome the limited availability of biopsies from DMD patients,we used our 3D skeletal muscle organoid (SMO) system,which delivers a stable population of myogenic progenitors (MPs) in dormant,activated,and committed stages,to perform SMO cultures using three DMD patient-derived iPSC lines. Results: The results of scRNA-seq analysis of three DMD SMO cultures versus two healthy,non-isogenic,SMO cultures indicate reduced MP populations with constant activation and differentiation,trending toward embryonic and immature myotubes. Mapping our data onto the human myogenic reference atlas,together with primary SC scRNA-seq data,indicated a more immature developmental stage of DMD organoid-derived MPs. DMD fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) appear to be activated in SMOs. Conclusions: Our organoid system provides a promising model for studying muscular dystrophies in vitro,especially in the case of early developmental onset,and a methodology for overcoming the bottleneck of limited patient material for skeletal muscle disease modeling. View Publication

Taybi-Linder syndrome (TALS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe microcephaly with abnormal gyral pattern,severe growth retardation and bone abnormalities. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the RNU4ATAC gene. Its transcript,the small nuclear RNA U4atac,is involved in the excision of ~850 minor introns. Here,we report a patient presenting with TALS features but no pathogenic variants were found in RNU4ATAC,instead the homozygous RTTN c.2953A>G variant was detected by whole-exome sequencing. After deciphering the impact of the variant on the RTTN protein function at centrosome in engineered RTTN-depleted RPE1 cells and patient fibroblasts,we analysed neural stem cells (NSC) derived from CRISPR/Cas9-edited induced pluripotent stem cells and revealed major cell cycle and mitotic abnormalities,leading to aneuploidy,cell cycle arrest and cell death. In cortical organoids,we discovered an additional function of RTTN in the self-organisation of NSC into neural rosettes,by observing delayed apico-basal polarization of NSC. Altogether,these defects contributed to a marked delay of rosette formation in RTTN-mutated organoids,thus impeding their overall growth and shedding light on mechanisms leading to microcephaly. Author summaryPrimary microcephaly is defined as a severe reduction of the brain size that occurs prenatally. Variants in about 50 genes have been associated to primary microcephaly,and most of them encode proteins that regulate cell cycle,notably by participating to centrosome biogenesis. Intriguingly,some other genes involved in the process of minor splicing,such as RNU4ATAC,are also related to primary microcephaly without clear understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. In our previous work,we discovered that alterations of minor splicing result into dysfunction of the centrosome/cilium complex. Here,we further feed this link between minor splicing and centrosome/primary cilium by reporting the particular case of a patient who presents with all features of the rare RNU4ATAC-associated syndrome,called the Taybi-Linder syndrome,and yet,is homozygous for the only recurrent pathogenic variant in the centrosomal RTTN gene. Hence,to decipher the underlying cellular mechanisms,we generated unique human neuronal cellular models–iPSC-derived neural stem cells (NSC) and cortical organoids–and unveiled the combination of events that contribute to the depletion of the NSC pool and explain RTTN-associated microcephaly. Our work gives thus precious hints for the understanding of the Taybi-Linder syndrome physiopathology. View Publication

miRNA,short non-coding RNA,are rapidly emerging as important regulators in cell homeostasis,as well as potential players in cellular degeneration. The latter has led to interest in them as both biomarkers and as potential therapeutics. Retinal ganglion cells (RGC),whose axons connect the eye to the brain,are central nervous system cells of great interest,yet their study is largely restricted to animals due to the difficulty in obtaining healthy human RGC. Using a CRISPR/Cas9-based reporter embryonic stem cell line,human RGC were generated and their miRNA profile characterized using NanoString miRNA assays. We identified a variety of retinal specific miRNA upregulated in ESC-derived RGC,with half of the most abundant miRNA also detectable in purified rat RGC. Several miRNA were however identified to be unique to RGC from human. The findings show which miRNA are abundant in RGC and the limited congruence with animal derived RGC. These data could be used to understand miRNA’s role in RGC function,as well as potential biomarkers or therapies in retinal diseases involving RGC degeneration. View Publication