Immature electrophysiological properties of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons transplanted into the mouse cortex for 7 weeks

Neuroreport. 2019 Feb 6;30(3):169-173. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001178.

Abstract

The transplantation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cells has emerged as a potential clinical approach for the treatment of brain diseases. Recent studies with animal disease models have shown that hiPSC-derived neurons transplanted into the brain, especially the nigrostriatal area, could restore degenerated brain functions. Further works are required to test whether hiPSC-derived neurons can also gain functional properties for other cortical areas. In this study, hiPSC-derived neurospheres were transplanted into the adult mouse hippocampus and sensory cortex. Most transplanted hiPSC-derived neurons expressed both Nestin and NeuN at 7 weeks after transplantation. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from brain slices indicated that transplanted cells showed no action potentials upon current injection and few small inward currents, indicating that hiPSC-derived neurons did not become functionally mature within these time periods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured / cytology
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena / physiology
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mice
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods