RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A novel approach to derive human midbrain-specific organoids from neuroepithelial stem cells
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 061077
DO 10.1101/061077
A1 Anna S. Monzel
A1 Lisa M. Smits
A1 Kathrin Hemmer
A1 Siham Hachi
A1 Edinson Lucumi Moreno
A1 Thea van Wuellen
A1 Ronan M.T. Fleming
A1 Silvia Bolognin
A1 Jebs C. Schwamborn
YR 2016
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/06/29/061077.abstract
AB Research on human brain development and neurological diseases is limited by the lack of advanced experimental in vitro models that truly recapitulate the complexity of the human brain. Furthermore, animal models of human neurodegenerative diseases have failed dramatically, and the success rate of clinical trials based on these models has been disappointing. Here, we describe a novel and robust human brain organoid system that is highly specific to the midbrain derived from regionally patterned neuroepithelial stem cells. These human midbrain organoids contain spatially organized groups of dopaminergic neurons, which make them an attractive model to study Parkinson’s disease. Midbrain organoids are characterized in detail for neuronal, astroglial and oligodendrocyte differentiation. Furthermore, we show the presence of synaptic connections and electrophysiological activity. The complexity of this model is further highlighted by the myelination of neurites. The present midbrain organoid system has the potential to be used for advanced in vitro disease modeling and therapy development.