Generation of self-organized sensory ganglion organoids and retinal ganglion cells from fibroblasts

Dongchang Xiao, Qinqin Deng, Qinqin Deng, Yanan Guo, Xiuting Huang, Min Zou, Jiawei Zhong, Pinhong Rao, Zihui Xu, Yifan Liu, Youjin Hu, Yin Shen, Kangxin Jin, Mengqing Xiang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neural organoids provide a powerful tool for investigating neural development, modeling neural diseases, screening drugs, and developing cell-based therapies. Somatic cells have previously been reprogrammed by transcription factors (TFs) into sensory ganglion (SG) neurons but not SG organoids. We identify a combination of triple TFs Ascl1, Brn3b/3a, and Isl1 (ABI) as an efficient means to reprogram mouse and human fibroblasts into self-organized and networked induced SG (iSG) organoids. The iSG neurons exhibit molecular features, subtype diversity, electrophysiological and calcium response properties, and innervation patterns characteristic of peripheral sensory neurons. Moreover, we have defined retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-specific identifiers to demonstrate the ability for ABI to reprogram induced RGCs (iRGCs) from fibroblasts. Unlike iSG neurons, iRGCs maintain a scattering distribution pattern characteristic of endogenous RGCs. iSG organoids may serve as a model to decipher the pathogenesis of sensorineural diseases and screen effective drugs and a source for cell replacement therapy.

Original languageAmerican English
Article numberEAAZ5858
Pages (from-to)1V
JournalScience advances
Volume6
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Generation of self-organized sensory ganglion organoids and retinal ganglion cells from fibroblasts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this