Cited by 1,609Pluripotent Stem Cells ResearchNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeural dynamics and brain function

Functional cortical neurons and astrocytes from human pluripotent stem cells in 3D culture

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Paşca, Anca M, Sloan, Steven A, Clarke, Laura E, Tian, Yuan, Makinson, Christopher D, Huber, Nina, Kim, Chul Hoon, Park, Jin-Young +7 more·2015·Nature Methods

Abstract

The human cerebral cortex develops through an elaborate succession of cellular events that, when disrupted, can lead to neuropsychiatric disease. The ability to reprogram somatic cells into pluripotent cells that can be differentiated in vitro provides a unique opportunity to study normal and abnormal corticogenesis. Here, we present a simple and reproducible 3D culture approach for generating a laminated cerebral cortex-like structure, named human cortical spheroids (hCSs), from pluripotent stem cells. hCSs contain neurons from both deep and superficial cortical layers and map transcriptionally to in vivo fetal development. These neurons are electrophysiologically mature, display spontaneous activity, are surrounded by nonreactive astrocytes and form functional synapses. Experiments in acute hCS slices demonstrate that cortical neurons participate in network activity and produce complex synaptic events. These 3D cultures should allow a detailed interrogation of human cortical development, function and disease, and may prove a versatile platform for generating other neuronal and glial subtypes in vitro.

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  • Human brain organoids can replicate the complex brain microenvironment better than 2D in vitro models.

    “With their 3D structures and cell components resembling the human brain, these organoids can replicate the complex brain microenvironment better than 2D in vitro models (15–17, 19)”
  • Production of radial glial cells, intermediate progenitors, and deep- and superficial-layer neurons in an ordered temporal fashion has been reported by studies using all current protocols.

    “The production of radial glial cells, intermediate progenitors, and deep- and superficial-layer neurons in an ordered temporal fashion has been reported by studies using all of the protocols currently in use2,3,5,25.”
  • Neurons fired action potentials spontaneously, there was evidence of synaptogenesis, and excitatory postsynaptic potentials were evoked by extracellular electrical stimulation, suggesting neuronal connectivity.

    “Neurons fired action potentials spontaneously, there was evidence of synaptogenesis and excitatory postsynaptic potentials were evoked in response to extracellular electrical stimulation, suggesting neuronal connectivity.”
  • A degree of neuronal functional maturation was reported in dorsal telencephalon organoids allowed to develop for up to 180 days in vitro.

    “A degree of neuronal functional maturation was reported in dorsal telencephalon organoids that were allowed to develop for up to 180 days in vitro25.”
  • Most protocols show transcriptional correlation with only early to mid-gestational stages of brain development.

    “Most protocols show transcriptional correlation with only early to mid-gestational stages of brain development5,25,29.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [26]Bayer SA Altman J Neocortical Development Raven Press New York 1991

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Authors
Paşca, A. M., Sloan, S. A., Clarke, L. E., Tian, Y., Makinson, C. D., Huber, N., Kim, C. H., Park, J.-Y., O'Rourke, N. A., Nguyen, K. D., Smith, S. J., Huguenard, J. R., Geschwind, D. H., Barres, B. A., & Paşca, S. P.
Affiliations
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • Yonsei University (KR)
  • Stanford Blood Center (US)
  • Allen Institute for Brain Science (US)
Venue
Nature Methods
Published
2015-05-25
Volume
12
Issue
7
Pages
671-678
ISSN
  • 1548-7091 (ISSN-L)
  • 1548-7105
OpenAlex
W1553983967
Cited by
1,609
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 137 · 2025: 167 · 2024: 152 · 2023: 155 · 2022: 180 · 2021: 175 · 2020: 178 · 2019: 150 · 2018: 130 · 2017: 95 · 2016: 71 · 2015: 15
FWCI
45.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Methods (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5t32ns007280-35, 5r01mh094714-04)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (F30MH106261, R21MH087898, 5R01MH094714, R33MH087898, R01-MH094714, R01MH099555, R01MH060233, R21MH099797, R01MH100900, R56MH060233, R37MH060233, T32MH020016)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM007365)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS090911, R01NS075252, T32NS-007280, R01NS092474, R01NS081703, R01NS034774)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
cortical development, pluripotent stem cells, 3D cell culture, cortical neurons, astrocytes, spontaneous neuronal activity, cortical network activity, cortical lamination, in vitro brain models
MeSH terms
Astrocytes, Cells, Cultured, Cerebral Cortex, Humans, Synapses, Spheroids, Cellular, Pluripotent Stem Cells

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