Characterizing human stem cell-derived sensory neurons at the single-cell level reveals their ion channel expression and utility in pain research.

The generation of human sensory neurons by directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells opens new opportunities for investigating the biology of pain. The inability to generate this cell type has meant that up until now their study has been reliant on the use of rodent models. Here, we use a combination of population and single-cell techniques to perform a detailed molecular, electrophysiological, and pharmacological phenotyping of sensory neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells. We describe the evolution of cell populations over 6 weeks of directed differentiation; a process that results in the generation of a largely homogeneous population of neurons that are both molecularly and functionally comparable to human sensory neurons derived from mature dorsal root ganglia. This work opens the prospect of using pluripotent stem-cell-derived sensory neurons to study human neuronal physiology and as in vitro models for drug discovery in pain and sensory disorders.

Discovery of Allosteric, Potent, Subtype Selective, and Peripherally Restricted TrkA Kinase Inhibitors.

Tropomyosin receptor kinases (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC) are activated by hormones of the neurotrophin family: nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3), and neurotrophin 4 (NT4). Moreover, the NGF antibody tanezumab has provided clinical proof of concept for inhibition of the TrkA kinase pathway in pain leading to significant interest in the development of small molecule inhibitors of TrkA. However, achieving TrkA subtype selectivity over TrkB and TrkC via a Type I and Type II inhibitor binding mode has proven challenging and Type III or Type IV allosteric inhibitors may present a more promising selectivity design approach. Furthermore, TrkA inhibitors with minimal brain availability are required to deliver an appropriate safety profile. Herein, we describe the discovery of a highly potent, subtype selective, peripherally restricted, efficacious, and well-tolerated series of allosteric TrkA inhibitors that culminated in the delivery of candidate quality compound 23.

Behavioral and neurochemical alterations in mice deficient in anaplastic lymphoma kinase suggest therapeutic potential for psychiatric indications.

The receptor tyrosine kinase product of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene has been implicated in oncogenesis as a product of several chromosomal translocations, although its endogeneous role in the hematopoietic and neural systems has remained poorly understood. We describe that the generation of animals homozygous for a deletion of the ALK tyrosine kinase domain leads to alterations in adult brain function. Evaluation of adult ALK homozygotes (HOs) revealed an age-dependent increase in basal hippocampal progenitor proliferation and alterations in behavioral tests consistent with a role for this receptor in the adult brain. ALK HO animals displayed an increased struggle time in the tail suspension test and the Porsolt swim test and enhanced performance in a novel object-recognition test. Neurochemical analysis demonstrates an increase in basal dopaminergic signalling selectively within the frontal cortex. Altogether, these results suggest that ALK functions in the adult brain to regulate the function of the frontal cortex and hippocampus and identifies ALK as a new target for psychiatric indications, such as schizophrenia and depression, with an underlying deregulated monoaminergic signalling.

Identification of proteomic changes during differentiation of adult mouse subventricular zone progenitor cells.

The use of neural precursor cells (NPCs) represents a promising repair strategy for many neurological disorders. However, the molecular events and biological features that control NPC proliferation and their differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes are unclear. In the present study, we used a comparative proteomics approach to identify proteins that were differentially regulated in NPCs after short-term differentiation. We also used a subcellular fractionation technique for enrichment of nuclei and other dense organelles to identify proteins that were not readily detected in whole cell extracts. In total, 115 distinct proteins underwent expression changes during NPC differentiation. Forty one of these were only identified following subcellular fractionation. These included transcription factors, RNA-processing factors, cell cycle proteins, and proteins that translocate between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Biological network analysis showed that the differentiation of NPCs was associated with significant changes in cell cycle and protein synthesis machinery. Further characterization of these proteins could provide greater insight into the mechanisms involved in regulation of neurogenesis in the adult central nervous system (CNS) and potentially identify points of therapeutic intervention.

Identification of differentiating neural progenitor cell markers using shotgun isobaric tagging mass spectrometry.

The use of neural precursor cells (NPCs) represents a promising repair strategy for many neurological disorders. This requires an understanding of the molecular events and biological features that regulate the self-renewal of NPCs and their differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendendrocytes. In this study, we have characterized the proteomic changes that occur upon differentiation of these cells using the novel iTRAQ labeling chemistry for quantitative mass spectrometry. In total, 55 distinct proteins underwent expression changes during NPC differentiation. This included 14 proteins that were identified by our previous two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis of differentiating mouse neurospheres. The importance of the iTRAQ approach was demonstrated by the identification of additional proteins that were not resolved by the 2D-DIGE technology. The proteins identified by the iTRAQ approach included growth factors, signaling molecules, proliferating cell-specific proteins, heat shock proteins, and other proteins involved in the regulation of metabolism and the transcriptional and translational machinery. Further characterization of the identified proteins should provide greater insight into the mechanisms involved in regulation of neurogenesis in the adult central nervous system and potentially that of other proliferating cell types, including peripheral stem cells or cancer cells.

CEP-1347 promotes survival of NGF responsive neurones in primary DRG explants.

CEP-1347 inhibits the signalling pathway of c-jun-N-terminal kinase, and is neuroprotective in vivo and in vitro. Embryonic chick dorsal root ganglion neurones are dependent on NGF for survival and neurite outgrowth; NGF withdrawal results in apoptotic cell death. We examined the neuroprotective and neurite outgrowth promoting activity of CEP-1347 in dissociated DRG neurones and in primary DRG explants. CEP-1347 was as effective as NGF in promoting survival of dissociated DRG neurones, but caused only limited neurite outgrowth from DRG explants. When NGF was subsequently added to CEP-1347 treated explants, the outgrowth increased to a similar level to explants which had received NGF throughout. CEP-1347 may be a useful tool to maintain viable DRG explants to allow evaluation of neurite outgrowth promoting compounds and dissection of survival and neurite outgrowth signalling pathways.

Molecular characterization of adult mouse subventricular zone progenitor cells during the onset of differentiation.

Adult mouse subventricular zone (SVZ) neural progenitor cells (NPCs) retain the capacity to generate multiple lineages in vitro and in vivo. Thus far, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of these cells have not been well elucidated. We have carried out RNA profiling of adult SVZ cell cultures undergoing differentiation, to identify pathways that regulate progenitor cell proliferation and to define a set of transcripts that can be used as molecular tools in the drug discovery process. We carried out a stepwise stratification of the results to identify transcripts specifically enriched in NPCs and validated some of these using comparative literature analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunological techniques. The results show a set of transcription factors, secreted molecules and plasma membrane markers that are differentially regulated during differentiation. Pathway analysis highlights alterations in insulin growth factor, Wnt and transforming growth factor beta signalling cascades. Further characterization of these components could provide greater insight into the mechanisms involved in the regulation of neurogenesis in the adult brain.