Loss of MECP2 Leads to Activation of P53 and Neuronal Senescence.

To determine the role for mutations of MECP2 in Rett syndrome, we generated isogenic lines of human induced pluripotent stem cells, neural progenitor cells, and neurons from patient fibroblasts with and without MECP2 expression in an attempt to recapitulate disease phenotypes in vitro. Molecular profiling uncovered neuronal-specific gene expression changes, including induction of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) program. Patient-derived neurons made without MECP2 showed signs of stress, including induction of P53, and senescence. The induction of P53 appeared to affect dendritic branching in Rett neurons, as P53 inhibition restored dendritic complexity. The induction of P53 targets was also detectable in analyses of human Rett patient brain, suggesting that this disease-in-a-dish model can provide relevant insights into the human disorder.

SMRT compounds abrogate cellular phenotypes of ataxia telangiectasia in neural derivatives of patient-specific hiPSCs.

Ataxia telangiectasia is a devastating neurodegenerative disease caused primarily by loss of function mutations in ATM, a hierarchical DNA repair gene and tumour suppressor. So far, murine models of ataxia telangiectasia have failed to accurately recapitulate many aspects of the disease, most notably, the progressive cerebellar ataxia. Here we present a model of human ataxia telangiectasia using induced pluripotent stem cells, and show that small molecule read-through compounds, designed to induce read-through of mRNA around premature termination codons, restore ATM activity and improve the response to DNA damage. This platform allows for efficient screening of novel compounds, identification of target and off-target effects, and preclinical testing on relevant cell types for the pathogenic dissection and treatment of ataxia telangiectasia.

From skin biopsy to neurons through a pluripotent intermediate under Good Manufacturing Practice protocols.

The clinical application of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) requires not only the production of Good Manufacturing Practice-grade (GMP-grade) hiPSCs but also the derivation of specified cell types for transplantation under GMP conditions. Previous reports have suggested that hiPSCs can be produced in the absence of animal-derived reagents (xenobiotics) to ease the transition to production under GMP standards. However, to facilitate the use of hiPSCs in cell-based therapeutics, their progeny should be produced not only in the absence of xenobiotics but also under GMP conditions requiring extensive standardization of protocols, documentation, and reproducibility of methods and product. Here, we present a successful framework to produce GMP-grade derivatives of hiPSCs that are free of xenobiotic exposure from the collection of patient fibroblasts, through reprogramming, maintenance of hiPSCs, identification of reprogramming vector integration sites (nrLAM-PCR), and finally specification and terminal differentiation of clinically relevant cells. Furthermore, we developed a primary set of Standard Operating Procedures for the GMP-grade derivation and differentiation of these cells as a resource to facilitate widespread adoption of these practices.

Fas pathway is a critical mediator of cardiac myocyte death and MI during ischemia-reperfusion in vivo.

Fas is a widely expressed cell surface receptor that can initiate apoptosis when activated by its ligand (FasL). Whereas Fas abundance on cardiac myocytes increases in response to multiple pathological stimuli, direct evidence supporting its role in the pathogenesis of heart disease is lacking. Moreover, controversy exists even as to whether Fas activation induces apoptosis in cardiac myocytes. In this study, we show that adenoviral overexpression of FasL, but not beta-galactosidase, results in marked apoptosis both in cultures of primary neonatal cardiac myocytes and in the myocardium of intact adult rats. Myocyte killing by FasL is a specific event, because it does not occur in lpr (lymphoproliferative) mice that lack functional Fas. To assess the contribution of the Fas pathway to myocardial infarction (MI) in vivo, lpr mice were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Compared with wild-type mice, lpr mice exhibited infarcts that were 62.3% smaller with 63.8% less myocyte apoptosis. These data provide direct evidence that activation of Fas can induce apoptosis in cardiac myocytes and that Fas is a critical mediator of MI due to ischemia-reperfusion in vivo.

Inhibition of both the extrinsic and intrinsic death pathways through nonhomotypic death-fold interactions.

Death-fold domains constitute an evolutionarily conserved superfamily that mediates apoptotic signaling. These motifs, including CARD (caspase recruitment domain), DD (death domain), and DED (death effector domain), are believed to exert their effects solely through homotypic interactions. Herein we demonstrate that the CARD-containing protein ARC engages in nontraditional death-fold interactions to suppress both extrinsic and intrinsic death pathways. The extrinsic pathway is disrupted by heterotypic interactions between ARC's CARD and the DDs of Fas and FADD, which inhibit Fas-FADD binding and assembly of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). The intrinsic pathway is antagonized by ARC-Bax binding, involving ARC's CARD and the Bax C terminus. This inhibits Bax activation and translocation to the mitochondria. Knockdown of endogenous ARC facilitates DISC assembly and triggers spontaneous Bax activation and apoptosis. Conversely, physiological levels of ARC suppress these events. These studies establish a critical role for nonhomotypic death-fold interactions in the regulation of apoptosis.