Characterization of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) healthy or diagnosed with Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

• Grant number: 20/15897-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: July 01, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Fernandes Bressan
• Grantee: Addy Solange Ayala Mejia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/26818-5 - Investigation of cellular and molecular mechanisms on in vitro induced toti- and pluripotency acquisition - a translational approach, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/09370-4 - Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from domestic animals by the non-integrative mechanism, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Research involving alternative therapies and regenerative medicine in human and veterinarian clinics have been of big interests in academic area, which is more evident when the research regards degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's Disease (AD) which can be diagnosed in human with advanced age. In parallel, the Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, a disease similar to early stages of AD, affects elderly dogs. At cellular level, one strategy to study such conditions is to reprogram somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in order to mimic disease models, develop diagnostic methods and analyze gene anomalies, for example. The use of animal models for this purpose has already been established, mainly in murine models. The development and use of the canine models, justified by the many shared factors with humans, such as environment, food and cancer factors, which can lead to the same anomalies, has increased recently. In addition, canine physiology and histology are more similar to humans, which provides advantages in applying the laboratory model to the clinics. In this scenario, the study of canine iPSC aiming to analyze their potential in generating different cell types, such as gametes and neurons, becomes valuable for human and veterinary models. (AU)