Differentiation of Porcine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (piPSCs) into Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs)

Author(s)

Machado, Lucas Simoes ^[1] ; Recchia, Kaiana ^{[1, 2]} ; Godoy Pieri, Naira Caroline ^[2] ; Botigelli, Ramon Cesar ^{[2, 3]} ; Guimaraes de Castro, Raquel Vasconcelos ^[2] ; Cruz, Jessica Brunhara ^[1] ; de Figueiredo Pessoa, Lais Vicari ^[2] ; Bressan, Fabiana Fernandes ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Surg, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Anim Sci & Food Engn, Dept Vet Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Biosci, Dept Pharmacol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS; n. 172 JUN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

iPSC-derived neurons are attractive in vitro models to study neurogenesis and early phenotypic changes in mental illness, mainly when most animal models used in preclinical research, such as rodents, are not able to meet the criteria to translate the findings to the clinic. Non-human primates, canines, and porcine are considered more adequate models for biomedical research and drug development purposes, mainly due to their physiological, genetic, and anatomical similarities to humans. The swine model has gained particular interest in translational neuroscience, enabling safety and allotransplantation testing. Herein the generation of porcine iPSCs is described along with its further differentiation into neural progenitor cells (NPCs). The generated cells expressed NPC markers Nestin and GFAP, confirmed by RT-qPCR, and were positive for Nestin, b-Tubulin III, and Vimentin by immunofluorescence. These results show the evidence for the generation of NPC-like cells after in vitro induction with chemical inhibitors from a large animal model, an interesting and adequate model for regenerative and translational medicine research. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/13973-8 - Generation and functional characterization of neuronal cells derived from iPSCs from patients with neurodegenerative diseases
• Grantee: Lucas Simões Machado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• FAPESP's process: 15/26818-5 - Investigation of cellular and molecular mechanisms on in vitro induced toti- and pluripotency acquisition - a translational approach
• Grantee: Fabiana Fernandes Bressan
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/02159-8 - Induction of cell pluripotency and in vitro differentiation in the porcine model as a translational model
• Grantee: Lucas Simões Machado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master