Poster - Characterization of axoCells iPSC-derived cortical inhibitory interneurons
Abstract
Interneurons are the neuronal cells responsible for regulating the relay of electrical impulses between sensory neurons, motor neurons and the Central Nervous System (CNS). Interneurons synchronise neural network activity due to their capability to form highly specific, gap-junction mediated electrical synapses.
Using a small molecule monolayer differentiation technique, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) can be differentiated into interneuron progenitors, which can then be matured to functional activity regulating interneurons.
Using immunocytochemistry, RNA sequencing, multi-electrode array and neuronal activity assay profiling, axoCellsTM cortical inhibitory interneurons were characterized to be used as an unlimited source of such cells for drug discovery and modelling neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition, we are also able to demonstrate that putting these cells in co-culture models with cortical excitatory neurons and astrocytes provides a powerful humanized model for pre-clinical drug discovery in the neuroscience field.
The axoCells iPSC-derived cortical inhibitory interneurons are a mixed population expressing a multiple of different subtypes such as Parvalbumin, Somatostatin, Tyrosine Hydroxylase and NKX2.1, the key transcription factor determining interneuron cell fate.
The interneurons are also GABAergic in nature, displaying markers for GAD2 and gamma-Aminobutyric acid
(GABA).
Interneuron progenitor cells are provided cryopreserved. These cells can be differentiated and matured with Axol’s custom media and can also be used alongside our neural stem cell to cortical neuron differentiation.
