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Human neural tube morphogenesis in vitro by geometric constraints

Authors :
Heitor C. Megale
George Britton
Kenneth S. Kosik
Aryeh Warmflash
Aimal H. Khankhel
Eyal Karzbrun
Eric D. Siggia
Sebastian J. Streichan
Stella M. K. Glasauer
Yofiel Wyle
Boris I. Shraiman
Source :
Nature. 599:268-272
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021.

Abstract

Understanding human organ formation is a scientific challenge with far-reaching medical implications1,2. Three-dimensional stem-cell cultures have provided insights into human cell differentiation3,4. However, current approaches use scaffold-free stem-cell aggregates, which develop non-reproducible tissue shapes and variable cell-fate patterns. This limits their capacity to recapitulate organ formation. Here we present a chip-based culture system that enables self-organization of micropatterned stem cells into precise three-dimensional cell-fate patterns and organ shapes. We use this system to recreate neural tube folding from human stem cells in a dish. Upon neural induction5,6, neural ectoderm folds into a millimetre-long neural tube covered with non-neural ectoderm. Folding occurs at 90% fidelity, and anatomically resembles the developing human neural tube. We find that neural and non-neural ectoderm are necessary and sufficient for folding morphogenesis. We identify two mechanisms drive folding: (1) apical contraction of neural ectoderm, and (2) basal adhesion mediated via extracellular matrix synthesis by non-neural ectoderm. Targeting these two mechanisms using drugs leads to morphological defects similar to neural tube defects. Finally, we show that neural tissue width determines neural tube shape, suggesting that morphology along the anterior–posterior axis depends on neural ectoderm geometry in addition to molecular gradients7. Our approach provides a new route to the study of human organ morphogenesis in health and disease. Stem cells cultured in a micropattern-constrained platform form a quantitative and robust model of human neural tube morphogenesis.

Details

ISSN :
14764687 and 00280836
Volume :
599
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nature
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........3095db8b29b0bcd082e9709224830f61