Genetic and morphological features of human iPSC-derived neurons with chromosome 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) deletions

Background: Copy number variation on chromosome 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) causes a deletion of CYFIP1, NIPA1, NIPA2 and TUBGCP5. Furthermore, it also affects brain structure and elevates the risk for several neurodevelopmental disorders that are associated with dendritic spine abnormalities. In rodents, altered cyfip1 expression changes dendritic spine morphology, motivating analyses of human neuronal cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs; iPSC-neurons). Methods: iPSCs were generated from a mother and her offspring, both carrying the 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) deletion, and a non-deletion control. Gene expression in the deletion region was estimated using quantitative real-time PCR assays. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and iPSC-neurons were characterized using immunocytochemistry. Results:CYFIP1, NIPA1, NIPA2 and TUBGCP5 gene expression was lower in iPSCs, NPCs and iPSC-neurons from the mother and her offspring in relation to control cells. CYFIP1 and PSD-95 protein levels were lower in iPSC-neurons derived from the copy number variant-bearing individuals using Western blot analysis. Ten weeks after differentiation, iPSC-neurons appeared to show dendritic spines, and qualitative analysis suggested that dendritic morphology was altered in 15q11.2-deletion subjects compared with control cells. Conclusions: The 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) deletion is associated with a reduced expression of four genes in iPSC-derived neuronal cells; it may also be associated with altered iPSC-neuron dendritic morphology.