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hiPSC-Derived Schwann Cells Influence Myogenic Differentiation in Neuromuscular Cocultures

Authors :
Sarah Janice Hörner
Nathalie Couturier
Roman Bruch
Philipp Koch
Mathias Hafner
Rüdiger Rudolf
Source :
Cells, Vol 10, Iss 12, p 3292 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Motoneurons, skeletal muscle fibers, and Schwann cells form synapses, termed neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). These control voluntary body movement and are affected in numerous neuromuscular diseases. Therefore, a variety of NMJ in vitro models have been explored to enable mechanistic and pharmacological studies. So far, selective integration of Schwann cells in these models has been hampered, due to technical limitations. Here we present robust protocols for derivation of Schwann cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and their coculture with hiPSC-derived motoneurons and C2C12 muscle cells. Upon differentiation with tuned BMP signaling, Schwann cells expressed marker proteins, S100b, Gap43, vimentin, and myelin protein zero. Furthermore, they displayed typical spindle-shaped morphologies with long processes, which often aligned with motoneuron axons. Inclusion of Schwann cells in coculture experiments with hiPSC-derived motoneurons and C2C12 myoblasts enhanced myotube growth and affected size and number of acetylcholine receptor plaques on myotubes. Altogether, these data argue for the availability of a consistent differentiation protocol for Schwann cells and their amenability for functional integration into neuromuscular in vitro models, fostering future studies of neuromuscular mechanisms and disease.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20734409 and 99645122
Volume :
10
Issue :
12
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Cells
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.ba99645122cc4ddb88da6cc50801a284
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10123292