IND 1316

Human pluripotent stem cells are directed toward midbrain dopaminergic neurons by first inducing a neural floor-plate-like progenitor state, then patterning cells with ventralizing SHH signaling and midbrain/WNT-FGF cues, and finally maturing progenitors into neurons expressing dopaminergic markers such as TH, NURR1/NR4A2, PITX3, DAT/SLC6A3, VMAT2/SLC18A2, GIRK2/KCNJ6, FOXA2, LMX1A, and EN1. The main readouts are loss of pluripotency, acquisition of FOXA2+/LMX1A+ midbrain floor-plate progenitors, emergence of βIII-tubulin+/MAP2+ neurons, and production of TH+ dopaminergic neurons with molecular, dopamine-release, and electrophysiological features of midbrain dopaminergic identity.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive functions and loss of specific types of neurons and synapses. Alzheimer's symptoms can be simulated in mice by injecting drugs (such as Aβ) or genetically modified.