In the central nervous system (CNS), complex interactions and communications among distinct types of cellular components play a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of neural circuits. To date, various types of CNS cells derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), have provided invaluable tools for developing in vitro and ex vivo model systems for the study of CNS diseases. Available models comprise intricate cell-cell interactions, particularly in a 3-dimensinal (3D) environment with different combinations of assorted CNS cell types and biomaterials. Indeed, such culturing systems hold a remarkable promise to model and elucidate mechanisms of a disease and serve as valuable transplantation strategy for therapeutics of diseases and injuries.
Despite the pioneering efforts and success in obtaining 3D cellular structures containing several key elements of the CNS including neurons and astrocytes, reliable experimental approaches to engineer more comprehensive models that systematically recapitulate complex cell-cell interactions in brains and spinal cords have not been accomplished yet. Globally, laboratories using different culturing strategies have generated 3D structures diversified as spheroids, organoids, assembloids, circuitoids, and organs-on-chips, each of which are characterized by unique properties and values, as well as some remaining challenges.
The primary goal of this Research Topic volume is to collect and highlight recent advances and discoveries in the research arena of PSC-derived 3D cell cultures composed of various CNS cellular elements, including neurons (with distinct subtypes), astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, neural progenitors, pericytes, and endothelial cells as well as various matrix molecules, in order to gain improved disease modeling and elucidating novel pathological mechanisms and therapeutic targets, as well as to develop novel strategies tissue transplantation for CNS disease and injuries.
We want to provide a forum to encourage researchers to contribute their studies as Original Research Articles, Reviews, Opinions, Relevant Commentaries, potentially covering the following topics, but not limited to:
• Innovative methods/protocols of establishing and optimizing in vitro and ex vivo multi-cellular 3D cultures that represent different CNS regions. In particular, development of cultures that also include nonneural cells such microglia and endothelial cells.
• Novel mechanistic studies for various CNS disorders and injuries using patient-PSC derived spheroids, organoids, assembloids, circuitoids and organs-on-chips. For instance, discovery of cell autonomous or non-autonomous mechanisms by addition of cell types that have not been successfully included.
• Anatomical and functional comparative analyses of various multi-cellular 3D cultures that may be developed via different strategies.
• Explorative assessment in transplanting 3D cultures containing various types of cellular components for CNS injuries, such as traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes and other CNS disease that involve loss of cells.
• Implementation of biomaterials to promote more comprehensive and physiological 3D cultures from PSCs.
• Updated and advanced approaches to promote the maturation of multi-cellular 3D cultures from PSCs.
In the central nervous system (CNS), complex interactions and communications among distinct types of cellular components play a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of neural circuits. To date, various types of CNS cells derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), have provided invaluable tools for developing in vitro and ex vivo model systems for the study of CNS diseases. Available models comprise intricate cell-cell interactions, particularly in a 3-dimensinal (3D) environment with different combinations of assorted CNS cell types and biomaterials. Indeed, such culturing systems hold a remarkable promise to model and elucidate mechanisms of a disease and serve as valuable transplantation strategy for therapeutics of diseases and injuries.
Despite the pioneering efforts and success in obtaining 3D cellular structures containing several key elements of the CNS including neurons and astrocytes, reliable experimental approaches to engineer more comprehensive models that systematically recapitulate complex cell-cell interactions in brains and spinal cords have not been accomplished yet. Globally, laboratories using different culturing strategies have generated 3D structures diversified as spheroids, organoids, assembloids, circuitoids, and organs-on-chips, each of which are characterized by unique properties and values, as well as some remaining challenges.
The primary goal of this Research Topic volume is to collect and highlight recent advances and discoveries in the research arena of PSC-derived 3D cell cultures composed of various CNS cellular elements, including neurons (with distinct subtypes), astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, neural progenitors, pericytes, and endothelial cells as well as various matrix molecules, in order to gain improved disease modeling and elucidating novel pathological mechanisms and therapeutic targets, as well as to develop novel strategies tissue transplantation for CNS disease and injuries.
We want to provide a forum to encourage researchers to contribute their studies as Original Research Articles, Reviews, Opinions, Relevant Commentaries, potentially covering the following topics, but not limited to:
• Innovative methods/protocols of establishing and optimizing in vitro and ex vivo multi-cellular 3D cultures that represent different CNS regions. In particular, development of cultures that also include nonneural cells such microglia and endothelial cells.
• Novel mechanistic studies for various CNS disorders and injuries using patient-PSC derived spheroids, organoids, assembloids, circuitoids and organs-on-chips. For instance, discovery of cell autonomous or non-autonomous mechanisms by addition of cell types that have not been successfully included.
• Anatomical and functional comparative analyses of various multi-cellular 3D cultures that may be developed via different strategies.
• Explorative assessment in transplanting 3D cultures containing various types of cellular components for CNS injuries, such as traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes and other CNS disease that involve loss of cells.
• Implementation of biomaterials to promote more comprehensive and physiological 3D cultures from PSCs.
• Updated and advanced approaches to promote the maturation of multi-cellular 3D cultures from PSCs.
