Expression and Functional Properties of NMDA and [GABA.sub.A] Receptors during Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Ventral Mesencephalic Neurons

• Published in: Biochemistry (Moscow) Vol. 84; no. 3; p. 310
• Main Authors: Antonov, S.A, Novosadova, E.V, Kobylyansky, A.G, Illarioshkin, S.N, Tarantul, V.Z, Grivennikov, I.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Cell differentiation; Control; GABA receptors; Mechanical properties; Neurons; Physiological aspects; Stem cells; Russia
• ISSN: 0006-2979; 1608-3040
• DOI: 10.1134/S0006297919030131

Ionotropic glutamate and GABA receptors regulate the differentiation and determine the functional properties of mature neurons. Both insufficient and excessive activity of these neurotransmission systems are associated with various nervous system diseases. Our knowledge regarding the expression profiles of these receptors and the mechanisms of their regulation during the differentiation of specialized human neuron subtypes is limited. Here the expression profiles of the NMDA and [GABA.sub.A] receptor subunits were explored during in vitro differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into ventral mesencephalic neurons. The correlation between the neuronal maturation and the expression dynamics of these genes was investigated, and the functional activity of these receptors was assessed by calcium imaging. The role of NMDA and [GABA.sub.A] receptors in neurite outgrowth and the development of spontaneous activity was analyzed using the viral transduction of neural progenitors with the reporter genes TagGFP and TagRFP. The data indicate that agonists of the investigated receptors can be employed for optimization of existing protocols for neural differentiation of iPSCs, in particular for acceleration of neuronal maturation. DOI: 10.1134/S0006297919030131 Keywords: NMDA receptors, [GABA.sub.A] receptors, induced pluripotent stem cells, mesencephalic neurons, differentiation