cat no | ioEA1004
A rapidly maturing, physiologically relevant, functional system to study Huntington’s disease (HD). This in vitro HD cell model shows reduced neuronal network activity, decreased spontaneous activity, and mitochondrial dysfunction compared to the genetically matched control.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT are opti‑ox deterministically programmed glutamatergic neurons containing a genetically engineered heterozygous 50 CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene.
Confidently investigate your phenotype of interest across multiple clones with our disease model clone panel. Detailed characterisation data (below) and bulk RNA sequencing data (upon request) help you select specific clones if required.
per vial
A maximum number of 20 vials applies. If you would like to order more than 20 vials, please contact us at orders@bit.bio.
Disease-related phenotype
Disease model cells demonstrate reduced network activity and mitochondrial dysfunction compared to the wild-type control.
Make True Comparisons
Pair the Huntington's disease model cells with the genetically matched control to investigate the impact of the 50 CAG repeat expansion.
Quick
Disease model cells and wild-type control are experiment ready as early as 2 days post revival, and form structural neuronal networks at 11 days.
Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by an autosomal dominant expansion of a trinucleotide CAG repeat in the HTT gene. The mutant, aggregation-prone huntingtin protein has been reported to affect various cellular processes, including the biogenesis, fission, transport and respiration of mitochondria.
To investigate mitochondrial function, ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (mutHTT, pink) and the genetically matched wild-type control, ioGlutamatergic Neurons (WT, blue), were cultured and analysed using the Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test Kit (A).
Culturing cells in BrainPhys, a physiologically relevant medium, supported mitochondrial respiration and unmasked a dramatic and significant mitochondrial dysfunction in the HD model cells at day 25 (B).
When cultured in neurobasal medium, wild-type and HD ioGlutamatergic Neurons switched from mitochondrial respiration to glycolysis over time, analysed by the Seahorse XF Cell Glycolysis Stress Test Kit. BrainPhys medium has been demonstrated to support mitochondrial respiration. Accordingly, we showed that using BrainPhys prevented the glutamatergic neurons switching to glycolysis during maturation. See the experimental details in our poster presented at Neuroscience 2024.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT demonstrate a significant decrease in network activity compared to wild-type control by MEA analysis
Functional characterisation of ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT by Charles River Laboratories using MaxWell’s MaxTwo high-density microelectrode array (MEA) platform. Comparison of wild-type ioGlutamatergic Neurons (WT) and Huntington’s disease model (HD) in single-cell and network development. The Activity Scan captures spontaneous action potentials of cells and reveals the spatial distribution of the electrical activity from the cell cultures over the electrode array.
Map of the Firing Rate distribution over 26,400 electrodes at DIV 38 for (A) WT and (B) HD.
Network Firing Rate at DIV 38, recorded for 300 sec. for (C) WT, and (D) HD.
(E) Mean Firing Rate recorded from 26,400 electrodes on each well. Data shows results from WT and HD at DIV 14, 21, 38.
(F) Mean Burst Frequency recorded from 26,400 electrodes on each well. Data shows results from WT and HD at DIV 35 and 38. Scale bar: 1mm, *p<0.05 (Mann Whitney U Test).
The wild-type cells show a higher spontaneous activity than the disease model cells (A, B, E); both cultures show synchronous and spontaneous network activity (C, D, F). The data demonstrate significant HD relevant differences at the network levels between wild-type and disease-model cells.
Single-cell analysis showing significant Huntington’s disease related differences between ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT and wild-type control
Functional characterisation of ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT by Charles River using MaxWell’s MaxTwo high-density MEA platform. Single-cell analysis showing differences between ioGlutamatergic Neurons (WT) and ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (HD). The Axon Tracking assay reveals the spatial propagation of the neuronal action potential from the soma to distant axonal branches.
Map showing spatial distribution of the action potential amplitude for selected tracked neurons at DIV 32 for (A) WT, and (B) HD.
(C-F) Mean Neuron Conduction Velocity, Total Axon Length, Firing Rate, and Amplitude recorded from 26,400 electrodes on each well. Data shows results from WT and HD at DIV 32. Scale bar: 1mm, *p=0.05, ****p<0.0001 (Mann Whitney U Test).
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT generated by transcription factor-driven deterministic programming of iPSCs using opti-ox technology
Video capturing the rapid morphological changes of the ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT upon revival of the cryopreserved product over an 11-day culturing period. The observed rapid morphological changes are enabled by opti-ox deterministic cell programming.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT express neuron-specific markers comparably to the wild-type control
Immunofluorescent staining on day 11 post revival demonstrates similar homogenous expression of pan-neuronal proteins MAP2 and TUBB3 (upper panel) and glutamatergic neuron-specific transporter VGLUT2 (lower panel) in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT compared to the genetically matched control. 100X magnification.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT form structural neuronal networks by day 11
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT mature rapidly, show glutamatergic neuron morphology and form structural neuronal networks over 11 days, when compared to the genetically matched control. Day 1 to 11 post thawing; 100X magnification.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT demonstrate gene expression of neuronal-specific and glutamatergic-specific markers following deterministic programming
Gene expression analysis demonstrates that ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (50CAG/WT) and the genetically matched wild-type control (WT) lack the expression of pluripotency markers (NANOG and OCT4) at day 11, while robustly expressing pan-neuronal (TUBB3 and SYP) and glutamatergic specific (VGLUT1 and VGLUT2) markers, as well as the glutamate receptor GRIA4. Gene expression levels were assessed by RT-qPCR (data normalised to HMBS; cDNA samples of the parental human iPSC line (hiPSC Control) were included as reference). Data represents day 11 post-revival samples, n=2 replicates.
Disease-related Huntingtin (HTT) is expressed in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT
RT-qPCR analysis demonstrates similar expression level of the Huntingtin gene in both wild-type ioGlutamatergic Neurons (WT) and ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (50CAG/WT) at day 11 post-revival (n=2 replicates). cDNA samples of the parental human iPSC line (hiPSC Control) were included as reference.
Genotype validation of heterozygous 50 CAG repeat expansion
(A) Successful on-target integration into one HTT allele confirmed by gel electrophoresis. Genotyping primers flanking the endogenous HTT CAG repeat expansion region produce a band at approximately 320 bps, by PCR, in both genetically matched control (ioGlutamatergic Neurons) and disease model (ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT). PCR fragments at 395 bps detect on-target gene editing and introduction of a 50 CAG repeat expansion in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT only. (B) Amplicon PCR of the plasmid donor reveals no random integration in genomic DNA from targeted colonies via gel electrophoresis. Off-target random insertion of the donor template (used to introduce the 50 CAG repeat expansion at the WT HTT locus) is detected by PCR amplification of the donor vector backbone. This is not detected in the samples from ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT.
Genotype validation of the number of CAG repeats
NGS-amplicon sequencing confirms the number of CAG repeats in wild-type ioGlutamatergic Neurons (yellow) and ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (orange). The number of CAG repeats shows a peak at the normal physiological range of 24 for both the wild-type and disease model cells. The 50 CAG repeat was detected only in the disease model cells (orange) confirming the successful introduction of a heterozygous 50 CAG repeat expansion in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT are delivered in a cryopreserved format and are programmed to mature rapidly upon revival in the recommended media. The protocol for the generation of these cells is a two-phase process: Phase 1, Stabilisation for 4 days; Phase 2, Maintenance, during which the neurons mature. Phases 1 and 2 after revival of cells are carried out by the customer.
The recommended minimum seeding density is 30,000 cells/cm2, compared to up to 250,000 cells/cm2 for other similar products on the market. One small vial can plate a minimum of 0.7 x 24-well plate, 1 x 96-well plate, or 1.5 x 384-well plates. One large vial can plate a minimum of 3.6 x 24-well plates, 5.4 x 96-well plates, or 7.75 x 384-well plates. This means every vial goes further, enabling more experimental conditions and more repeats, resulting in more confidence in the data.
Starting material
Human iPSC line
Karyotype
Normal (46, XY)
Seeding compatibility
6, 12, 24, 48, 96 & 384 well plates
Shipping info
Dry ice
Donor
Caucasian adult male, age 55-60 years old (skin fibroblast)
Vial size
Small: >1 x 10⁶ viable cells
Large: >5 x 10⁶ viable cells
Quality control
Sterility, protein expression (ICC), gene expression (RT-qPCR) and genotype validation
Differentiation method
opti-ox deterministic cell programming
Recommended seeding density
30,000 cells/cm2
User storage
LN2 or -150°C
Format
Cryopreserved cells
Genetic modification
Heterozygous HTT 50 CAG repeat expansion
Applications
Huntington’s disease research
Drug discovery
Disease modelling
MEA analysis
Seahorse assays
Product use
ioCells are for research use only
V11
bit.bio
2024
Oosterveen, et al
bit.bio & Charles River Laboratories
2023
Madeleine Garrett | Field Application Specialist | bit.bio
Madeleine Garrett | Field Application Scientist | bit.bio
bit.bio
Dr Emma V Jones | Senior Scientist | Medicines Discovery Catapult
Dr Tony Oosterveen | Senior Scientist | bit.bio
Dr Mariangela Iovino | Group Leader | Charles River
Dr Tony Oosterveen | Senior Scientist | bit.bio
Kam Dhaliwal | SVP Strategic Alliances | bit.bio
Talk at ELRIG CRISPR in Drug Discovery
Kam Dhaliwal | SVP Strategic Alliances | bit.bio
Dr Thomas Moreau | Head of Research | bit.bio
Talk at ELRIG Drug Discovery Digital
Read the Application Note to discover how Charles River Laboratories functionally characterised ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT and ioGlutamatergic Neurons developed by bit.bio using the MaxTwo high-density microelectrode array from MaxWell Biosystems.
Further your disease research by pairing our wild type cells with isogenic disease models.