Generation and Neuronal Differentiation of Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Niemann-Pick Type C1 Fibroblasts

Abstract

Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are discussed to provide a powerful tool to investigate pathological mechanisms of diseases. Moreover, such cells might be a future platform for individualized personal treatment of diseases with a broad spectrum of mutations and thus resulting in phenotypical specificities. Here, we present a protocol for the induction of induced pluripotent stem cells from patient fibroblasts with Niemann-Pick type C1 disease (NPC1). The induction is based on a retroviral system, using the “classical” transcription factors, which were described by Takahashi and colleagues in 2007. To obtain a neuronal in vitro model system of NPC1, human iPSCs were differentiated to neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and subsequently to cells of the neural lineage, namely, neurons and glial cells. iPSCs, NPCs, and terminal neuronal differentiated cells (NDCs) were characterized by means of immunocytochemistry as well as patch clamp recordings and calcium imaging to prove the functional maturation.