Researchers Replicate Alzheimer's Disease Neurons with Stem CellsScientists have successfully replicated Alzheimer’s disease neurons with stem cells for the first time in a landmark, multi-year study – an achievement that may lead to critical new understanding of the disease, the scientists said. Researchers out of UC San Diego School of Medicine created in vitro models of genetic and sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s disease, using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from patients who suffered from the neurodegenerative disorder. The neurons were purified, meaning they were separated from other types of cells, to reduce variability in the experiment. "Creating highly purified and functional human Alzheimer's neurons in a dish – this has never been done before," said senior study author Dr. Lawrence Goldstein, distinguished professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and director of the UC San Diego Stem Cell Program, in a press release. To create the neurons, the researchers extracted fibroblasts—cells from the skin—of two patients with familial Alzheimer’s, two patients with sporadic Alzheimer’s and two people with no known neurological problems. The researchers then reprogrammed the fibroblasts into stem cells, which then differentiated into working neurons. The iPSC-derived neurons from Alzheimer’s patients exhibited normal cell activity, formed functional synaptic contacts and – most importantly – displayed indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, such as elevated production of beta-amyloid proteins and abnormal activation of the protein kinase GSK-3. Goldstein added the models aren’t “perfect” – they’re merely the first step. However, the research proves creating isolated Alzheimer’s neurons can be done and provides a blueprint for how to do so.
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