Featured Publications
Neuron-specific signatures in the chromosomal connectome associated with schizophrenia risk
Rajarajan P, Borrman T, Liao W, Schrode N, Flaherty E, Casiño C, Powell S, Yashaswini C, LaMarca EA, Kassim B, Javidfar B, Espeso-Gil S, Li A, Won H, Geschwind DH, Ho SM, MacDonald M, Hoffman GE, Roussos P, Zhang B, Hahn CG, Weng Z, Brennand KJ, Akbarian S. Neuron-specific signatures in the chromosomal connectome associated with schizophrenia risk. Science 2018, 362 PMID: 30545851, PMCID: PMC6408958, DOI: 10.1126/science.aat4311.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBrainCells, CulturedChromatinChromatin Assembly and DisassemblyChromosomes, HumanConnectomeEpigenesis, GeneticGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome, HumanGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMaleNeural Stem CellsNeurogenesisNeurogliaNeuronsNucleic Acid ConformationProtein Interaction MapsProteomicsRiskSchizophreniaTranscription, GeneticTranscriptomeConceptsCoordinated transcriptional regulationThree-dimensional genomeSpatial genome organizationChromosomal contact mapsNeural progenitor cellsSchizophrenia risk variantsGenome organizationChromatin remodelingChromosomal conformationTranscriptional regulationProteomic interactionsDevelopmental remodelingHeritable riskGlial differentiationRisk variantsContact mapsProgenitor cellsVariant sequencesGenesConformation changeNeuronal connectivitySchizophrenia riskSequenceNeuropsychiatric diseasesDistal targets
2020
Transcriptional signatures of participant-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons implicate altered Wnt signaling in Phelan-McDermid syndrome and autism
Breen MS, Browne A, Hoffman GE, Stathopoulos S, Brennand K, Buxbaum JD, Drapeau E. Transcriptional signatures of participant-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons implicate altered Wnt signaling in Phelan-McDermid syndrome and autism. Molecular Autism 2020, 11: 53. PMID: 32560742, PMCID: PMC7304190, DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00355-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAutistic DisorderChildChild, PreschoolChromosome DeletionChromosome DisordersChromosomes, Human, Pair 22FemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression RegulationHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMaleNeural Stem CellsNeuronsReproducibility of ResultsWnt Signaling PathwayConceptsNeural progenitor cellsTranscriptional signatureGene co-expression network analysisHiPSC-NPCsCo-expression network analysisIndependent biological samplesHiPSC-derived neural cellsProgenitor cellsPostsynaptic density genesDistinct transcriptional signaturesGenetic risk lociHuman-induced pluripotent stem cellsPluripotent stem cellsPotassium channel activityProtein translationSpecific neurobiological pathwaysTranscriptional differencesEmbryonic developmentLoss of SHANK3Risk lociHiPSC neuronsMorphological phenotypesWnt pathwayGenesHiPSC clonesCell Type-Specific In Vitro Gene Expression Profiling of Stem Cell-Derived Neural Models
Gregory JA, Hoelzli E, Abdelaal R, Braine C, Cuevas M, Halpern M, Barretto N, Schrode N, Akbalik G, Kang K, Cheng E, Bowles K, Lotz S, Goderie S, Karch CM, Temple S, Goate A, Brennand KJ, Phatnani H. Cell Type-Specific In Vitro Gene Expression Profiling of Stem Cell-Derived Neural Models. Cells 2020, 9: 1406. PMID: 32516938, PMCID: PMC7349756, DOI: 10.3390/cells9061406.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell type-restricted expressionDisease-associated interactionsGene expression profilingHiPSC-derived motor neuronsHuman-induced pluripotent stem cellsPluripotent stem cellsCell-type specific perturbationsImmortalized cell linesRibosomal proteinsGenomic studiesExpression profilingMolecular mechanismsOff-target RNAMouse tissuesCell typesStem cellsPrimary mouse astrocytesExperimental replicatesCell linesMixed speciesMouse astrocytesExpressionMotor neuronsRiboTagCells
2018
Expression-based drug screening of neural progenitor cells from individuals with schizophrenia
Readhead B, Hartley BJ, Eastwood BJ, Collier DA, Evans D, Farias R, He C, Hoffman G, Sklar P, Dudley JT, Schadt EE, Savić R, Brennand KJ. Expression-based drug screening of neural progenitor cells from individuals with schizophrenia. Nature Communications 2018, 9: 4412. PMID: 30356048, PMCID: PMC6200740, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06515-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCell LineCell Line, TumorDimethyl SulfoxideHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsNeural Stem CellsQuality ControlSchizophreniaTranscriptomeConceptsNeural progenitor cellsHiPSC neural progenitor cellsCell typesCancer cell linesGene expression differencesProgenitor cellsDisease-associated genesPatient-specific platformPluripotent stem cellsTranscriptional responseExpression differencesTranscriptional signatureTranscriptomic signaturesStem cellsCell linesDependent mannerDrug discoveryDrug screeningCellsNeuropsychiatric disordersSchizophreniaBest treatmentDrugsDiscoveryGenes
2017
Transcriptional signatures of schizophrenia in hiPSC-derived NPCs and neurons are concordant with post-mortem adult brains
Hoffman GE, Hartley BJ, Flaherty E, Ladran I, Gochman P, Ruderfer DM, Stahl EA, Rapoport J, Sklar P, Brennand KJ. Transcriptional signatures of schizophrenia in hiPSC-derived NPCs and neurons are concordant with post-mortem adult brains. Nature Communications 2017, 8: 2225. PMID: 29263384, PMCID: PMC5738408, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02330-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAntigens, SurfaceAutopsyBrainCase-Control StudiesChildDNA Copy Number VariationsFemaleHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsLinear ModelsMaleNanog Homeobox ProteinNestinNeural Stem CellsNeuronsOctamer Transcription Factor-3ProteoglycansRNA, MessengerSchizophreniaSequence Analysis, RNASOXB1 Transcription FactorsStage-Specific Embryonic AntigensSynapsinsTranscriptomeYoung AdultEvaluating Synthetic Activation and Repression of Neuropsychiatric-Related Genes in hiPSC-Derived NPCs, Neurons, and Astrocytes
Ho S, Hartley B, Flaherty E, Rajarajan P, Abdelaal R, Obiorah I, Barretto N, Muhammad H, Phatnani H, Akbarian S, Brennand K. Evaluating Synthetic Activation and Repression of Neuropsychiatric-Related Genes in hiPSC-Derived NPCs, Neurons, and Astrocytes. Stem Cell Reports 2017, 9: 615-628. PMID: 28757163, PMCID: PMC5550013, DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.06.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynthetic activationRisk genesCell typesModulation of transcriptionNeuropsychiatric risk genesCommon single nucleotide variantsCas9 fusion proteinsEndogenous expression levelsNeural cell typesPluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cellsRare copy number variationsCopy number variationsSingle nucleotide variantsNeural progenitor cellsGene functionFunctional annotationGenetic studiesGenesRisk variantsProgenitor cellsExpression levelsTranscriptionRepressionPositional effectsProteinAn Efficient Platform for Astrocyte Differentiation from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Julia T, Wang M, Pimenova A, Bowles K, Hartley B, Lacin E, Machlovi S, Abdelaal R, Karch C, Phatnani H, Slesinger P, Zhang B, Goate A, Brennand K. An Efficient Platform for Astrocyte Differentiation from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2017, 9: 600-614. PMID: 28757165, PMCID: PMC5550034, DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.06.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHigh-Content Screening in hPSC-Neural Progenitors Identifies Drug Candidates that Inhibit Zika Virus Infection in Fetal-like Organoids and Adult Brain
Zhou T, Tan L, Cederquist G, Fan Y, Hartley B, Mukherjee S, Tomishima M, Brennand K, Zhang Q, Schwartz R, Evans T, Studer L, Chen S. High-Content Screening in hPSC-Neural Progenitors Identifies Drug Candidates that Inhibit Zika Virus Infection in Fetal-like Organoids and Adult Brain. Cell Stem Cell 2017, 21: 274-283.e5. PMID: 28736217, PMCID: PMC5553280, DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2017.06.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZIKV infectionNeurological complicationsZika virusZIKV-infected patientsSerious neurological complicationsZika virus infectionCortical neural progenitor cellsForebrain organoidsAdult mouse brainHigh-content chemical screenDrug candidatesNeural progenitor cellsAdult patientsHuman forebrain organoidsVirus infectionMouse modelAdult brainAdult miceMouse brainTherapeutic potentialTherapeutic treatmentInfectionProgenitor cellsBrainComplicationsVariations in brain defects result from cellular mosaicism in the activation of heat shock signalling
Ishii S, Torii M, Son AI, Rajendraprasad M, Morozov YM, Kawasawa YI, Salzberg AC, Fujimoto M, Brennand K, Nakai A, Mezger V, Gage FH, Rakic P, Hashimoto-Torii K. Variations in brain defects result from cellular mosaicism in the activation of heat shock signalling. Nature Communications 2017, 8: 15157. PMID: 28462912, PMCID: PMC5418582, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15157.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnimalsBrainCell MovementEmbryo, MammalianEthanolFemaleGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalHeat Shock Transcription FactorsHumansHydrogen PeroxideInjections, IntraperitonealMaleMaternal ExposureMiceMice, TransgenicNeural Stem CellsNeuronsPhenotypePregnancyPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsPrimary Cell CultureSignal TransductionIn utero exposure to maternal smoking is associated with DNA methylation alterations and reduced neuronal content in the developing fetal brain
Chatterton Z, Hartley B, Seok M, Mendelev N, Chen S, Milekic M, Rosoklija G, Stankov A, Trencevsja-Ivanovska I, Brennand K, Ge Y, Dwork A, Haghighi F. In utero exposure to maternal smoking is associated with DNA methylation alterations and reduced neuronal content in the developing fetal brain. Epigenetics & Chromatin 2017, 10: 4. PMID: 28149327, PMCID: PMC5270321, DOI: 10.1186/s13072-017-0111-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBrainDNA MethylationFemaleFetal DevelopmentFetusGestational AgeGTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11HumansImmunohistochemistryInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMaleMaternal ExposureNeural Stem CellsNeuronsPregnancyPregnancy Trimester, SecondPromoter Regions, GeneticSmokingSuccinate DehydrogenaseTubulinConceptsMaternal smokingDorsolateral prefrontal cortexNeuronal contentCortical gray matterFetal brain growthDifferentiation of neuronsBehavioral problemsFalse discovery correctionSignificant DMRsSmoking exposureGestational ageSecond trimesterUtero exposurePrenatal exposureCortical developmentFetal brainExposure altersSmokingBrain growthGray matterCell proportionFetusesPrefrontal cortexDNA methylationMethylation profiles
2016
Identification of small-molecule inhibitors of Zika virus infection and induced neural cell death via a drug repurposing screen
Xu M, Lee E, Wen Z, Cheng Y, Huang W, Qian X, TCW J, Kouznetsova J, Ogden S, Hammack C, Jacob F, Nguyen H, Itkin M, Hanna C, Shinn P, Allen C, Michael S, Simeonov A, Huang W, Christian K, Goate A, Brennand K, Huang R, Xia M, Ming G, Zheng W, Song H, Tang H. Identification of small-molecule inhibitors of Zika virus infection and induced neural cell death via a drug repurposing screen. Nature Medicine 2016, 22: 1101-1107. PMID: 27571349, PMCID: PMC5386783, DOI: 10.1038/nm.4184.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltered proliferation and networks in neural cells derived from idiopathic autistic individuals
Marchetto M, Belinson H, Tian Y, Freitas B, Fu C, Vadodaria K, Beltrao-Braga P, Trujillo C, Mendes A, Padmanabhan K, Nunez Y, Ou J, Ghosh H, Wright R, Brennand K, Pierce K, Eichenfield L, Pramparo T, Eyler L, Barnes C, Courchesne E, Geschwind D, Gage F, Wynshaw-Boris A, Muotri A. Altered proliferation and networks in neural cells derived from idiopathic autistic individuals. Molecular Psychiatry 2016, 22: 820-835. PMID: 27378147, PMCID: PMC5215991, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.95.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeural progenitor cellsInsulin growth factor-1Pluripotent stem cellsTranscriptional cascadeNeuronal networksAutism spectrum disorderGrowth factor-1Human cell modelsNormal brain sizeEarly brain overgrowthPotential cellular mechanismsMolecular mechanismsGenetic studiesClinical trialsIGF-1Therapeutic effectBrain pathologyAbnormal neurogenesisΒ-cateninCellular mechanismsStem cellsBrain overgrowthProgenitor cellsNeural cellsAltered proliferationDysregulation of miRNA-9 in a Subset of Schizophrenia Patient-Derived Neural Progenitor Cells
Topol A, Zhu S, Hartley B, English J, Hauberg M, Tran N, Rittenhouse C, Simone A, Ruderfer D, Johnson J, Readhead B, Hadas Y, Gochman P, Wang Y, Shah H, Cagney G, Rapoport J, Gage F, Dudley J, Sklar P, Mattheisen M, Cotter D, Fang G, Brennand K. Dysregulation of miRNA-9 in a Subset of Schizophrenia Patient-Derived Neural Progenitor Cells. Cell Reports 2016, 15: 1024-1036. PMID: 27117414, PMCID: PMC4856588, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.03.090.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeural progenitor cellsControl neural progenitor cellsMiR-9 targetsProgenitor cellsSubset of patientsMiR-9Levels/activitiesMiR-9 expressionSchizophrenia patientsMicroRNA-9Migration deficitsDisease riskNeural migrationAberrant levelsAberrant migrationPatientsMiRNA-9SchizophreniaMigration-associated genesRNA sequencingSZ riskRiskIndirect targetsSubsetCells
2015
Rapid Ngn2-induction of excitatory neurons from hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells
Ho S, Hartley B, Julia T, Beaumont M, Stafford K, Slesinger P, Brennand K. Rapid Ngn2-induction of excitatory neurons from hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells. Methods 2015, 101: 113-124. PMID: 26626326, PMCID: PMC4860098, DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.11.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman induced pluripotent stem cellsNeural progenitor cellsHiPSC-derived neural progenitor cellsHigh-throughput drug screeningHiPSC neural progenitor cellsExogenous transcription factorsProgenitor cellsInduced pluripotent stem cellsPatient-specific platformPluripotent stem cellsPatient-derived neuronsSomatic reprogrammingTranscription factorsGenetic variationExcitatory neuronsDrug screeningNeurogenin 2Neuronal inductionFunctional neuronsThroughput drug screeningNeuronal phenotypeLentiviral transductionStem cellsStarting populationDisease etiologyIncreased abundance of translation machinery in stem cell–derived neural progenitor cells from four schizophrenia patients
Topol A, English J, Flaherty E, Rajarajan P, Hartley B, Gupta S, Desland F, Zhu S, Goff T, Friedman L, Rapoport J, Felsenfeld D, Cagney G, Mackay-Sim A, Savas J, Aronow B, Fang G, Zhang B, Cotter D, Brennand K. Increased abundance of translation machinery in stem cell–derived neural progenitor cells from four schizophrenia patients. Translational Psychiatry 2015, 5: e662-e662. PMID: 26485546, PMCID: PMC4930118, DOI: 10.1038/tp.2015.118.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCell DifferentiationCells, CulturedHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsNeural Stem CellsNeuronsProsencephalonSchizophreniaConceptsHiPSC neural progenitor cellsNeural progenitor cellsNovel post-transcriptional mechanismProtein synthesisGlobal protein translationElongation factor proteinGlobal protein synthesisPost-transcriptional mechanismsProgenitor cellsHuman-induced pluripotent stem cellsPluripotent stem cellsMass spectrometry evidenceTranslation machineryTranslation initiationProtein translationEpigenetic factorsFactor proteinStem cellsProtein levelsTotal protein levelsCellsUnaffected controlsMachineryProteinAbundanceA guide to generating and using hiPSC derived NPCs for the study of neurological diseases.
Topol A, Tran N, Brennand K. A guide to generating and using hiPSC derived NPCs for the study of neurological diseases. Journal Of Visualized Experiments 2015, e52495. PMID: 25742222, PMCID: PMC4354663, DOI: 10.3791/52495.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCell DifferentiationCytological TechniquesHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsNervous System DiseasesNeural Stem CellsConceptsNeural progenitor cellsHiPSC neural progenitor cellsRapid genetic screeningPluripotent stem cellsCellular phenotypesDevelopmental eventsMolecular consequencesGene expressionNeurological diseasesFunctional neuronsStem cellsProgenitor cellsOnset of symptomsMolecular factorsFurther differentiationPost-mortem studiesDisease initiationGenetic screeningOxidative stressSymptom onsetDisease progressionHealthy controlsDiseaseCellsPatientsAltered WNT Signaling in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Progenitor Cells Derived from Four Schizophrenia Patients
Topol A, Zhu S, Tran N, Simone A, Fang G, Brennand K. Altered WNT Signaling in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Progenitor Cells Derived from Four Schizophrenia Patients. Biological Psychiatry 2015, 78: e29-e34. PMID: 25708228, PMCID: PMC4520784, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.12.028.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2014
Human iPSC Neurons Display Activity-Dependent Neurotransmitter Secretion: Aberrant Catecholamine Levels in Schizophrenia Neurons
Hook V, Brennand K, Kim Y, Toneff T, Funkelstein L, Lee K, Ziegler M, Gage F. Human iPSC Neurons Display Activity-Dependent Neurotransmitter Secretion: Aberrant Catecholamine Levels in Schizophrenia Neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2014, 3: 531-538. PMID: 25358781, PMCID: PMC4223699, DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.08.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHiPSC neuronsHuman-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronsPluripotent stem cell-derived neuronsActivity-dependent secretionStem cell-derived neuronsCell-derived neuronsPositive neuronsCatecholamine levelsActivity-dependent mannerTyrosine hydroxylasePeptide neurotransmittersNeuronal culturesBrain disordersNeurotransmitter releaseChemical neurotransmissionKCl stimulationNeuronsNorepinephrineCatecholaminesElevated levelsNeurotransmitter secretionCatecholamine biosynthesisSchizophreniaDopamineNeurotransmittersPhenotypic differences in hiPSC NPCs derived from patients with schizophrenia
Brennand K, Savas J, Kim Y, Tran N, Simone A, Hashimoto-Torii K, Beaumont K, Kim H, Topol A, Ladran I, Abdelrahim M, Matikainen-Ankney B, Chao S, Mrksich M, Rakic P, Fang G, Zhang B, Yates J, Gage F. Phenotypic differences in hiPSC NPCs derived from patients with schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry 2014, 20: 361-368. PMID: 24686136, PMCID: PMC4182344, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnimalsAntipsychotic AgentsCell DifferentiationCell MovementCells, CulturedFemaleGene ExpressionHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicMitochondriaNeural Cell Adhesion MoleculesNeural Stem CellsOxidative StressPhenotypePluripotent Stem CellsProsencephalonProteomicsReactive Oxygen SpeciesSchizophreniaYoung AdultConceptsHiPSC neural progenitor cellsNeural progenitor cellsHuman-induced pluripotent stem cellsHiPSC-derived neuronsGene expressionGene expression comparisonsStable isotope labelingProteomic mass spectrometry analysisAbnormal gene expressionPluripotent stem cellsOxidative stressCytoskeletal remodelingMass spectrometry analysisCellular phenotypesExpression comparisonsDevelopmental mechanismsIsotope labelingPhenotypic differencesBrainSpan AtlasDisease predispositionAmino acidsScalable assayNPC phenotypeStem cellsProgenitor cellsModeling Hippocampal Neurogenesis Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Yu D, Di Giorgio F, Yao J, Marchetto M, Brennand K, Wright R, Mei A, Mchenry L, Lisuk D, Grasmick J, Silberman P, Silberman G, Jappelli R, Gage F. Modeling Hippocampal Neurogenesis Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2014, 2: 295-310. PMID: 24672753, PMCID: PMC3964286, DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.01.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAction PotentialsCell DifferentiationDentate GyrusElectrophysiological PhenomenaEmbryoid BodiesGene ExpressionGenes, ReporterHippocampusHomeodomain ProteinsHumansNerve NetNeural Stem CellsNeurogenesisNeuronsNeurotransmitter AgentsPluripotent Stem CellsPyramidal CellsSchizophreniaTumor Suppressor ProteinsConceptsHippocampal neurogenesisDentate gyrusHippocampal dentate gyrusDG granule neuronsStem cellsPluripotent stem cellsSpontaneous neurotransmitter releaseNeuronal network maturationPatient-derived humanHuman pluripotent stem cellsDifferentiation paradigmNeuronal activityGranule neuronsBrain regionsNeurotransmitter releaseNeurodevelopmental aspectsLineage-specific cellsNeurogenesisNeuronsNetwork maturationReduced levelsPersonalized medicineHuman diseasesCellsDrug screening