Modelling familial dysautonomia in human induced pluripotent stem cells Journal Article


Authors: Lee, G.; Studer, L.
Article Title: Modelling familial dysautonomia in human induced pluripotent stem cells
Abstract: Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have considerable promise as a novel tool for modelling human disease and for drug discovery. While the generation of disease-specific iPS cells has become routine, realizing the potential of iPS cells in disease modelling poses challenges at multiple fronts. Such challenges include selecting a suitable disease target, directing the fate of iPS cells into symptom-relevant cell populations, identifying disease-related phenotypes and showing reversibility of such phenotypes using genetic or pharmacological approaches. Finally, the system needs to be scalable for use in modern drug discovery. Here, we will discuss these points in the context of modelling familial dysautonomia (FD, Riley-Day syndrome, hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy III (HSAN-III)), a rare genetic disorder in the peripheral nervous system. We have demonstrated three disease-specific phenotypes in FD-iPS-derived cells that can be partially rescued by treating cells with the plant hormone kinetin. Here, we will discuss how to use FDiPS cells further in high throughput drug discovery assays, in modelling disease severity and in performing mechanistic studies aimed at understanding disease pathogenesis. FD is a rare disease but represents an important testing ground for exploring the potential of iPS cell technology in modelling and treating human disease. © 2011 The Royal Society.
Keywords: genetics; phenotype; cytology; metabolism; biomedical research; cell line; drug effect; drug discovery; physiology; disease severity; medical research; gene therapy; cell culture techniques; stem cells; pluripotent stem cell; ips; pathogenicity; hormone; culture technique; dysautonomia; peripheral nervous system; induced pluripotent stem cells; nervous system; human genetic disease; drug; disease modelling; human induced pluripotent stem cells; kinetin; phytohormone; dysautonomia, familial; plant growth regulators
Journal Title: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume: 366
Issue: 1575
ISSN: 0962-8436
Publisher: Royal Society  
Date Published: 2011-08-01
Start Page: 2286
End Page: 2296
Language: English
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0026
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC3130420
PUBMED: 21727134
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 17 August 2011" - "CODEN: PTRBA" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Lorenz Studer
    220 Studer
  2. Gabsang Lee
    21 Lee