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Human-Derived Neurons and Neural Progenitor Cells in High Content Imaging Applications

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High Content Screening

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1683))

Abstract

Due to advances in the fields of stem cell biology and cellular engineering, a variety of commercially available human-derived neurons and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are now available for use in research applications, including small molecule efficacy or toxicity screening. The use of human-derived neural cells is anticipated to address some of the uncertainties associated with the use of nonhuman culture models or transformed cell lines derived from human tissues. Many of the human-derived neurons and NPCs currently available from commercial sources recapitulate critical process of nervous system development including NPC proliferation, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and calcium signaling, each of which can be evaluated using high content image analysis (HCA). Human-derived neurons and NPCs are also amenable to culture in multiwell plate formats and thus may be adapted for use in HCA-based screening applications. This article reviews various types of HCA-based assays that have been used in conjunction with human-derived neurons and NPC cultures. This article also highlights instances where lower throughput analysis of neurodevelopmental processes has been performed and which demonstrate a potential for adaptation to higher-throughout imaging methods. Finally, a generic protocol for evaluating neurite outgrowth in human-derived neurons using a combination of immunocytochemistry and HCA is presented. The information provided in this article is intended to serve as a resource for cell model and assay selection for those interested in evaluating neurodevelopmental processes in human-derived cells.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Dr. William Mundy and Dr. Timothy Shafer for their advice and technical assistance regarding this work. The author would also like to thank the editors, O. Joseph Trask and Peter O'Brien, for their insightful comments on earlier versions of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, LLC, 5120 Northshore Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72118, USA

    Joshua A. Harrill

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  1. Joshua A. Harrill
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Correspondence to Joshua A. Harrill .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Paul A. Johnston

  2. Bahama Bio, LLC, Bahama, North Carolina, USA

    Oscar J. Trask

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Harrill, J.A. (2018). Human-Derived Neurons and Neural Progenitor Cells in High Content Imaging Applications. In: Johnston, P., Trask, O. (eds) High Content Screening. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1683. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7357-6_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7357-6_18

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

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