中国神经再生研究(英文版) ›› 2021, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (5): 972-973.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.297066

• 观点:神经损伤修复保护与再生 • 上一篇    下一篇

共培养方法研究神经突生长

  

  • 出版日期:2021-05-15 发布日期:2020-12-29

Co-culture methods to study neuronal function and disease

Sarah B. Peters*   

  1. Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
  • Online:2021-05-15 Published:2020-12-29
  • Contact: Sarah B. Peters, MS, PhD, peters.1026@osu.edu.

摘要: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3384-5109 (Sarah B. Peters)

Abstract: Injury, infection and degenerative diseases can occur throughout the body, potentially causing impaired organ function, loss of sensation, increased pain and/or tissue death. Recently, researchers have begun to investigate ways to better mimic organ physiology by culturing neurons with the cell-type(s)-of-interest toward the goals of regenerating organs that accurately communicate with autonomic and sensory-somatic nervous systems. Co-culture research makes it possible to study the attraction, migration, proliferation, and differentiation resulting from the crosstalk between different cell populations. Co-culturing cells can sometimes facilitate more in-depth studies about an innervated organ than would be possible with in vivo research. For instance, tissue complexity and technical difficulties challenged research into bladder innervation until a co-culture assay with dorsal root ganglion neurons and urothelial cells provided an in vitro solution (O’Mullane et al., 2013). Understanding cell crosstalk will be particularly important to repair nervous system injuries or treat nervous system diseases. Some clinicians are already testing mesenchymal stem cell treatments to repair spinal cord injuries or treat Alzheimer’s disease. While the initial findings have been promising, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes will help optimize treatment. Here, in vitro co-culture assays using neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations are highlighted to provide a “toolbox” for researchers to determine how to best address their research questions and objectives. The special requirements of each system and the various readouts for each assay are discussed, with focus placed on what parameters can be investigated with each method.