The Application of Brain Organoids: From Neuronal Development to Neurological Diseases

Yikai Shou; Feng Liang; Shunliang Xu; Xuekun Li

doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.579659

The Application of Brain Organoids: From Neuronal Development to Neurological Diseases

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 Oct 22:8:579659. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.579659. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Yikai Shou^{1

2

3}, Feng Liang⁴, Shunliang Xu⁵, Xuekun Li^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ The Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
² The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
³ National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
⁵ Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Abstract

Brain organoids are derived from induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells under three-dimensional culture condition. The generation of an organoid requires the self-assembly of stem cells, progenitor cells, and multiple types of differentiated cells. Organoids display structures that resemble defined brain regions and simulate specific changes of neurological disorders; thus, organoids have become an excellent model for investigating brain development and neurological diseases. In the present review, we have summarized recent advances of the methods of culturing brain organoids and the applications of brain organoids in investigating neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: 3-D; brain organoids; neurological disease; neuronal development; stem cell.

Publication types

Review