Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-jbqgn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-19T01:17:43.016Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in schizophrenia: Modelling the disease and the treatment response

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

M. Marcatili
Affiliation:
University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Milano, Italy
F. Marsoner
Affiliation:
University of Trento, Center for Integrative Biology - CIBIO- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Trento, Italy
A. D’Agostino
Affiliation:
University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Milano, Italy
S. Scarone
Affiliation:
University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Milano, Italy
L. Conti
Affiliation:
University of Trento, Center for Integrative Biology - CIBIO- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Trento, Italy

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Response to drug treatment is under the sophisticated control of complex signalling pathways and gene regulatory networks. Indeed, drug-induced modulation of dysregulated gene expression and altered synaptic plasticity are critical steps for the successful treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Among the antipsychotic drugs, clozapine (CLZ) is widely considered to be the most effective medication for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, due to its high risk for severe side effects, CLZ use is currently restricted to patients who do not respond to other antipsychotics. Nonetheless, up to 20% of patients are considered nonresponders to CLZ treatment. The mechanism of action underlying CLZ's exceptional clinical efficacy in SCZ is not fully understood. In this context, in vitro molecular and functional assessment of patient-derived glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons’ properties are mandatory to reveal the mechanisms underlying CLZ responsiveness and might mirror the clinical response. Here, we will describe the generation of hiPSCs from SCZ patients, classified based on their response to conventional treatments, to CLZ or total resistance to every treatment. These patient-specific hiPSCs have been converted into enriched cortical glutamatergic neurons and parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons populations that are under inspection to reveal phenotypic and molecular/pharmacological aspects correlating with patient-specific responsivity pattern to CLZ treatment. These results might help to unveil the molecular basis of treatment response profiles that can be exploited to predict response to antipsychotic drugs and that might help to develop personalized treatments, more individually tailored and less hazardous.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster Viewing: Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.