cat no | ioEA1004
A rapidly maturing, consistent and scalable isogenic system to study Huntington’s disease.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT are opti‑ox™ precision reprogrammed glutamatergic neurons containing a genetically engineered heterozygous 50 CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene.
The disease model cells show a Huntington’s disease‑related phenotype, indicated by delayed neuronal network formation and decreased spontaneous activity compared to the isogenic control, wild-type ioGlutamatergic Neurons™.
per vial
A maximum number of 20 vials applies. If you would like to order more than 20 vials, please contact us at orders@bit.bio.
Click here for bulk request
Disease-related phenotype
Microelectrode array analysis reveals delayed neuronal network formation and decreased spontaneous activity compared to the wild‑type control.
Scalable
Industrial scale quantities are available with industry-leading seeding densities, and at a price point that allows the cells to be used from research to high throughput screening.
Make True Comparisons
Be confident in your data. ioDisease Model Cells can be paired with ioWild Type Cells to provide a genetically matched, highly characterised background for the precise analysis of gene function.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT generated by transcription factor-driven reprogramming of iPSCs using opti-ox technology
Video capturing the rapid morphological changes of the ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT upon revival of the cryopreserved product over an 11-day culturing period. The observed rapid morphological changes are enabled by opti-ox precision reprogramming.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT express neuron-specific markers with protein expression highly reminiscent to the isogenic control
Immunofluorescent staining on post-revival day 11 demonstrates similar homogenous expression of pan-neuronal proteins MAP2 and TUBB3 (upper panel) and glutamatergic neuron-specific transporter VGLUT2 (lower panel) in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT compared to the isogenic control. 100X magnification.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT form structural networks by day 11
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT mature rapidly and form structural neuronal networks over 11 days, when compared to the isogenic control. Day 1 to 11 post thawing; 100X magnification.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT demonstrate gene expression of neuronal-specific and glutamatergic-specific markers following reprogramming
Gene expression analysis demonstrates that ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (50CAG/WT) and the isogenic control (WT) at day 11 lack the expression of pluripotency markers (NANOG and OCT4) whilst robustly expressing pan-neuronal (TUBB3 and SYP) and glutamatergic specific (VGLUT1 and VGLUT2) markers, as well as the glutamate receptor GRIA4. Gene expression levels assessed by RT-qPCR (data expressed relative to the parental hiPSC control (iPSC Control), normalised to HMBS). Data represents day 11 post-revival samples; n=2 biological replicates.
Disease-related Huntingtin (HTT) is expressed in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT
RT-qPCR analysis demonstrates similar expression level of the Huntingtin gene in both wild type ioGlutamatergic Neurons (WT) and ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (50CAG/WT) at day 11 post-revival (n=2 replicates). cDNA samples of the parental iPSC line
(iPSC control) were included as a reference.
Genotype validation of heterozygous 50 CAG repeat expansion
(A) Successful on-target integration into one HTT allele confirmed by gel electrophoresis. Genotyping primers flanking the endogenous HTT CAG repeat expansion region produce a band at approximately 320 bps, by PCR, in both isogenic control (ioGlutamatergic Neurons) and disease model (ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT). PCR fragments at 395 bps detect on-target gene editing and introduction of a 50 CAG repeat expansion in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT only. (B) Amplicon PCR of the plasmid donor reveals no random integration in genomic DNA from targeted colonies via gel electrophoresis. Off-target random insertion of the donor template (used to introduce the 50 CAG repeat expansion at the WT HTT locus) is detected by PCR amplification of the donor vector backbone. This is not detected in the samples from ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT.
Genotype validation of the number of CAG repeats
NGS-amplicon sequencing confirms the number of CAG repeats in wild type ioGlutamatergic Neurons (yellow) and ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (orange). The number of CAG repeats shows a peak at the normal physiological range of 24 for both the wild type and mutant cells. The 50 CAG repeat was detected only in the mutant cells (orange) confirming the successful introduction of a heterozygous 50 CAG repeat expansion in ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT demonstrate a significant decrease in network activity compared to wild-type control by MEA analysis
Functional characterisation of ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT by Charles River Laboratories using MaxWell’s MaxTwo high-density microelectrode array (MEA) platform. Comparison of wild-type ioGlutamatergic Neurons (WT) and Huntington’s disease model (HD) in single-cell and network development. The Activity Scan captures spontaneous action potentials of cells and reveals the spatial distribution of the electrical activity from the cell cultures over the electrode array. Map of the Firing Rate distribution over 26,400 electrodes at DIV 38 for (A) WT and (B) HD. Network Firing Rate at DIV 38, recorded for 300 sec. for (C) WT, and (D) HD. (E) Mean Firing Rate recorded from 26,400 electrodes on each well. Data shows results from WT and HD at DIV 14, 21, 38. (F) Mean Burst Frequency recorded from 26,400 electrodes on each well. Data shows results from WT and HD at DIV 35 and 38. Scale bar: 1mm, *p<0.05 (Mann Whitney U Test). The wild-type cells show a higher spontaneous activity than the disease model cells (A, B, E); both cultures show synchronous and spontaneous network activity (C, D, F). The data demonstrate significant HD relevant differences at the network levels between wild-type and disease-model cells.
Single-cell analysis showing significant Huntington’s disease related differences between ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT and wild-type control
Functional characterisation of ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT by Charles River using MaxWell’s MaxTwo high-density MEA platform. Single-cell analysis showing differences between ioGlutamatergic Neurons (WT) and ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT (HD). The Axon Tracking assay reveals the spatial propagation of the neuronal action potential from the soma to distant axonal branches. Map showing spatial distribution of the action potential amplitude for selected tracked neurons at DIV 32 for (A) WT, and (B) HD. (C-F) Mean Neuron Conduction Velocity, Total Axon Length, Firing Rate, and Amplitude recorded from 26,400 electrodes on each well. Data shows results from WT and HD at DIV 32. Scale bar: 1mm, *p=0.05, ****p<0.0001 (Mann Whitney U Test). The data demonstrate significant HD relevant differences at single-cell level between wild-type and disease-model cells.
The recommended seeding density of our human iPSC-derived Huntington’s disease model and isogenic control has been optimised and validated making it possible to have a cost point of under £0.67 per well (~$0.79) (96 well plate, seeding density 30,000 cells/cm2, Large vial size).
This means scientists are able to do more with every vial and expand experimental design within budget without losing out on quality. Resulting in more experimental conditions, more repeats, and more confidence in the data.
One Small vial can plate a minimum of 0.7 x 24-well plate, 1 x 96-well plate, or 1.5 x 384-well plate.
One Large vial can plate a minimum of 3.6 x 24-well plate, 5.4 x 96-well plate, or 7.75 x 384-well plates.
ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT are delivered in a cryopreserved format and are programmed to rapidly mature upon revival in the recommended media. The protocol for the generation of these cells is a three-phase process: Induction, which is carried out at bit.bio (Phase 0), Stabilisation for 4 days (Phase 1), and Maintenance (Phase 2) during which the ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT mature. Phases 1 and 2 after revival of cells are carried out at the customer site.
Starting material
Human iPSC line
Karyotype
Normal (46, XY)
Seeding compatibility
6, 12, 24, 48, 96 & 384 well plates
Shipping info
Dry ice
Donor
Caucasian adult male (skin fibroblast)
Vial size
Small: >1 x 10⁶ viable cells
Large: >5 x 10⁶ viable cells
Quality control
Sterility, protein expression (ICC), gene expression (RT-qPCR) and genotype validation
Differentiation method
opti-ox cellular reprogramming
Recommended seeding density
30,000 cells/cm2
User storage
LN2 or -150°C
Format
Cryopreserved cells
Genetic modification
Heterozygous - HTT 50 CAG repeat expansion
Applications
Huntington’s disease research
Drug discovery
Disease modelling
Electrophysiological assays (MEA)
Co-culture studies
Product use
ioCells are for research use only
Dr Tony Oosterveen, et al.
bit.bio & Charles River Laboratories
2023
Madeleine Garrett | Field Application Specialist | bit.bio
Madeleine Garrett | Field Application Scientist | bit.bio
bit.bio
Dr Emma V Jones | Senior Scientist | Medicines Discovery Catapult
Dr Tony Oosterveen | Senior Scientist | bit.bio
bit.bio
Dr Mariangela Iovino | Group Leader | Charles River
Dr Tony Oosterveen | Senior Scientist | bit.bio
Read the Application Note to discover how Charles River Laboratories functionally characterised ioGlutamatergic Neurons HTT 50CAG/WT and ioGlutamatergic Neurons developed by bit.bio using the MaxTwo high-density microelectrode array from MaxWell Biosystems.
Further your disease research by pairing our wild type cells with isogenic disease models.