Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and Assembloids

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and the accumulation of α‐synuclein aggregates, yet current models inadequately mimic the complex human brain environment. Recent advances in brain organoid models offer a more physiologically rel...

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Main Authors: Hongwon Kim, Soi Kang, Byounggook Cho, Saemin An, Yunkyung Kim, Jongpil Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202412548
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author Hongwon Kim
Soi Kang
Byounggook Cho
Saemin An
Yunkyung Kim
Jongpil Kim
author_facet Hongwon Kim
Soi Kang
Byounggook Cho
Saemin An
Yunkyung Kim
Jongpil Kim
author_sort Hongwon Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and the accumulation of α‐synuclein aggregates, yet current models inadequately mimic the complex human brain environment. Recent advances in brain organoid models offer a more physiologically relevant platform for studying PD, however, iPSC‐derived brain organoids require long maturation times and may not accurately represent the aged brain's epigenetics and cellular contexts, limiting their applicability for modeling late‐onset diseases like PD. In this study, a novel approach for generating 3D‐induced dopaminergic (iDA) neuron organoids directly from human fibroblasts is presented. It is confirmed that these 3D iDA organoids more closely resemble the aged human brain and accurately replicate PD pathologies. Furthermore, this model is extended by incorporating astrocytes to create 3D iDA neuron‐astrocyte assembloids, recognizing the critical role of glial cells in neurodegenerative processes. It is identified that PD assembloids incorporating control astrocytes with A53T mutant iDAs demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of healthy astrocytes. In contrast, A53T mutant astrocytes progressively contributed to neuronal degeneration and synucleinopathy in 3D‐iDA assembloids. These findings suggest that directly converted 3D‐iDA organoids and assembloids provide a robust and physiologically relevant model for studying PD pathogenesis and evaluating therapeutic interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-cf4bf282ced04c8396b26c5327d825ff2025-08-20T02:16:22ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-04-011214n/an/a10.1002/advs.202412548Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and AssembloidsHongwon Kim0Soi Kang1Byounggook Cho2Saemin An3Yunkyung Kim4Jongpil Kim5Department of Chemistry Dongguk University Pudong 1‐gil 30, Jung‐gu Seoul 04620 Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry Dongguk University Pudong 1‐gil 30, Jung‐gu Seoul 04620 Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry Dongguk University Pudong 1‐gil 30, Jung‐gu Seoul 04620 Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry Dongguk University Pudong 1‐gil 30, Jung‐gu Seoul 04620 Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry Dongguk University Pudong 1‐gil 30, Jung‐gu Seoul 04620 Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry Dongguk University Pudong 1‐gil 30, Jung‐gu Seoul 04620 Republic of KoreaAbstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and the accumulation of α‐synuclein aggregates, yet current models inadequately mimic the complex human brain environment. Recent advances in brain organoid models offer a more physiologically relevant platform for studying PD, however, iPSC‐derived brain organoids require long maturation times and may not accurately represent the aged brain's epigenetics and cellular contexts, limiting their applicability for modeling late‐onset diseases like PD. In this study, a novel approach for generating 3D‐induced dopaminergic (iDA) neuron organoids directly from human fibroblasts is presented. It is confirmed that these 3D iDA organoids more closely resemble the aged human brain and accurately replicate PD pathologies. Furthermore, this model is extended by incorporating astrocytes to create 3D iDA neuron‐astrocyte assembloids, recognizing the critical role of glial cells in neurodegenerative processes. It is identified that PD assembloids incorporating control astrocytes with A53T mutant iDAs demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of healthy astrocytes. In contrast, A53T mutant astrocytes progressively contributed to neuronal degeneration and synucleinopathy in 3D‐iDA assembloids. These findings suggest that directly converted 3D‐iDA organoids and assembloids provide a robust and physiologically relevant model for studying PD pathogenesis and evaluating therapeutic interventions.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.2024125483D assembloidsinduced dopaminergic neuron organoidsparkinson's disease
spellingShingle Hongwon Kim
Soi Kang
Byounggook Cho
Saemin An
Yunkyung Kim
Jongpil Kim
Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and Assembloids
Advanced Science
3D assembloids
induced dopaminergic neuron organoids
parkinson's disease
title Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and Assembloids
title_full Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and Assembloids
title_fullStr Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and Assembloids
title_full_unstemmed Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and Assembloids
title_short Parkinson's Disease Modeling Using Directly Converted 3D Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Organoids and Assembloids
title_sort parkinson s disease modeling using directly converted 3d induced dopaminergic neuron organoids and assembloids
topic 3D assembloids
induced dopaminergic neuron organoids
parkinson's disease
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202412548
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