Poster preview
ePoster
TRIPLE ASSEMBLOIDS TO MODEL CORTICO-STRIATAL AND NIGRO-STRIATAL CONNECTIVITY IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Pauline Lachaland 8 co-authors
Paris Brain Institute
FENS Forum 2026 (2026)
Barcelona, Spain
Board PS03-08AM-371
Presentation
Date TBA
Board: PS03-08AM-371
Event Information
Poster Board
PS03-08AM-371
Poster
View posterAbstract
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in motor deficits. These neurons project to the striatum, where they modulate cortical motor integration by medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Traditional animal models using neurotoxins or transgenic mutations offer insights into PD but fail to fully replicate the human disease, limiting treatment development.
To improve PD modelling, we developed a 3D human organoid system derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This model integrates ventral midbrain organoids (VMO) representing DA neurons, ventral forebrain organoids (VFO) for striatal MSNs, and dorsal forebrain organoids (DFO) for cortical neurons, recreating key aspects of basal ganglia circuitry.
We confirmed DA neuron differentiation in VMOs, MSN markers (DARPP32) and GABA-expressing cells in VFOs, and glutamatergic cortical layers in DFOs by day 90. Enhanced maturation of DA neurons and cortical organization were observed, with DA and glutamatergic projections observed in VFO, in the vicinity of the MSNs.
Preliminary results using PRKN knock-out (KO) iPSCs, a gene linked to autosomal recessive PD, demonstrated altered calcium activity in VFO-VMO assembloids. These findings highlight the potential of this model to unravel mechanisms of DA neuron degeneration and basal ganglia circuit development in PD.
To improve PD modelling, we developed a 3D human organoid system derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This model integrates ventral midbrain organoids (VMO) representing DA neurons, ventral forebrain organoids (VFO) for striatal MSNs, and dorsal forebrain organoids (DFO) for cortical neurons, recreating key aspects of basal ganglia circuitry.
We confirmed DA neuron differentiation in VMOs, MSN markers (DARPP32) and GABA-expressing cells in VFOs, and glutamatergic cortical layers in DFOs by day 90. Enhanced maturation of DA neurons and cortical organization were observed, with DA and glutamatergic projections observed in VFO, in the vicinity of the MSNs.
Preliminary results using PRKN knock-out (KO) iPSCs, a gene linked to autosomal recessive PD, demonstrated altered calcium activity in VFO-VMO assembloids. These findings highlight the potential of this model to unravel mechanisms of DA neuron degeneration and basal ganglia circuit development in PD.
Recommended posters
PARKINSON’S DISEASE EFFECT ON STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY OF DOPAMINERGIC NEURON IN MIDBRAIN ORGANOIDS
Federico Tozzi, Gemma Gomez-Giro, Sonia Cerchio, Piera Mancini, Nicola Vanello, Jens Christian Schwamborn, Chiara Magliaro
NAKED ORGANOIDS: EXPOSING NEURONAL MICROCIRCUITS OF HUMAN MIDBRAIN ORGANOIDS DERIVED FROM PARKINSON’S DISEASE PATIENTS
Diego Lopez-Pigozzi, Saralea Marino, Francesco D'Aloia, Barbara Rijtano, Claudia Saraiva, Jens Schwamborn, Mario Bortolozzi
EXPLORING GUT-BRAIN CROSSTALK IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE PATHOGENESIS USING HUMAN-INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL MODELS
Tanya Singh, Hollis Du Pont, Richard Wade Martins, Mootaz Salman
HUMAN MIDBRAIN ORGANOIDS TO STUDY THE ROLE OF C19ORF12 IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Carolina Piva, Andrea Conidi, Vincenzo Bonifati, Wim Mandemakers
MODELING NEURONAL DISEASES WITH AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED IPSC-DERIVED DORSAL FOREBRAIN 3D ORGANOIDS
Oksana Sirenko, Matthew Hammer, Liam McMahon
MODELING GENETIC HETEROGENEITY IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE USING PATIENT-DERIVED DOPAMINERGIC NEURONS AND MULTI-OMICS APPROACHES
Federica Carrillo, Giorgio Fortunato, Arianna Coppola, Marco Ghirimoldi, Nwife Getrude Okechukwu, Vittoria Federica Borrini, Shahzaib Khoso, Antonietta Di Lorenzo, Mariarca Marciano, Giuseppe Giurin, Francesca D’amato, Cristina D’Aniello, Alessandro Fiorenzano, Teresa Nutile, Danilo Licastro, Sara Pietracupa, Nicola Modugno, Katiuscia Martinello, Sergio Fucile, Marcello Manfredi, Annalisa Fico, Teresa Esposito