Alginate Hydrogel Modified with a Ligand Interacting with α3β1 Integrin Receptor Promotes the Differentiation of 3D Neural Spheroids toward Oligodendrocytes in Vitro

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2019 Feb 13;11(6):5821-5833. doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b19438. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Abstract

In this study, we established a long-term three-dimensional (3D) culture system by using integrin ligand modified alginate hydrogels to encapsulate and differentiate neural progenitor cells (NPCs) toward oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage cells. The porosity of the hydrogel was optimized by varying the alginate concentrations and then characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) test was used to confirm the ligand-integrin interactions indicating adherence between the NPC surfaces and the hydrogels. Following encapsulation in the hydrogels, both mouse and human NPC sphere cultures could be maintained up to 90 days. Mouse NPC spheres were differentiated into viable neurons, astrocytes and mature OLs by day 60 in all groups whereas human NPC spheres were differentiated into neurons and later into GFAP positive astrocytes and O4 positive pre-OL within 90 days. The species difference in the timeline of OL development between mouse and human was reflected in this system. The ligand LXY30 interacting with the α3β1 integrin receptor was more effective in promoting the differentiation of hNPCs to OL lineage cells compared with the ligand LXW64 interacting with the αvβ3 integrin receptor, hyaluronic acid interacting with CD44 receptor or without any ligand. This study is the first to differentiate O4+ pre-OLs from hNPCs in a LXY30-α3β1 (integrin-ligand) modified alginate 3D hydrogel culture. This 3D platform could serve as a valuable tool in disease modeling, drug discovery, and NPC transplantation.

Keywords: 3D culture; LXY30; OPC; alginate hydrogel; integrin-ligand; neural progenitor cells; oligodendrocytes; α3β1.

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels / metabolism
  • Hydrogels / pharmacology
  • Integrin alpha3beta1 / chemistry
  • Integrin alpha3beta1 / metabolism*
  • Ligands*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Oligodendroglia / cytology
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular / cytology
  • Spheroids, Cellular / drug effects
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Hydrogels
  • Integrin alpha3beta1
  • Ligands