RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Human organotypic brain slice culture: a novel framework for environmental research in neuro-oncology
JF Life Science Alliance
JO Life Sci. Alliance
FD Life Science Alliance LLC
SP e201900305
DO 10.26508/lsa.201900305
VO 2
IS 4
A1 Ravi, Vidhya M
A1 Joseph, Kevin
A1 Wurm, Julian
A1 Behringer, Simon
A1 Garrelfs, Nicklas
A1 d’Errico, Paolo
A1 Naseri, Yashar
A1 Franco, Pamela
A1 Meyer-Luehmann, Melanie
A1 Sankowski, Roman
A1 Shah, Mukesch Johannes
A1 Mader, Irina
A1 Delev, Daniel
A1 Follo, Marie
A1 Beck, Jürgen
A1 Schnell, Oliver
A1 Hofmann, Ulrich G
A1 Heiland, Dieter Henrik
YR 2019
UL http://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/2/4/e201900305.abstract
AB When it comes to the human brain, models that closely mimic in vivo conditions are lacking. Living neuronal tissue is the closest representation of the in vivo human brain outside of a living person. Here, we present a method that can be used to maintain therapeutically resected healthy neuronal tissue for prolonged periods without any discernible changes in tissue vitality, evidenced by immunohistochemistry, genetic expression, and electrophysiology. This method was then used to assess glioblastoma (GBM) progression in its natural environment by microinjection of patient-derived tumor cells into cultured sections. The result closely resembles the pattern of de novo tumor growth and invasion, drug therapy response, and cytokine environment. Reactive transformation of astrocytes, as an example of the cellular nonmalignant tumor environment, can be accurately simulated with transcriptional differences similar to those of astrocytes isolated from acute GBM specimens. In a nutshell, we present a simple method to study GBM in its physiological environment, from which valuable insights can be gained. This technique can lead to further advancements in neuroscience, neuro-oncology, and pharmacotherapy.