Swift induction of human spinal lower motor neurons and robust ALS cell screening via single-cell imaging

Selena Setsu, Satoru Morimoto, Shiho Nakamura, Fumiko Ozawa, Kagistia Hana Utami, Ayumi Nishiyama, Naoki Suzuki, Masashi Aoki, Yukio Takeshita, Yukihide Tomari, Hideyuki Okano. Stem Cell Reports. 2025 Jan 14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.11.007

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease marked by motor neuron degeneration. While induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a powerful tool for drug screening and studying ALS pathology, challenges like low induction efficiency, poor cell purity, and labor-intensive processes remain.

In this study published in Stem Cell Reports, researchers developed a new protocol to rapidly and efficiently generate human iPSC-derived spinal lower motor neurons (LMNs), achieving about 80% efficiency in two weeks. Time-lapse microscopy and machine learning were used to analyze the morphology and viability of iPSC-derived LMNs at the single-cell level, while the MaxOne Single-Well HD-MEA System was used for their functional characterization.

This novel induction protocol and single-cell evaluation approach offer a promising platform for large-scale analysis and drug screening using iPSCs from ALS patients, potentially accelerating the development of ALS therapies.

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MaxWell Biosystems extends heartfelt congratulations to all authors on this transformative research and eagerly looks forward to its future impact.

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