Annual-Report-2019

INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS (IPSCS):
FROM DISEASE MODELS TO MINI-ORGANS
LE STUDIUM CONFERENCES
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
are pluripotent cells obtained by
the development of a technique of
reprogrammation of somatic cells using
4 defined factors. With this technique,
scientists started to being able to access
neurons derived from somatic cells
of patients with neurological illnesses
such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
and use it as models for research
laboratory studies. iPSCs opened new
avenues for a better understanding about
human cell differentiation, and for the
ex vivo development of human organs.
Besides, iPSCs brought new hopes for
the development of cell therapies for
conditions such as blindness and liver and
kidney diseases. More recently, scientists
could obtain «mini-organs» from iPSCs. These three-dimensional structures mimic
human organs, allowing a unique opportunity to access whole organs affected in different
pathologies. Moreover, iPSCs derived from patients with the most diverse diseases
are a highly attractive tool for screenings selecting new medicines from libraries with
thousands of compounds. The conference organised in the framework of the ARD 2020
Biopharmaceuticals Programme. gathered a small group of most prominent experts
from the iPSCs field who discussed the different applications, advantages, and caveats
of the use of iPSCs in Biological Sciences and Medicine. Main themes covered where:
iPSCs reprogrammation and differentiation, iPSCs disease models, iPSCs in drug
discovery, iPSCs in cell therapies, and organoids derived from iPSCs.
AROUND THE PROJECT:
Oral communication
. De Assis, D.R. “ALS: An update about the
effects of TDP-43 on calcium signalling and
mitochondrial bioenergetics”, Lecture presented
at the conference “Induced pluripotent stem cells
(iPSCs): From disease models to mini-organs”,
Tours, 29/01/2019.
Publication
. Hergesheimer RC, Chami AA, de Assis DR,
Vourc’h P, Andres CR, Corcia P, Lanznaster D,
Blasco H. The debated toxic role of aggregated
TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a
resolution in sight? Brain., 2019 142(5):1176-1194.
LES CELLULES SOUCHES :
PANACÉE OU BOÎTE DE PANDORE ?
LE STUDIUM LECTURES
Prof. Christian Andres (University of
Tours, Inserm U1253 iBrain, Team 2
The Neurogenomics and Neuronal
Physiopathology & CHRU Tours –
France) gave a thorough review of
societal challenges regarding stem
cells. Stem cells are cells capable of
dividing indefinitely and transforming
into different cells that make up a living
organism. There are different kinds of
stem cells, ranging from embryonic stem
cells derived from the embryo, capable of
producing a complete individual, to stem
cells artificially induced from skin cells
of an adult person. Stem cells have also
been discovered in the brain, where it
was long thought that neurons were not
capable of dividing. There is great hope for
these cells. Numerous trials are currently underway in France and around the world to
test the potential of these cells in diseases as varied as diabetes, myocardial infarction
or macular degeneration of the retina. Many difficulties remain to be overcome: the
control of the immune response, the long-term control of these cells, the formation of
certain cell types that are difficult to obtain, for example. These cells also sometimes
make it possible to replace animal models in research, by reproducing certain stages of
diseases and making it possible to test new therapeutics in a culture dish. Unfortunately,
a flowering of unscrupulous societies are offering at a high price non-validated uses
of these cells, very often with no effect, or even deleterious effects. Moreover, the
regulations and the ethical context of this work vary from country to country and do not
always show a very clear picture of each situation. It is essential for citizens to participate
in these discussions so as not to leave the door open to charlatans and to fully grasp the
advantages and disadvantages of these new approaches.
Life & Health Sciences 2019
49