SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells with mutations of the gene are vulnerable under cultured conditions.

Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness worldwide. Genetic effects are believed to contribute to the onset and progress of glaucoma, but the underlying pathological mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we set out to introduce mutations into the gene, which is known as being the closely associated with glaucoma, in a human neuronal cell line .

Luciferase assay system to monitor fibroblast growth factor signal disruption in human iPSCs.

We describe a protocol for a live-cell luciferase assay system for continuously monitoring fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal disruption in human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Signal disrupting effects of chemicals are used as an indicator to evaluate toxicity. The assay is reliably predictive of the effects of limb malformation chemicals (AUC = 0.

Establishment of a developmental toxicity assay based on human iPSC reporter to detect FGF signal disruption.

The number of man-made chemicals has increased exponentially recently, and exposure to some of them can induce fetal malformations. Because complex and precisely programmed signaling pathways play important roles in developmental processes, their disruption by external chemicals often triggers developmental toxicity. However, highly accurate and high-throughput screening assays for potential developmental toxicants are currently lacking.

Integrated fibroblast growth factor signal disruptions in human iPS cells for prediction of teratogenic toxicity of chemicals.

The number of man-made chemicals has increased rapidly in recent decades, with certain chemicals potentially causing malformations in fetuses. Although the toxicities of chemicals have been tested in animals, chemicals that are not teratogenic in rodents can cause severe malformations in humans, owing to the differences in the susceptibility to the teratogenicity of chemicals among species. One possible cause of such species differences, other than pharmacokinetics, could be the difference in sensitivity to such chemicals at the cellular level.