Human organotypic brain slice culture: A novel framework for environmental research in neuro-oncology

Ravi VM, Joseph K, Wurm J, Behringer S, Garrelfs N, d’Errico P, Naseri Y, Franco P, Meyer-Luehmann M, Sankowski R, Shah MJ, Mader I, Delev D, Follo M, Beck J, Schnell O, Hofmann UG, Heiland DH (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Life Science Alliance Life Science Alliance

Book Volume: 2

Article Number: e201900305

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900305

Abstract

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 mi-croinjection 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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Oliver Schnell
Dieter Henrik Heiland

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Freiburg DE Germany (DE) Schön Kliniken DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Aachen (UKA) DE Germany (DE) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Ravi, V.M., Joseph, K., Wurm, J., Behringer, S., Garrelfs, N., d’Errico, P.,... Heiland, D.H. (2019). Human organotypic brain slice culture: A novel framework for environmental research in neuro-oncology. Life Science Alliance, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.201900305

MLA:

Ravi, Vidhya M., et al. "Human organotypic brain slice culture: A novel framework for environmental research in neuro-oncology." Life Science Alliance 2.4 (2019).

BibTeX: Download