Human in vitro neurotoxicity assay with LUHMES cells
December 2020
University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
A highly reproducible in vitro neurotoxicity assay using human cells is presented, allowing assessment of complex signalling in both individual human neurons and on the network level. As test system basis, LUHMES cells were used, which are well established for morphological, metabolical and biochemical neurotoxicity testing. The authors established Ca2+-signalling as the main endpoint, on the population level, as well as on the level of individual cells and confirmed their basic neuroexcitability parameters. To exemplify potential studies on ion channels, voltage-gated sodium channels and their inhibition by tetrodotoxin, saxitoxin and lidocaine, as well as their opening by the plant alkaloid veratridine and the food-relevant marine biotoxin ciguatoxin were characterized. In addition, oscillations of [Ca2+]i across the entire culture dish were identified and exemplified as a readout for neuronal connectivity and as a measure to identify compounds modifying neuronal network features.
Human neuronal signaling and communication assays to assess functional neurotoxicity
Marcel Leist
Added on: 03-23-2021
[1] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-020-02956-3
