Global
Home Drug Discovery Services Neuroscience Neuroscience : Disease model examples
Fluorescent microscope image of co-cultured neurons.The neurons, astrocytes, and microglia are coloured in red, pink, and green, respectively, demonstrating the expression of cell-cell interactions similar to those observed in the brain.

Neuroscience - Disease model examples

Bespoke Neuropharmacology Discovery Services utilizing Human iPSC-Derived Cells with Co/Tri-culture and Cellular Aging Technologies, combined with Advanced Gene Network Analysis. Driven by pharmaceutical-experienced Neuroscientists and Data Scientists to accelerate your Drug Discovery.

Speak to our scientists
ALS Translational Drug Discovery Services
Utilizing iPSC-derived motor neurons to model ferroptosis-dependent neuronal damage induced by oxidative stress and TDP-43 aggregation

At Fujifilm Drug Discovery Services, we specialize in establishing innovative translational in vitro disease models, focusing on Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, among other. Our ALS model employs chronic oxidative stress-mediated neuronal damage in iPSC-derived iCell® Motor Neurons and links clinical results with targeting ferroptosis and cholesterol biosynthesis, both of which are increasingly recognized for their involvement in ALS development.

ALS Modeling: Oxidative Stress-Mediated Neuronal Damage

Our method of introducing antioxidant deficiency leads to oxidative stress in iCell® Motor Neurons, which results in neurodegeneration. This process is mitigated by Edaravone, a clinically approved ALS therapeutic drug

Three illustrations of motor neurons. The motor neurons undergo ferroptosis and lead to cell death when exposed to oxidative stress. On the other hand, the presence of antioxidants suppresses cell death.
Fluorescent microscope images and three photographs of motor neurons. These images show changes in the length of motor neuron axons in the absence of oxidative stress, in the presence of oxidative stress, and in the presence of edaravone.
Ferroptosis Mediates Neuronal Damage in the ALS Model

Ferroptosis inhibitors effectively prevented neuronal damage caused by gradual oxidative stress, whereas inhibitors of apoptosis or necroptosis did not exhibit similar neuroprotective benefits.

Cholesterol Biosynthesis Inhibition in ALS

Distal cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor AY 9944 inhibits neurodegeneration in the chronic oxidative stress model, possibly by leading to an accumulation of 7-DHC, which is a precursor of cholesterol.

Graph showing the dose-dependent effects of AY9944 in an oxidative stress model using motor neurons.
Graph showing the dose-dependent effects of 7-DHC (cholesterol precursor) in an oxidative stress model using motor neurons.

Hayato Kobayashi, Hitoshi Suzuki-Masuyama, Hirokazu Tanabe, Hiroshi Kato, and Setsu Endoh-Yamagami
Ferroptosis-dependent neuronal damage induced by oxidative stress in iPSC-motor neurons as ALS model, 09 July 2024, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square

Speak to our scientists
Neuropharmacology Discovery Services Using Human iPSC-derived Neural Cells

We utilize human iPSC-derived neuronal and glial cells for CNS drug discovery and development, focusing on neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, among other models. Our proprietary cell aging and co-culture technologies enable customized HTS pharmacological assay services tailored to your needs.

Co-culture of Neurotoxic Aged Astrocytes & Neurons for Target Discovery

Advanced model for detection of neuroprotective compounds utilizing iPSC-neurons and aged iPSC-astrocytes.

Two fluorescence microscope images of cells. These show that cytokine-induced responsiveness differs depending on the ageing state of astrocytes.

iCell neuronal cell types

iCell neuronal cell types

Inhibition of astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity

Speak to our scientists