Optogenetic Neural Stem Cell Lines

Optogenetics refers to the use of genetic engineering methods to introduce light-sensitive proteins into neurons to activate or inhibit the electrical activity of the cell's issuance through the targeting of light at specific wavelengths. Light-sensitive proteins can also grow down the infected neuronal cytosol towards the synapse, and even across the first level of synapse towards the next level of neuronal cytosol. Thus optogenetic techniques are again specific for cellular spatial projection, which provides unrivalled precision for the modulation of specific cell populations in various brain regions in neural circuits.

We offer optogenetic-based neural stem cell development services

Electrical stimulation has high temporal resolution but poor spatial resolution and cell specificity, and cannot selectively study a particular type of cell. Optogenetic techniques can control the electrical activity of nerve cells with light. Alfa Cytology helps you achieve the study of specific cells or even specific projections by targeting activation or inhibition with specific wavelengths of light. The retinal channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), is a commonly used light-activated class of proteins. We express ChR2 in neurons and use a blue laser to open the ChR2 channel, Na⁺ mass inward flow, leading to neuronal excitation. Halorhodopsins (NpHR) are commonly used photoinhibitory proteins, and the yellow laser can open the NpHR, which leads to the inward flow of Cl^- and inhibits neuronal excitation.

Application case of improving impaired brain function in animals with Parkinson's disease

We integrate optogenetic technology with electrophysiological and molecular biology techniques to express the photoreceptor gene ChETA specifically in cultured glial cells and use blue light to stimulate the glial cells to promote the differentiation of their co-cultured stem cells towards neurons. The cells thus differentiated and matured had molecular markers and electrophysiological features typical of dopaminergic neurons. Photoexcited glial cells activate protein kinase A, increase cyclic AMP concentration, promote the release of fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) from glial cells, and promote the differentiation of the transplanted stem cells towards neurons, thus improving the abnormal behavior of the animal model of Parkinson's disease.

Optogenetics combines genetic engineering with light to manipulate the activity of individual nerve cells, discovering how the brain produces gamma oscillations and providing new evidence for their role in regulating brain function, which will help develop new treatments for a range of brain-related disorders. Using these optogenetic tools, you will be able to activate single neurons in awake mammals and directly demonstrate the behavioral outcomes exhibited by neuronal activation. Alfa Cytology will make it possible for you to obtain some important information about spinal circuits by providing you with optogenetic neural stem cell development services. Please feel free to contact us for the latest technical solutions.