A research team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has published new findings in the journal Cell Stem Cells, successfully developing an "ALS-on-a-chip" disease model using patient-derived stem cells. This model provides a new tool for uncovering the mechanisms behind amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The researchers reprogrammed adult cells from ALS patients into stem cells, which were then differentiated into motor neurons and implanted in the upper channel of a microfluidic chip. The lower channel contained cells that form the blood-brain barrier, connected through a porous membrane to mimic the in vivo environment. The team also established a healthy control chip and conducted a comparative analysis of over 10,000 genes between the two groups.

Senior author Dr. Clive Svendsen stated, "Under static culture conditions, it's challenging to identify differences between motor neurons from patients and healthy individuals. The chip model simulates vascular flow, bringing neurons closer to their in vivo state." Experimental results revealed that motor neurons from ALS patients exhibited abnormal glutamate signaling, which may be a key factor contributing to neuronal death.

The research team is currently validating the direct link between glutamate signaling abnormalities and neuronal dysfunction. Dr. Svendsen noted, "These findings are just part of the puzzle, but the model offers us a new avenue to study the early processes of the disease." The researchers plan to use this platform to test potential therapeutic drugs, simulating clinical trial environments.

This innovative technology not only aids in elucidating the non-genetic causes of ALS but also provides a critical tool for developing targeted treatment strategies. In the future, this model could be applied to research on other neurological diseases.