Constructing functional neural circuits to model amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons. Recent advances in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids offer an innovative platform to model amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a human-specific context. These three-dimensional organoid systems allow for the study of neuronal circuit-level dysfunction, which is central to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis, by incorporating multiple neuronal subtypes and supporting glial populations. In particular, the integration of region-specific brain organoids into assembloid models has enabled the reconstruction of functional long-range projections and cortico-motor circuits, closely resembling human neural connectivity. This review summarizes the generation and application of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research, with a focus on the reconstruction of neural circuits, multi-omics profiling, and functional assays. We also discuss how organoid systems can be leveraged for drug discovery and personalized medicine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, highlighting their potential to unveil human-specific disease mechanisms. Lastly, we address the current challenges and future directions for improving the physiological relevance of organoid models in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research.