Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: Astrocyte targeted SMN1 gene therapy and forskolin application improves astrocyte filopodia actin defects and motor neuron synaptic dysfunction in human SMA disease pathology
doi: 10.64898/2026.03.26.714618
Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Representative images from FiloQuant analysis used to quantify filopodia density in healthy and SMA patient astrocyte monocultures at baseline and after stimulating actin remodeling using the ATP depletion and recovery assay (NaN3 +R). CMFDA dye was used to visualize the cells (grey signal) and filopodia quantified by FiloQuant tool are highlighted in magenta. Scale bar: 30µm. (B) Imaris surface and mask tool applied on to individual healthy and SMA patient astrocyte cells at baseline and after ATP depletion and recovery assay. Scale bar: 15µm. (C) Quantification of filopodia density from FiloQuant analysis across baseline and treatment conditions for healthy and SMA patient astrocyte samples. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni multiple comparison statistical testing; ****p<0.0001. (D) Optic density readout from CDC42-GTP G-LISA assay measuring the activated form of CDC42 across baseline and treatment conditions for healthy and SMA patient astrocyte samples. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni multiple comparison statistical testing, p-values not statistically significant. N=5 (biological replicates), n= 4 (technical replicates).
Article Snippet: Using the Imaris spot tool function, we quantified the CD44 and pERM puncta within astrocyte filopodia ( ) which revealed a statistically significant decrease in pERM , CD44 , and co-localized CD44/pERM ( ) expression within SMA patient-derived astrocytes cultures compared to healthy astrocytes at baseline and after actin remodeling stimulation.
Techniques: Comparison