A highly efficient method to differentiate CGRP-expressing peptidergic nociceptors from human induced pluripotent stem cells 

Human cellular models of disease developed using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have enabled wide-ranging research from investigation of human disease mechanisms to phenotypic drug screens. Pain disorders such as neuropathic pain and headache remain areas of considerable unmet need and are considered high risk by pharma. Human iPSC-derived sensory neurons have already been used to accelerate translational research but the current differentiation protocols produce non-peptidergic nociceptors. We demonstrate for the first time the robust differentiation of hiPSC into peptidergic nociceptor lineage with high yield. These nociceptors express CGRP and TRPV1 whilst the non-peptidergic marker RET was completely absent. Functionally, the nociceptors show functional maturity including the expression of TTX-resistant currents and responding to TRPV1 and TRPA1 agonists. Importantly, they were able to release CGRP basally and upon stimulation by an inflammatory soup, which was inhibited upon the application of the 5-HT1B/1D/1F agonist, sumatriptan and topiramate, a migraine prophylactic drug. Overall, we report the successful generation of a novel in vitro functional peptidergic nociceptor model which will allow investigation of disease mechanisms in pain and for the development of new effective pain therapies.