Robust In Vitro Models for Studying Parkinson’s Disease? LUHMES Cells and SH-SH5Y Cells

As our population ages, there is an increased unmet clinical need surrounding neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). To tackle this ever-increasing problem, we must ensure that the cell models that we use to develop therapeutics in vitro are robust, reliable, and replicable. In this study, we compared SH-SY5Y cells with LUHMES cells in response to 6-Hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) and 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), two common Parkinson's insults used in in vitro analysis. Both these cell types have apparent dopaminergic phenotypes, which could aid us in understanding their potential in this race to novel therapies. The LUHMES cells showed consistent dopaminergic (DA) expression through tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positivity, alongside depleted ATP levels and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, whereas the SH-SH5Y cells displayed resilience to both chemical insults, raising questions about their utility in accurately modelling PD pathology. Further electrophysiological analysis revealed comparable firing rates and ion channel signalling between both cell types; however, LUHMES cells demonstrated stronger calcium signalling responses, further supporting their use as a more robust PD model. While SH-SY5Y cells showed some adaptability in vitro, their inconsistent DA phenotype and limited response to chemical insults limit their suitability for advanced research, suggesting that LUHMES cells should and must take their place as a hallmark in Parkinson's disease research.