Differentiated SH-SY5Y Cells for High-Throughput Screening in a 96-Well Plate Format: Protocol Optimisation and Application for Neurite Outgrowth Assays

Abstract Neuronal models are a crucial tool in neuroscientific research, helping to elucidate the molecular and cellular processes involved in disorders of the nervous system. Adapting these models to a high-throughput format enables simultaneous screening of multiple agents within a single assay. SH-SY5Y cells have been widely used as a neuronal model, yet commonly in an undifferentiated state that is not representative of mature neurons. Differentiation of the SH-SY5Y cells is a necessary step to obtain cells that express mature neuronal markers. Despite this understanding, the absence of a standardised protocol has limited the use of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells in high-throughput assay formats. Here, we describe a protocol to differentiate and re-plate SH-SY5Y cells within a 96-well plate for high-throughput screening. SH-SY5Y cells seeded at an initial density of 2,500 cells/well in a 96-well plate provide sufficient space for neurites to extend, without impacting cell viability. Room temperature pre-incubation for 1 hour improved the plating homogeneity within the well and the ability to analyse neurites. We then demonstrated the efficacy of this protocol by optimising it further for neurite outgrowth analysis. The presented protocol achieves homogenously distributed differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, useful for researchers using these cells in high-throughput screening assays.