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Functionalization of Brain Region-specific Spheroids with Isogenic Microglia-like Cells
Song L, Yuan X, Jones Z, Vied C, Miao Y, Marzano M, Hua T, Sang QA et al.. Scientific reports, 2019-07-30
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Current brain spheroids or organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) still lack a microglia component, the resident immune cells in the brain. The objective of this study is to engineer brain region-specific organoids from hiPSCs incorporated with isogenic microglia-like cells in order to enhance immune function. In this study, microglia-like cells were derived from hiPSCs using a simplified protocol with stage-wise growth factor induction, which expressed several phenotypic markers, including CD11b, IBA-1, CX3CR1, and P2RY12, and phagocytosed micron-size super-paramagnetic iron oxides.
Key findings
- The objective of this study is to engineer brain region-specific organoids from hiPSCs incorporated with isogenic microglia-like cells in order to enhance immune function.
- In this study, microglia-like cells were derived from hiPSCs using a simplified protocol with stage-wise growth factor induction, which expressed several phenotypic markers, including CD11b, IBA-1, CX3CR1, and P2RY12, and phagocytosed micron-size super-paramagnetic iron oxides.
- The derived cells were able to upregulate pro-inflammatory gene (TNF-α) and secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., VEGF, TGF-β1, and PGE2) when stimulated with amyloid β42 oligomers, lipopolysaccharides, or dexamethasone.
- The derived isogenic dorsal cortical (higher expression of TBR1 and PAX6) and ventral (higher expression of NKX2.1 and PROX1) spheroids/organoids displayed action potentials and synaptic activities.
Why it matters
This study engineered brain region-specific organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells incorporated with isogenic microglia-like cells that expressed microglial markers and phagocytosed iron oxides. It is a laboratory model development and does not show any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 187 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.8 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 60 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yan Li: h-index 36 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Carnegie Mellon University: institution h-index 1,190 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31363137) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47444-6
- PubMed: 31363137
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Song, L., Yuan, X., Jones, Z., Vied, C., Miao, Y., Marzano, M., et al. (2019). Functionalization of Brain Region-specific Spheroids with Isogenic Microglia-like Cells. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47444-6
Vancouver
Song L, Yuan X, Jones Z, Vied C, Miao Y, Marzano M, et al. Functionalization of Brain Region-specific Spheroids with Isogenic Microglia-like Cells. Scientific reports. 2019. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-47444-6. PMID: 31363137.
BibTeX
@article{song2019-31363137,
author = {Song, L. and Yuan, X. and Jones, Z. and Vied, C. and Miao, Y. and Marzano, M. and Hua, T. and Sang, Q. A. and others},
title = {{Functionalization of Brain Region-specific Spheroids with Isogenic Microglia-like Cells}},
journal = {Scientific reports},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-47444-6},
pmid = {31363137},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47444-6}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.