How does an in vitro model replicate RLS symptoms?

While a cell culture can't replicate the physical sensation, it allows you to probe the underlying cellular pathologies—like impaired dopamine release, iron transport defects, or neuronal hyperexcitability—that are believed to cause the symptoms.

What if I need a cell line with a mutation you don't list?

We offer comprehensive custom engineering services. Our scientists can work with you to design and generate the specific knockout, knock-in, or point mutation you need.

How are the cells packaged for shipping?

Cells are packaged in a robust cryovial and shipped in a validated dry ice container designed to maintain a temperature below -70°C for the entire transit period.

What are the key morphological indicators of a healthy vs. stressed neuronal culture?

Healthy neurons will exhibit phase-bright cell bodies (somas) and form extensive, interconnected networks of neurites. Signs of stress include neurite blebbing or retraction, vacuolization in the soma, or significant cell lifting and clumping. Our detailed protocols and troubleshooting guides provide visual examples to help you maintain optimal culture health.

Do you offer bulk pricing for large-scale screening projects?

Yes, we offer discounted pricing for bulk orders and long-term supply agreements. Please feel free to reach out to us to go over your specific needs.

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Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Cell Model Products

Introduction Types Advantages Applications FAQs Related Product Sections Product List

Introduction

A persistent challenge in clinical neurology, the pathophysiology of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) remains incompletely defined, with its etiology traced to complex and poorly characterized central nervous system circuits. This fundamental gap in mechanistic understanding has created a significant bottleneck for therapeutic innovation. Meaningful progress is therefore contingent upon the development of preclinical models that can faithfully recapitulate the three core pillars of RLS pathogenesis: established genetic predispositions, disruptions in cerebral iron homeostasis, and profound dopaminergic dysfunction.

At Creative Biolabs, we provide researchers with a sophisticated toolkit of cryopreserved, ready-to-use cell models specifically engineered to investigate the underlying biology of RLS. Move beyond the limitations of animal models and explore the precise molecular events of RLS in a consistent and clinically relevant human cell-based system. Contact our team to discuss how we can help accelerate your RLS research and to receive a quote for your project.

As another option, specific products can be located by referring to our complete Product List.

Types

Our dedicated team of scientists has engineered a comprehensive portfolio of RLS-relevant cell models, leveraging cutting-edge induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and gene-editing technologies. With these models, researchers gain an unprecedented opportunity to probe the fundamental biology of RLS at the cellular level. This allows for the rigorous investigation of key hypotheses with a degree of precision that was previously unattainable.

Types	Description
iPSC-Derived Dopaminergic (DA) Neurons	The dopamine hypothesis is central to RLS pathophysiology. Our iPSC-derived DA neurons provide the most clinically relevant model for studying this pathway.
Cellular Models of Iron Deficiency	Disrupted iron homeostasis in the brain is a cornerstone of RLS pathology. We have developed specialized models to probe the consequences of iron insufficiency at the cellular level.
CRISPR-Engineered Genetic Risk Models	Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have established a firm genetic basis for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), pinpointing multiple risk loci with high statistical significance. Notably, common variants in genes such as MEIS1, BTBD9, and PTPRD have been consistently associated with disease susceptibility. Defining the functional consequences of these genetic variations is now paramount to unlocking rationally designed therapeutic strategies.

Advantages

Choosing Creative Biolabs models translates directly into more robust, efficient, and impactful research.

Focus on Core RLS Pathology

Our models are purpose-built to investigate the primary hypotheses of RLS, enabling direct study of dopamine uptake, iron metabolism, and neuronal excitability at the cellular level.

Eliminate Confounding Variables

Move away from the complexities of animal models. An in vitro system provides a clean, controlled environment to isolate specific molecular pathways and screen compounds with higher precision.

Clinically-Relevant Data

By using human cells, especially those derived from patients, your findings have a more direct translational path from the bench to potential clinical applications.

Accelerate Your Timeline

Skip the resource-intensive process of sourcing patient samples, reprogramming iPSCs, and differentiating neurons. Our ready-to-use models let you get to your critical experiments faster.

Reproducibility You Can Trust

Stringent quality control and lot-to-lot consistency mean you can build upon your results with confidence, experiment after experiment.

Applications

Our RLS cell models are the ideal platform for a wide range of research applications:

Applications	Description
Target Identification & Validation	Use our gene-edited lines to confirm the role of novel genetic targets in RLS pathophysiology.
Compound Screening & Drug Discovery	Perform high-throughput screening to identify novel therapeutic compounds that modulate dopaminergic function or correct iron-handling deficits.
Pathophysiological Studies	Investigate the intricate relationship between iron deficiency, mitochondrial function, and dopaminergic neuron health in a controlled setting.
Electrophysiology	Plate our neurons on multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) to study the patterns of neuronal excitability and network activity implicated in RLS sensory symptoms.
Toxicology & Safety Profiling	Assess the neurotoxic potential of compounds on a relevant human neuronal subtype.

A picture that presents A diagram summarizing the links between MEIS1 and restless legs syndrome. (Sarayloo, et al., 2019) (OA Literature)

Fig.1 A diagram summarizing the links between MEIS1 and restless legs syndrome.¹

FAQs

How does an in vitro model replicate RLS symptoms?
While a cell culture can't replicate the physical sensation, it allows you to probe the underlying cellular pathologies—like impaired dopamine release, iron transport defects, or neuronal hyperexcitability—that are believed to cause the symptoms.
What if I need a cell line with a mutation you don't list?
We offer comprehensive custom engineering services. Our scientists can work with you to design and generate the specific knockout, knock-in, or point mutation you need.
How are the cells packaged for shipping?
Cells are packaged in a robust cryovial and shipped in a validated dry ice container designed to maintain a temperature below -70°C for the entire transit period.
What are the key morphological indicators of a healthy vs. stressed neuronal culture?
Healthy neurons will exhibit phase-bright cell bodies (somas) and form extensive, interconnected networks of neurites. Signs of stress include neurite blebbing or retraction, vacuolization in the soma, or significant cell lifting and clumping. Our detailed protocols and troubleshooting guides provide visual examples to help you maintain optimal culture health.
Do you offer bulk pricing for large-scale screening projects?
Yes, we offer discounted pricing for bulk orders and long-term supply agreements. Please feel free to reach out to us to go over your specific needs.

The complexity of Restless Legs Syndrome demands innovative tools. By integrating Creative Biolabs' advanced RLS cell models into your research pipeline, you can save valuable time, reduce reliance on less predictive models, and gain deeper, more translatable insights into the disease. Contact our scientific team to discuss your project needs, explore our RLS cell model catalog, and partner with us to accelerate the journey from mechanistic understanding to therapeutic reality.