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High-efficient Astrocyte Differentiation Technology
A variety of neurological illnesses are linked to astrocyte dysfunction. Traditional research of astrocytes is based on the limited primary cells or mouse astrocytes. Astrocytes from human pluripotent stem cells are difficult and inefficient. Creative Biolabs, with well-established differentiation platforms, can rapidly and efficiently generate human astrocytes of high quality, regarding morphology, molecule profile, and function. We provide custom astrocyte differentiation services to our clients worldwide to facilitate your research.
Overview of iPSC-derived Astrocytes
As a significant kind of cell in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes generate functional syncytia, participate in inter- and intracellular communication, and show optimal response to inflammation and damage, leading to the maintenance of brain homeostasis. With the confirmed overexpression protocol of transcriptional factor Sox9 and Nfib, iPSC-derived astrocytes are suitable for the research of astrocyte biology and neurologic physiology because of their similar phenotypes, molecule profiles, and functional properties to adult human astrocytes. The generated astrocytes are positive for astrocyte biomarkers such as GFAP, S100B, VIM, and ALDH1L1 following the decreasing marker expression of pluripotency and neural stem cells, and exhibit functional characteristics like the formation of gap junctions and synapse and cytokine-induced response. Moreover, iPSC-derived astrocytes perform well in mouse transplantation.
Custom Astrocyte Differentiation Service
Our technology shows good repeatability between batches and the induction to mature and functional astrocytes is time-saving (~3 weeks). The whole differentiation procedure involves tiny modifications in the genetic background of the parental cell line, which permits various strategies applied on this excellent platform, such as the genetic mutation-induced disease model and library screening to find the key factors mediating astrocyte differentiation. This stable system is reliable and trustable for your research involving disease development, drug discovery, functional examination, and transplantation trials to determine the interaction with the host neural system, together with the associated verification services like FACS, qPCR, and immunostaining to create more precise results.
Fig.1 CRISPR-modified cell line with mutations can be used for disease model research.
Highlights of Our Service
- High-quality and stable differentiation of astrocytes from iPSC and fibroblast.
- Thorough techniques and platforms to speed up your research.
- Well-established differentiation strategy with high repeatability between batches.
- Skillful scientific team to tailor your research strategy.
- Flexible scale of trials with low cost and short time.
- All-round comprehensive service for your project.
In the area of iPSC differentiation, Creative Biolabs has years of expertise in offering clients one-stop services. We build optimal platforms and well-trained teams dedicated to iPSC-derived astrocyte service and make them available to you. Don't hesitate to contact us for additional information.
We also offer flexibility in our services, including but not limited to:
| Services | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Custom CNS Disease Modeling | Our platform can offer reliable custom CNS disease modeling services including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease models, Huntington's disease models, and Parkinson's disease models. |
| Neuronal Activity Monitor | Creative Biolabs has a reputation as an industry-leading provider of basic neuroscience assays. We specialize in neuroscience and have built a comprehensive technology platform. Neuronal activity monitoring service is one of the proven services offered by our platform. |
| Neuronal Marker Antibody | Equipped with our advanced phage display platform, hybridoma platform, as well as other advanced antibody development platforms, we can provide a full range of neuronal marker antibody production services. |
Published Data
Patrycja Mulica et al. compared two methods for generating iPSC-derived astrocytes. They phenotyped glia that were obtained employing a widely used long, serum-free ("LSF") method against an in-house established short, serum-containing ("SSC") protocol which allows for the generation of astrocytes and midbrain neurons from the same precursor cells.
They used high-content confocal imaging and RNA sequencing to characterize the cultures and thoroughly assess the maturity and activation status of the obtained astrocytes. It was found that astrocytes generated using either the LSF or SSC protocols differed significantly in their characterization. While the former cells required more labor to generate (5 months vs. 2 months), they were also more mature. Astrocytes generated with the LSF approach expressed typical astrocyte markers and were more similar to their postmortem human counterparts than cells obtained with the SSC protocol.
Fig. 2 LSF astrocytes showed a more mature expression profile.1
Applications
Our service is designed to enable researchers to produce astrocytes in a more effective and efficient manner.
Some of the applications of our technology include:
- Neuroscience Research
- Drug Development and Screening
- Cellular Interaction Studies
- Disease Modeling
- Developmental Biology
- Gene Editing and Functional Studies
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
Our high-efficient astrocyte differentiation technology is a versatile tool for advancing research in various fields related to neuroscience, drug development, and regenerative medicine. By providing high-quality, differentiated astrocytes, we empower scientists to address pressing questions in brain biology and develop innovative therapeutic strategies.
FAQs
Q: How long does the astrocyte differentiation process take using your technology?
A: The differentiation process typically takes around 10-14 days from the starting pluripotent stem cells to fully functional astrocytes. This is significantly faster than some conventional protocols, which may require up to 4-6 weeks. The shorter timeline allows researchers to complete experiments more efficiently without compromising the quality or function of the derived astrocytes.
Q: What is the efficiency rate of your astrocyte differentiation protocol?
A: Our technology achieves an efficiency rate of up to 90%, meaning that a high proportion of the starting pluripotent stem cells differentiate into astrocytes. This is substantially higher than many traditional protocols, which often struggle to reach such high efficiency. The optimized conditions we provide ensure a robust and reproducible differentiation process across various cell lines.
Q: Is your technology compatible with 3D culture systems for modeling astrocyte behavior in a more physiologically relevant environment?
A: Yes, our high-efficiency differentiation technology is compatible with 3D culture systems. Astrocytes generated through our protocol can be used in 3D co-cultures or organoid models to better mimic the in vivo environment. This is particularly useful for studying complex cell interactions in the brain, neurodevelopment, and disease modeling, providing more physiologically relevant data.
Q: How scalable is this astrocyte differentiation technology for large-scale studies or high-throughput screening applications?
A: Our technology is highly scalable, making it suitable for both small-scale laboratory research and large-scale studies, including high-throughput screening. We have optimized the process to be easily adaptable for larger culture formats without compromising differentiation efficiency or astrocyte function. This scalability is ideal for drug discovery efforts or large-scale disease modeling studies.
Scientific Resources
Reference
- Mulica, Patrycja, et al. "Comparison of two protocols for the generation of iPSC-derived human astrocytes." Biological Procedures Online 25.1 (2023): 26.
For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use.