A microfluidic platform for anterior-posterior human endoderm patterning via countervailing morphogen gradients <i>in vitro</i>.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how morphogen gradients spatially pattern tissues is a fundamental question in developmental biology but can be difficult to directly address using conventional approaches. Here, we expose hPSC-derived endoderm cells to countervailing gradients of anteriorizing and posteriorizing signals using a widely available microfluidic device. This approach yielded spatially patterned cultures comprising anterior foregut (precursor to the thyroid, esophagus, and lungs) and mid/hindgut (precursor to the intestines) cells, whose identities were confirmed using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). By exposing stem cells to externally applied signaling gradients, this widely accessible microfluidic platform should accelerate the production of spatially patterned tissues, complementing in

SUBMITTER: Engel L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879597 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature