Unveiling tissue-specific transcriptional adaptations in iPSC-derived fibroblasts via co-culture systems.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived fibroblasts (iFBs) hold promise for autologous disease modelling, but their ability to replicate tissue-specific fibroblast characteristics remains unclear. Fibroblasts exhibit significant heterogeneity, with distinct subtypes playing critical roles in organ function and integrity. This study investigates whether iFBs can acquire tissue-specific transcriptional profiles through co-culture with cells from different germ layers, including skin (keratinocytes), heart (cardiomyocytes), gut (intestinal cells), and lung (bronchial epithelial cells).

Methods

iFBs were co-cultured directly or indirectly with organ-specific cell types, followed by bulk RNA sequencing and pathway analysis. Transcriptional profiles were compared to prima

SUBMITTER: Azad AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12312452 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature