Efficient conversion of human induced pluripotent stem cells into microglia by defined transcription factors

ABSTRACT: Microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), play critical roles in brain physiology and pathology. We report a novel approach that produces within ten days the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into microglia (iMG) by forced expression of both SPI1 and CEBPA. High-level expression of the main microglial markers and the purity of the iMG cells were confirmed by RT-qPCR, immunostaining and flow cytometry analyses. Whole transcriptome analysis demonstrated that these iMGs resemble human fetal/adult microglia but not human monocytes. Moreover, these iMGs exhibited appropriate physiological functions, including various inflammatory responses, ADP/ATP-evoked migration and phagocytic ability. When co-cultured with hiPSC-derived neurons (iNs), the iMGs respond and migrate toward injured neurons. This study has established a protocol for the rapid conversion of hiPSCs into functional iMGs, which should facilitate functional studies of human microglia using different disease models and also help with drug discovery.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE163984 | GEO | 2021/04/08

REPOSITORIES: GEO