- Stem-cell-derived human microglia transplanted in mouse brain to study human disease.
Stem-cell-derived human microglia transplanted in mouse brain to study human disease.
Nature neuroscience (2019-10-30)
Renzo Mancuso, Johanna Van Den Daele, Nicola Fattorelli, Leen Wolfs, Sriram Balusu, Oliver Burton, Adrian Liston, Annerieke Sierksma, Yannick Fourne, Suresh Poovathingal, Amaia Arranz-Mendiguren, Carlo Sala Frigerio, Christel Claes, Lutgarde Serneels, Tom Theys, V Hugh Perry, Catherine Verfaillie, Mark Fiers, Bart De Strooper
PMID31659342
ABSTRACT
Although genetics highlights the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease, one-third of putative Alzheimer's disease risk genes lack adequate mouse orthologs. Here we successfully engraft human microglia derived from embryonic stem cells in the mouse brain. The cells recapitulate transcriptionally human primary microglia ex vivo and show expression of human-specific Alzheimer's disease risk genes. Oligomeric amyloid-β induces a divergent response in human versus mouse microglia. This model can be used to study the role of microglia in neurological diseases.