3D bioprinting of hiPSC-derived neuroprogenitor cells as a model for studying neurogenesis

• Grant number: 22/16677-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Marimélia Aparecida Porcionatto
• Grantee: Marina Rodrigues Pires
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/12605-8 - Development of brain-on-a-chip microplataforms for in vitro modeling of the central nervous system, AP.TEM

Abstract

Traditionally, 2D cell culture models are used to study different aspects of the CNS. However, this type of culture does not reproduce the three-dimensional (3D) framework in which the cells are found in native tissue. In this context, 3D bioprinting makes it possible to overcome these limitations, providing an environment closer to the physiological one. This technology has been applied not only for tissue engineering but also for modeling different tissues, including neurogenic niches and diseases that affect the CNS. Several cell types have already been 3D bioprinted, including hiPSCs-derived neuroprogenitor cells (hiPSC-NPCs). Our laboratory's preliminary results suggest that hiPSC-NPCs can generate different types of neural cells when cultured as 3D bioprinted tissue. These observations suggest that this model is a candidate for the study of neurogenesis. We hypothesize that because they are derived from hiPSCs, NPCs mimic embryonic neurogenesis, but we do not rule out that the neurogenesis that occurs in neurogenic niches in adults can also be represented in this system, depending on the stimuli and time in culture. Thus, this project aims to characterize the cell types originated from hiPSC-NPCs after 3D bioprinting, seeking to identify the presence of characteristic cells of embryonic neurogenesis and neurogenic niches in adults using gene expression analysis and immunofluorescence for specific markers. We seek to identify differential expression of the markers that will allow the characterization of the model as representative of neurogenesis.