bit.bio's new human iPSC-derived microglia, for reproducible, scalable, and faster neurodegenerative and neuroinflammation research and screening

CAMBRIDGE, UK, 3 October, 2023 – bit.bio’s human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived ioMicroglia™provide a consistently functional and rapid human in vitro model for the study of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Recapitulating key human microglia functions, ioMicroglia can mediate inflammatory responses, dispose of unwanted materials, and carry out immune surveillance.

In the body, microglia are integral to the central nervous system, providing first-line innate immunity, and are a focus for the development of potential therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. To study microglia, researchers currently use animal models, primary human microglia, or hiPSC-derived microglia generated through traditional directed differentiation methods, although each of these has specific limitations. Unfortunately, the animal models used often do not translate accurately to humans. Primary human microglia can be difficult and time-consuming to isolate and maintain in culture, with inherent donor-to-donor variation and limited scale. Traditional directed differentiation protocols are complex, time- and resource-intensive, and struggle with lot-to-lot consistency.

In contrast, bit.bio uses opti-ox™ precision cellular reprogramming technology to deliver defined, functional, and physiologically relevant hiPSC-derived ioMicroglia with lot-to-lot consistency at scale. Independent experts have verified the reproducibility of ioMicroglia in functional assays typically used in drug discovery workflows, including those for cytokine secretion and phagocytosis.

ioMicroglia can also form stable and functional co-cultures with ioGlutamatergic Neurons™  in vitro from 24 hours post-thaw. These co-cultures allow the modelling of brain complexity to gain insights into critical microglia-neuronal intercellular interactions.

bit.bio’s ioMicroglia offer:

• Ability to recapitulate human microglia functionality, including disease-relevant functionality
• Quick data generation, with rapid maturation and experiment-ready hiPSC-derived microglia in 10 days
• Modelling of brain complexity with ioMicroglia ready to use from 24 hours post-thaw, in co-culture with ioGlutamatergic Neurons™ to study intercellular interactions.
• Simple 3-step protocol for rapidly-maturing cells, with no previous iPSC or microglia culture experience being required
• Each lot is extensively characterised to show the expression of key phenotypic markers and key phagocytic and cytokine secretion functions, demonstrating lot-to-lot consistency
• Small (1.5 million viable cells/vial) and large (5 million viable cells/vial) vial sizes are available

For enquiries and image requests, contact:

Dr Priya Kalia

SciTribe

priya@scitribe.life