ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0034-0595; Todorov-Völgyi, Katalin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8073-9524; Müller, Stephan A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3414-307X; Antesberger, Sophie; Todorov, Mihail Ivilinov ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8627-1260; Malik, Rainer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9212-2520; Grimalt-Mirada, Rita; Gonçalves, Carolina Cardoso ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-4177; Schifferer, Martina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0500-8218; Kislinger, Georg ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6559-7421; Weisheit, Isabel; Lindner, Barbara; Crusius, Dennis; Kroeger, Joseph; Borri, Mila ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6432-1888; Erturk, Ali; Nelson, Mark; Misgeld, Thomas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9875-6794; Lichtenthaler, Stefan F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2211-2575; Dichgans, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0654-387X und Paquet, Dominik ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2065-1639
(2026):
A fully iPS-cell-derived 3D model of the human blood–brain barrier for exploring neurovascular disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.
In: Nature Neuroscience, Vol. 29: pp. 479-492
[PDF, 24MB]
Abstract
Blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity is critical for brain homeostasis, with malfunctions contributing to neurovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Mechanistic studies on BBB function have been mostly conducted in rodent and in vitro models, which recapitulate some disease features, but have limited translatability to humans and pose challenges for drug discovery. Here we report on a fully human induced pluripotent stem (iPS)-cell-derived, microfluidic three-dimensional (3D) BBB model consisting of endothelial cells (ECs), mural cells and astrocytes. Our model expresses typical fate markers, forms a barrier in vessel-like tubes and enables perfusion, including with human blood. Deletion of FOXF2 in ECs, a major risk gene for cerebral small vessel disease, induced key features of BBB dysfunction, including compromised cell junction integrity and enhanced caveolae formation. Proteomic analysis revealed dysregulated endocytosis and cell junction pathways. Disease features phenocopied those seen in mice with EC-specific Foxf2 deficiency. Moreover, lipid-nanoparticle-based treatment with Foxf2 mRNA rescued BBB deficits, demonstrating the potential for drug development.
| Item Type: | Journal article |
|---|---|
| EU Funded Grant Agreement Number: | 666881 |
| Faculties: | Medicine > Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Medicine > Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD) |
| Research Centers: | Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN) |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health |
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:19-epub-131223-1 |
| ISSN: | 1097-6256 |
| Language: | English |
| Item ID: | 131223 |
| Date Deposited: | 20. Jan 2026 07:01 |
| Last Modified: | 27. Jul 2026 07:25 |
| DFG: | Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 390857198 |
| DFG: | Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 428663564 |
| DFG: | Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 408885537 |
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