iPSC-derived Oligodendrocyte Generation Service

Oligodendrocytes are a type of glial cell in the central nervous system (CNS) that provides insulating myelin sheaths around axons, enabling rapid and efficient propagation of action potentials. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are the proliferative precursor cells that can differentiate into mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes.

OPCs can be derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then differentiate into mature, oligodendrocytes through specific differentiation protocols. iPSCs are stem cells reprogrammed from somatic cells like skin or blood back into a pluripotent state that can then be directed to become oligodendrocyte lineage cells.

Fig. 1 Morphological of control and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) iPSC-derived O4⁺ cells.¹

Key Advantages of iPSC-derived Oligodendrocytes

• Renewable source avoiding the use of primary fetal/animal cells
• Acquire homogeneous populations of oligodendrocytes
• Generate individualized lines to represent disease characteristics and patient profiles
• Study myelination, remyelination, and oligodendrocyte biology
• Screen for compounds modulating OPC differentiation/myelination

Applications of iPSC-derived Oligodendrocytes

• Modeling white matter disorders and demyelinating diseases

Study patient oligodendrocytes in multiple sclerosis, leukodystrophies, and cerebral palsy models.

• Investigating oligodendrocyte-neuron interactions

Examine effects of myelination on neuronal firing properties using co-culture systems.

• Testing potential remyelination and neuroprotective therapies

Screen drugs that promote OPC differentiation, oligodendrocyte survival, and remyelination.

• Understanding developmental myelination defects

Explore mechanisms underlying hypomyelination disorders using iPSC oligodendrocyte disease models.

Common Assays utilize iPSC-derived Oligodendrocytes

• Myelin production and compaction assays

Measure myelin sheath formation, thickness, and integrity using immunostaining and biochemical assays.

• Electrophysiology

Examine myelination effects on neuronal firing properties using micro-electrode array and patch clamp recordings.

• OPC differentiation and maturation assays

Quantify OPC proliferation, oligodendrocyte differentiation, and expression of maturation markers.

• Neuron/oligodendrocyte co-culture systems

Recapitulate in vivo myelination by co-culturing iPSC-derived neurons and oligodendrocytes.

• Transcriptomics and oligodendrocyte signature profiling

RNA-sequencing to characterize gene expression patterns during differentiation and myelination.

Oligodendrocyte Dysfunctions Are Implicated In:

• Multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases

Abnormal oligodendrocyte loss and failure of remyelination contribute to neurodegeneration.

• Leukodystrophies (Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, Krabbe disease)

Inherited defects in oligodendrocyte development and myelination in white matter disorders.

• Cerebral palsy and hypoxic-ischemic white matter injury

Oligodendrocyte precursor vulnerability contributes to myelination defects and motor impairments.

• Schizophrenia and psychiatric disorders

Emerging links between abnormalities in myelination/white matter and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Our iPSC-derived OPCs have received good feedback from scientists around the world. If you'd like to discuss specific projects or research collaborations, please feel free to share more details about what you're looking to explore. Whether it's potential applications, experimental designs, or any challenges you're facing, we are here to help!

Reference

1. Plastini, Melanie J et al. "Transcriptional abnormalities in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived oligodendrocytes of individuals with primary progressive multiple sclerosis." Front Cell Neurosci. 2022;16:972144. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0. The original image was modified.