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Updated: May 6, 2026
3D Bioprinting of Murine Cortical Astrocytes for Engineering Neural-Like Tissue
Published on: July 16, 2021
A 3D in vitro model reveals differences in the astrocyte response elicited by potential stem cell therapies for CNS
Emma East1, Noémie Johns, Melanie Georgiou
1Department of Life Health & Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
Aim:
This study aimed to develop a 3D culture model to test the extent to which transplanted stem cells modulate astrocyte reactivity, where exacerbated glial cell activation could be detrimental to CNS repair success.
Materials & Methods:
The reactivity of rat astrocytes to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and differentiated adipose-derived stem cells was assessed after 5 days. Schwann cells were used as a positive control.
Results:
NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose-derived stem cells did not increase astrocyte reactivity. Highly reactive responses to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells were equivalent.
Conclusion:
This approach can screen therapeutic cells prior to in vivo testing, allowing cells likely to trigger a substantial astrocyte response to be identified at an early stage. NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose-derived stem cells may be useful in treating CNS damage without increasing astrogliosis.
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