Getting closer to modeling the gut-brain axis using induced pluripotent stem cells

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• The gut-brain axis (GBA) involves the gut microbiome (GM), gut barrier, and blood-brain barrier (BBB).
• Dysbiosis in the GM is linked to neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, potentially through the GBA.
• Current understanding of the GBA is limited by reliance on complex animal models, raising ethical concerns and unanswered questions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current cell models of the GBA.
• To discuss the application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in modeling GBA components.
• To explore the potential of organ-on-a-chip technology for creating advanced GBA models.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on gut barrier, BBB, and GBA models.
• Discussion of iPSC technology and its role in developing GBA models.
• Analysis of organ-on-a-chip approaches for GBA research.

Main Results:

• Advances in organ-on-a-chip and iPSC technology offer new possibilities for physiological GBA models.
• These models are crucial for mechanistic and disease research, including neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions.
• Current cell models and iPSC applications in GBA research are presented.

Conclusions:

• iPSC-based organ-on-a-chip models hold significant potential for studying the gut-brain axis.
• Developing these non-animal models is essential for ethical and comprehensive GBA research.
• Challenges remain in fully replicating GBA complexity using these advanced in vitro systems.