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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

A Static Self-Directed Method for Generating Brain Organoids from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

A Static Self-Directed Method for Generating Brain Organoids from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: March 4, 2020

Building Immunocompetent Cerebral Organoids From a Developmental Perspective.

Xabier Cuesta-Puente^1,2, Marco Gonzalez-Dominguez^1,3, Marta Pereira-Iglesias^1,3

¹Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Scientific Park, Leioa, Spain.

|July 24, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human cerebral organoids require microglia for accurate brain modeling. This review details methods for generating microglial-containing cerebral organoids (MCCOs) and assessing microglial maturity for disease research.

Keywords:

cerebral organoids development microglia

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Last Updated: Sep 14, 2025

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Stem Cell Biology
Immunology

Background:

Human cerebral organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are vital for studying brain development and diseases.
Conventional organoids lack microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, which are crucial for homeostasis.
Microglia must be exogenously incorporated and mature within organoids to accurately model the brain environment.

Purpose of the Study:

To review protocols for generating microglial-containing cerebral organoids (MCCOs).
To summarize methods for assessing microglial maturation and immunocompetence in vitro.
To provide recommendations for standardizing MCCO culture and analysis.

Main Methods:

Review of recent literature on generating MCCOs.
Analysis of techniques used to assess microglial development and function within organoids.
Comparison of in vitro microglial characteristics to in vivo counterparts.

Main Results:

Various strategies exist for incorporating microglia into cerebral organoids.
Assessing microglial maturation requires evaluating transcriptional profiles, morphology, distribution, phagocytosis, and inflammatory responses.
Standardized quantitative approaches are needed for robust assessment.

Conclusions:

MCCOs are essential for modeling brain diseases and understanding microglial roles.
Standardized protocols and stringent assessment methods are crucial for advancing MCCO research.
Further development in MCCO technology will enhance their utility in neuroscience and disease modeling.