[Development of human iPS cells-derived brain microvascular endothelial cells]

Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) are the central cellular components of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that protect the central nervous system. The characteristic functions of the BBB, such as its strong barrier properties and selective regulation of molecular transport into the brain, are largely mediated by BMECs. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived BMECs (iBMECs) have garnered attention because of their robust tight junction integrity and transporter activity, distinguishing them from cells used in conventional BBB models. In recent years, iBMECs have shown great promise for drug discovery and disease modeling, particularly through integration with organ-on-a-chip technologies and the use of disease-specific iPS cells to construct disease-mimicking BBB models. This article provides an overview of the current state and future prospects of iBMECs, highlighting advances in differentiation techniques, cellular characteristics, and their emerging applications.