Crossing the Border: Modeling the Blood Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), formed by brain endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes, is organized into a neurovascular unit that regulates the exchange of proteins between blood circulation and brain parenchyma. Human stem-cell-based models using brain endothelial cells are a powerful tool to investigate how disease-related conditions might affect the blood-brain barrier integrity. However, the cell type composition is critical to faithfully model transcytosis across the blood-brain barrier. Our guests today developed a blood-brain model using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived endothelial cells with brain-specific identity. Using this model they were able to investigate how disease risk factors affect intracellular transport and reveal a new role for ApoE4 in the regulation of iron metabolism at the blood-brain barrier. 

Guests
Roberto Villaseñor, Principal Scientist and Laboratory Head of the Brain Delivery, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases at the Roche Innovation Center in Basel, Switzerland 

Martina Pigoni, Senior Discovery Scientist at Roche Innovation Center in Basel, Switzerland 

Host
Janet Rossant, Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reports and The Gairdner Foundation

Supporting Content
ApoE4 disrupts intracellular trafficking and iron homeostasis in a reproducible iPSC-based model of human brain endothelial cells, Stem Cell Reports

About Stem Cell Reports
Stem Cell Reports is the open access, peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) for communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians.
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About ISSCR
With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.

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