Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40713546›Full record

ArticleCellular & molecular biology letters2025

NT2-derived astrocyte-neuron co-culture reflects physiological relevance and offers research validity.

Sylwia Kedracka-Krok, Ewelina Fic, Zuzanna Cepil, Piotr Rybczyński, Agata Szlaga, Radosław Cacała, Sławomir Lasota, Anna Blasiak, Marta Dziedzicka-Wasylewska

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cellular & molecular biology letters, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sylwia Kedracka-KrokFaculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. sylwia.kedracka-krok@uj.edu.pl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0466-3907
Ewelina FicFaculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8353-5753
Zuzanna CepilFaculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-2891-8814
Piotr RybczyńskiFaculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3848-3610
Agata SzlagaInstitute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-7011
Radosław CacałaFaculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-8414-3192
Sławomir LasotaFaculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Cell Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9477-5338
Anna BlasiakInstitute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4017-2988
Marta Dziedzicka-WasylewskaFaculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7030-7874

Funding

Narodowe Centrum Nauki UMO-2017/25/B/NZ4/01403
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObtaining human neurons and astrocytes for in vitro studies presents a significant challenge owing to the complexity of replicating their development and functionality outside the human brain. The Ntera-2 cell line is a valuable source of human neurons and astrocytes in neuroscience research. However, differentiating Ntera-2 cells into neurons and astrocytes with all-trans retinoic acid is complicated by the lack of reliable markers to monitor differentiation stages effectively. This study aimed to characterize neuron-enriched and pure astrocyte cultures at two maturation stages and to compare these with the original Ntera-2 cells. Ntera-2 cells and NT2 cells are used interchangeably in this publication.

methodsUsing an advanced proteomic approach, we assessed the protein composition and abundance of neuron and astrocyte co-cultures and discovered that the astrocytic protein profile in co-culture with neurons was more representative compared with that in pure astrocyte cultures. Additionally, electrophysiological studies were conducted to investigate the best astrocyte content for neuronal functionality.

resultsMass spectrometry-based analysis provided insights into over 9000 proteins, covering well-known protein markers, proteins unique to specific cell types, and differentially expressed proteins. Notably, differences in transcription factors, regulatory proteins, intermediate filaments, and proteins unique to early and mature astrocytes highlighted the distinct maturation, activation, and functional profiles of the various cells. These findings offer a straightforward tool for characterization and monitoring the differentiation process. Three weeks of maturation in pure culture yielded immature astrocytes; however, extending the maturation period to 6 weeks significantly altered the composition of the cellular proteome, indicating increased astrocyte maturity. Studies revealed a broader repertoire of astrocytic proteins in co-culture with neurons. Meanwhile, electrophysiological analyses demonstrated that a high content of astrocytes is essential for neuronal functional maturity.

conclusionsAstrocyte-neuron co-cultures offer a more accurate model of neural tissue than pure cultures, highlighting the complexity of cell maturation and providing insights for improving in vitro modeling of human neural development.

Indexed as

AstrocytesNeuronsCell DifferentiationCell LineCoculture TechniquesHumansProteomeProteomicsProteomeCo-cultureElectrophysiologyHuman astrocytesHuman neuronsMarkersNT2Ntera-2Proteome

Identifiers

PMID40713546
PMCPMC12291249

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.