Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42624101›Full record

ArticleStem cell reports2026

Development and validation of a long-term co-maturation protocol for human stem cell-derived microglia and neuronal networks.

Annika Mordelt, Imke M E Schuurmans, Nicky Scheefhals, Marina P Hommersom, Koen Slottje, Kimberly Mast, Mara Graziani, Carlos O González, Klaas W Mulder, Laura J A Wingens and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell reports, 2026. 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. Review
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

13 authors.

Annika MordeltRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Medical Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Imke M E SchuurmansRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Nicky ScheefhalsRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Marina P HommersomRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Koen SlottjeRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Kimberly MastRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Mara GrazianiRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Medical Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Carlos O GonzálezRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Medical Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Klaas W MulderDepartment of Molecular Developmental Biology, Radboud Single Cell Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Laura J A WingensDepartment of Molecular Developmental Biology, Radboud Single Cell Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Dirk SchubertRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Medical Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Nael Nadif KasriRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Medical Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: nael.nadifkasri@radboudumc.nl.
Lot D de WitteRadboud University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Medical Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: lot.dewitte@radboudumc.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Microglia-neuron interactions play a key role in a variety of central nervous system disorders. Technologies using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been developed to model human brain cells with the goal to understand their function. To effectively study neuro-immune crosstalk and investigate microglial contributions to neuronal network development and function, both microglia and neurons should co-mature allowing for long-term interactions throughout their differentiation. Here, we present a co-maturation protocol that robustly generates glutamatergic neuronal networks containing hiPSC-derived microglia. We validated the long-term co-cultures using single-cell transcriptomics, imaging, and neuronal activity readouts. In this protocol, astrocytes were required for long-term survival of microglia and for their integration into neuronal networks. Our co-maturation approach induced the typical ramified microglia morphology and characteristic microglia-neuron interactions. Homeostatic markers such as P2RY12 and TMEM119 and neuronal remodeling-associated genes were upregulated compared to microglia monocultures, highlighting the necessity of the environment to generate and maintain the context-dependent microglia signature in vitro. In this manuscript, we include the full optimization process of our co-maturation approach, a comprehensive description of the protocol, practical guidelines, and troubleshooting tips. Our co-maturation model provides a powerful tool to assess the role of human microglia in modulating neuronal function and development in health and disease.

Indexed as

Cell DifferentiationInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMicrogliaNerve NetNeuronsAstrocytesCells, CulturedCoculture TechniquesHumansMembrane ProteinsReceptors, Purinergic P2Y12Membrane ProteinsReceptors, Purinergic P2Y12Tmem119 protein, humanco-culturedifferentiationiPSClong-termmicroglianeuro-immune interactionsneuron-microglia communicationsneuronsprotocol

Identifiers

PMID42624101
PMCPMC13555563

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.