A proteomics resource for human iPSC-derived endothelial cells (iEC), smooth muscle cells (iSMC), pericytes (iPC) and astrocytes (iAS) in comparison to human primary cells - technical and biological replicates

Integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical for brain homeostasis, and its malfunction contributes to neurovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. So far, mechanistic studies on BBB function have been mostly conducted in rodent and non-physiological in vitro models, which recapitulate some disease features, but have limited translatability to humans and pose challenges for drug discovery. Here we report on a fully human iPSC-derived, microfluidic 3D BBB model consisting of endothelial cells (EC), mural cells, and astrocytes. Our model expresses typical cell fate markers, forms a barrier in vessel-like tubes, and enables perfusion, including with human blood. We optimized iPSC differentiations and validated cellular fates by comparison to published datasets and extensive benchmarking vs. primary cells with proteomic profiles provided in an online database (https://dbNeuroVasP.isd-muc.de).