Human iPSC-derived glial cells

Consistent, defined and scalable human iPSC-derived glial cell types for neurodegenerative disease research

Glial cells include astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and associated precursor cells that enable the brain to function. Once known as nervenkitt (a German word meaning “nerve glue”), glial cells are the “glue” that holds the nervous system together by facilitating neuronal signalling, enabling tissue plasticity, providing neuronal support and axonal integrity, metabolism, and protecting neurons from would-be pathogens [1,2]. 

In recent years, a greater appreciation for the role of glial cells in neuronal homeostasis has helped expose potential therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disease. Glial cells play a complex, enigmatic role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and others. Many research projects are now focussing on understanding the therapeutic potential of targeting glial cells in neurodegenerative disease [2]. 

With access to a consistent and defined source of human glial cell types, researchers can build the complex, physiologically relevant glial cell culture models that are sorely needed in for drug discovery. Whether co-cultured with neurons, as part of a multi-cellular glial-neuronal culture, or used to build three-dimensional tissue models, ioCells are well suited for tissue and neurodegenerative disease modelling; for drug target identification and validation; as well as drug screening among many other uses. 

Take your research to the next level with our ioCells below.

ioWild Type Cells

ioAstrocytes ioWild Type Cells
ioAstrocytes cat no | ioEA1093
ioMicroglia | Female ioWild Type Cells
ioMicroglia | Female cat no | io1029
ioMicroglia | Male ioWild Type Cells
ioMicroglia | Male cat no | io1021
ioOligodendrocyte-like cells ioWild Type Cells
ioOligodendrocyte-like cells cat no | io1028

Engineered to meet your workflow with our toolkit of ioDisease Model Cells,  ioTracker Cells and CRISPR-Ready ioCells

CRISPRko-Ready ioOligodendrocyte-like cells CRISPR-Ready ioCells
CRISPRko-Ready ioOligodendrocyte-like cells cat no | io1095
GFP ioMicroglia | Male ioTracker Cells
GFP ioMicroglia | Male cat no | io1096
CRISPRko-Ready ioMicroglia Male CRISPR-Ready ioCells
CRISPRko-Ready ioMicroglia Male cat no | io1094
ioMicroglia TREM2 R47H/WT ioDisease Model Cells
ioMicroglia TREM2 R47H/WT cat no | io1038
ioMicroglia TREM2 R47H/WT ioDisease Model Cells
ioMicroglia TREM2 R47H/WT cat no | io1038
ioMicroglia APOE 4/3 C112R/WT ioDisease Model Cells
ioMicroglia APOE 4/3 C112R/WT cat no | io1033
ioMicroglia APOE 4/4 C112R/C112R ioDisease Model Cells
ioMicroglia APOE 4/4 C112R/C112R cat no | io1032

Human iPSC-based models of glial cells for studying neurodegenerative disease

Explore the implication of glial cells in neurodegenerative diseases in this webinar featuring Dr Valentina Fossati, Senior Research Investigator, The New York Stem Cell Foundation. 

Watch webinar
bitbio-oligodendrocyte-like-cells-O4-MBP-immunocytochemistry

Product resources

Producing 3D Neuronal Microtissues for Preclinical Drug Screening using ioGlutamatergic Neurons Application note
Producing 3D Neuronal Microtissues for Preclinical Drug Screening using ioGlutamatergic Neurons
V1
2024
bit.bio
Inventia
Download
Enhancement of MBP expression in human iPSC-derived oligodendrocyte-like cells by optimising db-cAMP concentration in media Technical note
Enhancement of MBP expression in human iPSC-derived oligodendrocyte-like cells by optimising db-cAMP concentration in media
Download technical note
ioGlutamatergic Neurons Brochure
ioGlutamatergic Neurons

bit.bio

Download
ioOligodendrocyte-like cells Brochure
ioOligodendrocyte-like cells
bit.bio
Download
ioAstrocytes Brochure
ioAstrocytes
bit.bio
Download
An iPSC-derived neuroinflammation/neurotoxicity in vitro model of neurons and glial cells Poster
An iPSC-derived neuroinflammation/neurotoxicity in vitro model of neurons and glial cells

Bsibsi et al.

Courtesy of Charles River Laboratories

2024

View poster
Driving experimental reproducibility and lot-to-lot biological consistency in human iPSC-derived cells enabled by opti-ox technology Poster
Driving experimental reproducibility and lot-to-lot biological consistency in human iPSC-derived cells enabled by opti-ox technology

Newman et al.

bit.bio

2024

View poster
Rapid and consistent generation of human iPSC-derived oligodendrocyte-like cells using opti-ox technology Poster
Rapid and consistent generation of human iPSC-derived oligodendrocyte-like cells using opti-ox technology

Herrera-Vaquero et al.

bit.bio

2024

View poster
Establishment and validation of an in vitro co-culture model to study myelination using human iPSC-derived glutamatergic neurons and oligodendrocytes Poster
Establishment and validation of an in vitro co-culture model to study myelination using human iPSC-derived glutamatergic neurons and oligodendrocytes

Bsibsi et al.

Courtesy of Charles River Laboratories

2024

View poster
In vitro model to study demyelinating disease using human OPC- and oligodendrocyte-like cells generated by deterministic cell programming Poster
In vitro model to study demyelinating disease using human OPC- and oligodendrocyte-like cells generated by deterministic cell programming

Veteleanu et al.

bit.bio

2025

Download poster
Reprogramming the stem cell for a new generation of cures Publication
Reprogramming the stem cell for a new generation of cures

Davenport A, Frolov T & Kotter M

Drug Discovery World

2020

 

 

Read more
3D bioprinting of iPSC neuron-astrocyte coculture Publication
3D bioprinting of iPSC neuron-astrocyte coculture

Whitehouse, et al
JoVE Journal of Visualized Experiments 
2023

Using ioGlutamatergic Neurons

Read more
Cellular reprogramming to enable the precise and scalable manufacturing of human cells for therapeutic applications Talk
Cellular reprogramming to enable the precise and scalable manufacturing of human cells for therapeutic applications

Dr Alex Davenport | Senior Scientist | bit.bio

Talk at ELRIG Cell & Gene Therapy

2021

Watch now
Precision Cellular Reprogramming for Scalable and Consistent Human Neurodegenerative Disease Models Talk
Precision Cellular Reprogramming for Scalable and Consistent Human Neurodegenerative Disease Models

Madeleine Garrett | Field Application Specialist | bit.bio

Watch now
ioOligodendrocyte-like cells | User Manual User manual
ioOligodendrocyte-like cells | User Manual

V2

bit.bio

2024

Download
ioAstrocytes | User Manual User manual
ioAstrocytes | User Manual

DOC-1240 v8.0

2025

bit.bio

Download
CRISPRko-Ready ioOligodendrocyte-like cells | User Manaul User manual
CRISPRko-Ready ioOligodendrocyte-like cells | User Manaul
V1
2025
bit.bio
Download
How to culture ioOligodendrocyte-like cells Video tutorial
How to culture ioOligodendrocyte-like cells
Prachi Bhagwatwar​​​​ | ​Research Assistant | bit.bio
Watch now
Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis: Emerging Role of Microglia Webinar
Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis: Emerging Role of Microglia

Dr Matthias Pawlowski | Head, Dementia-Sensitive Hospital | University of Münster

Dr Malathi Raman | Senior Product Manager | bit.bio

Watch now
Rethinking Developmental Biology With Cellular Reprogramming Webinar
Rethinking Developmental Biology With Cellular Reprogramming

Mark Kotter | CEO and founder | bit.bio

Marius Wernig | Professor Departments of Pathology and Chemical and Systems Biology |  Stanford University

Watch now

References

1. Jäkel S, Dimou L. (2017) Glial Cells and Their Function in the Adult Brain: A Journey through the History of Their Ablation. Front Cell Neurosci. 2017 Feb 13;11:24. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00024. PMCID: PMC5303749  PMID: 28243193

2. Hanslik K, Marino K, Ulland T. (2021) Modulation of Glial Function in Health, Aging, and Neurodegenerative Disease. Front Cell Neurosci. 2021 Aug 31;15:718324. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.718324. PMCID: PMC8439422  PMID: 34531726

Related pages

Muscle cells Explore our range of hiPSC-derived muscle cells
Nerve cells Explore our range of hiPSC-derived nerve cells
Contact us Talk to us about how our technology could support your cell therapies