A human 3D neuroinflammation model using BrainZell organoids with integrated bit.bio ioMicroglia

Human brain organoids often lack a functional immune component, limiting their ability to capture neuroimmune interactions. This application note demonstrates how integrating ioMicroglia enables a more physiologically relevant human 3D model with measurable inflammatory signalling, cytokine release, and pharmacological modulation.

The application note demonstrates:

• Successful integration of ioMicroglia into BrainZell organoids, confirmed by IBA1 expression and microglia-like morphology
• A robust inflammatory response following LPS stimulation, including increased TNF-α and IL-6 expression and secretion
• Pharmacological modulation of inflammation using dexamethasone
• Systems-level profiling of inflammatory pathway activation using Olink panels

Potential applications include:

• Studying neuroinflammatory mechanisms in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease
• Screening anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory compounds
• Assessing CNS inflammatory liabilities for advanced therapeutic modalities like gene therapies and biologics.