Skip to main content

Table 2 Detailed summary of the molecular markers and functional tests used to characterize microglia-like cells

From: Generating microglia from human pluripotent stem cells: novel in vitro models for the study of neurodegeneration

 

Hematopoietic Progenitors

Microglia Precursors

Microglia-like Cells

Efficiency

Reproducibility

Protocol 1 – Muffat et al.

Morphology: cystic structure

ICC: CD144 (CDH5), CD117 (KIT), CD41 (ITGA2B), CD235a (GYPA), PU.1 (SPI1)

Morphology: round, vacuolated cells, compact nucleus, filopodia, membrane ruffles

ICC: CD11b (ITGAM), IBA1 (AIF1), PU.1

Flow: CD11b, IBA1, CD45 (PTPRC)

Phagocytosis: latex bead assay

Proliferation: EdU assay

Morphology: multiple thin first-order branches terminated by membrane ruffles

ICC: TMEM119, P2Y12 (P2RY12), IBA1, CD45

Cytokines (CTRL, LPS + IFN-γ): Cytokine Array R&D

Transcriptional Profile: RNA-Seq

Yield: 0.5-4x

Purity: 97%

15 hiPSC-lines

3 hESC lines

Protocol 2 - Pandya et al.

Morphology: floating cells

ICC: CD34, CD43 (SPN), CD45

not reported

Flow: CD11b, IBA1, CD45, CX3CR1, HLA-DR;

Negative: CD80, CD86, CD206, CD200R

Cytokines (CTRL, LPS): TNF-α, kit unspecified

Phagocytosis: pHrodo-E.coli

ROS: CellROX assay

Transcriptional Profile: Microarray

Yield: 0.8-3x

Purity: 9% (in mixed glial culture)

2 hiPSC lines

Protocol 3 –

Abud et al.

Morphology: endothelial cells

Flow: CD41 (ITGA2B), CD43, CD235a

ICC: PU.1, TREM2

Flow: CD11b (9%), CD45 (65%), CX3CR1 (22%); negative: CD117

Morphology: high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio

ICC: PU.1, CX3CR1, TREM2, P2Y12, TGFBR1, PROS1, MERTK, ITGB5

Flow: CD11bint, CD45low-int

Phagocytosis: pHrodo-E.coli, pHrodo-hS (CD11b-dependent, MERTK-independent)

Cytokines (CTRL, LPS, IL-1β, IFN-γ): V-PLEX cytokine 30-plex

Calcium Signaling: ADP-response (P2Y12-negated)

Transcriptional Profile: RNA-Seq

Transplantation: into MITRG mice

Yield: 30-40x

Purity: 97%

10 hiPSC lines

Protocol 4 - Douvaras et al.

Morphology: adherent endothelial cells

Flow: CD309 (KDR), CD235a (up to 6%)

Morphology: floating cells

Flow: CD14, CD45, CX3CR1 (70%)

Morphology: ramified cells with motile processes

ICC: CD11c, IBA1, P2Y12, TMEM119

Flow: CD11b, CD11c, CX3CR1, P2Y12

Phagocytosis: latex beads

Cytokines (CTRL): Human XL Cytokine Array Kit

Calcium Signaling: ADP-response

Transcriptional Profile: RNA-Seq

Yield: 2x

Purity: 68% (CD14+)

14 hiPSC lines

2 hESC lines

Protocol 5 - Haenseler et al.

Flow: CD34

Morphology: large, vesicle-rich, floating cells

Flow: CD14, CD16, CD45, CD86, CD163, HLA-DR

Phagocytosis: pHrodo-zymosan

Morphology: ramified (secondary branches)

Flow: CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD45, (CD33), (MERTK);

Negative: HLA-DR

Cytokines (CTRL, LPS/IFN-γ): Human XL Cytokine Array Kit (R&D), Luminex 100 Bio-Plex System (BioRad)

Yield: 10-43x

Purity: ~ 100% (CD14+)

4 hiPSC lines

Protocol 6 - Takata et al.

not reported

Morphology: floating, round, vacuolated cells

Flow: CD11b, CD14, CD45, CD163, CX3CR1

CyTOF: CD11b, CD14, CD45, CD48, CD62L, CD64, CD115, CD163, CX3CR1, HLA-DR, MARCO, MERTK

Phagocytosis: latex beads, Aβ-TAMRA

Morphology: ramified cells

ICC: IBA1

FLOW: CX3CR1 (increased expression compared to d25)

Phagocytosis: latex beads, Aβ-TAMRA

Cytokines (CTRL, LPS): Human Magnetic Luminex Assay (R&D)

Transcriptional Profile: none

Yield: n.a.

Purity: 94% (CD14+/CD45+)

1 hiPSC line