iPSC-derived Neurons co-cultured with Astrocytes and Microglia

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To probe the influence of glial cells on neuronal pathology, I co-cultured iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons with both activated microglia-like cells and human astrocytes. Activated microglia secreted IFN-γ, IL-1β, and TNF, which accelerated the formation of α-synuclein inclusions in neighboring neurons. In contrast, astrocyte co-culture reduced α-synuclein accumulation and improved neuronal health, demonstrating that glial interactions can either exacerbate or mitigate neuronal pathology.