New protocol for studying blood vessels
In a new publication from IGP, the researchers present a protocol for generating cells that can be used experimentally to study neurovascular communication. The protocol opens new avenues for modelling vascular biology and developing treatments for blood vessel diseases.
A view into the complex universe that lies within all of us featured as human induced endothelial cells integrated in the ex vivo mouse brain vasculature. The image is edited to resemble a close look into the night sky, where the mouse brain vasculature (yellow, orange) is representing a nebular-like structure which is surrounded by endothelial cells as stars (white) and cell nuclei (blue). Image credits: Nora Noll and Maximiliano Arce.
One option for studying human tissues in the laboratory is to generate them from cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Given the right conditions, such cells can develop into more specialised cells, tissues or even organ-like structures suitable for experimental research.
However, some cells and tissues have been more difficult to generate this way. This includes endothelial cells, the type of cells that make up blood vessel walls. The new paper presents a robust and reproducible protocol for generating human endothelial cells from iPSCs, paving the way for advanced vascular research and regenerative medicine.
“The protocol includes culturing the human iPSC-derived endothelial cells on an ex vivo mouse brain explant. In this model the human endothelial cells align with the existing mouse vasculature, creating a physiologically relevant platform to study vascular integration and endothelial–neural interactions. The system preserves native brain architecture which enables insights into neurovascular communication and disease mechanisms, without the complexity or ethical concerns of animal models,” says doctoral student Iza Erzar, who had an important role in developing the protocol together with her colleague Nora Noll.
Adaptable and reliable
The protocol has already been applied to investigate cerebral cavernous malformations, in a study published earlier in 2025, and it can be adapted for diverse vascular disorders or organ-specific studies. By providing a reliable workflow and versatile experimental platform, the protocol opens new avenues for modelling vascular biology and developing therapeutic strategies.
“Now that we have published the protocol, we hope that it will be useful for many other researchers. I am also very pleased that our younger colleagues, who have been very involved in the work, get credit as co-authors,” says Peetra Magnusson, who has led the work.
The protocol has been published in the journal STAR Protocols