Blood brain barrier modelling

This project aims to study the vascular dysfunction in Parkinson´s disease. First, we study the contribution of LRRK2 G2019S mutation on hiPSC-derived ECs and astrocytes. Secondly, we aim to develop a 3D model of the blood-brain barrier by using endothelial cells and astrocytes in microfluidic organ-on-chip platform. The organ-on-chip model provides a more realistic environment and allows 3D configuration of the native tissue architecture and cell-cell interactions.

Publications

Sonninen TM, Hämäläinen RH, Koskuvi M, Oksanen M, Shakirzyanova A, Wojciechowski S, et al. Metabolic alterations in Parkinson’s disease astrocytes. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 2;10(1):14474. 10.1038/s41598-020-71329-8 

Sonninen TM, Peltonen S, Niskanen J, Hämäläinen RH, Koistinaho J, Lehtonen Š. LRRK2 G2019S Mutated iPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells Exhibit Increased α-Synuclein, Mitochondrial Impairment, and Altered Inflammatory Responses. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Nov 29;25(23):12874. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312874 

Wu YC, Sonninen TM, Peltonen S, Koistinaho J, Lehtonen Š. Blood–Brain Barrier and Neurodegenerative Diseases—Modeling with iPSC-Derived Brain Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jul 19;22(14):7710. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147710