Neuronal Cell Model Development
At Protheragen, we provide biologically authentic neuronal cell models to accelerate therapeutic development for rare neurological diseases. We offer comprehensive neuronal cell model development services, covering iPSC-derived neurons, primary cultures, and engineered cell lines. With compliant workflows, multi-omics integration, and clinical-grade quality control, we bridge the gap between discovery and translation.
Overview of Neuronal Cell Models
Neuronal cell models play a key role in elucidating the complex mechanisms behind neurological diseases and advancing therapeutic interventions. These models faithfully reproduce disease phenotypes and provide a platform for in-depth studies of disease pathogenesis, drug screening, and personalized medicine strategies. These models are broadly classified into:
Primary Neuronal Cultures
Primary neuronal cultures are derived directly from human nervous system tissues such as cortical biopsies, postmortem spinal cord, or dorsal root ganglia. These cells retain their native electrophysiological properties and disease-relevant phenotypes without the need for genetic manipulation, making them ideal for studying age-related neurodegenerative diseases or rare diseases for which iPSC resources are limited.
iPSC-Derived Models
iPSC-derived neurons are generated by reprogramming patient fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into pluripotent stem cells followed by differentiation into specific neuronal subtypes. These models retain patient-specific genetics, enable scalable production, and support gene editing with isogenic controls.
Immortalized Cell Lines
Immortalized neuronal lines, such as LUHMES, are genetically engineered to proliferate indefinitely, providing consistency for large-scale experiments. Although they are inexpensive and easy to culture, they lack genetic diversity and usually require differentiation to acquire neuronal-like properties. Their application is limited to basic research or preliminary screening due to artificial gene expression profiles.
Applications of Neuronal Cell Models
Neuronal cell models serve as a powerful platform for elucidating disease mechanisms, high-throughput drug screening, and personalized medicine development. They enable functional studies on synaptic activity, protein aggregation dynamics, and validation of genetic mutations, bridging the gap between in vitro research findings and the clinical translation of rare neurological disorders.
Fig.1 Schematic diagram of in vitro models of primary neurons illustrating features of each model. (Zhang J, et al., 2022)
Our Services
Protheragen is dedicated to the development of clinically significant neuronal cell models, encompassing iPSC-derived, primary culture, and immortalized cell lines. These models are tailored to expedite therapeutic advancements for rare motor neuron diseases and rare neurological disorders. Facilitating robust pharmacodynamic (PD)/ pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses and comprehensive toxicology assessments, our models bolster preclinical research, offering translatable insights crucial from target validation through to IND-enabling studies.
Workflow for Neuronal Cell Model Development
Experimental Design
Cell Sourcing & Preparation
Characterization and Validation
Custom Model Engineering (Optional)
Functional Assays & Application Testing
Data Delivery & Reporting
Types of Neuronal Cell Models
- iPSC-Derived Neuronal Models: Motor neurons, dopaminergic neurons, GABAergic neurons, glutamatergic neurons, peripheral sensory neurons, etc.
- Primary Neuronal Cultures: Cortical neurons, hippocampal neurons, substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons, dorsal root ganglion neurons, sympathetic ganglion neurons, enteric nervous system neurons, retinal ganglion cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, etc.
- Immortalized Neuronal Cell Lines: SH-SY5Y, SK-N-SH, IMR-32, LUHMES, ReNcell VM, NSC-34, HT-22, CAD, etc.
Service Advantages
Patient-Specific Disease Modeling
High Reproducibility and Scalability
Multi-Omics Integration
Regulatory Compliance
Precision and Customization
Neuronal cell models developed by Protheragen strictly follow ethical guidelines and regulations, ensuring that all patient-derived samples are obtained through IRB-approved protocols with informed consent. Our models are sourced from ethically reviewed biobanks and include full traceability of donor metadata. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
Reference
- Zhang J, Yang H, Wu J, et al. Recent progresses in novel in vitro models of primary neurons: A biomaterial perspective[J]. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2022, 10: 953031.