Studying the Brain in a Dish: 3D Cell Culture Models of Human Brain Development and Disease

Curr Top Dev Biol. 2018:129:99-122. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2018.03.002. Epub 2018 May 2.

Abstract

The study of the cellular and molecular processes of the developing human brain has been hindered by access to suitable models of living human brain tissue. Recently developed 3D cell culture models offer the promise of studying fundamental brain processes in the context of human genetic background and species-specific developmental mechanisms. Here, we review the current state of 3D human brain organoid models and consider their potential to enable investigation of complex aspects of human brain development and the underpinning of human neurological disease.

Keywords: Brain organoids; Brain spheroids; Human pluripotent stem cells; In vitro tissue models.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / embryology*
  • Brain Diseases / pathology*
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Models, Biological*