Page 510 - IJB-10-5

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
3D-bioprinted model of adult neural stem cell

microenvironment in Alzheimer’s disease

Natalia Dall’Agnol Ferreira 1,2 id , Paula Scanavez Ferreira 1,2 id ,
Cristina Pacheco Soares 3 id , Marimelia Aparecida Porcionatto * ,
1,2 id
*
and Geisa Rodrigues Salles 1,2,3 id
1 Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo,
São Paulo, Brazil
2 National Institute of Science and Technology in Modeling Human Complex Diseases with 3D
Platforms (INCT Model 3D), São Paulo, Brazil
3
Research & Development Institute, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, São
Paulo, Brazil
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Tissue and Diseases Models – Novelties in Bioprinting/3D
bioprinting)

Abstract

Neurogenesis plays a major role in neuroplasticity and memory. In adult human
and mouse brains, neural stem cells (NSCs) are mainly distributed in two extensively
characterized neurogenic niches: the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus and
the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles. Impaired neurogenesis is one
*Corresponding authors: of the consequences of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), contributing to cognitive decline
Marimelia Aparecida Porcionatto and progressive memory loss. Developing new in vitro models that resemble this
(marimelia.porcionatto@unifesp.br) three-dimensional (3D) structure is fundamental for enhancing our understanding
Geisa Rodrigues Salles of the SVZ neurogenic niche dynamics in AD. Herein, we produced and characterized
(geisa.salles@unifesp.br)
a 3D-bioprinted model of the adult SVZ neurogenic niche containing amyloid β
Citation: Ferreira NDA, Ferreira PS, (Aβ) oligomers, mimicking the NSC microenvironment in AD. In this model, Aβ
Soares CP, Porcionatto MA, Salles oligomers induce oxidative stress and reduce the proliferative potential of NSCs,
GR. 3D-bioprinted model of adult
neural stem cell microenvironment while stimulating neuronal differentiation. We hypothesize that these events are an
in Alzheimer’s disease. early attempt of adult NSCs to compensate for neuronal death in AD pathogenesis.
Int J Bioprint. 2024;10(5):3751. Our 3D model simulates the NSC niche physiology, reproducing an early response of
doi: 10.36922/ijb.3751
NSCs in AD, strengthening the importance of studying the potential of neurogenesis
Received: May 24, 2024 in neurodegeneration.
Accepted: July 19, 2024
Published Online: September 13,
2024
Keywords: Bioprinting; Neurogenic niche; Alzheimer’s disease; Amyloid beta;
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Neural stem cells; Subventricular zone
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, 1. Introduction
provided the original work is
properly cited. Neurogenesis is defined as the process of generating neurons from neural stem cells
Publisher’s Note: AccScience (NSCs). In the adult brain, neurogenesis confers plasticity and neuronal replacement
Publishing remains neutral with and occurs primarily in specialized regions known as neurogenic niches. The two main
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional neurogenic niches of human and mouse brains are located in the subgranular zone
affiliations. (SGZ) of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ) of lateral ventricles. As

Volume 10 Issue 5 (2024) 502 doi: 10.36922/ijb.3751