iPSC-derived brown-like adipocytes progenitors as a new tool for drug discovery?

Interesting paper from Christian Dani team about the potential of Brown and brown-like adipocytes (BAs) proginitors derived from hiPSCs to dissipate energy stored and the promising potential to treat obesity and metabolic disorder.

In this publication, they describe the capacity of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate BAPs able to differentiate at a high efficiency with no gene transfer.  They introduce also the important role of 3D cell culture. Indeed, 3D cell culture for a long term can play an important role of bridge between traditional cell culture and live tissue to overcome the limitations that impaired discovery of efficient and safe drugs.

To mimic the in vivo environment and to provide the critical microenvironmental cues for efficient differentiation HCS Pharma has developed BIOMIMESYS® Adipose tissue.

source : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29633179