We are developing a celiac patient iPSC -based preclinical small intestinal epithelial cell culture model that has celiac genetics, is easily accessed from the apical, side, and can be easily expanded for high-throughput systems.
Currently we use celiac patient derived iPSCs which we differentiate to mature small intestinal epithelial cells two-dimensionally (2D) with the protocol (Saari, Siddique et al 2022, https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/3/1312) optimised in our group. Our group has programmed iPSCs both from the celiac patients and healthy controls. This celiac patient derived 2D celiac iPSC-SIEC model has patient derived genetics, allows is manipulations from both sides of culture and thus easier evaluation of intestinal epithelial functionality. With the stem cell technology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, and confocal imaging techniques we are establishing the patient derived disease model to investigate the early pathogenesis of celiac disease. The research group belongs to the Celiac Disease Research Center (https://research.tuni.fi/celires/) and engages actively in co-operation with experts in various fields, including clinicians, engineers and experts in biomaterials.