KOLF2.1J iTF-Microglia: A standardized platform to studymicroglial transcriptional regulatory networks in CNS disease

Abstract

Understanding transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) in microglia is key to uncovering mechanisms driving central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Human iPSC-derived models offer a tractable system for studying microglia, yet variability between lines has limited reproducibility. Here, we use the standardized KOLF2.1J iTF line to rapidly generate microglia-like cells (iTF-Microglia) and profile TRNs under homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. iTF-Microglia closely resemble primary brain microglia at both transcriptomic and epigenomic levels. Integrative analyses reveal microglia-enriched candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) and dynamic enhancer remodeling upon differentiation and LPS+IFNG stimulation, involving key transcription factors (TFs) including NF-{kappa}B, IRF, and STAT families. TRNs active in iTF-Microglia are enriched for genetic variants linked to Alzheimers disease and other CNS disorders. These findings establish KOLF2.1J iTF-Microglia as a reproducible and genetically tractable platform for studying human microglial gene regulation and provide mechanistic insight into how TRN remodeling may contribute to CNS disease risk.