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Derivation of Adult Human Fibroblasts and their Direct Conversion into Expandable Neural Progenitor Cells
Published on: July 29, 2015
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Fast and efficient neural conversion of human hematopoietic cells
Julio Castaño1, Pablo Menendez2, Cristina Bruzos-Cidon3
1Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Cell Therapy Program of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain.
Stem Cell Reports
|December 3, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed a fast method to create induced neural cells (iNCs) from human blood cells using Sendai virus. This approach offers a more efficient way to generate neural cells for disease modeling and drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Induced neural cells (iNCs) are valuable for disease modeling and drug screening.
- Current methods for iNC generation are often slow, complex, and inefficient, relying on viral vector-mediated transcription factor overexpression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid and efficient method for generating iNCs directly from human hematopoietic cells.
- To investigate the impact of different hematopoietic cell sources on iNC conversion efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Sendai virus for the transient expression of SOX2 and c-MYC transcription factors.
- Converted CD133-positive cord blood cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells into iNCs.
- Cultured iNCs under defined neurogenic conditions and assessed their morphology, expansion capacity, and electrophysiological properties.
Main Results:
- Achieved rapid and efficient generation of iNCs from CD133-positive cord blood cells, which exhibited neuroepithelial morphology and high expansion capacity.
- Differentiated iNCs expressed mature neuronal markers and displayed spontaneous action potentials modulated by neurotransmitters.
- Conversion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was less efficient, yielding iNCs with limited expansion and electrophysiological activity.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a fast and efficient method for generating iNCs from hematopoietic cells using Sendai virus-mediated reprogramming.
- Highlighted the critical role of the source hematopoietic cells in determining conversion efficiency and the functional properties of the resulting iNCs.
- This approach provides a promising avenue for disease modeling and drug screening applications.
