Rapid and Efficient Conversion of Human Fibroblasts into Functional Neurons by Small Molecules.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have demonstrated that human astrocytes and fibroblasts can be directly converted into functional neurons by small molecules. However, fibroblasts, as a potentially better cell resource for transplantation, are not as easy to reprogram as astrocytes regarding their fate to neurons, and chemically induced neurons (iNs) with low efficiency from fibroblasts resulted in limited application for the treatment of neurological disorders, including depression. Here, we report that human fibroblasts can be efficiently and directly reprogrammed into glutamatergic neuron-like cells by serially exposing cells to a combination of small molecules. These iNs displayed neuronal transcriptional networks, and also exhibited mature firing patterns and formed functional synapses. Importantly, iN

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6893066 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature