Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional Neurons

Somatic cells can be directly converted into functional neurons by ectopic expression of defined factors and/or microRNAs. Since the first report of conversion mouse embryonic fibroblasts into functional neurons, the postnatal mouse, and human fibroblasts, astroglia, hepatocytes, and pericyte-derive...

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Main Authors: Shu-Zhen Zhang, Li-Xiang Ma, Wen-Jing Qian, Hong-Fu Li, Zhong-Feng Wang, Hong-Xia Wang, Zhi-Ying Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Stem Cells International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2452985
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author Shu-Zhen Zhang
Li-Xiang Ma
Wen-Jing Qian
Hong-Fu Li
Zhong-Feng Wang
Hong-Xia Wang
Zhi-Ying Wu
author_facet Shu-Zhen Zhang
Li-Xiang Ma
Wen-Jing Qian
Hong-Fu Li
Zhong-Feng Wang
Hong-Xia Wang
Zhi-Ying Wu
author_sort Shu-Zhen Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Somatic cells can be directly converted into functional neurons by ectopic expression of defined factors and/or microRNAs. Since the first report of conversion mouse embryonic fibroblasts into functional neurons, the postnatal mouse, and human fibroblasts, astroglia, hepatocytes, and pericyte-derived cells have been converted into functional dopaminergic and motor neurons both in vitro and in vivo. However, it is invasive to get all these materials. In the current study, we provide a noninvasive approach to obtain directly reprogrammed functional neurons by overexpression of the transcription factors Ascl1, Brn2, NeuroD, c-Myc, and Myt1l in human urine cells. These induced neuronal (iN) cells could express multiple neuron-specific proteins and generate action potentials. Moreover, urine cells from Wilson’s disease (WD) patient could also be directly converted into neurons. In conclusion, generation of iN cells from nonneural lineages is a feasible and befitting approach for neurological disease modeling.
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publishDate 2016-01-01
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series Stem Cells International
spelling doaj-art-d5ed5b03260c4cefaea26a0f39a6c8412025-08-20T03:23:38ZengWileyStem Cells International1687-966X1687-96782016-01-01201610.1155/2016/24529852452985Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional NeuronsShu-Zhen Zhang0Li-Xiang Ma1Wen-Jing Qian2Hong-Fu Li3Zhong-Feng Wang4Hong-Xia Wang5Zhi-Ying Wu6Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, ChinaDepartment of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, ChinaInstitutes of Brain Science, Institute of Neurobiology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, ChinaInstitutes of Brain Science, Institute of Neurobiology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, ChinaSomatic cells can be directly converted into functional neurons by ectopic expression of defined factors and/or microRNAs. Since the first report of conversion mouse embryonic fibroblasts into functional neurons, the postnatal mouse, and human fibroblasts, astroglia, hepatocytes, and pericyte-derived cells have been converted into functional dopaminergic and motor neurons both in vitro and in vivo. However, it is invasive to get all these materials. In the current study, we provide a noninvasive approach to obtain directly reprogrammed functional neurons by overexpression of the transcription factors Ascl1, Brn2, NeuroD, c-Myc, and Myt1l in human urine cells. These induced neuronal (iN) cells could express multiple neuron-specific proteins and generate action potentials. Moreover, urine cells from Wilson’s disease (WD) patient could also be directly converted into neurons. In conclusion, generation of iN cells from nonneural lineages is a feasible and befitting approach for neurological disease modeling.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2452985
spellingShingle Shu-Zhen Zhang
Li-Xiang Ma
Wen-Jing Qian
Hong-Fu Li
Zhong-Feng Wang
Hong-Xia Wang
Zhi-Ying Wu
Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional Neurons
Stem Cells International
title Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional Neurons
title_full Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional Neurons
title_fullStr Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional Neurons
title_full_unstemmed Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional Neurons
title_short Modeling Neurological Disease by Rapid Conversion of Human Urine Cells into Functional Neurons
title_sort modeling neurological disease by rapid conversion of human urine cells into functional neurons
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2452985
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