Setting a highway for converting skin into neurons

J Mol Cell Biol. 2011 Dec;3(6):322-3. doi: 10.1093/jmcb/mjr029. Epub 2011 Oct 21.

Abstract

Direct conversion of human skin fibroblasts into induced neuronal (iN) cells has been recently achieved by using different combinations of transcription factors eventually associated with microRNAs. These findings lay the ground for a straightforward and efficient generation of human neurons in vitro with elaborated functional properties instrumental for disease modeling and cell-based approaches of brain repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Humans
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Skin / cytology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Transcription Factors