Washington D.C., [USA], March 16 (ANI): Scientists have developed a technique to transform a skin cell directly into a neuron without needing to create induced pluripotent stem cells first. These newly created neurons might potentially be utilized for treating spinal cord injuries or conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Transforming a single cell type into another — such as changing a skin cell into a nerve cell — involves inducing the skin cell first to become a "pluripotent" stem cell, followed by differentiating this intermediate stage into a neuron.
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a streamlined method that skips the stem cell phase, transforming a skin cell directly into a neuron.
Using mouse cells, the scientists created an extremely effective conversion technique capable of producing over ten neurons from a single skin cell. Should this process prove viable in human cells, it has the potential to yield substantial numbers of motor neurons. These could possibly be employed to aid individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries or conditions that affect movement.
Katie Galloway, who holds the position of WM Keck Career Development Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, stated, "We reached a point where we could inquire into whether these cells might serve as feasible options for cell replacement therapies, something we aspire them to be. This is precisely what such reprogramming techniques have the potential to achieve."
To initiate their development of these cells for therapeutic purposes, the scientists demonstrated that they were able to produce motor neurons and transplant them into the mouse brain, where they successfully merged with the surrounding tissue.
Galloway is the senior author of two papers detailing the novel technique, published today in Cell Systems. The primary author of these papers is MIT graduate student Nathan Wang.
The MIT group aims to boost the effectiveness of this procedure for converting human cells, potentially enabling the production of substantial amounts of neurons. These could then be utilized to address spinal cord injuries or conditions impacting motor function, like ALS.
Clinical trials employing neurons obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to address ALS are currently in progress; however, increasing the quantity of these cells could simplify testing and facilitate their broader application in human therapies, according to Galloway.
The study received funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. (ANI)