Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jingyi Wang, Shiling Chen, Chao Pan, Gaigai Li, Zhouping Tang
Summary: This review discusses the use of small molecules to directly reprogram somatic cells into neurons for the treatment of neurological diseases. The mechanisms of action of different small molecules, methods to screen small molecule cocktails, and approaches to detect their reprogramming efficiency are discussed. Future research efforts should focus on investigating the in vivo mechanisms of small molecule-mediated neuronal reprogramming under pathophysiological conditions, optimizing screening cocktails and dosing regimens, and identifying safe and effective delivery routes to promote neural regeneration in different neurological diseases.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matilde Contardo, Roberta De Gioia, Delia Gagliardi, Giacomo Pietro Comi, Linda Ottoboni, Monica Nizzardo, Stefania Corti
Summary: In vivo cell reprogramming offers a promising approach to generate new neurons in the adult mammalian nervous system, with the successful conversion of glial cells into neurons through the repression of a single gene Ptbp1. However, concerns about the reliability of this strategy, particularly regarding the nature of converted neurons in vivo, necessitate further investigation with stringent lineage tracing methods.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ricardo Pardillo-Diaz, Patricia Perez-Garcia, Carmen Castro, Pedro Nunez-Abades, Livia Carrascal
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by selective loss of neuronal systems and can be influenced by oxidative stress, inflammation, and increased neuronal excitability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Javad Harati, Kun Liu, Hosein Shahsavarani, Ping Du, Massimiliano Galluzzi, Ke Deng, Jei Mei, Hsien-Yeh Chen, Shahin Bonakdar, Behrouz Aflatoonian, Guoqiang Hou, Yingjie Zhu, Haobo Pan, Raymond C. B. Wong, Mohammad Ali Shokrgozar, Weihong Song, Peng-Yuan Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates that a customized pattern, colloidal self-assembled patterns (cSAPs), can enhance the efficiency of direct neuronal reprogramming of human fibroblasts into induced neurons (iNs) and modulate the ratio of iN subtypes. It also reveals that distinct cSAPs can induce differences in cell morphology, signaling pathways, and chromatin remodeling.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Laura Michelle White, Jeremy Boardman, James Lilleker, Amina Chaouch, Haga Kargwell, John Ealing, Hisham Hamdalla
Summary: This study retrospectively evaluated the clinical presentations of 32 patients with C9pALS and compared them with a cohort of 46 patients with C9nALS. The results showed that C9pALS patients more commonly presented with mixed upper and lower motor signs, cognitive impairment, and bulbar disease. The study emphasizes the increasing importance of clinical identification of such patients in the age of precision medicine.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Zhen Chen, Yuhang Huang, Chaorong Yu, Qing Liu, Cui Qiu, Guoqiang Wan
Summary: This study identified a Sox2(+) glial subpopulation with high potency for neuronal differentiation, but found that overexpression of Sox2 inhibited neuronal differentiation. A combination of small molecules was also discovered to promote neuronal differentiation of Sox2(-) glial cells and induce maturation of induced neurons towards SGN fate.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Fengchao Wang, Leping Cheng, Xiaohui Zhang
Summary: The limited capacity for neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain greatly hampers neuronal regeneration, but recent discoveries of direct reprogramming of endogenous glial cells into functional neurons provide new opportunities. However, more research is needed before in situ glial cell reprogramming can be applied therapeutically.
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeongmin Ha, Bum Suk Kim, Byungkuk Min, Juhyeon Nam, Jae-Geun Lee, Minhyung Lee, Byoung-Ha Yoon, Yoon Ha Choi, Ilkyun Im, Jung Sun Park, Hyosun Choi, Areum Baek, Sang Mi Cho, Mi-Ok Lee, Ki-Hoan Nam, Ji Young Mun, Mirang Kim, Seon-Young Kim, Mi Young Son, Yong-Kook Kang, Jeong-Soo Lee, Jong Kyoung Kim, Janghwan Kim
Summary: The cytoskeletal linker protein desmoplakin (Dsp) plays a crucial role in both in vitro cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration. Knockdown of Dsp impairs the formation of intermediate cells during cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration. This study suggests a potential evolutionary link mediated by Dsp between cellular reprogramming in mammals and tissue regeneration in lower vertebrates, and the intermediate cells may provide alternative approaches for mammalian regenerative therapy.
Article
Cell Biology
Liangshan Qin, Dandan Zhang, Siyi Liu, Quanhui Liu, Mingxing Liu, Ben Huang
Summary: The plasticity of cell identity allows cellular reprogramming, providing new possibilities for disease modeling and cell therapy. Using RNA sequencing, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms of fibroblast reprogramming into mammary epithelial cells. It reveals the stepwise process and activation of specific genes, as well as the potential role of the TGF-beta signaling pathway.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Zhao, Claire H. Stevens, Andrew W. Boyd, Lezanne Ooi, Perry F. Bartlett
Summary: Activation of EphA4 is involved in the pathogenesis of MND, and inhibiting EphA4 can improve functional outcomes. This review presents evidence that EphA4 signaling directly causes cell death in motor neurons, and discusses three likely mechanisms underlying this effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jasper Van den Bos, Yousra El Ouaamari, Kristien Wouters, Nathalie Cools, Inez Wens
Summary: In the field of regenerative medicine, significant progress has been made in the past two decades. Cell-based therapies in neurodegenerative diseases have shown to be safe and feasible, leading to promising clinical improvements. However, the high heterogeneity of research results calls for cautious interpretation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel James, Helena Chaytow, Leire M. Ledahawsky, Thomas H. Gillingwater
Summary: SMA is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene. The development of combinatorial therapies for SMA is necessary, with mitochondria being a relevant target for such therapies. Understanding mitochondrial dysfunction in SMA may lead to the development of targeted mitochondrial therapies with potential benefits for other motor neuron diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Lu Xu, Bingjie He, Yunjing Zhang, Lu Chen, Dongsheng Fan, Siyan Zhan, Shengfeng Wang
Summary: This study reviewed prognostic models for ALS and found methodological pitfalls and lack of external validation by fully independent researchers. Future research should focus on adding novel predictors, external validation, and head-to-head comparisons of existing models.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yelizhati Ruzha, Junjun Ni, Zhenzhen Quan, Hui Li, Hong Qing
Summary: VTN is a multifunctional glycoprotein that plays various physiological roles and is involved in cell attachment, migration, neural differentiation, neurogenesis, and also has neuroprotective effects on the brain. It is associated with the blood-brain barrier and neurodegenerative diseases, although its exact function in these contexts is not fully understood.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Serena Stanga, Marina Boido, Pascal Kienlen-Campard
Summary: The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a crucial interface between the nervous system and muscles, where the Glial cell line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) plays a key role in synaptic formation, stabilization, and function, as well as in protecting the NMJ during neurodegeneration. GDNF also has unique properties that make it essential in neurodegenerative disorders. Research highlights the importance of GDNF in the NMJ-muscle interaction, and its therapeutic potential in diseases like Alzheimer's, ALS, and SMA. Additionally, 3D neuromuscular co-culture systems are being developed as models to study NMJ formation and involvement in neuromuscular disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Andong Zhao, Hua Qin, Xiaobing Fu
Article
Clinical Neurology
Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, Edward Haller, Naoki Tajiri, Avery Thomson, Jennifer Barretta, Stephanie N. Williams, Eithan D. Haim, Hua Qin, Aric Frisina-Deyo, Jerry V. Abraham, Paul R. Sanberg, Harry Van Loveren, Cesario V. Borlongan
JOURNAL OF NEUROPATHOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2016)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Hua Qin, Andong Zhao, Cuiping Zhang, Xiaobing Fu
STEM CELL REVIEWS AND REPORTS
(2016)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Hua Qin, Andong Zhao, Cuiping Zhang, Xiaobing Fu
STEM CELL REVIEWS AND REPORTS
(2016)
Review
Biology
Hua Qin, Andong Zhao, Xiaobing Fu
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2018)
Review
Cell Biology
Hua Qin, Andong Zhao
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andong Zhao, Hua Qin, Mengli Sun, Mao Tang, Jinyu Mei, Kui Ma, Xiaobing Fu
Summary: Intestinal goblet cells, derived from human epidermal stem cells using small molecular inhibitors and growth factors, can model mucus-microbe interaction and aid in the repair of colitis, demonstrating potential for investigating gut health and developing therapeutic strategies.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hua Qin, Andong Zhao, Xiaobing Fu
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2017)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Xin Tang, Hua Qin, Xiaosong Gu, Xiaobing Fu