Identifying approaches for treating neurodegeneration is a thorny task but is important for a growing number of patients.Researchers have focused on discovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of reprogramming and...Identifying approaches for treating neurodegeneration is a thorny task but is important for a growing number of patients.Researchers have focused on discovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of reprogramming and optimizing the technologies for acquiring neurons.Direct conversion is one of the most important processes for treating neurological disorders.Induced neurons derived from direct conversion,which bypass the pluripotency stage,are more effective,more quickly obtained,and are safer than those produced via induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs).Based on iPSC strategies,scientists have derived methods to obtain functional neurons by direct conversion,such as neuron-related transcriptional factors,small molecules.microRNAs,and epigenetic modifiers.In this review,we discuss the present strategies for direct conversion of somatic cells into functional neurons and the potentials of direct conversion for producing functional neurons and treating neurodeeeneration.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the CAS Strategic Priority Research Program(XDA16020602)the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFA0110300)+1 种基金the National Science Foundation of China(81825006,31730033 and 31621004)the K.C.Wong Education Foundation
文摘Identifying approaches for treating neurodegeneration is a thorny task but is important for a growing number of patients.Researchers have focused on discovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of reprogramming and optimizing the technologies for acquiring neurons.Direct conversion is one of the most important processes for treating neurological disorders.Induced neurons derived from direct conversion,which bypass the pluripotency stage,are more effective,more quickly obtained,and are safer than those produced via induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs).Based on iPSC strategies,scientists have derived methods to obtain functional neurons by direct conversion,such as neuron-related transcriptional factors,small molecules.microRNAs,and epigenetic modifiers.In this review,we discuss the present strategies for direct conversion of somatic cells into functional neurons and the potentials of direct conversion for producing functional neurons and treating neurodeeeneration.
