Direct reprogramming of Sertoli cells into multipotent neural stem cells by defined factors

摘要

Multipotent neural stem/progenitor cells hold great promise for cell therapy.The reprogramming of fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells as well as mature neurons suggests a possibility to convert a terminally differentiated somatic cell into a muitipotent state without first establishing pluripotency.Here,we demonstrate that sertoli cells derived from mesoderm can be directly converted into a multipotent state that possesses neural stem/progenitor cell properties.The induced neural stem/progenitor cells (iNSCs) express multiple NSC-specific markers,exhibit a global gene-expression profile similar to normal NSCs,and are capable of self-renewal and differentiating into glia and electrophysiologically functional neurons,iNSC-derived neurons stain positive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH),γ-aminobutyric acid,and choline acetyltransferase.In addition,iNSCs can survive and generate synapses following transplantation into the dentate gyrus.Generation of iNSCs may have important implications for disease modeling and regenerative medicine.