Direct conversion of human fibroblasts into dopaminergic neuron-like cells using small molecules and protein factors

Military Medical Research

Hua Qin¹  Meng-Li Sun²  Kui Ma²  Xiao-Bing Fu³  An-Dong Zhao⁴ 

[1]Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Division and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College, 28 Fu Xing Road, Haidian District, 100853, Beijing, China

[2]Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Division and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College, 28 Fu Xing Road, Haidian District, 100853, Beijing, China

[3]PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 100048, Beijing, China

[4]Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Division and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College, 28 Fu Xing Road, Haidian District, 100853, Beijing, China

[5]PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 100048, Beijing, China

[6]Research Unit of Trauma Care, Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU051, 100048, Beijing, China

[7]Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration affiliated to the Medical Innovation Research Division and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College, 28 Fu Xing Road, Haidian District, 100853, Beijing, China

[8]Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China

[9]PLA Key Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine and Beijing Key Research Laboratory of Skin Injury, Repair and Regeneration, 100048, Beijing, China

关键词: Human fibroblasts;    Dopaminergic neurons;    Parkinson’s disease;    Small molecules;    Reprogramming;    Transdifferentiation;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40779-020-00284-2

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundGeneration of neurons is essential in cell replacement therapy for neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Several studies have reported the generation of dopaminergic (DA) neurons from mouse and human fibroblasts by ectopic expression of transcription factors, in which genetic manipulation is associated with potential risks.MethodsThe small molecules and protein factors were selected based on their function to directly induce human fetal lung IMR-90 fibroblasts into DA neuron-like cells. Microscopical, immunocytochemical, and RT-qPCR analyses were used to characterize the morphology, phenotype, and gene expression features of the induced cells. The whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were exploited to measure the electrophysiological properties.ResultsHuman IMR-90 fibroblasts were rapidly converted into DA neuron-like cells after the chemical induction using small molecules and protein factors, with a yield of approximately 95% positive TUJ1-positive cells. The induced DA neuron-like cells were immunopositive for pan-neuronal markers MAP2, NEUN, and Synapsin 1 and DA markers TH, DDC, DAT, and NURR1. The chemical induction process did not involve a neural progenitor/stem cell intermediate stage. The induced neurons could fire single action potentials, which reflected partially the electrophysiological properties of neurons.ConclusionWe developed a chemical cocktail of small molecules and protein factors to convert human fibroblasts into DA neuron-like cells without passing through a neural progenitor/stem cell intermediate stage. The induced DA neuron-like cells from human fibroblasts might provide a cellular source for cell-based therapy of Parkinson’s disease in the future.

【 授权许可】

CC BY