Application of Ascl1 in induction of transdifferentiation of astrocytes into functional neurons

Abstract

The invention provides an application of Ascl1 in induction of transdifferentiation of astrocytes into functional neurons, and concretely provides a use of an achaete-scute complex homolog-like 1 (Ascl1) gene or a protein or a promoter thereof in preparation of a medicinal composition for inducing astrocytes into functional neurons, and / or in preparation of a medicinal composition for treating nervous system diseases. The application is hopeful to become an effective method for in vitro culture of neurons and generation of new neurons through stimulation in human bodies, so the Ascl1 can be widely applied in treatment of the nervous system diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous trumtic diseases.

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of biotechnology and cell therapy, in particular, the invention relates to a method for inducing transdifferentiation of astrocytes into functional neuron cells and its application. Background technique

[0002] Many transcription factors and chromatin epigenetic modification processes play very important roles in maintaining the identity stability of differentiated cells. However, studies of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) have shown that differentiated cells are not irreversibly locked in their mature state, but can be dedifferentiated by selective overexpression of specific transcription factors.

[0003] Recent findings have found that specific transcription factors can directly induce fibroblasts into functional neurons, further suggesting that non-neuronal cells can be directly transdifferentiated into neurons. For example, astrocytes in the cerebral cortex of postnatal mice can be transdifferentiate...

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