Reprogramming Glial Cells into Functional Neurons for Neuro-regeneration: Challenges and Promise.
10.1007/s12264-021-00751-3
- Author:
Fengchao WANG
1
;
Leping CHENG
2
;
Xiaohui ZHANG
3
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
2. Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi-ASEAN Collaborative Innovation Center for Major Disease Prevention and Treatment, and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China. lpcheng@gxmu.edu.cn.
3. State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. xhzhang@bnu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Brain repair;
Cross-differentiation neuronal regeneration;
Direct cell-reprogramming;
Glial cell-to-neuron conversion
- MeSH:
Animals;
Cellular Reprogramming;
Nerve Regeneration;
Neurogenesis;
Neuroglia;
Neurons
- From:
Neuroscience Bulletin
2021;37(11):1625-1636
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The capacity for neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain is extremely limited and highly restricted to a few regions, which greatly hampers neuronal regeneration and functional restoration after neuronal loss caused by injury or disease. Meanwhile, transplantation of exogenous neuronal stem cells into the brain encounters several serious issues including immune rejection and the risk of tumorigenesis. Recent discoveries of direct reprogramming of endogenous glial cells into functional neurons have provided new opportunities for adult neuro-regeneration. Here, we extensively review the experimental findings of the direct conversion of glial cells to neurons in vitro and in vivo and discuss the remaining issues and challenges related to the glial subtypes and the specificity and efficiency of direct cell-reprograming, as well as the influence of the microenvironment. Although in situ glial cell reprogramming offers great potential for neuronal repair in the injured or diseased brain, it still needs a large amount of research to pave the way to therapeutic application.
