Thoma, EC, Merkl, C, Heckel, T, Haab, R, Knoflach, F, Nowaczyk, C, Flint, N, Jagasia, R, Jensen, ZS, Truong, HH, Petitjean, P, Jessberger, S, Graf, M and Iacone, R (2014) Chemical conversion of human fibroblasts into functional schwann cells. Stem Cell Reports. pp. 539-547.

Abstract

Direct transdifferentiation of somatic cells is a promising approach to obtain patient-specific cells for numerous applications. However, conversion across germ-layer borders often requires ectopic gene expression with unpredictable side effects. Here, we present a gene-free approach that allows efficient conversion of human fibroblasts via a transient progenitor stage into Schwann cells, the major glial cell type of peripheral nerves. Using a multikinase inhibitor, we transdifferentiated fibroblasts into transient neural precursors that were subsequently further differentiated into Schwann cells. The resulting induced Schwann cells (iSCs) expressed numerous Schwann cell-specific proteins and displayed neurosupportive and myelination capacity in vitro. Thus, we established a strategy to obtain mature Schwann cells from human postnatal fibroblasts under chemically defined conditions without the introduction of ectopic genes

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	NIBR author: Merkl, C institute: NIBR - address only contributor address: (Thoma, Merkl, Heckel, Haab, Knoflach, Nowaczyk, Flint, Jagasia, Jensen Zoffmann, Truong, Petitjean, Graf, Iacone) Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel 4070, Switzerland (Jessberger) Brain Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Science, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland (Merkl) Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Basel 4056, Switzerland
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2015 13:11
Last Modified:	13 Oct 2015 13:11
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/24922