In vivo conversion of astrocytes to neurons in the injured adult spinal cord

• Published in: Nature communications 2014-02, Vol.5 (1), p.3338-3338, Article 3338
• Main Authors: Su, Zhida, Niu, Wenze, Liu, Meng-Lu, Zou, Yuhua, Zhang, Chun-Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13/100; 13/107; 14/19; 38; 38/35; 38/44; 631/378/1687/1825; 631/378/2571/1696; 631/378/2596/1308; Animals; Astrocytes - cytology; Astrocytes - metabolism; Astrocytes - transplantation; Cell Transplantation - methods; Cells, Cultured; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Female; Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; HEK293 Cells; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit - deficiency; Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit - genetics; Lentivirus - genetics; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Transgenic; Microscopy, Fluorescence; multidisciplinary; Neurogenesis - genetics; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); SOXB1 Transcription Factors - genetics; SOXB1 Transcription Factors - metabolism; Spinal Cord Injuries - genetics; Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - surgery; Transfection - methods
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4338

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to irreversible neuronal loss and glial scar formation, which ultimately result in persistent neurological dysfunction. Cellular regeneration could be an ideal approach to replenish the lost cells and repair the damage. However, the adult spinal cord has limited ability to produce new neurons. Here we show that resident astrocytes can be converted to doublecortin (DCX)-positive neuroblasts by a single transcription factor, SOX2, in the injured adult spinal cord. Importantly, these induced neuroblasts can mature into synapse-forming neurons in vivo . Neuronal maturation is further promoted by treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (VPA). The results of this study indicate that in situ reprogramming of endogenous astrocytes to neurons might be a potential strategy for cellular regeneration after SCI. Expression of the transcription factor SOX2 reprogrammes astrocytes into neuroblasts in the adult mouse striatum. Here, the authors use the same approach in the injured adult mouse spinal cord to convert resident astrocytes into neuroblasts that can mature into synapse-forming neurons.