MIT Researchers Develop Method to Convert Skin Cells into Neurons

If successful in human cells, this approach could provide a significant source of motor neurons for treating neurological conditions.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new method to convert skin cells directly into neurons, bypassing the need to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

This streamlined process could pave the way for more efficient treatments for spinal cord injuries and neurological diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Traditionally, converting one type of cell into another requires an intermediate step where the original cell is reprogrammed into a pluripotent stem cell before being differentiated into the target cell type.

However, the MIT research team has devised a more direct approach, simplifying the process and improving efficiency.

Efficient Conversion Process

Working with mouse cells, the researchers created a method that can generate more than 10 neurons from a single skin cell. If replicated in human cells, this could enable the production of large quantities of motor neurons, which are essential for controlling muscle movements.

"We were able to get to yields where we could ask questions about whether these cells can be viable candidates for cell replacement therapies, which we hope they could be. That's where these types of reprogramming technologies can take us," said Katie Galloway, the WM Keck Career Development Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at MIT.

The research team successfully generated motor neurons and implanted them into the brains of mice, where they integrated with the host tissue. This suggests that the converted neurons could function properly in a living organism, a critical step toward potential human therapies.

Potential Applications in ALS & Spinal Cord Injuries

If successful in human cells, this approach could provide a significant source of motor neurons for treating neurological conditions. 

ALS, which leads to the degeneration of motor neurons and loss of muscle control, is one potential target for this therapy.

Current clinical trials are exploring the use of iPSC-derived neurons to treat ALS, but producing large quantities of such cells remains a challenge. 

The new direct conversion process could overcome this limitation by providing a more scalable method for neuron production.

The ability to generate motor neurons efficiently could also benefit patients with spinal cord injuries by enabling the replacement of damaged neurons and restoring motor function.

The researchers aim to improve the efficiency of the process for human cells to increase the yield of neurons. 

If successful, this could enable large-scale production of motor neurons for clinical use, making therapies more accessible and cost-effective.

"We hope to scale this method to human cells and test its effectiveness in clinical models," Galloway said.

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program funded the research. The findings were published in the journal Cell Systems.

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