COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING INDUCED NEURON GENERATION

摘要

The present inventions relate to methods and compositions useful for improving the efficiency of inducing the generation of neurons from non-neuronal cell types, for example, by contacting the cell or cell culture medium with one or more agents which inhibit Activin and/or PLK1 signaling. Also disclosed are methods for promoting neuron survival, for example, by inhibiting Activin and/or PLK1 signaling, and methods for promoting the survival of intermediates in a cell differentiation pathway, for example, by inhibiting Activin and/or PLK1 signaling.

主权项

1. A method for improving the efficiency of neuron generation from a somatic cell, comprising (a) exposing the somatic cell to conditions sufficient for transdifferentiation of the somatic cell into a neuron; and (b) inhibiting one or both of Activin signaling and PLK1 signaling in the cell, thereby increasing the efficiency of neuron formation as compared with the efficiency when neither Activin signaling nor PLK1 signaling is inhibited.