Efficient reprogramming of adult neural stem cells to monocytes by ectopic expression of a single gene.

Forsberg, Magda; Carlén, Marie; Meletis, Konstantinos; Yeung, Maggie S Y; Barnabé-Heider, Fanie; Persson, Mats A A; Aarum, Johan; Frisén, Jonas · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Neural stem cells have a broad differentiation repertoire during embryonic development and can be reprogrammed to pluripotency comparatively easily. We report that adult neural stem cells can be reprogrammed at very high efficiency to monocytes, a differentiated fate of an unrelated somatic lineage, by ectopic expression of the Ets transcription factor PU.1. The reprogrammed cells display a marker profile and functional characteristics of monocytes and integrate into tissues after transplantation. The failure to reprogram lineage-committed neural cells to monocytes with PU.1 suggests that neural stem cells are uniquely amenable to reprogramming.

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