Efficient and rapid conversion of human astrocytes and ALS mouse model spinal cord astrocytes into motor neuron-like cells by defined small molecules

This study explores a new method to create motor neuron-like cells, which are important for controlling movement and are often lost in diseases like ALS. The researchers used small molecules to directly convert astrocytes, a type of brain cell, into these motor neuron-like cells. The process is efficient and fast, and the resulting cells show characteristics of real motor neurons. This method could potentially be used to study motor neuron diseases and develop new treatments. The same method was also used to convert astrocytes from mice with ALS into motor neuron-like cells, which could help in understanding and treating the disease.

• 1
  Human astrocytes can be rapidly and efficiently converted into motor neuron-like cells by treatment with defined small molecules, achieving over 85% conversion.
• 2
  The induced motor neuron-like cells express key neuronal and motor neuron markers and exhibit electrophysiological properties similar to those of functional neurons.
• 3
  The same chemical cocktail can induce spinal cord astrocytes from an ALS mouse model to become motor neuron-like cells, offering a model for studying the disease.