Sunday, 28 October 2012 21:32

Glial cells transformed into nerve cells Featured

Researchers from Helmholtz Zentrum München have converted glial cells (supporting cells) directly into functional nerve cells, which play normally an important role in wound healing and information processing of neurons.

The team of neuroscientists led by Magdalena Götz and Benedikt Berninger constructed a cell culture with human glial cells, which they had previously taken from the cerebral cortex. They brought the cells to form the transcription factors Mash1 and Sox2. The two molecules function as switches in the genetic material of cells and cause the conversion of supporting cells into functioning neurons. The new neurons began to make connections therefore forming a network such as in the brain. The Sox2 gene is crucial for the rejuvenation of mature cells into pluripotent cells that can differentiate into an other mature cell type.

The findings could pave the way for future research work targeting to activate the self-healing processes of the brain directly. The researchers have prublished their findings in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Source: http://www.biotechnologie.de/