They took blood from adults and isolated the white blood cells (leukocytes). Then they introduced two transcription factors (SOX2 and c-Myc) into these cells via a self-replicating Sendai virus that did not integrate into the genome. Thus they were able to convert the cells into neuronal stem cells. The stem cells could then be further developed into different nerve cell types and used for in vitro studies of nerve cells or tissue.

The researchers explained that the transcription factors they had introduced are lost after 3-4 weeks as a result of heat exposure at 39 degrees Celsius. More interesting is, however, that the created cells are much younger than the original cells because they also lose epigenetic modifications that are characteristic of a cell ageing process.

The method, which can avoid the indirect route via induced pluripotent stem cells, is much more time-saving. It enables the construction of patient-specific disease models with nerve tissue in the Petri dish obtained from a blood sample.

The scientists have published their development in Nature Communications:
Chao Sheng, Johannes Jungverdorben, Hendrik Wiethoff, Qiong Lin, Lea J. Flitsch, Daniela Eckert, Matthias Hebisch, Julia Fischer, Jaideep Kesavan, Beatrice Weykopf, Linda Schneider, Dominik Holtkamp, Heinz Beck, Andreas Till, Ullrich Wüllner, Michael J. Ziller, Wolfgang Wagner, Michael Peitz & Oliver Brüstle (2018). A stably self-renewing adult blood-derived induced neural stem cell exhibiting patternability and epigenetic rejuvenation. Nature Communications 9:4047, DOI: 10,1038/s41467-018-06398-5.

Source:
http://www.bionity.com/de/news/1157740/aus-alten-blutzellen-werden-junge-hirnzellen.html?WT.mc_id=ca0264

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