According to recent calculations, there are several hundred to several thousand different types of nerve cells in the human brain. They differ in terms of their function, the number and length of their cell extensions, and their interconnections. Their neurotransmitters, which are released into the synapses, also vary, and different cell types are active depending on the region of the brain, such as the cerebral cortex or the midbrain.

So far, researchers have developed protocols for generating a few dozen different types of nerve cells in vitro. However, Prof. Barbara Treutlein and her team are convinced that if cell culture models are to be developed for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or depression, it is necessary to consider which type of nerve cell is involved in the disease.

The scientists admit that they are still far from having produced all types of nerve cells that exist in vitro.

Original publication:
Lin HC, Janssens J, Eisinger B, Hornauer P, Kroell AS, Santel M, Pascual-Garcia M, Okamoto R, Karava K, He Z, Priouret M, Schröter M, Camp JG, Treutlein B: Human neuron subtype programming via single-cell transcriptome-coupled patterning screens. Science, July 10, 2025, doi: 10.1126/science.adn6121

Source and further information:
https://ethz.ch/de/news-und-veranstaltungen/eth-news/news/2025/07/sehr-viel-mehr-als-zuvor-ueber-400-unterschiedliche-typen-von-nervenzellen-erzeugt.html