Small-molecule based lineage reprogramming has newly emerged as a promising approach for generating functional cell types. We recently found that the chemical induction of iPSCs from fibroblasts pass through an extra-embryonic endoderm (XEN)-like state. In this study, we demonstrated that these chemically-induced XEN-like cells were not restricted to be reprogrammed to iPSCs, but feasible to be induced into functional neurons, bypassing the pluripotent stage. These induced neurons possessed neuron-specific expression profiles, formed functional synapses in culture dish and further matured after transplantation into brains of adult mice. Notably, by using similar principles, hepatocytes could also be induced from the XEN-like cells. Furthermore, the XEN-like cells are highly expandable (for at least 20 passages), retaining genome stability and lineage specifying potentials. Our study establishes a featured route of chemical lineage reprogramming and may provide a universal platform for generating large amounts of diverse functional cell types via the expandable XEN-like state. SOURCE: Yan-Tao Ma (yantao.ma89@live.com) -  Peking University

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE97721: Lineage Reprogramming of Fibroblasts into Functional Neurons and Hepatocytes via Chemically Induced XEN-like State