Wang LL, Zhang CL. In vivo glia-to-neuron conversion: pitfalls and solutions.
Dev Neurobiol 2022;
82:367-374. [PMID:
35535734 DOI:
10.1002/dneu.22880]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neuron loss and disruption of neural circuits are associated with many neurological conditions. A key question is how to rebuild neural circuits for functional improvements. In vivo glia-to-neuron (GtN) conversion emerges as a potential solution for regeneration-based therapeutics. This approach takes advantage of the regenerative ability of resident glial cells to produce new neurons through cell fate reprogramming. Significant progress has been made over the years in this emerging field. However, inappropriate analysis often leads to misleading conclusions that create confusion and hype. In this perspective, we point out the most salient pitfalls associated with some recent studies and provide solutions to prevent them in the future. The goal is to foster healthy development of this promising field and lay a solid cellular foundation for future regeneration-based medicine. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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