Transforming skin cells into neurons

Chemical treatment transforms skin cells into neuron cells in human and mice. A transcription factor was always necessary to complete the transformation. I-BET151 is the key ingredient, which works to suppress transcription in skin cells. Gene expression, action potentials, and synapse formation were detected in transcription-factor-induced neurons.

Fig-1: Chemical-induced neuron cells in mice

Ref-1: HongKui Deng, 2015, Cell Stem Cell

Fig-2: Chemical-induced neuron cells in human

Ref: Gang Pei and Jian Zhao, 2015, Cell Stem Cell

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