UCLA team creates functional neurons from adult somatic cells

February 25, 10:20 AMScience News ExaminerMeg Marquardt

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Stem cell colony

Researchers at UCLA have accomplished a task that has long vexed stem cell researchers: They’ve created the first electrically active neurons from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.  This is a great leap forward for stem cell researchers, who can apply these neurons to the study of neurodegenerative diseases.

iPS cells are the less controversial form of stem cells (with the controversial of course being human embryonic stem cells) as they are usually derived from adult somatic cells.  The term “pluripotent” implies that these cells should be able to differentiate into any type of cell in the body, just like embryonic stem cells.  However, to this point, there has not been the best of success with iPS cells.  "It is clear from the literature that you can make at least immature versions of many different kinds of cells from human iPS cells," said William Lowry, a Broad Stem Cell Research Center scientist, an assistant professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology and senior author of the study. "But there is not a lot of data published describing the generation of fully functional cells from human iPS cells." [EurekAlert]

However, the study published in Stem Cells has made the one of the first solid discoveries on this front.  Electric activity in neurons is an essential facet of the cell’s ability to function.  A neuron’s job is to process and relay electric signals to the rest of the body.  In addition, the team has created what it thinks are fully mature motor neurons (neurons in charge of muscle contraction), though more tests are needed to be completely certain.

Medically, these iPS-derived neurons have great implications.  It is possible that iPS motor neurons, which are usually damaged or destroyed in traumatic injury to the spine, could be used as therapy for those who are paralyzed.  In addition, these cells can be used to study and perhaps treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.  “It seems possible that disease-specific somatic [iPS] cells may be reprogrammed and utilized to model, and ultimately to treat a variety of human neurological disorders,” says Miodrag Stojkovi, co-editor of Stem Cells. [Wiley-Blackwell]  In addition, as this form of stem cells are far less controversial, there will hopefully be less resistance from the those against stem cell research, ensuring a wider scope in studies and more funding.

The next step in the study is to “combine the motor neurons with muscle cells to see if they can stimulate a response.” [EurekAlert] If the muscles contract, it will be further proof that they have truly created fully functional motor neurons.