Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (4): 750-755.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.353482

Previous Articles     Next Articles

In vivo astrocyte-to-neuron reprogramming for central nervous system regeneration: a narrative review

Zuliyaer Talifu1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Jia-Yi Liu1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Yun-Zhu Pan1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Han Ke1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Chun-Jia Zhang1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Xin Xu1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Feng Gao1, 2, 3, 4, 5, *,#br# Yan Yu1, 3, 4, 5, Liang-Jie Du1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Jian-Jun Li1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, *#br#   

  1. 1School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China;  2Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China;  3Chinese Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Beijing, China;  4Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China;  5Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, China;  6School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
  • Online:2023-04-15 Published:2022-10-27
  • Contact: Jian-Jun Li, MD, crrc100@163.com; Feng Gao, PhD, gaofeng5960@126.com.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82071214 (to JJL), Basic Scientific Research of the Central Public Research Institutes in China, No. 2021CZ-2 (to JJL), Special Fund for Joint Training of Doctoral Students between University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and China Rehabilitation Research Center, No. 2020kfdx-009 (to JJL and ZT).

PDF

177

Abstract: The inability of damaged neurons to regenerate within the mature central nervous system (CNS) is a significant neuroscientific challenge. Astrocytes are an essential component of the CNS and participate in many physiological processes including blood-brain barrier formation, axon growth regulation, neuronal support, and higher cognitive functions such as memory. Recent reprogramming studies have confirmed that astrocytes in the mature CNS can be transformed into functional neurons. Building on in vitro work, many studies have demonstrated that astrocytes can be transformed into neurons in different disease models to replace damaged or lost cells. However, many findings in this field are controversial, as the source of new neurons has been questioned. This review summarizes progress in reprogramming astrocytes into neurons in vivo in animal models of spinal cord injury, brain injury, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions. 

Key words: astrocyte, astrocyte-to-neuron, central nervous system, in vivo, nerve regeneration, neurological disorders, reprogramming, review