Overview of recent advances in the generation of human neurons and neural stem cells through reprogramming and differentiation techniques

Abstract

Stem cell research could have a significant near-term public health impact with applications in cell-replacement therapies (treatments are in development for over 50 diseases), disease modeling and drug discovery. Recent advances have been achieved in techniques for reprogramming somatic cells directly to neurons and neural stem cells, and in differentiating pluripotent cells to neurons and neural stem cells. Neurons and neural stem cells are of particular translational interest due to the lack of effective clinical therapies for neurodegenerative disease. This analysis reviews recent reprogramming and differentiation research advances that relate to human neuron and neural stem cell generation. While these emerging techniques are promising, some of the processes are relatively new, and the fidelity and functionality of generated neurons and neural stem cells in clinical application is yet to be confirmed.