Abstract
The viral vector-mediated overexpression of the defined transcription factors, Brn4/Pou3f4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (BSKM), could induce the direct conversion of somatic fibroblasts into induced neural stem cells (iNSCs). However, viral vectors may be randomly integrated into the host genome thereby increasing the risk for undesired genotoxicity, mutagenesis, and tumor formation. Here we describe the generation of integration-free iNSCs from mouse fibroblasts by non-viral episomal vectors containing BSKM. The episomal vector-derived iNSCs (eiNSCs) closely resemble control NSCs, and iNSCs generated by retrovirus (r-iNSCs) in morphology, gene expression profile, epigenetic status, and self-renewal capacity. The e-iNSCs are functionally mature, as they could differentiate into all the neuronal cell types both in vitro and in vivo. Our study provides a novel concept for generating functional iNSCs using a non-viral, non-integrating, plasmid-based system that could facilitate their biomedical applicability.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 14199-14212 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of Biological Chemistry |
Volume | 291 |
Issue number | 27 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 Jul 1 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology