title: Rapid and Efficient Direct Conversion of Human Adult Somatic Cells into Neural Stem Cells by HMGA2/let-7b.
abstract: A recent study has suggested that fibroblasts can be converted into mouse-induced neural stem cells (miNSCs) through the expression of defined factors. However, successful generation of human iNSCs (hiNSCs) has proven challenging to achieve. Here, using microRNA (miRNA) expression profile analyses, we showed that let-7 microRNA has critical roles for the formation of PAX6/NESTIN-positive colonies from human adult fibroblasts and the proliferation and self-renewal of hiNSCs. HMGA2, a let-7-targeting gene, enables induction of hiNSCs that displayed morphological/molecular features and in vitro/in vivo differentiation potential similar to H9-derived NSCs. Interestingly, HMGA2 facilitated the efficient conversion of senescent somatic cells or blood CD34+ cells into hiNSCs through an interaction with SOX2, whereas other combinations or SOX2 alone showed a limited conversion ability. Taken together, these findings suggest that HMGA2/let-7 facilitates direct reprogramming toward hiNSCs in minimal conditions and maintains hiNSC self-renewal, providing a strategy for the clinical treatment of neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Rok
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Guen
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Koog
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoojin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine in Kang Stem Biotech, Biotechnology Incubating Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: SeungHee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 156-707, Korea; Seoul Metropolitan Public Cord Blood Bank, Allcord, Seoul 156-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Adult Stem Cell Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea; The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea. Electronic address: kangpub@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyung-Sun
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang