title: Direct reprogramming of induced neural progenitors: a new promising strategy for AD treatment.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prominent form of dementia, characterized by aggregation of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, loss of synapses and neurons, and degeneration of cognitive functions. Currently, although a variety of medications can relieve some of the symptoms, there is no cure for AD. Recent breakthroughs in the stem cell field provide promising strategies for AD treatment. Stem cells including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), neural stem cells (NSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are potentials for AD treatment. However, the limitation of cell sources, safety issues, and ethical issues restrict their applications in AD. Recently, the direct reprogramming of induced neural progenitor cells (iNPCs) has shed light on the treatment of AD. In this review, we will discuss the latest progress, challenges, and potential applications of direct reprogramming in AD treatment.
authors.affiliation: Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.
authors.forename: Siqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.|University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5930 USA.
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.
authors.forename: Yiying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.
authors.forename: Lisha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.|University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5930 USA.
authors.forename: Changhai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.|University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5930 USA.
authors.forename: Jialin Charlie
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zheng
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Induced neural progenitor cells; Stem cell-based therapy