title: MicroRNA-Mediated In Vitro and In Vivo Direct Conversion of Astrocytes to Neuroblasts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The conversion of astrocytes to neuroblasts holds great promise for treatment of neurodegenerative and traumatic brain diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we have shown that adult human astrocytes could be reprogrammed to neuroblasts by miR-302/367, both in vivo and in vitro. However, the reprogramming of adult mouse astrocytes to neuroblasts required valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Following induction of astrocytes toward neurons the expression of pluripotency markers were not detected, which suggested direct cell conversion. We did not observed tumor formation during two months follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that neuroblasts can be generated directly from adult human and mouse astrocytes by miR-302/367-driven induction. This approach seems promising for converting glial scar cells into neuroblasts in a wide range of neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghasemi-Kasman
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajikaram
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baharvand
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C558265:MIRN302 microRNA, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; D014635:Valproic Acid