Direct conversion of mouse fibroblast into functional retinal ganglion-like cell by novel combination factors

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861477
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Tachibana Akihiro 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 多細胞システム形成研究セン ター, リサーチアソシエイト (80630871)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ダイレクトリプログラム / 神経 / 一細胞解析 / 発生学 / 眼科学 / 再生医療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The vertebrate retina is a special model of central nerverous system (CNS)such as development, structure , and function.Retinal ganglion cells death lead to loss of vision in glaucoma.Recent studies many type of cells could be induced from somatic cells.particularly in CNS ,many subtype neurons and glia can be induced from mouse and human somatic cell by combination of lineage specific transcription factors,Here we show that the forced expression of retinal ganglion cell (RGC)specific transcription factors which are included DNA binding site is sufficient to convert mouse fibroblast into functional retinal ganglion like cells. These induced retinal ganglion cells (iRGs) displayed neuronal morphology and expressed retinal ganglion signature genes. Moreover iRGs were able to generation action potentials These IRG cells might could be used for new glaucoma research, such as drag sceaning and transplantation and to understanding mechanism of glaucoma,

Free Research Field

細胞工学