BACKGROUND

No efficient and large-scale methods to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are currently available.

This explains the lack of relevant cellular models of human pathologies as well as the lack of suitable cells for therapy.

HOW IT WORKS

Researchers developed an efficient two-step method for the differentiation of iPSCs in neuronal cells, myotubes, and neuromuscular cells, isolated or in co-culture (Magdinier. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Dec. 2014)

1) Generation of neural and muscular progenitors with 2 specific cytokines

2) Final differentiation into subtypes of mature neurons and muscular cells

KEY BENEFITS vs. STATE OF THE ART

DEVELOPMENT STATUS

In vitro differentiation of 4 different hiPSCs clones into dopaminergic and gabaminergic neurons and muscular cells was performed

Ongoing tests to obtain cortical neurons, motoneurons and sensory neurons

APPLICATIONS

Neurodegenerative and muscular diseases:

• Research tool in drug discovery
• Regenerative cell therapy