Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are a clinically important cell type that is disrupted in demyelinating diseases. Creative Bioarray has developed several powerful strategies to provide clients with services to reprogram fibroblasts into OLs and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). Our advanced cell reprogramming technologies will provide customers with powerful tools for in-depth study of demyelination and regenerative medicine.
Background
OLs are myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and have a multifunctional role, not only in the formation and maintenance of myelin sheaths, but also contributing to axonal potential propagation and to the nutritional and metabolic support of neurons. Extensive CNS disease is often accompanied by OL dysfunction and myelin loss. Therefore, promoting (re-)myelination is a promising therapeutic option. Notably, OLs and their OPC are potentially attractive targets for disease modeling because their functional properties are not as diverse and subtype-specific as neurons.
Over the past few years, great progress has been made in developing multiple strategies for generating OLs from human iPSCs. However, the time-consuming process of re-differentiation as well as the high cost and genetic instability of iPSCs have limited their clinical application. Recently, limited numbers of studies have proposed that direct transformation of human OLs can be achieved using different combinations of TFs. For example, direct lineage transformation of fibroblasts into OPCs by viral overexpression of SOX10, OLIG2, and NKX6-2 provides a more direct pathway for in vitro OL production. These studies have contributed to a better understanding of oligodendrocyte pathology in myelin diseases.
Fig.1 Reprogramming of fibroblasts into OL-like cells by SOX10, OLIG2, and NKX6.2. (Chanoumidou, 2021)
Our Technical Support
Researchers at Creative Bioarray have now established reliable strategies for the direct transformation of human fibroblasts into OL-like cells and oligodendrocyte progenitor-like cells. We provide technical support including but not limited to:
- Delivery of synthetic TFs constructed by the repurposed CRISPR/Cas9 system to activate endogenous target genes to enhance neural stem cell differentiation and initiate direct reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to oligodendrocyte progenitor-like cells.
- Generation of induced OPCs (iOPCs) directly from adult mouse fibroblasts by Oct4-mediated direct reprogramming.
- Direct reprogramming of human fibroblasts to OL-like cells by ectopic expression of a combination of key TFs.
Applications
- Pathological study of oligodendrocytes in myelin diseases
- Evaluation of compounds that promote remyelination
- Disease modeling
- Promoting personalized medicine in the field of myelin diseases
Advantages
- Professional cell reprogramming platform
- Robust and highly reproducible protocols
- Time- and cost-efficient strategies
- Detailed after-sales service
As a biotechnology company focused on providing cell reprogramming services, Creative Bioarray is driven to expand and optimize its business and services to meet the research needs of our customers. If you need scientific services for reprogramming fibroblasts into OL-like cells, please contact us for technical support.
Reference
- Chanoumidou, K.; et al. One-step reprogramming of human fibroblasts into oligodendrocyte-like cells by SOX10, OLIG2, and NKX6. 2. Stem cell reports. 2021, 16(4): 771-783.