Direct Induction of Neurons from Various Cell Types by Chemical Defined Medium. Mus musculus

We have developed a serum-free chemical defined medium, namely 6C, that can directly convert mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEFs), glia cells into neurons in vitro. Human cells such as human foreskin fibroblast(HHFs), Hela cells and born marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-hMSC) can also be converted into neuron-like cells by this medium with some modification such as including several other small molecules. To understand the possible mechanisms, the transdifferentiation of MEFs by 6C was chosen as a model system and gene profiling at different time point during the conversion was carried out by RNA sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. MEFs was maintained in MEF medium (DMEM containing 10% FBS, 1mM Glutamax and 100X NEAA), to start the induction, the culture medium was shift to 6C and marked as day 0, neurons could be generated in day 15. mRNA samples was collected at day 0, 2, 5, 10, 15 during the process, with cell lysed by Trizol and mRNA enriched by Illumina TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation v2 kit. We find that most cell cycle related genes were up regulated during the first few days of induction, while many Notch pathway genes up regulated during the later phase of this process. The RNA sequencing data provided important cues for further study on the mechanisms of the direct neuronal induction process. Overall design: Gene profiling at different time point during the transdifferentiation mediated by 6C medium.