Good news! This still seems to be early stage research, but very promising!
"... The study, conducted using embryonic stem cells from mice, also identified a method for producing all types of sensory interneurons in the laboratory. If this work can be replicated using human stem cells, the researchers said, it could be a key step toward the development of stem cell–based therapies that restore sensation in people who have lost feeling in parts of their body due to spinal cord injuries. ...
This new paper expands on that work by presenting detailed protocols that can be used to direct stem cells to differentiate into each of the six sensory interneuron subtypes. Furthermore, the interneurons created using these protocols are genetically and molecularly indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts in the body, which gives the researchers reason to believe they will have the same sensory functions. ...
... also identified unique markers on the cell surface of each of the six subtypes, which will allow scientists to isolate pure populations of these different sensory interneurons, whether derived from stem cells or obtained from the body. As a final step, they demonstrated that by making a modification to these protocols, they could successfully generate the large numbers of sensory interneurons that would be needed for clinical applications. ..."
This new paper expands on that work by presenting detailed protocols that can be used to direct stem cells to differentiate into each of the six sensory interneuron subtypes. Furthermore, the interneurons created using these protocols are genetically and molecularly indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts in the body, which gives the researchers reason to believe they will have the same sensory functions. ...
... also identified unique markers on the cell surface of each of the six subtypes, which will allow scientists to isolate pure populations of these different sensory interneurons, whether derived from stem cells or obtained from the body. As a final step, they demonstrated that by making a modification to these protocols, they could successfully generate the large numbers of sensory interneurons that would be needed for clinical applications. ..."
From the abstract:
"Restoring sensation after injury or disease requires a reproducible method for generating large quantities of bona fide somatosensory interneurons. Toward this goal, we assess the mechanisms by which dorsal spinal interneurons (dIs; dI1–dI6) can be derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Using two developmentally relevant growth factors, retinoic acid (RA) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4, we recapitulate the complete in vivo program of dI differentiation through a neuromesodermal intermediate. Transcriptional profiling reveals that mESC-derived dIs strikingly resemble endogenous dIs, with the correct molecular and functional signatures. We further demonstrate that RA specifies dI4–dI6 fates through a default multipotential state, while the addition of BMP4 induces dI1–dI3 fates and activates Wnt signaling to enhance progenitor proliferation. Constitutively activating Wnt signaling permits the dramatic expansion of neural progenitor cultures. ..."
In vitro atlas of dorsal spinal interneurons reveals Wnt signaling as a critical regulator of progenitor expansion (open access)
Sensory interneurons (with nuclei in red) derived from mouse stem cells.
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