MIT researchers turn skin cells directly into neurons for cell therapy.

Could be used to treat spinal cord injuries or diseases that affect motor control, such as ALS. 

MIT engineers, working with researchers from Boston University, have developed a highly efficient method to convert skin cells directly into neurons, potentially transforming treatments for spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Unlike traditional methods that rely on turning skin cells into stem cells first, this new approach skips that step entirely—making the process faster and more reliable.

Led by MIT professor Katie Galloway, with key contributions from BU, the team used three transcription factors—NGN2, ISL1, and LHX3—to reprogram mouse skin cells into motor neurons, which control movement. These factors were delivered using a single engineered virus, ensuring precise gene expression.

To increase the number of neurons produced, the researchers added genes that promote cell replication before the cells convert into neurons. The result was a dramatic boost in efficiency—over ten neurons from a single skin cell and a 1,100% increase in yield compared to earlier methods.

When implanted into mouse brains, the lab-grown neurons integrated with existing tissue, showing early promise for future therapies. If successful in human cells, this method could offer a new path for personalized treatments targeting damaged or diseased motor neurons.

The findings are published in Cell Systems, with MIT graduate student Nathan Wang as lead author.

The research was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Source Material:

MIT NEWS https://news.mit.edu/2025/mit-engineers-turn-skin-cells-into-neurons-for-cell-therapy-0313 by Anne Trafton, March 13, 2025

https://www.cell.com/cell-systems/abstract/S2405-4712(25)00038-9

https://www.cell.com/cell-systems/abstract/S2405-4712(25)00039-0