Magdalena Götz: Direct Conversion of Astrocytes Into Neurons – Progress and Therapeutic Potential

Someday it may be possible to restore neuronal networks that have been lost or damaged by brain injury or in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. There are as many astrocytes in the human brain as there are neurons and the astrocytes generally do not die in brain injuries and neurodegenerative disorders. Professor Magdalena Götz has shown that astrocytes can be converted directly into neurons using molecular biology technologies to manipulate a few transcription factors that switch cell fate.  These new neurons grow and form synapses with each other and can integrate into functional neuronal networks and may restore brain function. In this episode Dr. Götz talks about her pioneering work on cell reprogramming that holds great promise for the repair of neuronal networks damaged by trauma, a stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders.

LINKS:

Professor Götz publications on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=magdalena+G%C3%B6tz&sort=date&size=200 

Professor Götz Wikipedia page:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_G%C3%B6tz

Review article in Neuron: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2821%2900972-7

Selected original research articles

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11239498/pdf/41593_2024_Article_1677.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10719094/pdf/41591_2023_Article_2644.pdf

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2819%2930693-2