Inducible and Deterministic Forward Programming of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Neurons, Skeletal Myocytes, and Oligodendrocytes

Abstract

Summary: The isolation or in vitro derivation of many human cell types remains challenging and inefficient. Direct conversion of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) by forced expression of transcription factors provides a potential alternative. However, deficient inducible gene expression in hPSCs has compromised efficiencies of forward programming approaches. We have systematically optimized inducible gene expression in hPSCs using a dual genomic safe harbor gene-targeting strategy. This approach provides a powerful platform for the generation of human cell types by forward programming. We report robust and deterministic reprogramming of hPSCs into neurons and functional skeletal myocytes. Finally, we present a forward programming strategy for rapid and highly efficient generation of human oligodendrocytes. : In this article, Pawlowski and colleagues report a dual genomic safe harbor targeting approach for optimized inducible transgene expression in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). The optimized inducible expression of reprogramming factors in hPSCs enables deterministic forward programming into mature cell types. This is exemplified by the rapid, single-step generation of neurons, skeletal myocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Keywords: human pluripotent stem cells, reprogramming, skeletal myocytes, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, neurons