Transcription Factor-Directed Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract

The ability to differentiate pluripotent stem cells and to generate specific cell types is a long-standing goal of regenerative medicine. This can be accomplished by recreating the developmental trajectories using sequential activation of the corresponding signaling pathways, or more recently—by direct programming of cell identities using lineage-specific transcription factors. Notably, to be functional in cell replacement therapies, generation of complex cell types, such as specialized neuronal sub-types of the brain, requires precise induction of molecular profiles and regional specification of the cells. However, the induction of the correct cellular identity and marker gene expression can be hampered by technical challenges, one of which is the robust co-expression of multiple transcription factors that is often required for correct cell identity specification. Here, we describe in detail a method for co-expression of seven transcription factors required for efficient induction of dopaminergic neurons with midbrain characteristics from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells.