Comments on: Neurons created from other brain cells to treat neurodegenerative diseases http://www.kurzweilai.net/neurons-created-from-other-brain-cells-to-treat-neurogenerative-diseases Accelerating Intelligence Sat, 18 May 2013 13:16:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: patrick http://www.kurzweilai.net/neurons-created-from-other-brain-cells-to-treat-neurogenerative-diseases/comment-page-1#comment-39165 patrick Sun, 07 Oct 2012 11:47:09 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=166172#comment-39165 Oh, and PS: the associated image is not very not encouraging. Oh, and PS: the associated image is not very not encouraging.

]]> By: patrick http://www.kurzweilai.net/neurons-created-from-other-brain-cells-to-treat-neurogenerative-diseases/comment-page-1#comment-39163 patrick Sun, 07 Oct 2012 11:45:48 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=166172#comment-39163 There are a couple of other examples of direct conversion of non-neuronal cell types to supposed 'neurons'. Until they have been shown to express neurotypic proteins, form complex axo-dendritic arbors, create functional synapses that release neurotransmitter under depolarizing conditions and communicate to trans-synaptic partners, I will have a hard time believing that direct conversion works. There are multiple examples of so-called neurogenic cell models (neuroblastoma cells, PC12 cells, etc) that can be induced to exhibit neuron-like characteristics but, when their behavior is carefully examined, do not faithfully recapitulate normal neuronal behavior. So despite the hype in this article, I won't believe it until the above have been demonstrated. There are a couple of other examples of direct conversion of non-neuronal cell types to supposed ‘neurons’. Until they have been shown to express neurotypic proteins, form complex axo-dendritic arbors, create functional synapses that release neurotransmitter under depolarizing conditions and communicate to trans-synaptic partners, I will have a hard time believing that direct conversion works.

There are multiple examples of so-called neurogenic cell models (neuroblastoma cells, PC12 cells, etc) that can be induced to exhibit neuron-like characteristics but, when their behavior is carefully examined, do not faithfully recapitulate normal neuronal behavior.

So despite the hype in this article, I won’t believe it until the above have been demonstrated.

]]> By: JC http://www.kurzweilai.net/neurons-created-from-other-brain-cells-to-treat-neurogenerative-diseases/comment-page-1#comment-38710 JC Fri, 05 Oct 2012 22:43:53 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=166172#comment-38710 This is great news! So, work the smooth muscles, produce the platelet-derived growth factor, stimulate proliferation of the pericytes, and voila..clean and growing brain! Start! This is great news! So, work the smooth muscles, produce the platelet-derived growth factor, stimulate proliferation of the pericytes, and voila..clean and growing brain! Start!

]]> By: Editor http://www.kurzweilai.net/neurons-created-from-other-brain-cells-to-treat-neurogenerative-diseases/comment-page-1#comment-38535 Editor Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:40:35 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=166172#comment-38535 Thanks, fixed Thanks, fixed

]]> By: MikeB http://www.kurzweilai.net/neurons-created-from-other-brain-cells-to-treat-neurogenerative-diseases/comment-page-1#comment-38489 MikeB Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:36:11 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=166172#comment-38489 Typo in the title ... Typo in the title …

]]>