Restoration of nerve cells is already possible: Breakthrough in brain regeneration

# REVOLUTIONARY BREAKTHROUGH: MIT SCIENTISTS TRANSFORM SKIN CELLS INTO FUNCTIONAL NEURONS **Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made a revolutionary breakthrough: they have learned how to transform ordinary skin cells into functional neurons that can repair damaged nervous systems.** Researchers have achieved impressive results using just three transcription factors and two genes to reprogram mouse skin cells into motor neurons. The efficiency of the method is mind-boggling: one skin cell can produce more than ten fully functional neurons. What is particularly important is that these newly formed neurons are fully functional — they successfully transmit signals in the mouse brain, form neural connections, and demonstrate behavior identical to natural neurons. The scientific team has already begun adapting this technology for human cells with the prospect of medical applications. This approach opens new horizons in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and nervous system injuries. Using neurons created from the patient's own skin cells significantly reduces the risk of tissue rejection. An important advantage of the method is the absence of an intermediate stem cell stage, which makes the procedure safer. "We are approaching the moment when we can repair damaged neural circuits," says Professor Jane Galloway, who leads the research. The innovative method of direct reprogramming significantly simplifies the process, reducing the number of necessary genetic factors from eight to three. This increases the accessibility of the technology and reduces potential risks. Experiments on mice have demonstrated successful integration of artificially created neurons into the brain, where they exhibit electrical activity and the ability for intercellular communication. For human application of the technology, scientists still need to solve a number of challenges. In particular, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the method for human cells, which currently stands at 10-30%, significantly lower than the results achieved in mice (about 1000%). It is also necessary to confirm the safety and long-term functionality of the obtained neurons. Clinical trials are still ahead, but researchers look to the future with optimism. It is worth noting that attempts to transform skin cells into neurons have been made before. In 2017, scientists from Washington University, as well as researchers from Lund University, worked on similar technologies, but their methods were less efficient and more complex. Swedish specialists focused on creating dopamine-producing neurons for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, while American scientists used microRNA to obtain motor neurons. The MIT development favorably differs in the simplicity of the approach and the scale of the results achieved. The research has attracted close attention from biotechnology companies, who view it as a basis for developing innovative therapeutic methods. MIT is developing collaborations with the Salk Institute and Stanford University to accelerate the introduction of the technology into clinical practice. A detailed description of the research is published in the journal *Cell Systems* (March 2025), and previous works are presented in the publications *Cell Stem Cell* and *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*.