Reprogramming A375 cells to induced-resembled neuronal cells by structured overexpression of specific transcription genes

Induced-resembled neuronal cells (irNCs) are generated by reprogramming human melanoma cells through the introduction of key transcription factors, providing novel concepts in the treatment of malignant tumor cells and making it possible to supply neural cells for laboratory use. In the present study, irNCs were derived from A375 cells by inducing the 'forced' overexpression of specific genes, including achaete-scute homolog 1 (Ascl1), neuronal differentiation factor 1 (Neurod1), myelin transcription factor 1 (Myt1), brain protein 2 (Brn2, also termed POU3F2) and human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (h-BDNF). irNCs induced from A375 cells express multiple neuronal markers and fire action potentials, exhibiting properties similar to those of motor neurons. The reprogramming procedure comprised reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining; furthermore, electrophysiological profiling demonstrated the characteristics of the induced-resembled neurons. The present study obtained a novel type of human irNC from human melanoma, which secreted BDNF continuously, providing a model for neuron-like cells. Thus, irNCs offer promise in investigating various neural diseases by using neural-like cells derived directly from the patient of interest.