Human-induced pluripotent stem cells pave the road for a better understanding of motor neuron disease

Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Sep 15;23(R1):R27-34. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu205. Epub 2014 May 12.

Abstract

While motor neuron diseases are currently incurable, induced pluripotent stem cell research has uncovered some disease-relevant phenotypes. We will discuss strategies to model different aspects of motor neuron disease and the specific neurons involved in the disease. We will then describe recent progress to investigate common forms of motor neuron disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hereditary spastic paraplegia and spinal muscular atrophy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / therapy
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Motor Neuron Disease / genetics*
  • Motor Neuron Disease / therapy
  • Motor Neurons / cytology
  • Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / genetics*
  • Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / therapy
  • Mutation
  • Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary / genetics*
  • Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary / therapy