Somatic cells such as skin cells can be directly converted into induced oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (iOPCs) via direct conversion technology. SuPine Therapeutics developed the technology for generating self-renewing and bipotent iOPCs that exhibit therapeutic effects in spinal cord injury model.

Kim et al., EMBO Journal (2015)

iOPCs are homogenous self-renewing adult stem cells that express OPC-specific surface markers; A2B5,PDGFRα, NG2 and Olig2. iOPCs are bipotent stem cells that can be efficiently differentiated into both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in vitro and in vivo. iOPCs can be differentiated into mature oligodendrocytes with complex branches. iOPCs exhibit similar global gene expression patterns with wild-type OPCs.

Transplantation of iOPCs promotes functional recovery of hindlimb motor functionality after traumatic spinal cord injury.

After transplantation of iOPCs into SCI model in vivo, cells promote the recovery of spinal cord in the shape and reduced cavity size compared to control. Transplanted iOPCs differentiated into myelin-producing oligodendrocytes that enhance the remyelination process by ensheathing damaged neurons.