Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42829448›Full record

ArticleAging cell2026

Protracted Fate Acquisition and Epigenetic De-Aging During Induced Neural Stem Cell Conversion of Human Blood Cells.

Lea Jessica Berg, Julia Franzen, Andreas Buness, Rachel Konang, Chao Sheng, Michael Peitz, Andreas Till, Wolfgang Wagner, Oliver Brüstle

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Aging cell, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Lea Jessica BergInstitute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2746-6519
Julia FranzenHelmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2459-5841
Andreas BunessInstitute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1889-8632
Rachel KonangInstitute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Chao ShengInstitute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Michael PeitzInstitute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Andreas TillInstitute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0139-9143
Wolfgang WagnerHelmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1971-3217
Oliver BrüstleInstitute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1277-0980

Funding

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung 01EK1603A-Neuro2D3Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft CRU344/417911533Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB 1506/1Horizon 2020 Framework Programme 874758
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Transcription factor-based direct conversion of somatic cells represents an interesting avenue for generating induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) from peripheral blood without transit through a pluripotent stage. While this paradigm has been shown to be associated with epigenetic de-aging, the dynamics of this process have remained unclear. Here, we used overexpression of the two reprogramming factors SOX2 and cMYC to generate iNSCs from erythroid progenitors of donors ranging from neonatal to 101 years of age. Using an epigenetic aging clock algorithm, we corroborated our previous finding that iNSCs generated from aged donors show pronounced epigenetic de-aging, preserving around 13% and 5% of the original donor age at low and high passages, respectively. Studying the dynamics of epigenetic de-aging during iNSC conversion across time, we found that this process is largely protracted, continuing for several weeks and even under proliferation-inhibiting conditions. Transcriptomic differences between young and old donor-derived iNSCs dissipate with extended time in conversion, too. Concordant with this observation, established iNSC lines lack age-associated cellular hallmarks, similar to induced pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives. Interestingly, time course analysis of DNA methylation and RNA sequencing data revealed that acquisition of a bona fide NSC signature extends greatly beyond the time point when proliferative PAX6-positive iNSCs emerge. The unexpected slow dynamics of these processes make iNSC conversion an attractive model for dissecting the mechanisms underlying somatic transdifferentiation and epigenetic de-aging.

Indexed as

Blood CellsCellular SenescenceEpigenesis, GeneticInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsNeural Stem CellsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCellular ReprogrammingChild, PreschoolHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMiddle Agedagingcellular reprogramming techniquesepigeneticsneural stem cells

Identifiers

PMID42829448
PMCPMC13634082

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.