Neuronal Transdifferentiation in Humans: Protocols for Monocytes Conversion into Neuronal-Like Cells with Small Molecules

Kornelia Jankowska; Saeid Ghavami; Jolanta Hybiak; Marek J. Łos

doi:10.2478/aite-2026-0008

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Neuronal Transdifferentiation in Humans: Protocols for Monocytes Conversion into Neuronal-Like Cells with Small Molecules

Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis

Volume 74 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

By: Kornelia Jankowska, Saeid Ghavami, Jolanta Hybiak and Marek J. Łos

Open Access

|Jan 2026

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's, are major causes of disability. Current treatments are mostly symptomatic, due to a limited understanding of the disease mechanisms and the brain's poor regenerative capacity. Neuronal transdifferentiation offers a promising solution. Existing protocols are often inefficient, invasive, or time-consuming, and expensive. Furthermore, they mostly rely on nucleic acids as transdifferentiation-inducers, hence this carries risks of insertion mutagenesis. In this study, monocytes were isolated from buffy coats and cultured under four protocols using different small-molecule combinations. Two protocols successfully generated TUJ1⁺ MAP2⁺ SYP⁺ cells. Transdifferentiation is achievable through cheap and efficient chemical induction.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aite-2026-0008 | Journal eISSN: 1661-4917

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Language: English

Submitted on: Aug 13, 2025

Accepted on: Oct 2, 2025

Published on: Jan 26, 2026

Published by: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

Transdifferentiation,

Small molecule,

Neurodegenerative diseases,

Neuronal transdifferentation,

Monocytes conversion,

Chemical transdifferentiation

Related subjects:

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Biochemistry,

Immunology,

Clinical medicine,

Clinical medicine, other,

Clinical chemistry

© 2026 Kornelia Jankowska, Saeid Ghavami, Jolanta Hybiak, Marek J. Łos, published by Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 74 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)