Table 1 Comparison of fibroblast conversion into neurons using different methodologies
| Â | Indirect conversion into neurons via hiPSC | Direct conversion into functional neurons |
|---|---|---|
Advantages | Personalized use in patients Drug design and treatment Pluripotent Useful for studying pathological mechanisms Extended use in studies of NDs | Rapid and efficient differentiation and maturation Personalized use in patients Avoid gene materials Age-match Useful for studying aging and NDs Physical factors can work in vivo to directly reprogram fibroblasts |
Disadvantages | Slow process of cell formation Rejuvenated differentiated cells are not helpful for studies of aging or age-related diseases Abnormal gene expression and epigenetic abnormalities Tumorigenic pluripotent cell stages | Low efficiency Limited use in clinical therapy because of neuronal culture issues Standardization of protocol is still under investigation Chemically induced neurons are mostly glutamatergic neurons |