Will Brain Cells Derived From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells or Directly Converted From Somatic Cells (iNs) Be Useful for Schizophrenia Research?

Abstract

The reprogramming of nonneuronal somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells and their derivation to functional brain cells as well as the related methods for direct conversion of somatic cells to neurons have opened up the possibility of conducting research on cellular disease models from living schizophrenia patients. We review the published literature on schizophrenia that has used this rapidly developing technology, highlighting the need for specific aims and reproducibility. The key issues for consideration for future schizophrenia research in this field are discussed and potential investigations using this technology are put forward for critical assessment by the reader.

Recent genetic findings in schizophrenia and their therapeutic relevance

“…Finding loci and genes for schizophrenia is a triumph, but it is merely the start of a long process towards meaningful biological understanding, let alone better treatment, of the disorder. Genetics augments but does not replace the other key elements in drug development, and does not remove the many other hurdles ( Filippich et al, 2013 ; Hyman, 2014 ; Pratt et al, 2012 ; Winchester et al, 2014 ). But at least the genetic findings provide a strong rationale for, and firm foundations on which to build, the next generation of studies, as we sequence rather than sample the genome, integrate genomics with the other ‘omics’, develop new analytical and bioinformatic tools, discover how genes interact with each other and with the environment, and clarify how the genes and their variants actually drive the pathophysiology.…”