A novel induced pluripotent stem cell model of Schwann cell differentiation reveals - related gene regulatory networks of the extracellular matrix.

Schwann cells are vital to development and maintenance of the peripheral nervous system and their dysfunction has been implicated in a range of neurological and neoplastic disorders, including -related schwannomatosis. We developed a novel human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model to study Schwann cell differentiation in health and disease. We performed transcriptomic, immunofluorescence, and morphological analysis of hiPSC derived Schwann cell precursors (SPCs) and terminally differentiated Schwann cells (SCs) representing distinct stages of development.