We are excited to share our new preprint, “Rapid direct neuronal reprogramming of human dental pulp stem cells,” now available on bioRxiv.
In this study, we show that human dental pulp stem cells can be directly converted into induced neurons within only 17 days. By combining high-content imaging, transcriptomics, proteomics, DNA methylation profiling, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and electrophysiology, we characterized the molecular transitions, cellular heterogeneity, and early functional maturation accompanying the conversion. Our findings establish dental pulp stem cells as an accessible and developmentally relevant source for rapid neuronal reprogramming and future patient-specific disease modelling.
The work was led by the shared first authors Anna and Chandra, with an important contribution from Bendegúz, our student of the National Academy of Scientist Education. The project was developed in close collaboration with the Department of Oral Biology at Semmelweis University and brought together colleagues from HCEMM, HUN-REN SZTAKI, the HUN-REN–SZTAKI–SU Rejuvenation Research Group, Lund University, and several partner institutions.
A huge thank you to all co-authors and collaborators for this wonderful team effort!
Read the preprint:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.24.740560v1