{
  "id": 6283177,
  "title": "Differentiation of KISS1-Expressing Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: Many Roads To Rome",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/differentiation-of-kiss1-expressing-cells-from-human-pluripotent-stem",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748796v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kisspeptin-secreting neurons play a pivotal role in the regulation of puberty and reproduction in humans. The arcuate nucleus (ARC) neurons control the pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), while the preoptic area (POA) neurons control the GnRH surge. As animal models fail to fully replicate the human phenotype, there is a pressing need for a human model to study these neurons. Researchers employed two distinct strategies to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into neuron cultures.\n\nThe first strategy, known as the FGF8 protocol, involved dual SMAD inhibition (dSMADi), FGF8b, and Notch inhibition. The second strategy, labeled the SHH protocol, consisted of dSMADi and SHH activation, followed by Notch inhibition. After 45 days, both sets of neuron cultures were characterized at the mRNA level using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The SHH-derived neuron cultures expressed high levels of KISS1, alongside increased expression of NKX2-1, POMC, NHLH2, and NR5A2, which are markers for the ARC. In contrast, the FGF8-derived neuron cultures expressed lower levels of NKX2-1 and the marker FOXG1, indicative of POA neurons. These findings represent the first strategies to differentiate hPSCs into neuron cultures that produce KISS1. Further studies, encompassing transcriptomic, protein, and functional characterization, are required to fully establish the properties of these models.",
  "summary": "Introduction Kisspeptin-secreting (Kiss) neurons govern human puberty and reproduction. In the arcuate nucleus (ARC), they control pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), while Kiss neurons in the preoptic area (POA) control GnRH surge. Since animal models do not fully recapitulate the human phenotype, a human model to study these neurons is crucial. Methods We differentiated…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "bioRxiv",
        "title": "BCOR mutations establish a persistent culture-adaptive state in human induced pluripotent stem cells",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/bcor-mutations-establish-a-persistent-culture-adaptive-state-in-human",
        "published": "2026-09-07T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}