Correction to: Efficient and rapid conversion of human astrocytes and ALS mouse model spinal cord astrocytes into motor neuron-like cells by defined small molecules

Correction to: Military Med Res 7, 42 (2020)

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-020-00271-7

In the original publication of this article [1], Figs. 2 and 4, additional file figure 2, additional file figure 3, additional file figure 4 are incorrect, the correct figures are given below. The original publication has been corrected.

Fig. 2

Direct conversion of human astrocytes into MN-like cells using the small-molecule cocktail. a and b Immunocytochemical analysis of induced neurons for the expression of the neuronal marker TUJ1 and the MN-specific markers HB9 and islet 1 (ISL1) after 10–14 days of chemical induction. Scale bars = 25 μm. c Immunostaining assays for the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGlut1) in the induced cells. Scale bars = 25 μm. d-g Immunostaining assays for choline acetyltransferase (CHAT), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), neuronal nuclei (NeuN), and synapsin-1 (SYN) after 14 days of chemical induction. d, e, f, scale bars = 25 μm. g, scale bar = 50 μm. h Expression of CHAT and VAChT in control HA1800 astrocytes. Scale bars = 25 μm. i The percentage of TUJ1⁺ cells compared to the that of total DAPI⁺ cells after 2 weeks of induction (mean ± SEM, n = 10 randomly selected 20× fields from triplicate samples). j The percentages of TUJ1⁺HB9⁺ and TUJ1⁺ISL1⁺ cells compared to the total DAPI⁺ cells after 2 weeks of induction (means ± SEM, n = 10 randomly selected 20× fields from triplicate samples). k The percentages of TUJ1⁺HB9⁺, TUJ1⁺ISL1⁺, and TUJ1⁺CHAT⁺ cells relative to that of TUJ1⁺ cells induced by small molecules (means ± SEM, n = 10 randomly selected 20× fields from triplicate samples)

Fig. 4

The gene expression profiles and electrophysiological properties of hiMNs. a RT-qPCR analysis of mRNA expression levels of genes HB9, ISL1, SMN, NEUROD1, NGN2, MYT1, and GFAP during chemical induction. The values are presented as the means ± SEM (n = 3. *P < 0.05. **P < 0.01. ***P < 0.001. versus day 0. b Current-clamp recordings of hiMN generated from human astrocytes after chemical induction, showing action potentials in response to a depolarizing step current from − 60 to 120 pA (n = 6/10, recorded cells). c Tetrodotoxin (TTX) could inhibit action potentials. d Representative traces of whole-cell current in voltage-clamp mode, showing inward sodium current and outward potassium current (n = 5/7, recorded cells). e An inward sodium current that was blocked by TTX