Knockdown of Stat3 in C17.2 neural stem cells facilitates the generation of neurons: a possibility of transplantation with a low level of oncogene

This study investigates the role of a low level of Stat3 in the C17.2 neural stem cells, which are popular stem cell candidates for transplantation research. The results reveal that C17.2 neural stem cells will undergo increased differentiation into neurons without generating glia after knockdown of Stat3 expression via an interfering RNA expression plasmid. As constitutively activated Stat3 is considered to be an oncogene, this study raises the possibility of stem cell transplantation with a low level of Stat3 to reduce the oncogenesis and facilitate the generation of neurons.