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At present, stem cell transplantation has a significant therapeutic effect on spinal cord injury (SCI), however, it is still challenging for the seed cells selection. In this study, in order to explore cells with wide neural repair potentials, we selected the pluripotent stem cells multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells, inducing the in vitro differentiation of human Muse cells into neural precursor cells (Muse-NPCs) by applying neural induction medium. Here, we found induced Muse-NPCs expressed neural stem cell markers Nestin and NCAM, capable of differentiating into three types of neural cells (neuron, astrocyte and oligodendrocyte), and have certain biological functions. When Muse-NPCs were transplanted into rats suffering from T10 SCI, motor function was improved. These results provide an insight for application of Muse-NPCs in cell therapy or tissue engineering for the repair of SCI in future. • Muse cells can be induced into neural precursor cells in vitro. • Muse-NPCs different into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes with their own functions in vitro. • Muse-NPCs promote the restoration of motor function in SCI rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel GATA4 mutation, p.C271S, was identified in a large family with DCM. [•] The mutation co-segregated with DCM in the family and was absent in 200 controls. [•] The altered amino acid was completely conserved evolutionarily among species. [•] The mutant was associated with significantly decreased transcriptional activity. [•] The mutant remarkably reduced the synergistic activation between GATA4 and NKX2-5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]