Induced neural stem cells from distinct genetic backgrounds exhibit different reprogramming status

•The iNSCs from different mouse strains showed the distinct conversion efficiency.•The genetic background influenced the clonal expansion of iNSCs.•The transcriptional reprogramming status was influenced by genetic backgrounds.•The genetic background affected the in vitro differentiation potential of iNSCs.

Somatic cells could be directly converted into induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) by ectopic expression of defined transcription factors. However, the underlying mechanism of direct lineage transition into iNSCs is largely unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of genetic background on the direct conversion process into an iNSC state. The iNSCs from two different mouse strains exhibited the distinct efficiency of lineage conversion as well as clonal expansion. Furthermore, the expression levels of endogenous NSC markers, silencing of transgenes, and in vitro differentiation potential were also different between iNSC lines from different strains. Therefore, our data suggest that the genetic background of starting cells influences the conversion efficiency as well as reprogramming status of directly converted iNSCs.