Human embryonic germ cell derivatives express a broad range of developmentally distinct markers and proliferate extensively in vitro.

ABSTRACT: Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been derived from the inner cell mass cells of blastocysts (embryonic stem cells) and primordial germ cells of the developing gonadal ridge (embryonic germ cells). Like their mouse counterparts, hPSCs can be maintained in culture in an undifferentiated state and, upon differentiation, generate a wide variety of cell types. Embryoid body (EB) formation is a requisite step in the process of in vitro differentiation of these stem cells and has been used to derive neurons and glia, vascular endothelium, hematopoietic cells, cardiomyocytes, and glucose-responsive insulin-producing cells from mouse PSCs. EBs generated from human embryonic germ cell cultures have also been found to contain a wide variety of cell types, including neural cells, vascular end

SUBMITTER: Shamblott MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC14553 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature