Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to regional specific neural precursors in chemically defined medium conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) provide a unique model to study early events in human development. The hESC-derived cells can potentially be used to replace or restore different tissues including neuronal that have been damaged by disease or injury.

Methodology and principal findings

The cells of two different hESC lines were converted to neural rosettes using adherent and chemically defined conditions. The progenitor cells were exposed to retinoic acid (RA) or to human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the late phase of the rosette formation. Exposing the progenitor cells to RA suppressed differentiation to rostral forebrain dopamine neural lineage and promoted that of spinal neural tissue including motor neurons. The functional characteristi

SUBMITTER: Erceg S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2346555 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature