Xeno-free defined conditions for culture of human embryonic stem cells, neural stem cells and dopaminergic neurons derived from them.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may provide an invaluable resource for regenerative medicine. To move hESCs towards the clinic it is important that cells with therapeutic potential be reproducibly generated under completely defined conditions.

Methodology/principal findings

Here we report a four-step scalable process that is readily transferable to a Good Manufacture Practice (GMP) facility for the production of functional dopaminergic neurons from hESCs for potential clinical uses. We show that each of the steps (propagation of ESC-->generation of neural stem cells (NSC)-->induction of dopaminergic precursors-->maturation of dopaminergic neurons) could utilize xeno-free defined media and substrate, and that cells could be stored at intermediate stages in the p

SUBMITTER: Swistowski A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2705186 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature