Highly efficient differentiation and enrichment of spinal motor neurons derived from human and monkey embryonic stem cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There are no cures or efficacious treatments for severe motor neuron diseases. It is extremely difficult to obtain naïve spinal motor neurons (sMNs) from human tissues for research due to both technical and ethical reasons. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are alternative sources. Several methods for MN differentiation have been reported. However, efficient production of naïve sMNs and culture cost were not taken into consideration in most of the methods.

Methods/principal findings

We aimed to establish protocols for efficient production and enrichment of sMNs derived from pluripotent stem cells. Nestin+ neural stem cell (NSC) clusters were induced by Noggin or a small molecule inhibitor of BMP signaling. After dissociation of NSC clusters, neurospheres were for

SUBMITTER: Wada T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2726947 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature