Bioluminescent imaging demonstrates that transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived CD34(+) cells preferentially develop into endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provide an important resource for novel regenerative medicine therapies and have been used to derive diverse cell populations, including hematopoietic and endothelial cells. However, it remains a challenge to achieve significant engraftment of hESC-derived blood cells when transplanted into animal models. To better understand mechanisms that enhance or limit the in vivo developmental potential of hESC-derived cells, we utilized hESCs that express firefly luciferase (luc) to allow noninvasive, real-time bioluminescent imaging of hESC-derived CD34(+) cells transplanted into the liver of neonatal immunodeficient mice. Serial imaging demonstrated stable engraftment and expansion of the luc(+) hESC-derived cells in vivo over several months. While we found that

SUBMITTER: Tian X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2857550 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature