Inhibition of activin/nodal signalling is necessary for pancreatic differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells.

ABSTRACT:

Aims/hypothesis

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) offer unique opportunities for regenerative medicine and for the study of mammalian development. However, developing methods to differentiate hESCs/hIPSCs into specific cell types following a natural pathway of development remains a major challenge.

Methods

We used defined culture media to identify signalling pathways controlling the differentiation of hESCs/hIPSCs into pancreatic or hepatic progenitors. This approach avoids the use of feeders, stroma cells or serum, all of which can interfere with experimental outcomes and could preclude future clinical applications.

Results

This study reveals, for the first time, that activin/TGF-β signalling blocks pancreatic specif

SUBMITTER: Cho CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3483105 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature