HESC expansion and stemness are independent of connexin forty-three-mediated intercellular communication between hESCs and hASC feeder cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a promising and powerful source of cells for applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cell-based therapies, and drug discovery. Many researchers have employed conventional culture techniques using feeder cells to expand hESCs in significant numbers, although feeder-free culture techniques have recently been developed. In regard to stem cell expansion, gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is thought to play an important role in hESC survival and differentiation. Indeed, it has been reported that hESC-hESC communication through connexin 43 (Cx43, one of the major gap junctional proteins) is crucial for the maintenance of hESC stemness during expansion. However, the role of GJIC between hESCs and feeder c

SUBMITTER: Kim JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3724839 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature