Comparable generation of activin-induced definitive endoderm via additive Wnt or BMP signaling in absence of serum.

ABSTRACT: There is considerable interest in differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into definitive endoderm (DE) and pancreatic cells for in vitro disease modeling and cell replacement therapy. Numerous protocols use fetal bovine serum, which contains poorly defined factors to induce DE formation. Here, we compared Wnt and BMP in their ability to cooperate with Activin signaling to promote DE formation in a chemically defined medium. Varying concentrations of WNT3A, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 inhibitors CHIR99021 and 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (BIO), and BMP4 could independently co-operate with Activin to effectively induce DE formation even in the absence of serum. Overall, CHIR99021 is favored due to its cost effectiveness. Surprisingly, WNT3A was ineffective in suppressing E-CA

SUBMITTER: Teo AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4110751 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature