biostudies-literatureBai RNatural Science Foundation of Beijing MunicipalityNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNon-profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences48https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7796386biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)<h4>Introduction</h4>Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurological, medically incurable disorder. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have the potential to generate neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs), which hold promise in the treatment of SCI by transplantation. In our study, we aimed to establish a chemically defined culture system using serum-free medium and ascorbic acid (AA) to generate and expand long-term self-renewing neuroepithelial-like stem cells (lt-NES cells) differentiated from hPSCs effectively and stably.<h4>Methods</h4>We induced human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)/induced PSCs (iPSCs) to neurospheres using a newly established in vitro induction system. Moreover, lt-NES cells were derived from hESC/iPSC-neurospheres using two induction systems, i.e., conventional N2 mediumStem cell research & therapyAscorbic acid can promote the generation and expansion of neuroepithelial-like stem cells derived from hiPS/ES cells under chemically defined conditions through promoting collagen synthesis.PMC7796386819702052019PT320026Z190013Dong TTian LYou YMa SLan FGuo TJiang HFZhang SChang YWu FLu WJJiang YLi YBai RSaleem AfalseAscorbic acid can promote the generation and expansion of neuroepithelial-like stem cells derived from hiPS/ES cells under chemically defined conditions through promoting collagen synthesis.<h4>Introduction</h4>Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurological, medically incurable disorder. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have the potential to generate neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs), which hold promise in the treatment of SCI by transplantation. In our study, we aimed to establish a chemically defined culture system using serum-free medium and ascorbic acid (AA) to generate and expand long-term self-renewing neuroepithelial-like stem cells (lt-NES cells) differentiated from hPSCs effectively and stably.<h4>Methods</h4>We induced human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)/induced PSCs (iPSCs) to neurospheres using a newly established in vitro induction system. Moreover, lt-NES cells were derived from hESC/iPSC-neurospheres using two induction systems, i.e., conventional N2 medium2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jan2025-05-18T11:45:55.978Z2025-05-18T11:45:55.978ZS-EPMC77963863342213210.1186/s13287-020-02115-6