title: [Embryonic stem cell differentiation: the role of growth factors].
abstract: In vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells is expected as a useful means to prepare target cells for transplantation therapy. If normal and functional cells can be induced to differentiate only by adding a specific growth factor, it should be a safer and simpler method. Some of the examples showed, however, that it is necessary to follow an actual differentiation process taking place in embryogenesis to induce a specific cell lineage, so that it is difficult to selectively obtain target cells by using a single growth factor. Yet, it is also suggested that cell specification may be controlled by a specific growth factor or its combination in a simplified situation such as a single cell culture in a serum-free medium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University.
authors.forename: Minetaro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000166:cytology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances