title: Derivation and characterization of new human embryonic stem cell lines: SNUhES1, SNUhES2, and SNUhES3.
abstract: Here we report the derivation and characterization of new human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines, SNUhES1, SNUhES2, and SNUhES3. These cells, established from the inner cell mass using an STO feeder layer, satisfy the criteria that characterize pluripotent hESCs: The cell lines express high levels of alkaline phosphatase, cell surface markers (such as SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81), transcription factor Oct-4, and telomerase. When grafted into severe combined immunodeficient mice after prolonged proliferation, these cells maintained the developmental potentials to form derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. The cell lines have normal karyotypes and distinct identities, revealed from DNA fingerprinting. Interestingly, analysis by electron microscopy clearly shows the morphological difference between undifferentiated and differentiated hESCs. Undifferentiated hESCs have a high ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm, prominent nucleoli, indistinct cell membranes, free ribosomes, and small mitochondria with a few crista, whereas differentiated cells retain irregular nuclear morphology, desmosomes, extensive cytoplasmic membranes, tonofilaments, and highly developed cellular organelles such as Golgi complex with secretory vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes, and large mitochondria. Existence of desmosomes and tonofilaments indicates that these cells differentiated into epithelial cells. When in vitro differentiation potentials of these cell lines into cardiomyocytes were examined, SNUhES3 was found to differentiate into cardiomyocytes most effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hee Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.forename: Yoon Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chul Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Dong-Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shin Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D039901:Totipotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins