BG01V: a variant human embryonic stem cell line which exhibits rapid growth after passaging and reliable dopaminergic differentiation.
OBJECTIVE
To explore a karyotypically abnormal variant human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line, BG01V, as a potential model for studies of dopaminergic neuronal differentiation.


METHODS
The properties of BG01V cells were compared to those of normal BG01 cells using immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, focused microarrays and in vitro differentiation, including dopaminergic differentiation, by culturing with the stromal cell line PA6.


RESULTS
Despite the karyotypic abnormality (49, +12, +17 and XXY), undifferentiated BG01V cells expressed pluripotent ESC markers similar to BG01 cells, and retained the ability to differentiate into cell types characteristic of all three germ layers. When co-cultured with the stromal cell line PA6, BG01V cells differentiated into dopaminergic cells which exhibited properties similar to those of mature dopaminergic neurons.


CONCLUSIONS
BG01V cells were easier to maintain in culture than karyotypically normal BG01 cells and can be used as an alternative pluripotent hESC type for in vitro developmental studies.
Zeng
Xianmin
X
Cellular Neurobiology Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse and NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. xzeng@mail.nih.gov
Chen
Jia
J
Liu
Ying
Y
Luo
Yongquan
Y
Schulz
Thomas C
TC
Robins
Allan J
AJ
Rao
Mahendra S
MS
Freed
William J
WJ
D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004298:Dopamine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine