title: Noggin and bFGF cooperate to maintain the pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells in the absence of feeder layers.
abstract: Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are typically maintained on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeders or with MEF-conditioned medium. However, these xenosupport systems greatly limit the therapeutic applications of hES cells because of the risk of cross-transfer of animal pathogens. Here we showed that the bone morphogenetic protein antagonist noggin is critical in preventing differentiation of hES cells in culture. Furthermore, we found that the combination of noggin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was sufficient to maintain the prolonged growth of hES cells while retaining all hES cell features. Since both noggin and bFGF are expressed in MEF, our findings suggest that they may be important factors secreted by MEF for maintaining undifferentiated pluripotent hES cells. Our data provide new insight into the mechanism how hES cell self-renewal is regulated. The newly developed feeder-free culture system will provide a more reliable alternative for future therapeutic applications of hES cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guangwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Peigang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Chenglin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Mingxiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongkui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D007797:Laminin; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000099176:Noggin Protein
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003094:Collagen; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D007797:Laminin; D011506:Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000099176:Noggin Protein; C059485:matrigel