title: Human-serum matrix supports undifferentiated growth of human embryonic stem cells.
abstract: One of the most frequently used matrices for feeder-free growth of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is Matrigel, which supports attachment and growth of undifferentiated hESCs in the presence of mouse embryonic fibroblast-conditioned medium. Unfortunately, application of Matrigel or medium conditioned by mouse embryonic feeder cells is not ideal for potential medical application of hESCs because xenogeneic pathogens can be transmitted through culture conditions. We demonstrate here that human serum as matrix and medium conditioned by differentiated hESCs reduce exposure of hESCs to animal ingredients and provide a safer direction toward completely animal-free conditions for application, handling, and understanding of hESC biology. At the same time, hESCs grown under these conditions maintain all hESC features after prolonged culture, including the developmental potential to differentiate into representative tissues of all three embryonic germ layers, unlimited and undifferentiated proliferative ability, and maintenance of normal karyotype.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stojkovic
authors.forename: Majlinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lako
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Przyborski
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Lyle
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stojkovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping / Q000379:methods; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044967:Serum / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D017931:DNA Primers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen