title: Cripto signaling in differentiating embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Embryonic stem (ES) cells have been suggested as candidate therapeutic tools for regenerative medicine approaches. In this scenario, great efforts are made to define protocols to preferentially direct ES cells toward a defined cell type. To this end, it becomes crucial to characterize the molecular mechanisms as well as the signaling pathways implicated in ES cell differentiation. Findings highlight a key role of cripto, the founding member of a new class of extracellular factors, called EGF-CFC. Indeed, Cripto signaling is strictly required in an early acting window to negatively regulate neural differentiation and to permit differentiation of ES cells to cardiac fate. The protocols defined in this chapter allow preferential direction of ES cell differentiation as embryoid bodies toward either cardiomyocytes or neurons. Although referred to as modulation of Cripto signaling, these methods build the basis for the use of other classes of secreted molecules to control ES cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Adriano Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minchiotti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: M Graziella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Persico
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C489450:Tdgf1 protein, mouse; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor