Neurogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor during germ layer formation of human embryonic stem cells.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, has been suggested as a modulator that is involved in neurogenesis as well as angiogenesis. Here, we directly examined the effect of VEGF on neuroectodermal differentiation using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). VEGF treatment upregulated the expression of neuroectodermal genes (Sox1 and Nestin) during germ layer formation in embryoid bodies (EBs) and efficiently increased the number of neural rosettes expressing both Pax6 and Nestin. The neural progenitors generated from VEGF-treated EBs further differentiated into cells that showed a similar pattern of gene expression observed in the development of dopaminergic neurons upon terminal differentiation. These results support the neurogenic effect of VEGF on hESC differentiation.
Kim
Byung-Kak
BK
Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Science Campus, 1, Anam-dong 5-ga, Sungbuk-goo, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Sung-Eun
SE
Shim
Joong-Hyun
JH
Woo
Dong-Hun
DH
Gil
Jung-Eun
JE
Kim
Suel-Kee
SK
Kim
Jong-Hoon
JH
D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005775:Gastrula / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D008934:Mitogens; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D012313:RNA