title: Neural differentiation of human ES cells.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may be converted into highly enriched cultures of neural precursors under defined culture conditions. The neural precursors can proliferate in culture for prolonged periods of time, and can differentiate in vitro into mature neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. The neurons are functional and have normal electrophysiological properties. After transplantation to the developing rodent brain, the neural precursors migrate extensively into the host brain parenchyma, respond to host brain signals, and differentiate in a region-specific manner to progeny of the three neural lineages. The establishment of neuroectodermal precursors from hESCs allows the study of human neurogenesis in vitro and is an aid in drug discovery. In addition, the neural precursors may potentially serve as a platform for the development of specific functional neural cells for transplantation and gene therapy of neurological disorders. In this unit, we introduce methods for the derivation, propagation and characterization of hESC-derived neural precursors.
authors.affiliation: Hadassah University Medical Center, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Malkiel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Pavey
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Itsykson
authors.forename: Benjamin E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Reubinoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000099176:Noggin Protein
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D000099176:Noggin Protein