title: Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells toward the chondrogenic lineage.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the ability to self-replicate and differentiate into cells from all three embryonic germ layers, thereby holding great promise for tissue regeneration applications. However, controlling the differentiation of hESCs and obtaining homogenous differentiated cell populations still remain a challenge. We present a highly efficient and reproducible experimental system that mimics the three-dimensional (3-D) environment of in vivo chondrogenesis and that supports the directed differentiation of human embryoid body (EB)-derived cells toward the chondrogenic lineage under serum-free chondrogenic culture conditions in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2).
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Wei Seong
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Boon Chin
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta