title: Differentiation of human oligodendrocytes from pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: We have developed a four-part protocol to differentiate human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) according to developmental principles. In the first 2 weeks, hESCs are induced to differentiate into neuroepithelial cells, which form neural tube-like rosettes. In the following 10 d, these neuroepithelial cells are specified to OLIG2-expressing progenitors in the presence of retinoic acid (RA) and sonic hedgehog (SHH). Upon treatment with fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) for another 10 d, these progenitors convert to OLIG2 and NKX2.2-expressing pre-OPCs. Finally, the pre-OPCs take 8-9 weeks to differentiate into OPCs, which express additional markers of oligodendrocytes, such as SOX10, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha) and NG2. The unique aspects of the protocol are the use of FGF2 to promote the differentiation of gliogenic pre-OPCs in the third part and the removal of FGF2 during the transition of pre-OPCs to OPCs. This 3-month differentiation protocol consistently yields OPCs of high purity capable of producing myelin sheaths in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, Waisman Center, WiCell Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Bao-Yang
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhong-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Su-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000090322:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D046569:Neuroepithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D000090322:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014212:Tretinoin; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C000715631:NKX2-2 protein, human; C405708:OLIG2 protein, human; C509239:SHH protein, human; C000715630:nkx2.2b protein, zebrafish