Definitive endoderm derived from human embryonic stem cells highly express the integrin receptors alphaV and beta5.
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be directed to differentiate into a number of endoderm cell types, however mature functional cells have yet to be produced in vitro. This suggests that there may be important factors that have yet to be described, which may be essential for the proper derivation of these cells. One such factor is the integrin mediated interactions between a cell and the extracellular matrix (ECM). On this basis, the present study investigated the role of the ECM in the directed differentiation of hESCs to definitive endoderm via analysis of integrin gene expression. The results showed that definitive endoderm can be efficiently and effectively derived from hESCs in a feeder free, single defined ECM of laminin. Analysis of integrin expression also showed that definitive endoderm highly express the integrins alphaV and beta5, which have the ability to bind to vitronectin, whilst expression of the pluripotency related laminin binding integrins alpha3, alpha6 and beta4 were downregulated. This suggested a potential role of vitronectin binding integrins in the development of definitive endoderm.
Wong
Jennifer C Y
JC
Diabetes Transplant Unit, The Prince of Wales Hospital and University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. wongjennifer@med.usyd.edu.au
Gao
Steven Y
SY
Lees
Justin G
JG
Best
Marie B
MB
Wang
Rennian
R
Tuch
Bernard E
BE
D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004707:Endoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D039503:Integrin alpha6 / Q000378:metabolism; D039564:Integrin alphaV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039641:Integrin beta Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019096:Vitronectin / Q000378:metabolism
D004338:Drug Combinations; D039503:Integrin alpha6; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D039641:Integrin beta Chains; D019012:Integrin beta1; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D019096:Vitronectin; C084344:integrin beta5; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen