title: Identification of molecules derived from human fibroblast feeder cells that support the proliferation of human embryonic stem cells.
abstract: The majority of human embryonic stem cell lines depend on a feeder cell layer for continuous growth in vitro, so that they can remain in an undifferentiated state. Limited knowledge is available concerning the molecular mechanisms that underlie the capacity of feeder cells to support both the proliferation and pluripotency of these cells. Importantly, feeder cells generally lose their capacity to support human embryonic stem cell proliferation in vitro following long-term culture. In this study, we performed large-scale gene expression profiles of human foreskin fibroblasts during early, intermediate and late passages using a custom DNA microarray platform (NeuroStem 2.0 Chip). The microarray data was validated using RT-PCR and virtual SAGE analysis. Our comparative gene expression study identified a limited number of molecular targets potentially involved in the ability of human neonatal foreskin fibroblasts to serve as feeder cells for human embryonic stem cell cultures. Among these, the C-KIT, leptin and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) genes were the most interesting candidates.
authors.affiliation: Neuronal Survival Unit, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC A10, Sölvegatan 17, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Anisimov
authors.forename: Nicolaj S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Christophersen
authors.forename: Ana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: Vanessa J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sandelin
authors.forename: Jia-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brundin
mesh_terms: D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D015843:Serpins; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor