title: A gene expression-based screening system for compounds influencing differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Low molecular weight compounds have been shown to be useful for controlling stem cells, and various high-throughput screening systems have been developed for identifying compounds that regulate the differentiation of stem cells. However, the effects of such compounds on stem cell differentiation are usually evaluated by assessing a single parameter, which is insufficient for proper monitoring of the cellular status. In this study, to classify a number of compounds, the authors established a gene expression-based screening system using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells that monitored multiple parameters. ES cells were differentiated into three germ layers by embryoid body formation and then treated with the test compounds. Next, cellular changes were assessed by analyzing the expression of multiple genes with the multiplex quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. By screening a library of pharmacologically active compounds with this system, the authors were able to classify 52 compounds that influenced the gene expression profile of ES cells. They also found that some compounds identified by screening could enhance osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. These results indicate that the screening system is effective for identifying compounds involved in regulating the differentiation of both ES cells and adult stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Biology Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kunisada
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosoya
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects