Derivation and feeder-free propagation of human embryonic stem cells under xeno-free conditions.
OBJECTIVE
Human embryonic stem (hES) cells hold great potential for cell therapy and regenerative medicine because of their pluripotency and capacity for self-renewal. The conditions used to derive and culture hES cells vary between and within laboratories depending on the desired use of the cells. Until recently, stem cell culture has been carried out using feeder cells, and culture media, that contain animal products. Recent advances in technology have opened up the possibility of both xeno-free and feeder-free culture of stem cells, essential conditions for the use of stem cells for clinical purposes. To date, however, there has been limited success in achieving this aim.


CONCLUSIONS
Protocols were developed for the successful derivation of two normal and three specific mutation-carrying (SMC) (Huntington's disease and myotonic dystrophy 1) genomically stable hES cell lines, and their adaptation to feeder-free culture, all under xeno-free conditions.
Embryonic Stem Cell Laboratories, Guy's Assisted Conception Unit, Division of Women's Health, King's College School of Medicine, London, UK. dusko.ilic@kcl.ac.uk
Dusko
D
Ilic
Emma
E
Stephenson
Victoria
V
Wood
Laureen
L
Jacquet
Danielle
D
Stevenson
Anastasia
A
Petrova
Neli
N
Kadeva
Stefano
S
Codognotto
Heema
H
Patel
Maxine
M
Semple
Glenda
G
Cornwell
Caroline
C
Ogilvie
Peter
P
Braude
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D061252:Feeder Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free