title: In vitro generation of megakaryocytes and platelets from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) represent a potential source of blood cells for transfusion therapies and a promising tool for studying the ontogeny of hematopoiesis. Moreover, human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), recently established by defined reprogramming factors expressed in somatic cells, represent a further source for the generation of hematopoietic cells. When undifferentiated hESCs or hiPSCs are cultured on either mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells or OP-9 stromal cells, they can be differentiated into a hematopoietic niche that concentrates hematopoietic progenitors, which we named "embryonic stem cell-derived sacs" (ES-sacs). We have optimized the in vitro culture condition for obtaining mature megakaryocytes derived from the hematopoietic progenitors within ES-sacs, which are then able to release platelets. These in vitro-generated platelets display integrin activation capability, indicating normal hemostatic function. This novel protocol thus provides a means of generating platelets from hESCs as well as hiPSCs, for the study of normal human thrombopoiesis and also thrombopoiesis in disease conditions using patient-specific hiPSCs.
authors: Clinical Application Department, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Naoya
authors: N
authors: Takayama
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Eto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D034061:Thrombopoiesis