title: Differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cells on vitronectin-derived synthetic peptide acrylate surface.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are being studied for cell replacement therapies, including the treatment of acute spinal cord injury. Current methods of differentiating OPCs from hESCs require complex, animal-derived biological extracellular matrices (ECMs). Defined, low-cost, robust, and scalable culture methods will need to be developed for the widespread deployment and commercialization of hESC-derived cell therapies. Here we describe a defined culture system that uses a vitronectin-derived synthetic peptide acrylate surface (VN-PAS; commercially available as Corning(®) Synthemax(®) surface) in combination with a defined culture medium for hESC growth and differentiation to OPCs. We show that synthetic VN-PAS supports OPC attachment and differentiation, and that hESCs grown on VN-PAS are able to differentiate into OPCs on VN-PAS. Compared to OPCs derived from hESCs grown on ECM of animal origin, higher levels of NG2, a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan expressed by OPCs, were observed in OPCs differentiated from H1 hESCs grown on VN-PAS, while the expression levels of Nestin and PDGFRα were comparable. In summary, this study demonstrates that synthetic VN-PAS can replace complex, animal-origin ECM to support OPC differentiation from hESCs.
authors.affiliation: Geron Corporation , Menlo Park, California, USA. yli@eng.fsu.edu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Archna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Jiwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Liqun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Zara
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Melkoumian
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Lavanya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Telukuntla
authors.forename: Rashi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Erik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brandenberger
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D019096:Vitronectin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D010455:Peptides; D019096:Vitronectin; C036658:acrylic acid