title: Derivation of Neural Precursor Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells for DNA Methylomic Analysis.
abstract: Embryonic stem cells are self-renewing pluripotent cells with competency to differentiate into all three-germ lineages. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of genetic and epigenetic molecular mechanisms in the maintenance of self-renewal and pluripotency. Stem cells are under unique molecular and cellular regulations different from somatic cells. Proper regulation should be ensured to maintain their unique self-renewal and undifferentiated characteristics. Understanding key mechanisms in stem cell biology will be important for the successful application of stem cells for regenerative therapeutic medicine. More importantly practical use of stem cells will require our knowledge on how to properly direct and differentiate stem cells into the necessary type of cells. Embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells have been used as study models to unveil molecular and cellular mechanisms in various signaling pathways. They are especially beneficial to developmental studies where in vivo molecular/cellular study models are not available. We have derived neural stem cells from human embryonic stem cells as a model to study the effect of teratogen in neural development. We have tested commercial neural differentiation system and successfully derived neural precursor cells exhibiting key molecular features of neural stem cells, which will be useful for experimental application.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell and Cancer Epigenetic Research, Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roubal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell and Cancer Epigenetic Research, Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sun Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell and Cancer Epigenetic Research, Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA. thadyk@ucla.edu.|Center for Oral and Head/Neck Oncology Research Center, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA. thadyk@ucla.edu.|UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. thadyk@ucla.edu.|UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. thadyk@ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019175:DNA Methylation; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA methylation; Human embryonic stem cells; Neural differentiation; Neural stem cell markers