Neural progenitor cells derived from embryonic stem cells
First Claim
1. A method of inducing neural differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells comprising:
- (a) culturing isolated, undifferentiated, human ES cells in the presence of serum free medium supplemented with growth factors which include epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to produce neurospheres containing neural progenitor cells, wherein said neurospheres do not express alphafetoprotein; and
(b) culturing said neurospheres under conditions that induce neural differentiation, thereby inducing neural differentiation of the ES cells.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells, methods of cultivation and propagation and production of differentiated cells. In particular it relates to the production of human ES cells capable of yielding somatic differentiated cells in vitro, as well as committed progenitor cells such as neural progenitor cells capable of giving rise to mature somatic cells including neural cells and/or glial cells and uses thereof. This invention provides methods that generate in vitro and in vivo models of controlled differentiation of ES cells towards the neural lineage. The model, and cells that are generated along the pathway of neural differentiation may be used for: the study of the cellular and molecular biology of human neural development, discovery of genes, growth factors, and differentiation factors that play a role in neural differentiation and regeneration, drug discovery and the development of screening assays for teratogenic, toxic and neuroprotective effects.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of inducing neural differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells comprising:
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(a) culturing isolated, undifferentiated, human ES cells in the presence of serum free medium supplemented with growth factors which include epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to produce neurospheres containing neural progenitor cells, wherein said neurospheres do not express alphafetoprotein; and (b) culturing said neurospheres under conditions that induce neural differentiation, thereby inducing neural differentiation of the ES cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification