Technologies, methods, and products of small molecule directed tissue and organ regeneration from human pluripotent stem cells
First Claim
1. A method of directly differentiating pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hES cells) into cells of a cardiac lineage, comprising:
- (i) providing a culture of hES cells in a defined medium comprising bFGF, insulin, ascorbic acid, and activin-A, wherein said defined medium is free of serum, free of feeder cells, and free of feeder cell conditioned medium; and
(ii) adding nicotinamide (NAM) to the culture, wherein the hES cells are cultured in the presence of NAM for a period of time sufficient to induce the expression of cardiac specific transcription factor (CSX) Nkx2.5 and cause the hES cells to directly differentiate into cells of cardiac lineage.
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Abstract
Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great potential for restoring tissue and organ function, which has been hindered by inefficiency and instability of generating desired cell types through multi-lineage differentiation. This instant invention is based on the discovery that pluripotent hESCs maintained under defined culture conditions can be uniformly converted into a specific lineage by small molecule induction. Retinoic acid induces specification of neuroectoderm direct from the pluripotent state of hESCs and triggers progression to neuronal progenitors and neurons efficiently. Similarly, nicotinamide induces specification of cardiomesoderm direct from the pluripotent state of hESCs and triggers progression to cardiac precursors and cardiomyocytes efficiently. This technology provides a large supply of clinically-suitable human neuronal or cardiac therapeutic products for CNS or myocardium repair. This invention enables well-controlled efficient induction of pluripotent hESCs exclusively to a specific clinically-relevant lineage for tissue and organ engineering and regeneration, cell-based therapy, and drug discovery.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of directly differentiating pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hES cells) into cells of a cardiac lineage, comprising:
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(i) providing a culture of hES cells in a defined medium comprising bFGF, insulin, ascorbic acid, and activin-A, wherein said defined medium is free of serum, free of feeder cells, and free of feeder cell conditioned medium; and (ii) adding nicotinamide (NAM) to the culture, wherein the hES cells are cultured in the presence of NAM for a period of time sufficient to induce the expression of cardiac specific transcription factor (CSX) Nkx2.5 and cause the hES cells to directly differentiate into cells of cardiac lineage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification