Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

• US 20110014702A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Xu, Jean
• Granted Patent: US 8,785,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/12 Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells vaccines or medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/11 Epidermal growth factor [EGF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/115 Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/117 Keratinocyte growth factors (KGF-1, i.e. FGF-7; KGF-2, i.e. FGF-12)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/15 Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/155 Bone morphogenic proteins [BMP]; Osteogenins; Osteogenic factor; Bone inducing factor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/16 Activin; Inhibin; Mullerian inhibiting substance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/19 Growth and differentiation factors [GDF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/385 of the family of the retinoic acid recptor, e.g. RAR, RXR; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [PPAR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/41 Hedgehog proteins; Cyclopamine (inhibitor)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/415 Wnt; Frizzeled
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2506/02 from embryonic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/90 Substrates of biological origin, e.g. extracellular matrix, decellularised tissue
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0676 Pancreatic cells

Abstract

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into insulin producing cells. In particular, the present invention provides a method to produce cells capable of producing insulin following transplantation into an animal.

Claims

1. A method to differentiate a population of pluripotent stem cells into a population of cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage that co-express PDX-1, NKX-6.1, but do not express CDX-2 and NGN-3 comprising the steps of:

a. Culturing the pluripotent stem cells,

b. Differentiating the pluripotent stem cells into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage, and

c. Differentiating the cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage that co-express PDX1, NKX6.1, but do not express CDX2 and NGN3 by treating cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage with a first medium supplemented with FGF7, followed by culturing the cells in a second medium supplemented with FGF7, a factor capable of inhibiting BMP, a TGF-β

receptor agonist, retinoic acid, and a hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor.