TITLE:
Differentiation of neuronal cells using a murine embryonic stem cell-based method
AUTHORS:
Uthayashanker R. Ezekiel
KEYWORDS:
Stem Cell; Embryoid Bodies; Differentiation
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.4 No.9,
August
26,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The differentiation and screening methodology proposed
here is an efficient in vitro system
to screen and study effects of small molecules and bioagents and is an
alternative to studies that use live animals and embryos. The method is based
on engineering a stable murine embryonic stem (ES) cell line expressing lineage-specific
promoters that drive selection and reporter genes. Additionally, uniform
embryoid bodies (EBs) are used for differentiation studies that allow
synchronous differentiation. The reporter and selection marker genes are
expressed only in lineages where the promoter is functional. The differentiated
cell type can be identified by reporter gene expression and the selection
marker can be used for selective enrichment of that particular cell population.
The method described here is useful in screening small molecules or bioagents
that can differentiate stem cells into particular lineages or cell types.
Identified compounds are useful in areas such as stem cell-based regenerative
medicine and therapeutics. The method described here has been applied to
neuronal cell differentiation.