Cyclopamine treatment of human embryonic stem cells followed by culture in human astrocyte medium promotes differentiation into nestin- and GFAP-expressing astrocytic lineage

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are able to differentiate into various cell types, including neuronal cells and glial cells. However, little information is available regarding astrocyte differentiation. This report describes the differentiation of hESCs into nestin- and GFAP-expressing astrocytes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Life sciences (1973) 2006-12, Vol.80 (2), p.154-159
Main Authors: Lee, Dong-Seok, Yu, Kweon, Rho, Jeung-Yon, Lee, Eunyoung, Han, Jee-Soo, Koo, Deog-Bon, Cho, Yee Sook, Kim, Janghwan, Lee, Kyung-Kwang, Han, Yong-Mahn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astrocytes - cytology
Astrocytes - drug effects
Astrocytes - metabolism
Cell Differentiation - drug effects
Cell Line
Cell Lineage - drug effects
Culture Media, Conditioned
Cyclopamine
Differentiation
Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology
Embryonic Stem Cells - drug effects
Embryonic Stem Cells - metabolism
GFAP
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - biosynthesis
Hedgehog Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors
Hedgehog Proteins - genetics
Human embryonic stem cell
Humans
Intermediate Filament Proteins - biosynthesis
Nerve Tissue Proteins - biosynthesis
Nestin
Neuroglia - drug effects
Neuroglia - metabolism
Neurons - drug effects
Neurons - metabolism
Veratrum Alkaloids - pharmacology
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Summary:Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are able to differentiate into various cell types, including neuronal cells and glial cells. However, little information is available regarding astrocyte differentiation. This report describes the differentiation of hESCs into nestin- and GFAP-expressing astrocytes following treatment with cyclopamine, which is an inhibitor of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, and culturing in human astrocyte medium (HAM). In hESCs, cyclopamine treatment suppressed the expression of Hh signaling molecules, the Hh signaling target gene, and ESC-specific markers. Clyclopamine also induced the differentiation of the cells at the edges of the hESC colonies, and these cells stained positively for the early neural marker nestin. Subsequent culturing in HAM promoted the expression of the astrocyte-specific marker GFAP, and these cells were also nestin-positive. These findings indicate that treatment with cyclopamine followed by culturing in HAM leads to the differentiation of hESCs into nestin- and GFAP-expressing astrocytic lineage.
ISSN:0024-3205
1879-0631
DOI:10.1016/j.lfs.2006.08.039