Dividing Olig2-expressing progenitor cells derived from ES cells

• Published in: Glia 2004-07, Vol.47 (1), p.88-101
• Main Authors: Xian, Haiqing, Gottlieb, David I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Differentiation - genetics; Antigens, Differentiation - metabolism; Astrocytes - cytology; Astrocytes - metabolism; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Proteins - pharmacology; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Division - genetics; Cell Line; Cell Lineage - drug effects; Cell Lineage - physiology; Culture Media - pharmacology; ES cells; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - metabolism; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Isolated neuron and nerve. Neuroglia; Luminescent Proteins; Mice; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Olig2; Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; Oligodendroglia - cytology; Oligodendroglia - metabolism; Phenotype; Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology; Pluripotent Stem Cells - drug effects; Pluripotent Stem Cells - metabolism; progenitors; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - drug effects; Stem Cells - metabolism; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0894-1491; 1098-1136
• DOI: 10.1002/glia.20010

G‐Olig2 is a knock‐in ES cell line with GFP inserted into the Olig2 gene so that ES cell‐derived neural cells that express Olig2 also express GFP. This tool allows visualization of the subset of cells that differentiate along the Olig2‐expressing pathway. By manipulating culture conditions, it is possible to induce Olig2 expression in rapidly dividing cells. These cells have many of the features of glial progenitor cells but, unlike other glial progenitors, are able to divide rapidly for at least 1 month while still expressing Olig2. Even after 1‐month expansion, the cells differentiate readily into astrocyte‐like and oligodendrocyte‐like cells when switched to serum‐containing medium. Cellular memory is the property whereby cells remain specified to a particular lineage or pathway while undergoing division. ES cell‐derived neural cells show cellular memory for a glial progenitor phenotype and thus provide a new and tractable model for this basic feature of neural development. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.