Efficient Neural Differentiation of hPSCs by Extrinsic Signals Derived from Co-cultured Neural Stem or Precursor Cells

Mol Ther. 2019 Jul 3;27(7):1299-1312. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.04.011. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Abstract

In this study, we found that undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs; up to 30% of total cells) present in the cultures of neural stem or precursor cells (NPCs) completely disappeared within several days when cultured under neural differentiation culture conditions. Intriguingly, the disappearance of undifferentiated cells was not due to cell death but was instead mediated by neural conversion of hPSCs. Based on these findings, we propose pre-conditioning of donor NPC cultures under terminal differentiation culture conditions as a simple but efficient method of eliminating undifferentiated cells to treat neurologic disorders. In addition, we could establish a new neural differentiation protocol, in which undifferentiated hPSCs co-cultured with NPCs become differentiated neurons or NPCs in an extremely efficient, fast, and reproducible manner across the hESC and human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines.

Keywords: co-culture; human pluripotent stem cells; neural differentiation; neural precursor cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Nervous System Diseases / therapy
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Stem Cell Transplantation

Substances

  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • POU5F1 protein, human
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins