Differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells in self-assembling peptide scaffolds

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:690:217-37. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-962-8_15.

Abstract

Here, we describe the capacity of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to differentiate into osteoblast-like cells in a three-dimensional (3D) self-assembling peptide scaffold, a synthetic nanofiber biomaterial with future applications in regenerative medicine. We have previously demonstrated that classical tissue cultures (two-dimensional) as well as 3D-systems promoted differentiation of mESCs into cells with an osteoblast-like phenotype expressing osteopontin (OPN) and collagen type I (Col I), as well as high alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos) activity and calcium phosphate mineralization. Interestingly, in 3D self-assembling peptide scaffold cultures, the frequency of appearance of embryonic stem-cell-like colonies was substantially enhanced, suggesting that this particular 3D microenvironment promoted the generation of a stem-cell-like niche that allows the maintenance of a small pool of undifferentiated cells. We propose that the 3D system provides a unique microenvironment permissive to promote differentiation of mESCs into osteoblast-like cells while maintaining its regenerative capacity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Calcification, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Fractionation
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Separation
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / metabolism
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Osteopontin / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • RNA / isolation & purification
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • Peptides
  • Osteopontin
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • RNA
  • Calcium