A protocol to differentiate nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors from human pluripotent stem cells

Kenyi Saito-Diaz; Nadja Zeltner

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101187

A protocol to differentiate nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors from human pluripotent stem cells

STAR Protoc. 2022 Mar 18;3(2):101187. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101187. eCollection 2022 Jun 17.

Authors

Kenyi Saito-Diaz¹, Nadja Zeltner^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
² Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
³ Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

Abstract

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) show promise for studying diseases affecting cell populations that are not easily available, including sensory neurons (SNs). Here, we present a differentiation protocol in chemically defined conditions to generate peripheral SNs from hPSCs. We describe four main steps: expansion of hPSCs, neural crest cell (NCC) differentiation, NCC dissociation and replating, and sensory neuron (SN) differentiation. This protocol enables generation of a mechanoreceptor-enriched culture or a population containing all three SN subtypes (nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors). For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Saito-Diaz et al. (2021).

Keywords: Cell Biology; Cell Differentiation; Cell culture; Neuroscience; Stem Cells.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Culture Techniques / methods
Humans
Mechanoreceptors
Nociceptors*
Pluripotent Stem Cells*
Sensory Receptor Cells

Grants and funding

R01 NS114567/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States