Human embryonic stem cells: Derivation, culture, and differentiation: A review

Issue title: Brain Stimulation and Brain Repair – rTMS

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Vazin, Tandis | Freed, William J.

Affiliations: Development and Plasticity Section, Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author/present address: Tandis Vazin, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3220, USA. Tel.: +1 510 642 4923; Fax: +1 510 642 5198; E-mail: vazint@berkeley.edu

Abstract: The greatest therapeutic promise of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) is to generate specialized cells to replace damaged tissue in patients suffering from various degenerative diseases. However, the signaling mechanisms involved in lineage restriction of ESC to adopt various cellular phenotypes are still under investigation. Furthermore, for progression of hESC-based therapies towards clinical applications, appropriate culture conditions must be developed to generate genetically stable homogenous populations of cells, to hinder possible adverse effects following transplantation. Other critical challenges that must be addressed for successful cell implantation include problems related to survival and functional efficacy of the grafted cells. This review initially describes the derivation of hESC and focuses on recent advances in generation, characterization, and maintenance of these cells. We also give an overview of original and emerging differentiation strategies used to convert hESC to different cell types. Finally, we will discuss transplantation studies of hESC-derived cells with respect to safety and functional recovery.

Keywords: Human, embryonic, cells, progenitors, differentiation, ectoderm, endoderm, mesoderm, karyotype, feeder-free, synthetic scaffolds, hydrogels, hyaluronic acid, hepatocyte, embryoid bodies, mesenchymal, osteocytes, chondrocytes, stromal, hematopoietic, cardiomyocytes, endothelial, epithelial, neural, neurons, motor neurons, dopaminergic neurons, oligodendrocytes, myelination, degenerative disorders, transplantation

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-2010-0543

Journal: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 589-603, 2010