Affiliations: Cellular Neurobiology Branch, National Institute on
Drug Abuse and NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, MD 212, USA | Laboratory of Neuroscience, National Institute of
Aging and NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, MD 212, USA | BresaGen, Inc., Athens, GA, USA
Note: [] Correspondind author: Xianmin Zeng, Ph.D., Development and
Plasticity Section, Cellular Neurobiology Branch, Intramural Research Program,
National Institute on Drug Abuse, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224,
USA. Tel.: +1 410 550 6565, ext 138; Fax: +1 410 550 1621; E-mail:
xzeng@mail.nih.gov
Abstract: Purpose: To explore a karyotypically abnormal variant human
embryonic stem cell (hESC) line, BG01V, as a potential model for studies of
dopaminergic neuronal differentiation. Methods: The properties of BG01V cells were compared to those of
normal BG01 cells using immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, focused microarrays and
in vitro differentiation, including dopaminergic differentiation, by
culturing with the stromal cell line PA6. Results: Despite the karyotypic abnormality (49, +12, +17 and
XXY), undifferentiated BG01V cells expressed pluripotent ESC markers similar to
BG01 cells, and retained the ability to differentiate into cell types
characteristic of all three germ layers. When co-cultured with the stromal cell
line PA6, BG01V cells differentiated into dopaminergic cells which exhibited
properties similar to those of mature dopaminergic neurons. Conclusions: BG01V cells were easier to maintain in culture than
karyotypically normal BG01 cells and can be used as an alternative pluripotent
hESC type for in vitro developmental studies.
