Neural Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells In Vitro: A Road Map to Neurogenesis in the Embryo

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006286
• Publication Date: 2009-07-20T22:56:26Z
• Authors: Elsa Abranches; Margarida Silva; Laurent Pradier; Herbert Schulz; Oliver Hummel; Domingos Henrique; Evguenia Bekman
• Keywords: Neuroepithelial cell; Neurosphere; Neural Development

The in vitro generation of neurons from embryonic stem (ES) cells is a promising approach to produce suitable for neural tissue repair and cell-based replacement therapies the nervous system. Available methods promote ES cell differentiation towards lineages attempt replicate, different ways, multistep process development. However, achieve this aim an efficient reproducible way, better knowledge cellular molecular events that are involved process, initial specification neuroepithelial progenitors their terminal into glial cells, required.In work, we characterize main stages transitions occur when driven fate, using adherent monolayer culture We established improved conditions routinely highly homogeneous cultures progenitors, which organize tube-like rosettes they acquire competence neuronal production. Within rosettes, display morphological functional characteristics counterparts, namely, apico-basal polarity, active Notch signalling, proper timing production glia. In order global gene activity correlated with each particular stage development, full transcriptome populations arise during protocol was determined by microarray analysis. By embryo-oriented criteria cluster differentially expressed genes, define five expression signatures correlate successive path neurons. These include signature primitive ectoderm-like appears after enter differentiation, three subsequent progenitor early follows induction final preceding differentiation.Overall, our work confirms extends parallels between revealing addition novel aspects genetic network underlying leads uncommitted differentiated