Stimulation of Activin A/Nodal signaling is insufficient to induce definitive endoderm formation of cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells

• DOI: 10.1186/scrt57
• Publication Date: 2011-04-06T19:28:09Z
• Authors: Caitlin E Filby; Robert Williamson; Peter van Kooy; Alice Pébay; Mirella Dottori; Ngaire J Elwood; Faten Zaibak
• Keywords: Germ layer

Unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) derived from umbilical cord blood are an attractive alternative to human embryonic (hESC) for cellular therapy. USSC capable of forming representative all three germ line layers. The aim this study was determine the potential form definitive endoderm following induction with Activin A, a protein known specify formation hESC.USSC were cultured (1) days or without 100 ng/ml A in either serum-free, low-serum serum-containing media, (2) combination 10 FGF4 pre-induction medium, (3) four small molecules Induce Definitive Endoderm (IDE1, nM; IDE2, 200 nM) serum-free media. Formation assessed using RT-PCR gene markers (Sox17, FOXA2 and TTF1) lung epithelium (surfactant C; SPC) cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator; CFTR). differentiation capacity treated also assessed.Activin IDE1/2 induced Sox17+ hESC but not USSC. retained their ectoderm (nerve), mesoderm (bone) (lung). did induce express both receptor subunits at mRNA level, indicating that these binding A.Stimulation Nodal signaling pathway is insufficient USSC, differ cell hESC.