Journal home
Advance online publication
Current issue
Archive
Press releases
Supplements
Focuses
Conferences
Guide to authors
Online submissionOnline submission
Permissions
For referees
Free online issue
Contact the journal
Subscribe
Advertising
work@npg
naturereprints
About this site
For librarians
 
NPG Resources
Bioentrepreneur
Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
Nature
Nature Medicine
Nature Genetics
Nature Reviews Genetics
Nature Methods
Nature Chemical Biology
news@nature.com
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Nature Conferences
NPG Subject areas
Biotechnology
Cancer
Chemistry
Clinical Medicine
Dentistry
Development
Drug Discovery
Earth Sciences
Evolution & Ecology
Genetics
Immunology
Materials Science
Medical Research
Microbiology
Molecular Cell Biology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Physics
Browse all publications
Article
Nature Biotechnology  19, 1129 - 1133 (2001)
doi:10.1038/nbt1201-1129

In vitro differentiation of transplantable neural precursors from human embryonic stem cells

Su-Chun Zhang1, 2, 4, Marius Wernig5, Ian D. Duncan3, Oliver Brüstle5 & James A. Thomson1

1  Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705.

2  Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705.

3  Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705.

4  The Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705.

5  Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.

Correspondence should be addressed to Su-Chun Zhang zhang@waisman.wisc.edu or Oliver Brüstle brustle@uni-bonn.de
The remarkable developmental potential and replicative capacity of human embryonic stem (ES) cells promise an almost unlimited supply of specific cell types for transplantation therapies. Here we describe the in vitro differentiation, enrichment, and transplantation of neural precursor cells from human ES cells. Upon aggregation to embryoid bodies, differentiating ES cells formed large numbers of neural tube−like structures in the presence of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). Neural precursors within these formations were isolated by selective enzymatic digestion and further purified on the basis of differential adhesion. Following withdrawal of FGF-2, they differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. After transplantation into the neonatal mouse brain, human ES cell−derived neural precursors were incorporated into a variety of brain regions, where they differentiated into both neurons and astrocytes. No teratoma formation was observed in the transplant recipients. These results depict human ES cells as a source of transplantable neural precursors for possible nervous system repair.

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated

REVIEWS
OPINION: Defining glial cells during CNS development
Nature Reviews Neuroscience Perspective (01 Nov 2001)
 See all 5 matches for Reviews

RESEARCH
High-yield selection and extraction of two promoter-defined phenotypes of neural stem cells from the fetal human brain
Nature Biotechnology Research (01 Sep 2001)
Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 regulates neuronal differentiation by inhibiting growth hormone signaling
Nature Neuroscience Article (01 Nov 2002)
Expression of Tubulin Beta II in Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells and Radial Fibers During Human Fetal Brain Development
Laboratory Investigation Article (01 Apr 2003)
Neural progenitors from human embryonic stem cells
Nature Biotechnology Research (01 Dec 2001)
 See all 17 matches for Research

 Top
Abstract
Previous | Next
Table of contents
Full textFull text
Download PDFDownload PDF
Send to a friendSend to a friend
Save this linkSave this link

naturejobs

Figures & Tables
See also: Research News by Studer
Export citation
natureproducts

Search buyers guide:

 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
Nature Biotechnology
ISSN: 1087-0156
EISSN: 1546-1696
Journal home | Advance online publication | Current issue | Archive | Press releases | Supplements | Focuses | Conferences | For authors | Online submission | Permissions | For referees | Free online issue | About the journal | Contact the journal | Subscribe | Advertising | work@npg | naturereprints | About this site | For librarians
Nature Publishing Group, publisher of Nature, and other science journals and reference works©2001 Nature Publishing Group | Privacy policy