Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Neural Lineage Cells

Abstract

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from preimplantation embryos have unique properties of unlimited self-renewal and pluripotent development potential. Therefore, their derivatives can not only serve as an unlimited source of cells for the use in transplantation therapy and pharmaceutical screens, but also provide in vitro models to further our understanding of both normal and abnormal human development. For neural differentiation of hESCs, various protocols available so far can generate different functional neurons and glia, offering unique opportunities for the study of early neural induction and specification. In this chapter, we will begin with brief introduction of neural development principles, and then overview three major neural differentiation approaches used most often currently, including cell aggregation, stromal cell coculture and adherent monolayer induction. The discussion of the hESC-based study of the development of embryonic neural stem cells will also be included. Finally, the major challenges and possible solutions will be discussed.KeywordsTyrosine HydroxylaseEmbryoid BodyNeural DifferentiationhESC LineNeural InductionThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.