| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2094638 | Stem Cell Research | 2012 | 14 Pages |
Limitations to the in vivo study of human nervous system development make it necessary to design an in vitro model to evaluate the in vivo effects of surrounding tissues on neurogenesis and regional identity of the human neural plate. Rostral neural progenitors (NPs) were initially generated from adherent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in a defined condition and characterized. Then, to find the role of somites (S) and notochords (N) in rostro-caudal (RC) and dorso-ventral (DV) patterning of neuronal cells, NPs were co-cultured with microencapsulated chicken S or N in alginate beads. In this study, N induced more neurogenesis as evaluated by expression of TUJ1 and MAP2-positive cells. Additionally, N induced spinal cord ventral brachiothoracic identity as well as NPs proliferation. We observed a synergic effect on motoneuron induction when S and N were used together. Moreover, S induced hindbrain identity in differentiated neuronal cells from NPs. These results indicate that highly enriched NPs can be generated in an adherent and defined system from hESCs. Moreover, S and N tissues highly influenced neuronal differentiation in point of proliferation, neurogenesis, and RC and DV regional identity. These results indicate a very simple and efficient protocol to mimic in vivo events of human neural development in vitro which is important in the context of developmental neuroscience and cellular replacement therapies.
► In this study we model the effects of somites and notochords on human neurogenesis. ► Notochord induced more neurogenesis in hESC- NPs. ► Notochord induced spinal cord ventral identity and NPs proliferation. ► A synergic effect of somites and notochord on motor neuron induction. ► Somites induced hindbrain neuronal cell identity with expression of HOXB4.
