Neural stem cells (NSCs) are self-renewing tripotent cell populations and have capacity of neuronal (neurons) and glial (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) differentiation. Many researchers have reported that NSCs have therapeutic effects in neurological disease by transplantation. However, it is not easy to obtain NSCs in vitro. Recently, Yamanaka and colleagues showed that somatic cells could be reprogrammed into pluripotent state by enforcing reprogramming factors. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells undergo unlimited self-renewal and have differentiation potential into various types of cells like embryonic stem cells. Direct differentiation into a specialized cell types from iPS cells hold considerable promise for regenerative medicine as well as basic research. Here, we induced differentiation of iPS cells into NSCs in vitro and in vivo, which were compared with embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived NSCs and brain derived NSCs. NSCs from ES and iPS cells were morphologically indistinguishable from brain derived NSCs and stained positive for NSCs markers Nestin and Sox2. ES cells derived NSCs were transcriptionally distinguishable from brain derived NSCs. However, global gene expression pattern were similar but distinct between iPS derived NSCs and brain derived NSCs. Moreover, iPS derived NSCs were spontaneously aggregated upon passaging, formed ES cell like colonies, and finally reactivated Oct4-GFP. The spontaneously reverted GFP-positive cells (iPS-NSC-iPS) expressed similar levels of pluripotency markers (Oct4,Nanog) to ES and iPS cells, and could form germ line chimera. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that spontaneously re-reprogramming was associated with transgene re-activation when iPS cells were differentiated into NSCs. However, NSCs from dox-inducible iPScells could not be reprogrammed into pluripotent state without doxycycline. Taken together, iPS derived NSCs were morphologically and similar to brain derived NSCs, but differ in gene expression pattern and maintenance. * This work was supported by the Next Generation Bio-Green21 Program funded by the Rural Development Administration (Grant PJ008009).

ES cell의 수립으로 특히 mouse를 중심으로 한 발생학, 유전학 연구의 획기적 발전과 형질변환 동물의 생산 및 동물 체내에서 유전자 기능의 탐구에 매우 큰 변혁을 가져오게 되었다. 또한 ES cell과 embryoid body는 체외 분화능의 연구에 있어 새로운 cytokine의 발견 및 세포 수준에서의 유전자 기능 해석의 강력한 연구수단으로서 폭 넓게 이용되어 질 수 있는 가능성을 시사하고 있다. 이는 ES cell line이 지닌 두 가지 장

본 연구에서는 LIF의 첨가가 분리된 할구 유래의 생쥐 배아줄기세포 확립에 미치는 영향을 살펴보았다. 과배란 유도된 BDF1 생쥐로부터 2-세포기의 배아를 회수하여 각기 LIF가 첨가되지 않은 배양액과 1,000, 2,500, 5,000 U/mL의 LIF가 첨가된 배양액에서 포배기 배아까지 배양하였다. 배양된 포배기 배아는 차별화 염색 방법을 이용하여 내세포괴와 영양외배엽의 수를 계수하였다. 2,500 U/mL의 LIF 첨가 시 대조군( vs. , P<

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have property of self-renewal and can differentiate into the cells of all three primary germ layers. Recently, many growth factors, alteration of culture condition and gene modifications have been used to differentiate mouse and human ES cells into specific cell types. This study was performed to evaluate the differentiation protocol for human ES cells to the endodermal lineage cells. Human ES cells (Miz-hESl ) were cultured on STO feeder layer mitotically inactivated with mitemycin C, and embryoid bodies (EBs) were formed by suspension culture. Differentiation protocol of EBs consisted of three steps: stage I, culture of EBs for 6 days with ITSFn medium; stage II, culture of stage I cells for 8 days with N2 medium ; stage III, culture of stage II cells for 22 days with N2 medium. mRNA levels of the endodermal lineage differentiation genes were analyzed by semi- quantitative RT-PCR. The Oct-4 expression, a marker of the pluripotent state, was detected in undifferentiated human ES cells but progressively decreased after EBs formation. Differentiating human ES cells expressed marker genes of endodermal differentiation and pancreatic islet cells. GATA4, a-fetoprotein, Glut-2, and Ngn3 were expressed in all stages. However, albumin and insulin were expressed in only stage III cells. The human ES cells can be differentiated into endodermal lineage cells by multiple step culture system using various supplements. We are developing the more effective protocols for guided differentiation of human ES cells.