Differentiation of hESCs into Mesodermal Subtypes: Vascular-, Hematopoietic- and Mesenchymal-lineage Cells

Abstract

To date, studies on the application of mesodermally derived mesenchymal-, hematopoietic-and vascular-lineage cells for cell therapy have provided either poor or insufficient data. The results are equivocal with regard to therapeutic efficiency and yield. Since the establishment of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in 1998, the capacity of hESCs to differentiate into various mesodermal lineages has sparked considerable interest in the regenerative medicine community, a group interested in generating specialized cells to treat patients suffering from degenerative diseases. Even though hESCs are sensitive, effective methods for guiding the differentiation of hESCs into specific mesodermal cell types are still being developed. In addition, to understand the functional properties of hESC derivatives, numerous animal model studies have been performed by many research groups over the last decade. In this review, we describe and summarize the protocols currently used for differentiation of hESCs into multiple mesodermal lineages and their therapeutic efficiency in different animal models. Furthermore, we discuss the technical hurdles associated with each protocol and the safety of hESC derivatives for therapeutic applications. Technical improvement of the methods used to produce hESC derivatives for therapeutic use in patients with degenerative diseases should remain an objective of future studies, as should the development of effective and stable induction systems.

Generation of novel monoclonal antibodies for the enrichment and characterization of human corneal endothelial cells (hCENC) necessary for the treatment of corneal endothelial blindness

“…However, differentiation of hPSC is often plagued with low differentiation efficiencies and heterogeneous cell populations. [39][40][41] The ability to use specific markers to enrich for hCENC in a differentiated cell population will be necessary. TAG-2A12 was found to bind specifically to the cell surface of hCENC but not hESC nor hESC-derived neural crest cells.…”

The Therapeutic Effect of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Chemical-Induced Cystitis in Rats

“…ESC lines established from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst can differentiate into all possible types of cells and can be expanded ex vivo in an immortalized manner [ 21 ]. Given this capacity for unlimited self-renewal, pluripotent hESCs are an attractive cellular resource for applications in regenerative medicine [ 21 , 22 ]. A Korean research group recently described a simple and feasible method by which multipotent MSCs (M-MSCs) can be generated from hESCs [ 23 , 24 ].…”

A Porous Membrane-Mediated Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

“…6,7 Pluripotent hESCs differentiate into almost all types of cells in the body, and with a capacity for an unlimited self-renewal, hESCs are an attractive cellular source in the field of regenerative cell therapy. 8,9 hESCs undergo epithelium-mesenchyme transition (EMT) to adapt mesenchymal characteristics either in the presence of growth factors or during spontaneous differentiation. 10,11 In recent years, protocols for generating MSCs-like cells from hESCs have been developed.…”