ePrints

Culture of embryonic-like stem cells from human umbilical cord blood and onward differentiation to neural cells in vitro

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Colin McGuckin, Dr Marcin Jurga, Dr Nicolas Forraz

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

This 3-week protocol produces embryonic-like stem cells from human umbilical cord blood (CBEs) for neural differentiation using a three-step system (cell isolation/expansion/differentiation). The CBE isolation produces a highly purified fraction (CD45-, CD33-, CD7-, CD235a-) of small pluripotent stem cells (2-3 μm in diameter) coexpressing embryonic stem cell markers including Oct4 and Sox2. Initial CBE expansion is performed in high density (5-10 millions per ml) in the presence of extracellular matrix proteins and epidermal growth factor. Subsequent neural differentiation of CBEs requires sequential introduction of morphogenes, retinoic acid, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cyclic AMP. Described methods emphasize defined media and reagents at all stages of the experiment comparable to protocols described for culturing human embryonic stem cells and cells from other somatic stem cell sources. Neural progenitor and cells generated from CBEs may be used for in vitro drug testing and cell-based assays and potentially for clinical transplantation.

Publication metadata

Author(s): McGuckin C, Jurga M, Ali H, Strbad M, Forraz N

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nature Protocols

Year: 2008

Volume: 3

Issue: 6

Pages: 1046-1055

Print publication date: 01/05/2008

ISSN (print): 1754-2189

ISSN (electronic): 1750-2799

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2008.69

DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2008.69

Altmetrics

Share