Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic Stem Cells - Related Videos
22:06
Derivation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Murine Embryonic Stem Cells
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Cited by 8 •
2007
This protocol details the derivation of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) and their subsequent injection into lethally irradiated recipient mice. Briefly, ESC are differentiated as embryoid bodies, which are then infected with retroviral HoxB4 and co-cultured with OP9 stromal cells and hematopoietic cytokines.
00:58
Embryonic Stem Cells
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2019
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease. Origin ES cells are present in the inner cell mass of an embryo at the blastocyst stage, which occurs at about 3–5 days after fertilization in humans before the embryo is implanted in the uterus.
11:56
Derivation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Immunosurgery
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Cited by 12 •
2007
The ability of human embryonic stem cells to self-renew and differentiate into all cell types of the body suggests that they hold great promise for both medical applications and as a research tool for addressing fundamental questions in development and disease. Here, we provide a concise, step-by-step protocol for the derivation of human embryonic stem cells from embryos by immunosurgical isolation of the inner cell mass.
08:56
Fate Mapping of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Teratoma Formation
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Cited by 26 •
2010
Directed differentiation of hESCs into specific cells has generated much interest in regenerative medicine. We provide a concise, step-by-step protocol for determining the in vivo fate of selected hESCs that provides a valuable tool for characterizing tissue-specific reagents for cell-based therapy.
08:11
Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Oligodendrocyte Precursors
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Cited by 28 •
2010
We describe a small molecule-based protocol for differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). This protocol generates Olig2+NG2+ OPCs with high efficiency by 30 days of differentiation. We also describe a method to generate "spiking" OPCs that can fire action potentials.
FAQs
Culture conditions determine whether embryonic stem cells remain in a self-renewing state or begin differentiation. Carefully controlled environments help preserve the cells’ developmental potential, while changes in signaling can activate gene programs associated with a particular lineage. This balance matters because experiments may require either an expandable cell population or a directed route toward specialized cells.
Signals guide differentiation by activating lineage-specific gene programs within the cells. These programs shift the cells away from continued self-renewal and toward a specialized identity. Controlling which signals are present therefore provides a way to investigate how developmental decisions occur and to produce cell populations suited to disease models, medicine testing, or cell replacement research.
Self-renewal allows researchers to preserve a population for continued study, whereas differentiation creates specialized cells for biological investigation. Losing control of this balance can limit an experiment’s intended outcome because cells may differentiate too early or fail to develop into the desired lineage. Managing both states is therefore central to using their developmental potential effectively.
Researchers maintain the cells under carefully controlled culture conditions, then adjust the signaling environment to activate gene programs linked to a selected lineage. The resulting cells can be examined as specialized populations rather than as an undirected cell mixture. This workflow supports studies of development and provides material for disease modeling or potential medicine evaluation.
Their ability to generate many specialized cell types allows researchers to create cellular systems relevant to human development and disease. These systems can help investigators examine biological changes associated with illness and test potential medicines in a controlled research setting. The approach connects early developmental biology with experimental evaluation of candidate treatments.
Research must address how embryos are sourced, because embryo use raises ethical questions. Technical considerations include maintaining genetic stability, achieving immune compatibility, and ensuring safe integration after transplantation. These factors influence whether cells intended for replacement can remain suitable, interact appropriately with the recipient, and avoid unsafe outcomes in later applications.