Efficient production of neuron-like cells from embryonic stem cells induced by astrocyte-conditioned medium in vitro

AIM:To investigate whether efficient production of neuron-like cells from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be indued by astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) in vitro. METHODS:Based on the 4-/4+ protocol established by Bain, two groups were studied:ATRA group, ATRA with ACM group. ESCs were induced into neuron-like cells by means of three-step differentiation in vitro. The totipotency of ESCs was identified by the observation of cells’ morphology and the formations of teratoma in immunocomprised mice. The cell differentiation was evaluated continuously by detection of the cellular specific markers of neural stem cell, neurons and astrocytes such as nestin, NF-200, NSE and GFAP using immuno-histochemistry assay. RESULTS:(1) The ESC-D3 cells kept the ability of differentiation into cellular derivations of all three primary germ layers after continuous passage culture. (2) The ratio of NF-200 and NSE positive cells in the cells induced by ATRA with ACM was higher than that in the cells induced by ATRA only. (3) Finally, the positive rate of the neuron-like cells was up to 73.5% in the group induced by ATRA with ACM. CONCLUSION:The ESCs are induced into neuron-like cells with high purity and efficiency by ATRA with ACM.