抄録
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of blastocyst stage embryos that can maintain an undifferentiated state indefinitely and differentiate into derivatives of all three germ layers: the ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. In addition, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated by reprogramming somatic cells through the retroviral gene transfer of four factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc). Here we summarize in vitro neural differentiation of pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated progeny, with a special emphasis on extracellular patterning signals for regional specification in the developing central nervous system. We have reported two methods that potently induce neural differentiation from ES cells: stromal cell-derived inducing activity (SDIA) method and serum-free floating culture of embryoid body-like aggregates (SFEB) method. SDIA- or SFEB-treated ES cells generate naive precursors that are competent to differentiate into neuroectodermal derivatives along the rostral-caudal and dorsal-ventral axes in response to patterning signals. By modifying the SFEB method with patterning factors, we have induced retinal cells from ES cells. These findings indicate the potential of the pluripotent stem cell culture system to be used for basic and medical researches.
