Differentiation of neural crest cells from spheres of mouse ES cells cultured in a serum-free culture

Abstract

Recently, the use of multipotent stem cells has been studied as for regeneration medicine of missing craniofacial bone. Most craniofacial structures are derived from cranial neural crest cells. We investigated the use of craniofacial bone induction from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiated into neural crest cells via neuroectoderm. First, we cultured mouse ES cells in serum-free neuroinduction medium for sphere formation and confirmed they were precursors of neuronal and neural crest cells by immunostaining using specific antibodies for Nestin and AP2α, respectively. The sphere contained Nestin and AP2α positive cells, indicating that a portion of the ES cells differentiated into neural crest cells through neural precoursor cells during sphere formation. These findings indicated the possibility that neural crest cells can be generated from mouse ES cells through spheres cultured in serum-free medium.