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  • In vitro expansion of a multipotent population of human neural progenitor cells.

In vitro expansion of a multipotent population of human neural progenitor cells.

Experimental neurology (1999-07-23)
M K Carpenter, X Cui, Z Y Hu, J Jackson, S Sherman, A Seiger, L U Wahlberg
ABSTRACT

The isolation and expansion of human neural progenitor cells have important potential clinical applications, because these cells may be used as graft material in cell therapies to regenerate tissue and/or function in patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This paper describes a continuously dividing multipotent population of progenitor cells in the human embryonic forebrain that can be propagated in vitro. These cells can be maintained and expanded using a serum-free defined medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Using these three factors, the cell cultures expand and remain multipotent for at least 1 year in vitro. This period of expansion results in a 10(7)-fold increase of this heterogeneous population of cells. Upon differentiation, they form neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, the three main phenotypes in the CNS. Moreover, GABA-immunoreactive and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons can be identified. These results demonstrate the feasibility of long-term in vitro expansion of human neural progenitor cells. The advantages of such a population of neural precursors for allogeneic transplantation include the ability to provide an expandable, well-characterized, defined cell source which can form specific neuronal or glial subtypes.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor human, 5 µg, human recombinant LIF protein, expressed in E. coli, suitable for stem cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor human, 10 µg, human recombinant LIF protein, expressed in E. coli, suitable for stem cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor from mouse, 10 µg, mouse recombinant LIF protein, expressed in E. coli, suitable for stem cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor from mouse, 5 µg, mouse recombinant LIF protein, expressed in E. coli, suitable for stem cell culture