General
We recommend thawing no more than one sample at a given time to ensure easy handling. The handler should take care not to leave cultures at room temperature and low CO2 for long periods of time. All centrifugation of live cells is done at 500-600 x g for 5 min at room temperature.
MEFs (Mouse Embryonic Feeder Cells)
<ol>
<li>Pre-warm MEF media to 37&deg;C. Remove MEF vial from -80&deg;C and immediately submerge the bottom half of tube in a 37&deg;C water bath. It should take about 30-45 seconds before the cells are 80% thawed (small frozen portion left).</li>
<li>Quickly bring the tube to the laminar flow hood, spray down with 70% alcohol, and transfer cells to pre-warmed media.</li>
<li>Aspirate the gelatin solution from plates prepared earlier.</li>
<li>Aliquot 2 ml of MEF solution in a drop wise manner into each of the six wells. Be sure to distribute the MEFs evenly about the well. Date the MEF plate, and place in a 37&deg;C incubator overnight to allow MEFs to attach to plate.</li>
<li>After 6 hours MEFs will be attached to the plate. It is best to use MEF plates 24-48 hours after plating. DO NOT use a MEF plate that is over 4 days old.</li>
<li>Pre-warm HuES media and 0.05% Trypsin/EDTA to 37&deg;C Under the hood, prelabel one sterile 50 ml conical tube.</li>
<li>Carefully aspirate the HuES media from the culture to be split. Gently wash the wells with 2mL of 1X phosphate buffered solution (PBS) per well. Aspirate the PBS. Add 0.75 ml 0.05% Trypsin/EDTA to the well.</li>
<li>Replace lid, and observe the cells under 4x magnification. The MEFs surrounding the HuES colonies should begin to retract. When the MEFs are sufficiently rounded and the borders of the HuES colonies are rough, return the plate to the hood. This process should take about 5 mins, absolutely NO longer than 10 mins or your cells will not re-grow.</li>
<li>Gently pipette up and down, washing the bottom of the well, until the MEF monolayer has completely detached (monolayer is sticky and may remain in one piece).</li>
<li>Transfer the cell suspension to an 50 ml conical tube containing additional HuES media. Spin the tube of cells 500xg for 5 mins, Aspirate off the media, be careful not to disturb the cell pellet.</li>
<li>To plate onto a new plate of MEFs, add the appropriately determined volume of cells to additional HuES media, and pipette the solution 5-7 times with an automated pipette.</li>
<li>Remove the MEF media from a fresh plate of MEFs.</li>
<li>Aliquot the HuES solution drop wise to each well, making sure to distribute the drops evenly about the well. Without shaking the plate, carefully return the cells to a 37&deg;C incubator overnight to let HuES colonies seed.</li>
<li>HuES cells coming out of a split should behave similarly to those coming out of a thaw.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Edmond, M. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nosocomial+bloodstream+infections+in+United+States+hospitals:+a+three-year+analysis.">Nosocomial bloodstream infections in United States hospitals: a three-year analysis.</a> Clin. Infect. Dis. 29, 239-244 (1999).</li><li>Ramage, G., Bachmann, S., Patterson, T. F., Wickes, B. L., Lopez-Ribot, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Investigation+of+multidrug+efflux+pumps+in+relation+to+fluconazole+resistance+in+Candida+albicans+biofilms.">Investigation of multidrug efflux pumps in relation to fluconazole resistance in Candida albicans biofilms.</a> J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 49, 973-980 (2002).</li><li>Srinivasan, A., Uppuluri, P., Lopez-Ribot, J., Ramasubramanian, A. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+a+High-Throughput+Candida+albicans+Biofilm+Chip.">Development of a High-Throughput Candida albicans Biofilm Chip.</a> PLoS ONE. 6, 19036-19036 (2011).</li><li>Ramage, G., Vandewalle, K., Wickes, B. L., Lopez-Ribot, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characteristics+of+biofilm+formation+by+Candida+albicans.">Characteristics of biofilm formation by Candida albicans.</a> Rev. Iberoam. Micol. 18, 163-170 (2001).</li><li>Pierce, C. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+simple+and+reproducible+96-well+plate-based+method+for+the+formation+of+fungal+biofilms+and+its+application+to+antifungal+susceptibility+testing.">A simple and reproducible 96-well plate-based method for the formation of fungal biofilms and its application to antifungal susceptibility testing.</a> Nat. Protoc. 3, 1494-1500 (2008).</li><li>Lee, M. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Three-dimensional+cellular+microarray+for+high-throughput+toxicology+assays.">Three-dimensional cellular microarray for high-throughput toxicology assays.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 59-63 (2008).</li><li>Meyerhofer, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characteristics+of+resist+films+produced+by+spinning.">Characteristics of resist films produced by spinning.</a> Journal of Applied Physics. 49, (1978).</li><li>Ramage, G., Vande Walle, K., Wickes, B. L., Lopez-Ribot, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Standardized+method+for+in+vitro+antifungal+susceptibility+testing+of+Candida+albicans+biofilms.">Standardized method for in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida albicans biofilms.</a> Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45, 2475-2479 (2001).</li><li>Chandra, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biofilm+formation+by+the+fungal+pathogen+Candida+albicans:+Development,+architecture,+and+drug+resistance.">Biofilm formation by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans: Development, architecture, and drug resistance.</a> Journal of Bacteriology. 183, 5385-5394 (2001).</li><li>Jabra-Rizk, M. A., Falkler, W. A., Meiller, T. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fungal+biofilms+and+drug+resistance.">Fungal biofilms and drug resistance.</a> Emerg. Infect. Dis. 10, 14-19 (2004).</li><li>Tobudic, S., Lassnigg, A., Kratzer, C., Graninger, W., Presterl, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antifungal+activity+of+amphotericin+B,+caspofungin+and+posaconazole+on+Candida+albicans+biofilms+in+intermediate+and+mature+development+phases.">Antifungal activity of amphotericin B, caspofungin and posaconazole on Candida albicans biofilms in intermediate and mature development phases.</a> Mycoses. 53, 208-214 (2010).</li></ol>

In this video we demonstrated how we routinely passage HuES human embryonic stem cell lines in our laboratory. Efficient and regular splitting and passaging is essential for maintaining a healthy human embryonic stem cell line. Trypsin mediated passage is a significant advantage of HuES cell lines, however, it is important not to over trypsinize cultures or to have a large proportion of single cells during re-platting.

<table><tbody><tr><td>HuES media 651.5 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>KO-DMEM 500 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PenStrep 6.5 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>GlutaMAXTM 6.5 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>NEAA 6.5 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2-mercapt&amp;#8211;thanol 0.5ul</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>KO Serum Replacement 65 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Plasmanate 65 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>bFGF2 (10 ng/mL final) 0.65 ml</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

passaging hues human embryonic stem cell-lines with trypsin.

In this video we demonstrate how our lab routinely passages HuES human embryonic stem cell lines with trypsin.  Human embryonic stem cells are artifacts of cell culture, and tend to acquire karyotypic abnormalities with high population doublings.  Proper passaging is essential for maintaining a healthy, undifferentiated, karyotypically normal HuES human embryonic stem cell culture.  First, an expanding culture is washed in PBS to remove residual media and cell debris, then cells are overlaid with a minimal volume of warm 0.05% Trypsin-EDTA.  Trypsin is left on the cells for up to five minutes, then cells are gently dislodged with a 2mL serological pipette.  The cell suspension is collected and mixed with a large volume of HuES media, then cells are collected by gentle centrifugation.  The inactivated trypsin media mixture is removed, and cells resuspended in pre-warmed HuES media.  An appropriate split ratio is calculated (generally 1:10 to 1:20), and cells re-plated onto a 1-2 day old plate containing a monolayer of irradiated mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder cells.  The newly seeded HuES culture plate is left undisturbed for 48 hrs, then media is changed every day thereafter.  It is important not to trpsinize down to a single cell suspension, as this increases the risk of introducing karyotypic abnormalities.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Passaging HuES Human Embryonic Stem Cell-lines with Trypsin. at JoVE.com

Passaging HuES Human Embryonic Stem Cell-lines with Trypsin.

In this video we demonstrate how our lab routinely passages HuES human embryonic stem cell lines with trypsin. Brought to you by JoVE.

In this video we demonstrate how our lab routinely passages HuES human embryonic stem cell lines with trypsin.  Human embryonic stem cells are artifacts ...

This is, where did you run The techniques? Oh, where did I teach you? Belcher.Yeah.The first time I did teach you Bel, I spent the summer at my T.Yeah.And that was like, we did like cartilage stuff there. And so I did like social culture there. And then at Hopkins my senior year I worked with different, so I, for like the engineering thing, it was much more about trying, we engineer three dimensional that.

passaging-hues-human-embryonic-stem-cell-lines-with-trypsin

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Biology

252.2K Views.  Harvard. This is, where did you run The techniques? Oh, where did I teach you? Belcher.Yeah.The first time I did teach you Bel, I spent the summer at my T.Yeah.And that was like, we did like cartilage stuff there. And so I did like social culture there. And then at Hopkins my senior year I worked with different, so I, for like the engineering thing, it was much more about trying, we engineer three dimensional that.

Video: Passaging HuES Human Embryonic Stem Cell-lines with Trypsin.

Propagation of Human Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells

Propagation of Human Embryonic Stem ES Cells

Yeah, so I'm Lauren Deon. I'm in charge of the Human Amgen stem cell co facility at MGH. Yeah, so I'm Lauren, I'm in charge of the Human AM stem cell co facility at MGH.So I've been working with human Amgen stem cells for years now since I was a postdoc in George De Lab before, from four, four years. And so right now we have two cell lines, H one and H nine, which are both from Y cell. And so the way we are expanding or maintaining these cells in culture is by, at least the way we are splitting these cells is by using collagenous.So what I usually do is for the first few passage after throwing the cells, I use a technical, the picking colonies. So in this case, I can check under the microscope which colonies are good and differentiate and nice shape, and I will collect only these colonies and I will cut them in few pieces and put them back in, in a fresh flat. And the, the colonies that look kind of differentiate it are just left them alone.The other way to pass the cells is by using trypsin. So I don't use this technique here. I think collagenase is a little bit safer because human being stem cells don't like to be individualized or they don't like to be alone.So if you do trypsin, if you use trypsin for a little bit too long, if you use it for like three to four minutes, which is the way we use strips in for other type of cells, human stem cells will be individualized and most of them will die or just differentiate or will not attach to the myth. So the idea is you have to keep the cells as clumps. You don't want them to be alone in the in, in the flask.So using collagenase, the advantage is to keep cells as plants. Using chipsy, you just select for cells that will survive this very, very harsh process of g opsonization. So these cells are usually very highly proliferative.So you get, you can adapt your cells to this tripsin process. The problem is that you have cells that they behave differently, they go much faster. And one risk is that you can get some commercial abnormality to, to this, to this very high division process.So you say that ization can cause selection of cells in culture for most proliferative cells.Right. More ative and probably also higher survival rates than other cells. So after proliferation, basically culture after proliferation in tripsin, after several passages become a different culture, these different properties.So it's, it's hard to figure out if they are exactly identical. If you do the test, the usual test, let's say you check markers, regular markers of end differentiated cells like OC four, nano one 60 SC four C, C3, all this molecule might still be expressed. If you do TER formation, this cells might still differentiate and be formed like al like normal cells.If you look at the karyotype, you might have some abnormality, but you might still have a normal karyotype. The, the, the selective advantage might be due to just a mutation that you cannot see by doing a karyotype. So the fact that they grow much faster is by itself I think a little bit worser.And if we want to use these cells for transplantation at some point, I would definitely not use this type of cells.Okay. So would you like to tell me what are the main technical problems with using this technique for, for passages of cells? So using S, yes.It's just a little bit longer and also it's, since the cells are not going as fast, it's just much longer to get a high number of cells to do some experiment. So it's just less convenient I would say. Would you like to tell me about few words about the goals of your experiment?How do you use CS cells? Okay, so my main project here is to get endothelial cells from human AB stem cells. And the idea is to be able to make blood.And we are working a lot with tissue bioengineering labs and one of their goal is to make tissue in vitro. But one of the limitation to this is the lack of blood vessels going through this tissues. So if we can bring endothelial cells or put endothelial cells in this tissue, we would have better growth of this tissue.So the idea few sources of cells are known for endothelial cells like cold blood or pressure blood, but it would be interesting to have another source of cells like human years. And the advantage is since human years can be expanded and most infinitely, you could modify these cells, make some inducible system and be able to use it. Then in your final product, your material cells, in this case.

Differentiation of Atrial Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Stem Cells Using the BMP Antagonist Grem2

Protocols for generating populations of cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells have been developed, but these generally yield cells of mixed phenotypes. Researchers interested in pursuing studies involving specific myocyte subtypes require a more directed differentiation approach. By treating mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells with Grem2, a secreted BMP antagonist that is necessary for atrial chamber formation in vivo, a large number of cardiac cells with an atrial phenotype can be generated. Use of the engineered Myh6-DSRed-Nuc pluripotent stem cell line allows for identification, selection, and purification of cardiomyocytes. In this protocol embryoid bodies are generated from Myh6-DSRed-Nuc cells using the hanging drop method and kept in suspension until differentiation day 4 (d4). At d4 cells are treated with Grem2 and plated onto gelatin coated plates. Between d8-d10 large contracting areas are observed in the cultures and continue to expand and mature through d14. Molecular, histological and electrophysiogical analyses indicate cells in Grem2-treated cells acquire atrial-like characteristics providing an in vitro model to study the biology of atrial cardiomyocytes and their response to various pharmacological agents.

Generating cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells in vitro allows access to large amounts of cardiac tissue in vitro for basic science and clinical applications. This protocol uses the atrializing factor Grem2 to both increase the numbers of cardiomyocytes obtained and to generate cardiomyocytes with an atrial phenotype.

Protocols for generating populations of cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells have been developed, but these generally yield cells of mixed ...

Developmental Biology

From MEFs to Matrigel I: Passaging hESCs in the Presence of MEFs

This video demonstrates how to grow human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cells.


This video demonstrates how to grow human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cells. Part 1 of 3.

This video demonstrates how to grow human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cells.
...

Development, Expansion, and In vivo Monitoring of Human NK Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

We present a method for deriving natural killer (NK) cells from undifferentiated hESCs and iPSCs using a feeder-free approach. This method gives rise to high levels of NK cells after 4 weeks culture and can undergo further 2-log expansion with artificial antigen presenting cells. hESC- and iPSC-derived NK cells developed in this system have a mature phenotype and function. The production of large numbers of genetically modifiable NK cells is applicable for both basic mechanistic as well as anti-tumor studies. Expression of firefly luciferase in hESC-derived NK cells allows a non-invasive approach to follow NK cell engraftment, distribution, and function. We also describe a dual-imaging scheme that allows separate monitoring of two different cell populations to more distinctly characterize their interactions in vivo. This method of derivation, expansion, and dual in vivo imaging provides a reliable approach for producing NK cells and their evaluation which is necessary to improve current NK cell adoptive therapies.

Development, Expansion, and In vivo Monitoring of Human NK Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells hESCs and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells iPSCs

This protocol describes the development, expansion, and in vivo imaging of NK cells derived from hESCs and iPSCs.

We present a method for deriving natural killer (NK) cells from undifferentiated hESCs and iPSCs using a feeder-free approach. This method gives rise to ...

Bioengineering

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

The functional and structural complexity of the myriad of cells in metazoan organisms arises from a small number of stem cells. Stem cells are characterized by two fundamental properties: self-renewal and multipotency that allows a stem cell to differentiate into virtually any cell type 1. The progression stem cell to differentiated cell is characterized by loss of multipotency, structural and morphological changes and the hierarchic activity of transcription factors and signaling molecules, whose activities establish and maintain cell-type specific gene expression patterns. At the molecular level, cell differentiation involves dynamic changes of the structure and composition of chromatin and the detection of those dynamic changes can provide valuable insights into the functional features of stem cells and the cell differentiation process 2,3. Chromatin is a highly compacted DNA-protein complex that forms when cells package chromosomal DNA with proteins, mainly histones 4. Stemcellness and cell differentiation has been correlated with the presence of specific arrays of regulatory proteins such as epigenetic factors, histone variants, and transcription factors 2,3,5.
 Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) provides a valuable method to monitor the presence of RNA, proteins, and protein modifications in chromatin 6,7. The comparison of chromatin from different cell types can elucidate dynamic changes in protein-chromatin associations that occur during cell differentiation.
Chromatin immunoprecipitation involves the purification of in vivo cross-linked chromatin. The isolated chromatin is reduced to smaller fragments by enzymatic digestion or mechanical force. Chromatin fragments are precipitated using specific antibodies to target proteins or protein and DNA modifications. The precipitated DNA or RNA is purified and used as a template for PCR or DNA microarray based assays. Prerequisites for a successful ChIP are high quality antibodies to the desired antigen and the availability of chromatin from control cells that do not express the target molecule. ChIP can correlate the presence of proteins, protein and RNA modifications, and RNA with specific target DNA, and depending on the choice of outread tool, detects the association of target molecules at specific target genes or in the context of an entire genome. The comparison of the distribution of proteins in the chromatin of differentiating cells can elucidate the dynamic changes of chromatin composition that coincide with the progression of cells along a cell lineage.

The differentiation of ESC coincides with cell-type specific changes in the structure and composition of chromatin. The detection of those changes provides valuable insights into the mechanisms that define stemcellness and cell differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) represents a valuable method to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell differentiation.

The functional and structural complexity of the myriad of cells in metazoan organisms arises from a small number of stem cells. Stem cells are ...

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions

Autologous cell-based therapies got a step closer to reality with the introduction of induced pluripotent stem cells. Fetal stem cells, such as amniotic fluid and membrane mesenchymal stem cells, represent a unique type of undifferentiated cells with promise in tissue engineering and for reprogramming into iPSC for future pediatric interventions and stem cell banking. The protocol presented here describes an optimized procedure for extracting and culturing primary amniotic fluid and membrane mesenchymal stem cells and generating episomal induced pluripotent stem cells from these cells in fully chemically defined culture conditions utilizing human recombinant vitronectin and the E8 medium. Characterization of the new lines by applying stringent methods &#8211; flow cytometry, confocal imaging, teratoma formation and transcriptional profiling &#8211; is also described. The newly generated lines express markers of embryonic stem cells &#8211; Oct3/4A, Nanog, Sox2, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, SSEA-4 &#8211; while being negative for the SSEA-1 marker. The stem cell lines form teratomas in scid-beige mice in 6-8 weeks and the teratomas contain tissues representative of all three germ layers. Transcriptional profiling of the lines by submitting global expression microarray data to a bioinformatic pluripotency assessment algorithm deemed all lines pluripotent and therefore, this approach is an attractive alternative to animal testing. The new iPSC lines can readily be used in downstream experiments involving the optimization of differentiation and tissue engineering.

This protocol describes the reprogramming of primary amniotic fluid and membrane mesenchymal stem cells into induced pluripotent stem cells using a non-integrating episomal approach in fully chemically defined conditions. Procedures of extraction, culture, reprogramming, and characterization of the resulting induced pluripotent stem cells by stringent methods are detailed.

Autologous cell-based therapies got a step closer to reality with the introduction of induced pluripotent stem cells. Fetal stem cells, such as amniotic ...

Application of Mouse Parthenogenetic Haploid Embryonic Stem Cells as a Substitute of Sperm

In organisms with sexual reproduction, germ cells are the source of totipotent cells that develop into new individuals. In mice, fertilization of an oocyte by a spermatozoon creates a totipotent zygote. Recently, several publications have reported that haploid embryonic stem cells (haESCs) can be a substitute for gametic genomes and contribute to embryos, which develop into mice. Here, we present a protocol to apply parthenogenetic haESCs as a substitute of sperm to construct embryos by intracytoplasmic injection into oocytes. This protocol consists of steps for preparing haESCs as sperm replacement, for injection of haESC chromosomes into oocytes, and for culture of semi-cloned embryos. The embryos can yield fertile semi-cloned mice after embryo transfer. Using haESCs as sperm replacement facilitates genome editing in the germline, studies of embryonic development, and investigation of genomic imprinting.

This article aims to demonstrate the use of parthenogenetic haploid embryonic stem cells as a substitute for sperm for the construction of semi-cloned embryos.

In organisms with sexual reproduction, germ cells are the source of totipotent cells that develop into new individuals. In mice, fertilization of an ...

Fate Mapping of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Teratoma Formation 

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have an unlimited capacity for self-renewal, and the ability to differentiate into cells derived from all three embryonic germ layers (1). Directed differentiation of hESCs into specific cell types has generated much interest in the field of regenerative medicine (e.g., (2-5)), and methods for determining the in vivo fate of selected or manipulated hESCs are essential to this endeavor. We have adapted a highly efficient teratoma formation assay for this purpose. A small number of specifically selected hESCs is mixed with undifferentiated wild type hESCs and Phaseolus vulgaris lectin to form a cell pellet. This is grafted beneath the kidney capsule in an immunodeficient mouse. As few as 2.5 x 105 hESCs are needed to form a 16 cm3 teratoma within 8-12 weeks. The fate of the originally selected hESCs can then be determined by immunohistochemistry. This method provides a valuable tool for characterizing tissue-specific reagents for cell-based therapy.

Fate Mapping of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Teratoma Formation

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.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have an unlimited capacity for self-renewal, and the ability to differentiate into cells derived from all three ...

An Efficient Method for Directed Hepatocyte-Like Cell Induction from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

The potential functions of hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise for disease modeling and drug screening applications. Provided here is an efficient and reproducible method for differentiation of hESCs into functional HLCs. The establishment of an endoderm lineage is a key step in the differentiation to HLCs. By our method, we regulate the key signaling pathways by continuously supplementing Activin A and CHIR99021 during hESC differentiation into definitive endoderm (DE), followed by generation of hepatic progenitor cells, and finally HLCs with typical hepatocyte morphology in a stagewise method with completely defined reagents. The hESC-derived HLCs produced by this method express stage-specific markers (including albumin, HNF4&#945; nuclear receptor, and sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP)), and show special characteristics related to mature and functional hepatocytes (including indocyanine green staining, glycogen storage, hematoxylin-eosin staining and CYP3 activity), and can provide a platform for the development of HLC-based applications in the study of liver diseases.

This manuscript describes a detailed protocol for differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into functional hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) by continuously supplementing Activin A and CHIR99021 during hESC differentiation into definitive endoderm (DE).

The potential functions of hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise for disease modeling and drug ...

Immunology and Infection

Rapid, Cost-Efficient, Enzyme-Free Passaging of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells on Feeder Cells by Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid-Mediated Dis-Adhesion

Human pluripotent stem cells (human embryonic stem cells, hESCs, and human induced pluripotent stem cells, hiPSCs) were originally cultured on different types of feeder cells for maintenance in an undifferentiated state in long-term culture. This approach has been supplanted to a large extent by feeder-free culture protocols, but these involve more costly reagents and can promote a transition to a primed state, which restricts the cells&#39; differentiation capacity. In both feeder and feeder-free conditions, the harvesting of hESC or hiPSC colonies for passaging is a necessary procedure for expanding the cultures.
To provide an easy and high-yield procedure for passaging hESCs/hiPSCs cultured on feeder cells, we have established a harvesting method using dis-adhesion elicited by the calcium chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). We have assessed the yield and quality of the resultant passaged cells by comparing this approach to the original mechanical harvesting approach, in which colonies are isolated with a scalpel under a microscope (mechanical harvesting was chosen as a comparator to avoid the reagent variability associated with enzymatic harvesting).
In one set of experiments, two different hESC lines were maintained on a feeder cell layer of human foreskin fibroblasts. Each line was subjected to multiple passages using EDTA-based or mechanical harvesting and assessed for&#160;colony size and morphology, cell density, stemness marker expression, differentiation to the three germ layers in embryoid bodies, and genomic aberrations. In another set of experiments, we used EDTA-based harvesting on two different hiPSC lines and obtained similar results. EDTA-induced dis-adhesion saved time and gave a higher yield of colonies of a more favorable size and more uniform morphology compared to mechanical harvesting. It was also faster than enzymatic harvesting and not prone to enzyme batch variability. The EDTA-induced dis-adhesion method also facilitates the transfer of hESC/hiPSC lines from feeder cell-based culture to feeder-free conditions if desired for downstream use and analysis.

To avoid the limitations associated with the enzymatic or mechanical passaging of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) cultured on feeder cells, we have established a fast, effective, cost-efficient, high-yield method for harvesting hESC or hiPSC colonies maintained on a feeder cell layer of human foreskin fibroblasts using EDTA-mediated dis-adhesion.

Human pluripotent stem cells (human embryonic stem cells, hESCs, and human induced pluripotent stem cells, hiPSCs) were originally cultured on different ...

Passaging HuES Human Embryonic Stem Cell-lines with Trypsin.

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