• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.67-77
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• 2007

Replacement of insulin-producing cells represents an almost ideal treatment for patients with diabetes mellitus type 1. Transplantation of pancreatic islets of Langerhans is limited by the lack of donor organs. Therefore, generation of insulin-producing cells from human embryonic stem cells represents an attractive alternative. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the differentiation of insulin-producing cells from human embryonic stem cells and their application to the cell therapy for treating diabetes mellitus.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 2012

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are a potential source of cells for developmental studies and for a variety of applications in transplantation therapies and drug discovery. However, human ES cells are difficult to culture and maintain at a large scale, which is one of the most serious obstacles in human ES cell research. Culture of human ES cells on MEF cells after disassociation with accutase has previously been demonstrated by other research groups. Here, we confirmed that human ES cells (H9) can maintain stem cell properties when the cells are passaged as single cells under a feeder-free culture condition. Accutase-dissociated human ES cells showed normal karyotype, stem cell marker expression, and morphology. We prepared frozen stocks during the culture period, thawed two of the human ES cell stocks, and analyzed the cells after culture with the same method. Although the cells revealed normal expression of stem cell marker genes, they had abnormal karyotypes. Therefore, we suggest that accutase-dissociated single cells can be usefully expanded in a feeder-free condition but chromosomal modification should be considered in the culture after freeze-thawing.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.79-79
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• 2003

Embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiating into a variety of cell lineages. However, the ultimate results of differentiation in vitro greatly depend on the duration of treatment and kinds of differentiating inducers added. In order to investigate the efficiencies of various differentiation inducers and the methods of treatment, we examined differentiation patterns of human embryonic stem cell (hESC, MB03) according to several different protocols. Exp. I) Upon differentiation using retinoic acid and ascorbic acid (RA/AA), embryoid bodies (EB, for 4days) derived from hESC was exposed to Rh (10$^{-6}$ M) and AA (50 mM) for 4 days, and were allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Exp. II) When bFGF was used, neuronal precursor cells were selected for 8 days in N2 medium after EB formation. After selection, cells were expanded at the presence of bFGF (20 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. Exp. III) In addition, to examine the effects of neurotrophic factors in the production of mature neurons, groups of cells were exposed to either BDNF (5 ng/ml) or TGF-$\alpha$(10 ng/ml) during the 28 days of final differentiation. Differentiation patterns of RA/AA or bFGF treated groups were very similar; approximately 82% and 83% of the cells, respectively, were positive for anti-NF200 antibody, while it was about 10% and 11%, respectively, for anti-NF160 antibody in 28 days in N2 medium. Alsor, cells expressing TH were as low as 5%, while the cells doubled when matured at the presence of either BDNF or TGF-$\alpha$. Cells immunoreactive to anti-GAD antibody were approximately 20%. These results suggest that a maturation step rather than differentiation induction step, which is formation of EB, effects more decisively to the ultimate differentiation pattern.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.18-18
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• 2002

This study was to investigate the effect of neurotrophic factors on neural cell differentiation in vitro derived from human embryonic stem (hES, MB03) cells. For neural progenitor cell formation derived from hES cells, we produced embryoid bodies (EB: for 5 days, without mitogen) from hES cells and then neurospheres (for 7 - 10 days, 20 ng/㎖ of bFGF added N2 medium) from EB. And then finally for the differentiation into mature neuron cells, neural progenitor cells were cultured in ⅰ) N2 medium (without bFGF), ⅱ) N2 supplemented with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, 5ng/㎖) or ⅲ) N2 supplemented with platelet derived growth factor-bb (PDGF-bb, 20ng/㎖) for 2 weeks. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2002

This study was to investigate generation of the specific neuronal cell in vitro from the neural progenitors derived from human embryonic stem (hES, MB03) cells. For the neural progenitor cell formation, we produced embryoid bodies (EB: for 5 days, without mitogen) from hES cells and then neurospheres (for 7-10 days, 20 ng/㎖ of bFGF added N2 medium) from EB. And then for the differentiation into neuronal cells, neural progenitor cells were cultured in N2 medium (without bFGF) supplemented with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, 5 ng/㎖) or platelet derived growth factor-bb (pDGF-bb, 20ng/㎖) for 2 weeks. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.74-74
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• 2003

Embryonic stem cells have several characteristics suitable for cell replacement therapy. To investigate a possibility of using human embryonic stem cell (hESC) as a carrier of therapeutic gene(s), hESC (MB03) was co-transfected with cDNAS coding for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and GTP cyclohydrolase Ⅰ (GTPCH Ⅰ) and bulk-selected using neomycin and hygromycin-B. Successful transfection was confirmed by western immunoblotting and RT-PCR. The genetically modified hESC (bk-THGC) relieved apomorphine-induced asymmetric motor behavior by approximately 54% when grafted into striatum of 6-OHDA-denervated rat brain. The number of rotation, however, increased up to 176+18% in 6 weeks when sham-grafted compared with number of rotation before graft. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the grafted hESC survived and expressed TH for at least 6 weeks while the experiment was continued.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2003

Chimeric animals are referred to as an organism composed of tissues derived from more than one species. In order to examine if a pluripotency of embryonic stem cells can cross the limitation of a species, we tried to establish human-mouse chimeric animals. Human embryonic stem cells were genetically modified to express eGFP using eukaryonic expression vector pcDNA 3.1 (In Vitrogene) for an easy identification. After selection with neomycin, approximately 15 cells were implanted into mouse blastocoele cavity. Ten chimeric blastocysts were transferred to one of the uterine horn of 2.5 days pesudopregnent ICR female. Out of 272 blastocysts transferred to pseudopregnant recipients 20 live newborn were obtained after 20 days. When newborn were obtained, pups were quickly removed immersed into 4% PFA. By histological examination using fluorescent microscope, green fluorescence was observed from the liver, heart, and spleen in newborn mice. Three weeks after born, presence of eGFP sequence within mouse genome (tail and kidney) was reconfirmed by PCR. eGFP sequence was amplified from the progenies of the animal suggesting a genetic transmission of the transgene. These chimeric mice having human cells at the beginning of development, are expected to recognize human cells as “self”, therefore, human cells or tissues will be able to escape the immunological surveillance of the host if grafted into the animal. These animals will serve as a good model system for studying the graft rejection in tissue transplantation and the potential of the cells to work well in many human disease.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2006

Vitrification has been suggested to be an effective method for the cryopreservation of human ES cells. However, the efficiency of vitrification with different vehicles remains a matter of ongoing controversy. The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of cryopreservation in human ES cells by vitrification using different vehicles. A human ES cell line and a variety of vehicles, including micro-droplet (MD), open-pulled straw (OPS) and electron microscopic grid (EM-grid), were employed in an attempt to assess vitrification efficiency. In order to evaluate the survivability and the undifferentiated state of the post-vitrified human ES cells, we conducted alkaline phosphatase staining and characterization via both RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assays. The survival rates of the post-vitrified human ES cells using MD, OPS and EM-grid were determined to be 61.5%, 66.6% and 53.8%, respectively. There also exist significant differences between slow-freezing and vitrification (p<0.01). However, no significant differences were detected between the vehicle types. Finally, the pluripotency of human ES cells after thawing was verified by teratoma formation. Cryopreservation using vitrification is more effective than slow-freezing, and the efficiency of vehicles proved effective with regard to the preservation of human ES cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1152-1158
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• 2010

In differentiating human embryonic stem (d-hES) cells there are a number of types of cells which may secrete various nutrients and helpful materials for pre-implantation embryonic development. This study examined whether the d-hES could function as a feeder cell in vitro to support mouse embryonic development. By RT-PCR analysis, the d-hES cells revealed high expression of three germ-layered differentiation markers while having markedly reduced expression of stem cell markers. Also, in d-hES cells, LIF expression in embryo implantation-related material was confirmed at a similar level to undifferentiated ES cells. When mouse 2PN embryos were cultured in control M16 medium, co-culture control CR1aa medium or co-cultured with d-hES cells, their blastocyst development rate at embryonic day 4 (83.9%) were significantly better in the d-hES cell group than in the CR1aa group (66.0%), while not better than in the M16 group (90.7%)(p<0.05). However, at embryonic days 5 and 6, embryo hatching and hatched-out rates of the dhES cell group (53.6 and 48.2%, respectively) were superior to those of the M16 group (40.7 and 40.7%, respectively). At embryonic day 4, blastocysts of the d-hES cell group were transferred into pseudo-pregnant recipients, and pregnancy rate (75.0%) was very high compared to the other groups (M16, 57.1%; CR1aa, 37.5%). In addition, embryo implantation (55.9%) and live fetus rate (38.2%) of the d-hES cell group were also better than those of the other groups (M16, 36.7 and 18.3%, respectively; CR1aa, 23.2 and 8.7%, respectively). These results demonstrated that d-hES cells can be used as a feeder cell for enhancing in vitro and in vivo developmental potential of mouse pre-implantation embryos.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2008

This study was conducted to develop an efficient cryopreservation method of human embryonic stem (ES) cells using vitrification. In an initial experiment, sub-clumps of human ES cells (CHA-hES3 and CHA-hES4) were vitrified using grids after incubation with STO feeder cells for 1 or 16 h (Groups 1-1 and 1-2, respectively). After storage for $2{\sim}4$ months, thawed clumps were re-plated on a fresh feeder layer. The survival rates of warmed CHA-hES3 and CHA-hES4 cells of Group 1-2 were significantly higher than those of the corresponding Group 1-1 cells. In the second experiment, human ES cells were vitrified after incubation with feeder or feeder-conditioned medium (Groups 2-1 to -7). Relative mRNA expression of BM proteins and survival rates were increased following incubation of ES cells with fresh feeder cells for 16 h. In conclusion, increasing of tight adhesion between ES cells by extended incubation with feeder could reduce cryoinjury after vitrifying/warming.