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Neural development in human embryonic stem cells—applications of lentiviral vectors
Author(s) -
Dottori Mirella,
Tay Cheryl,
Hughes Stephanie M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.23116
Subject(s) - biology , embryonic stem cell , transduction (biophysics) , viral vector , transgene , neural stem cell , regenerative medicine , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , gene , gene delivery , recombinant dna , genetic enhancement , genetics , biochemistry
The derivation of neural lineages from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in vitro is based largely on exposure of hESCs to exogenous signals and substrates, designed to mimic conditions in the developing embryo. However, selection of specific lineages and the discovery of gene function in human neural development may be enhanced by the ability to intrinsically regulate gene expression. Recombinant lentiviral vectors provide an efficient method to stably introduce genes into hESC and their differentiating derivatives. Here we review the methods used to derive neural cells from hESCs, transduction of these cells with lentiviral vectors, and improvements that have been made to the vectors to enhance viral integration and transgene expression. Finally, we explore prospects for future uses of lentiviral vectors in hESC research, including their applications in library screening for drug development, zinc finger nucleases for gene editing and optogenetics to interrogate cellular pathways and function. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 1955–1962, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.