Open AccessMolecular and Functional Characterizations of Gastrula Organizer Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Author(s) -
Sharon Nadav,
Mor Ishay,
Golanlev Tamar,
Fainsod Abraham,
Benvenisty Nissim
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.621
Subject(s) - biology , embryoid body , embryonic stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , gastrulation , embryo , induced pluripotent stem cell , stem cell , transplantation , epiblast , chimera (genetics) , embryogenesis , cellular differentiation , genetics , gene , medicine
The Spemann‐Mangold organizer is the structure that provides the signals, which initiate pattern formation in the developing vertebrate embryo, affecting the main body axes. Very little is known about axial induction in the gastrulating human embryo, as research is hindered by obvious ethical restrictions. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent cells derived from the pregastrula embryo that can differentiate in culture following a program similar to normal embryonic development but without pattern formation. Here, we show that in hESC‐derived embryoid bodies, we can induce differentiation of cells that harbor markers and characteristics of the gastrula‐organizer. Moreover, genetic labeling of these cells enabled their purification, and the discovery of a comprehensive set of their secreted proteins, cell surface receptors, and nuclear factors characteristic of the organizer. Remarkably, transplantation of cell populations enriched for the putative human organizer into frog embryos induced a secondary axis. Our research demonstrates that the human organizer can be induced in vitro and paves the way for the study of pattern formation and the initial regulation of body axis establishment in humans. S TEM C ells 2011;29:600–607