Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Cell. 2002 Aug 9;110(3):385-97.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read Click here to read
Directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells into motor neurons.

Wichterle H, Lieberam I, Porter JA, Jessell TM.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Inductive signals and transcription factors involved in motor neuron generation have been identified, raising the question of whether these developmental insights can be used to direct stem cells to a motor neuron fate. We show that developmentally relevant signaling factors can induce mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate into spinal progenitor cells, and subsequently into motor neurons, through a pathway recapitulating that used in vivo. ES cell-derived motor neurons can populate the embryonic spinal cord, extend axons, and form synapses with target muscles. Thus, inductive signals involved in normal pathways of neurogenesis can direct ES cells to form specific classes of CNS neurons.

Publication Types:
PMID: 12176325 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]