Lung and thyroid progenitor cells from ESCs
Researchers at Boston University differentiated embryonic stem cells into progenitor cells of lung and thyroid tissue. The obtained pure cell populations allow us to observe all stages of the formation of tissues of these organs.
Embryologists have long known that the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, thyroid and pancreas and other organs develop from the primary intestinal tube of the embryo (endoderm). Based on the information obtained during the study of the normal embryonic development of the lungs and thyroid gland, scientists led by Darrell Cotton have developed a technology that allows you to launch the necessary sequences of events that ensure the differentiation of embryonic stem cells in the right directions.
ESCs were modified in such a way that at the moment of their differentiation into progenitor cells of the lung tissue or thyroid gland, a label - green fluorescent protein (GFP) – was activated in them. Under the influence of combinations of various growth factors identified in previous studies, the cells were differentiated into the endoderm of the intestinal tube and, eventually, into the progenitor cells of the thyroid gland or lungs. As a result, the authors managed to obtain up to 160 progenitor cells from one original stem cell.
To confirm the effectiveness of differentiation, the researchers conducted a complete analysis of the gene expression of lung tissue progenitor cells, after which they placed them in a three-dimensional matrix. The cells began to proliferate and differentiated into two types of cells forming lung alveoli.
Experts believe that the developed approach can be used to create three-dimensional cultures of progenitor cells that will allow studying the mechanisms of pathogenesis of lung diseases in the laboratory, and in the future, perhaps, will allow developing methods of cell replacement therapy for patients with severe forms of lung diseases, such as emphysema and cystic fibrosis.
Article by Tyler A. Longmire et al. Efficient Derivation of Purified Lung and Thyroid Progenitors from Embryonic Stem Cells is published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru according to Medical News Today:
Researchers Derive Purified Lung And Thyroid Progenitors From Embryonic Stem Cells.
11.04.2012