Vitronectin promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation during neurogenesis of human embryonic stem cells

Abstract 

We demonstrate enhanced differentiation of oligodendrocytes during neurogenesis of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using an extracellular matrix protein, vitronectin (VN). We show that VN is expressed in the ventral part of the developing human spinal cord. Combined treatment of retinoic acid, sonic hedgehog, and noggin in the presence of VN allows hESCs to differentiate into O4-positive oligodendrocytes. Particularly, VN profoundly promotes the derivation of oligodendrocyte progenitors that proliferate and differentiate into oligodendrocytes in response to mitogenic and survival factors. These results support the beneficial effect of VN on oligodendrocytic differentiation of hESCs.

Abbreviations: hESCs, human embryonic stem cells, VN, vitronectin, Shh, sonic hedgehog, hEBs, human embryoid bodies, RA, retinoic acid, GRM, glial restriction medium, bFGF, fibroblast growth factor, PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor, IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor-I, cAMP, cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate, PCR, polymerase chain reaction, GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, PBS, phosphate buffered saline, PFA, paraformaldehyde, DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, OPCs, oligodendrocyte precursor cells

Keywords: Human embryonic stem cells, Oligodendrocytes, Vitronectin, Differentiation