A modular platform for differentiation of human PSCs into all major ectodermal lineages Journal Article


Authors: Tchieu, J.; Zimmer, B.; Fattahi, F.; Amin, S.; Zeltner, N.; Chen, S.; Studer, L.
Article Title: A modular platform for differentiation of human PSCs into all major ectodermal lineages
Abstract: Directing the fate of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into different lineages requires variable starting conditions and components with undefined activities, introducing inconsistencies that confound reproducibility and assessment of specific perturbations. Here we introduce a simple, modular protocol for deriving the four main ectodermal lineages from hPSCs. By precisely varying FGF, BMP, WNT, and TGFβ pathway activity in a minimal, chemically defined medium, we show parallel, robust, and reproducible derivation of neuroectoderm, neural crest (NC), cranial placode (CP), and non-neural ectoderm in multiple hPSC lines, on different substrates independently of cell density. We highlight the utility of this system by interrogating the role of TFAP2 transcription factors in ectodermal differentiation, revealing the importance of TFAP2A in NC and CP specification, and performing a small-molecule screen that identified compounds that further enhance CP differentiation. This platform provides a simple stage for systematic derivation of the entire range of ectodermal cell types. Tchieu et al. develop a chemically defined culture platform that allows parallel derivation of human PSCs into all major ectodermal lineages. The utility of this platform is shown through genetic dissection of the roles of TFAP transcription factors in ectoderm and a chemical screen that identified compounds promoting cranial placode differentiation. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords: neural crest; directed differentiation; cortical neurons; human pluripotent stem cells; chemical screen; chemically defined ectoderm; cranial placode; non-neural ectoderm; tfap2a
Journal Title: Cell Stem Cell
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1934-5909
Publisher: Cell Press  
Date Published: 2017-09-07
Start Page: 399
End Page: 410.e7
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2017.08.015
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 28886367
PMCID: PMC5737635
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 November 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Lorenz Studer
    223 Studer
  2. Jason Hung Tchieu
    19 Tchieu
  3. Bastian   Zimmer
    14 Zimmer