Method for generating primate trophoblasts
AssigneeWiCell Research Institute, Inc.
InventorsRen-He Xu, James A. Thomson
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Abstract
The first method to cause a culture of human and other primate stem cells to directly and uniformly differentiate into a committed cell lineage is disclosed. Treatment of primate stem cells with a single protein trophoblast induction factor causes the cells to transform into human trophoblast cells, the precursor cells of the placenta. Several protein factors including bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), BMP2, BMP7, and growth and differentiation factor 5 can serve as trophoblast-inducting factors.
Claims14
A method to induce primate stem cells to differentiate into human trophoblast cells comprising the step of culturing the primate stem cells in the presence of a protein trophoblast-inducting factor.
A culture of primate trophoblast cells in in vitro culture, the trophoblast cells derived from primate stem cells exposed to a trophoblast inducing factor.
A method of testing agents for their effect on placental cells comprising creating trophoblast cells by culturing primate stem cells in the presence of a trophoblast inducing factor;
- exposing the trophoblast cells to the agent;
- and
- observing what effect the agent has on the trophoblast cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.