Methods and compositions for the differentiation of stem cells

A method for differentiating a human pluripotent stem cell into a CD43+ progenitor cell comprising:

• a) culturing a pluripotent stem cell in a first culture medium that is free or essentially free of feeder cells, the culture comprising a matrix component, wherein said culturing includes
• i) dispersing a pluripotent stem cell colony or clonal cell grouping to form dispersed essentially individual cells, and
• ii) seeding the dispersed cells into the first culture medium at a density of from about 10,000 stem cells per square centimeter of culturing surface to less than 50,000 stem cells per square centimeter of culturing surface;
• and
• b) differentiating the dispersed cells in a differentiation culture medium comprising at least one recombinant growth factor selected from the group consisting of BMP-4, VEGF, and bFGF, under a hypoxic atmosphere having less than or equal to 5.5% oxygen for a period of time to provide the CD43+ progenitor cells.

A method for differentiating a human pluripotent stem cell into a CD31+ progenitor cell comprising:

• a) culturing a pluripotent stem cell in a first culture medium that is free or essentially free of feeder cells, the culture comprising a matrix component, wherein said culturing includes
• i) dispersing a pluripotent stem cell colony or clonal cell grouping to form dispersed essentially individual cells, and
• ii) seeding the dispersed cells into the first culture medium at a density of from about 10,000 stem cells per square centimeter of culturing surface to less than 50,000 stem cells per square centimeter of culturing surface;
• and
• b) differentiating the dispersed cells in a differentiation culture medium comprising at least one recombinant growth factor selected from the group consisting of BMP-4, VEGF, and bFGF, under a hypoxic atmosphere having less than or equal to 5.5% oxygen for a period of time to provide the CD31+ progenitor cells.