Publications

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived in the presence of Activin A (ActA) demonstrate an increased differentiation propensity toward the germ cell lineage. In addition, mouse epiblast stem cells and mouse epiblast-like cells are poised toward germ cell differentiation and are derived in the presence of ActA. We therefore investigated whether supplementation with ActA enhances in vitro hESC differentiation toward germ cell lineage. ActA ...

Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the spontaneous germ cell differentiation capacity of VUB hESC lines, develop a protocol for the induction of germ cell differentiation using conditioned medium from Sertoli cells (SCCM) and compare it to existing protocols.

METHODS: hESC were allowed to differentiate spontaneously or after the addition of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and/or SCCM. VASA transcripts were measured by relative ...

The use of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) in both research and therapeutic applications requires relatively large homogeneous populations of differentiated cells. The differentiation of three hESC lines into highly homogeneous populations of osteoprogenitor-like (hESC-OPL) cells is reported here. These cells could be expanded in a defined culture system for more than 18 passages, and showed a fibroblast-like morphology and a normal stable ...

The use of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) in both research and therapeutic applications requires relatively large homogeneous populations of differentiated cells. The differentiation of three hESC lines into highly homogeneous populations of osteoprogenitor-like (hESC-OPL) cells is reported here. These cells could be expanded in a defined culture system for more than 18 passages, and showed a fibroblast-like morphology and a normal stable ...

Little is known about the true developmental origin of human embryonic stem cells (hESCESCESCs) or the events that initiate their generation. Recently, we have shown that hESCESCESCs originate from a post–inner cell mass (ICM) intermediate (PICMI), a unique transient epiblast-like structure that is different from both its ICM progenitor and its subsequent hESCESCESC fate. As a closer progenitor of hESCESCESCs than the ICM, the PICMI could be ...

Protocols for specifying human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) remain hindered by differences between hESC lines, their derivation methods, and maintenance culture conditions. This poses significant challenges for establishing reproducible in vitro models of human gametogenesis. Here, we investigated the influence of activin A (ActA) during derivation and maintenance on the propensity of hESCs to ...

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have significant levels of low-grade genetic mosaicism, which commonly used techniques fail to detect in bulk DNA. These copy number variations remain a hurdle for the clinical translation of hPSC, as their effect in vivo ranges from unknown to dangerous, and the ability to detect them will be necessary as the field advances. As such there is need for techniques which can efficiently analyse genetic content ...

Recent studies with human embryonic stem (hES) cells have established new protocols for substantial generation of pancreatic progenitors from definitive endoderm. These findings add to the efficient derivation of definitive endoderm, which is controlled by Wnt and Nodal pathways, and delineate a step forward in the quest for alternative beta cell sources. It also indicates that critical refining of the available strategies might help define a ...