Establishment of germ-line-competent embryonic stem (ES) cells using differentiation inhibiting activity

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 110; no. 4; pp. 1341 - 1348
• Main Authors: NICHOLS, J, EVANS, E. P, SMITH, A. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge The Company of Biologists Limited 01.12.1990; Company of Biologists
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Chimera; Culture Media; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Development. Fetal membranes; Growth Inhibitors; Interleukin-6; Karyotyping; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; Lymphokines - physiology; Mice; Stem Cells - physiology; Stem Cells - ultrastructure; Cell culture; Embryo; Regulation(control); Cell line; Pluripotent cell; Stem cell; Development; Inhibition; Differentiation; Feeder cell layer
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.110.4.1341

The regulatory factor Differentiation Inhibiting Activity/Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor (DIA/LIF) suppresses the differentiation of cultured embryonic stem (ES) cells. In the present study, it is shown that ES cell lines can be derived and maintained in the absence of feeder layers using medium supplemented with purified DIA/LIF. These cells can differentiate normally in vitro and in vivo and they retain the capacity for germ-line transmission. DIA/LIF therefore fulfils the essential function of feeders in the isolation of pluripotential stem cells.