Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are now available for the study of the generation of somatic cell types. For this purpose, human ES cells have important advantages over the murine ES cells available earlier. We propose to study the generation of keratinocytes of stratified squamous epithelium from the human ES cells (WA01). ES cells are known to have the capacity to generate such epithelium outside the developing embryo, since the epithelium develops when the ES cells are injected into scid mice. But our main intention is to find conditions promoting differentiation of the ES cells in culture and then to isolate strains of keratinocytes resulting from that differentiation, using 3T3 support. We will examine the factors that influence the development of keratinocytes, using as criterion a quantitative measure of the number obtained, and in this way arrive at the conditions producing maximal yield of keratinocytes. We will identify, when possible, the specific squamous epithelium to which isolated keratinocytes belong. We will attempt to find somatic stem cell precursors of the mature keratinocytes using stem cell markers for their identification. Depending on the nature of the keratinocytes or keratinocyte precursors isolated, practical applications can be readily envisioned. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM068478-01
Application #
6661108
Study Section
Cell Development and Function Integrated Review Group (CDF)
Program Officer
Ikeda, Richard A
Project Start
2003-08-01
Project End
2005-07-31
Budget Start
2003-08-01
Budget End
2004-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$210,156
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047006379
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Iuchi, Shiro; Marsch-Moreno, Meytha; Velez-DelValle, Cristina et al. (2006) An immortalized drug-resistant cell line established from 12-13-day mouse embryos for the propagation of human embryonic stem cells. Differentiation 74:160-6
Green, Howard; Easley, Karen; Iuchi, Shiro (2003) Marker succession during the development of keratinocytes from cultured human embryonic stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:15625-30