Spin Embryoid Bodies as an Improved Method of Blood Cell Differentiation in Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract

Two types of cells have been characterized as pluripotent stem cells: human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and the more recently described induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Pluripotency means that these cells have the ability to form all the cells and tissues of the human body. hESC and iPSC differentiation into blood cells is particularly useful in studying the mechanisms of blood diseases and cell transfusion therapies. To better understand the potential of these cells to specifically produce blood cells, it is necessary to define an efficient and reproducible system of differentiation. Previously, our and other groups have used a stromal cell co-culture method to support blood development from hESCs. In these current studies, we are employing a stromal-free and serum-free differentiation method that may facilitate clinical translation of hESC- and iPSC-derived cells. This method involves forced aggregation of defined numbers of undifferentiated hESCs or iPSCs in 96-well plates by centrifugation to form embryoid bodies (spin EBs) of a uniform size. We examine this method’s potential to derive blood precursor cells and mature blood lineage cells from both hESCs and iPSCs.