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A ROCK inhibitor permits survival of dissociated human embryonic stem cells

  • Kiichi Watanabe
  • , Morio Ueno
  • , Daisuke Kamiya
  • , Ayaka Nishiyama
  • , Michiru Matsumura
  • , Takafumi Wataya
  • , Jun B. Takahashi
  • , Satomi Nishikawa
  • , Shin Ichi Nishikawa
  • , Keiko Muguruma
  • , Yoshiki Sasai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Poor survival of human embryonic stem (hES) cells after cell dissociation is an obstacle to research, hindering manipulations such as subcloning. Here we show that application of a selective Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, Y-27632, to hES cells markedly diminishes dissociation-induced apoptosis, increases cloning efficiency (from ∼1% to ∼27%) and facilitates subcloning after gene transfer. Furthermore, dissociated hES cells treated with Y-27632 are protected from apoptosis even in serum-free suspension (SFEB) culture and form floating aggregates. We demonstrate that the protective ability of Y-27632 enables SFEB-cultured hES cells to survive and differentiate into Bf1+ cortical and basal telencephalic progenitors, as do SFEB-cultured mouse ES cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)681-686
Number of pages6
JournalNature Biotechnology
Volume25
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 06-2007
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering

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