Efficient Induction of Oligodendrocytes from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

¹ Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
² R&D Center, Jeil Pharmaceutical Co., Seoul, Korea
³ Division of Molecular & Life Sciences, College of Science & Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea
⁴ Laboratory of Electron Microscope, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
⁶ Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Center for Cell Therapy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dwkim2{at}yumc.yonsei.ac.kr.

	Abstract

Oligodendrocytes form myelin sheaths around axons to support rapid nerve conduction in the central nervous system (CNS). Damage to myelin can cause severe CNS disorders. In this study, we attempted to devise a protocol for the induction of oligodendrocytes from human embryonic stem (ES) cells to treat demyelinated axons. Four days after embryoid body formation, human ES cells were differentiated into neural precursors through selection and expansion procedures. Neural precursors were then grown in the presence of EGF and then PDGF to generate oligodendrocyte precursor cells. After withdrawal of the growth factors, the cells were treated with thyroid hormone to induce differentiation into oligodendrocytes. This method resulted in 81-91% oligodendrocyte precursor cells and 81% oligodendrocytes among total cells. The ability of the oligodendrocyte precursors to myelinate axons has been verified by co-culturing with rat hippocampal neurons, confirming their biological functionality.