Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been greatly used for studies on embryonic development and cell differentiation.iPSCs provide a stable source for either self-renewal or differentiation into suitable cells when cultured in a particular environment. Pluripotent cell culture was originally started by deriving cells from inner cell mass (ICM) from pre-implanted blastocysts, these were called embryonic stem cells. These cells after isolation can be grown on traditional extracellular matrices (like mouse embryonic fibroblasts, MEFs) or feeder-free culture systems. DMEM/F12 has been the most commonly used basal media in the culture of pluripotent cells. These cells are cultured at normal atmospheric oxygen levels, 21%, however, some studies have proposed that 4% oxygen tension may be better for hESC growth. Higher D-glucose concentration (4.2g/l) and osmolarity (320mOsm) that mimics the natural environment of embryonic tissue are optimal for the growth of hESCs. Supplements like N2 and/or B-27, in the presence of growth factors like bFGF, have been shown to increase pluripotency of these cells. bFGF, FGF2 and other ligands of receptor tyrosine kinases like IGF are also required or maintain self-renewal ability of these cells. TGF𝛃1, by its activation of SMAD2/3 signalling, also represses differentiation of iPSCs. Other compounds like ROCK inhibitors reduce blebbing and apoptosis in these cells to maintain their clonogenicity. However, an inhibitor for LIF (leukaemia inhibitory factor, which is one of the pluripotent genes) has an opposing effect. Therefore, it is important to understand the culture conditions and media composition that affect downstream signalling in hESCs or iPSCs that may lead to their differentiation.
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been greatly used for studies on embryonic development and cell differentiation.iPSCs provide a stable source for either self-renewal or differentiation into suitable cells when cultured in a particular environment. Pluripotent cell culture was originally started by deriving cells from inner cell mass (ICM) from pre-implanted blastocysts, these were called embryonic stem cells. These cells after isolation can be grown on traditional extracellular matrices (like mouse embryonic fibroblasts, MEFs) or feeder-free culture systems. DMEM/F12 has been the most commonly used basal media in the culture of pluripotent cells. These cells are cultured at normal atmospheric oxygen levels, 21%, however, some studies have proposed that 4% oxygen tension may be better for hESC growth. Higher D-glucose concentration (4.2g/l) and osmolarity (320mOsm) that mimics the natural environment of embryonic tissue are optimal for the growth of hESCs. Supplements like N2 and/or B-27, in the presence of growth factors like bFGF, have been shown to increase pluripotency of these cells. bFGF, FGF2 and other ligands of receptor tyrosine kinases like IGF are also required or maintain self-renewal ability of these cells. TGF𝛃1, by its activation of SMAD2/3 signalling, also represses differentiation of iPSCs. Other compounds like ROCK inhibitors reduce blebbing and apoptosis in these cells to maintain their clonogenicity. However, an inhibitor for LIF (leukaemia inhibitory factor, which is one of the pluripotent genes) has an opposing effect. Therefore, it is important to understand the culture conditions and media composition that affect downstream signalling in hESCs or iPSCs that may lead to their differentiation.
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been greatly used for studies on embryonic development and cell differentiation.iPSCs provide a stable source for either self-renewal or differentiation into suitable cells when cultured in a particular environment. Pluripotent cell culture was originally started by deriving cells from inner cell mass (ICM) from pre-implanted blastocysts, these were called embryonic stem cells. These cells after isolation can be grown on traditional extracellular matrices (like mouse embryonic fibroblasts, MEFs) or feeder-free culture systems. DMEM/F12 has been the most commonly used basal media in the culture of pluripotent cells. These cells are cultured at normal atmospheric oxygen levels, 21%, however, some studies have proposed that 4% oxygen tension may be better for hESC growth. Higher D-glucose concentration (4.2g/l) and osmolarity (320mOsm) that mimics the natural environment of embryonic tissue are optimal for the growth of hESCs. Supplements like N2 and/or B-27, in the presence of growth factors like bFGF, have been shown to increase pluripotency of these cells. bFGF, FGF2 and other ligands of receptor tyrosine kinases like IGF are also required or maintain self-renewal ability of these cells. TGF𝛃1, by its activation of SMAD2/3 signalling, also represses differentiation of iPSCs. Other compounds like ROCK inhibitors reduce blebbing and apoptosis in these cells to maintain their clonogenicity. However, an inhibitor for LIF (leukaemia inhibitory factor, which is one of the pluripotent genes) has an opposing effect. Therefore, it is important to understand the culture conditions and media composition that affect downstream signalling in hESCs or iPSCs that may lead to their differentiation.
Western blotting is a widely used technique to size separate proteins from a pool of cell or tissue lysates. The technique has 4 major steps: a) gel electrophoresis, b) blocking and treatment with antigen specific antibody, c) treatment with secondary antibody and finally d) detection and visualization. Though western blotting is a widely used technique, detection of specific proteins depends on several factors, the major ones are antibody concentration, incubation time and washing steps. Key points for obtaining clean blots are: always prepare fresh buffer solutions and optimize antibody concentration. Given the advent of high-throughput protein analysis and a push to limit the use of lab consumables, onestep antibodies are developed which recognise protein of interest and also contain a detection label.
Get tips on using Gibco™ DMEM, high glucose, GlutaMAX™ Supplement to perform Stem cell culture media Mouse muscle satellite cells
Stem cells have the unique ability to self-renew or differentiate themselves into various cell types in response to appropriate signals. These cells are especially important for tissue repair, regeneration, replacement, or in the case of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to differentiate into various myeloid populations. Appropriate signals refer to the growth factor supplements or cytokines that mediate differentiation of various stem cells into the required differentiated form. For instance, HSCs can be differentiated into dendritic cells (with IL-4 and GM-CSF), macrophages (with m-CSF) and MDSCs (with IL-6 and GM-CSF). Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be first cultured in neural differentiation media (GSK3𝛃-i, TGF𝛃-i, AMPK-i, hLIF) to form neural rosettes, which can be differentiated into neural or glial progenitors (finally differentiated into oligodendrocytes). Neural progenitors can be finally differentiated into glutaminergic (dibytyryl cAMP, ascorbic acid) and dopaminergic (SHH, FGF-8, BDNF, GDNF, TGF-𝛃3) neurons. Thus, it is important to first identify the self-renewing cell line: its source and its final differentiation state, followed by the supplements and cytokines required for the differentiation, and final use. Timelines are another thing that is considered. For instance, it takes 7-10 days to form neural rosettes from iPSCs and 3 days to differentiate neural progenitors to neurons. Finally, the stability for stem cell culture media varies. It is advised to make fresh media every time when differentiating HSCs to myeloid populations, whereas neural differentiation media may remain stable for two weeks when stored in dark between 2-8C.
Get tips on using Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody (B4): sc-53142 to perform Immunohistochemistry Mouse - SMA
Get tips on using Anti-alpha smooth muscle Actin antibody (ab5694) to perform Immunohistochemistry Mouse - SMA
miRNA is the inherent gene silencing machinery which can have more than one mRNA target, whereas siRNA can be designed to target a particular mRNA target. By design, both siRNA and miRNA are 20-25 nucleotides in length. The target sequence for siRNAs is usually located within the open reading frame, between 50 and 100 nucleotides downstream of the start codon. There are two ways in which cells can be transfected with desired RNAi: 1. Direct transfection (with calcium phosphate co-precipitation or cationic lipid mediated transfection using lipofectamine or oligofectamine), and 2. Making RNAi lentiviral constructs (followed by transformation and transduction). Lentiviral constructs are time consuming, but provide a more permanent expression of RNAi in the cells, and consistent gene silencing. Direct transfection of oligonucleotides provides temporary genetic suppression. Traditional methods like calcium phosphate co-precipitation have challenges like low efficiency, poor reproducibility and cell toxicity. Whereas, cationic lipid-based transfection reagents are able to overcome these challenges, along with applicability to a large variety of eukaryotic cell lines. When using oligos, the ideal concentration lies between 10-50nM for effective transfection.
Get tips on using alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody to perform Western blotting Smooth muscle actin
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