Process for producing nerve stem cells, motor neurons, and GABAergic neurons from embryonic stem cells

摘要

The present invention provides a method for producing motor neurons and GABAergic neurons characterized by including suspension-culturing embryonic stem cells in the presence or absence of a protein noggin to form embryoid bodies, selectively amplifying into neural stem cells from them by suspension culture in the presence of a fibroblast growth factor and a sonic hedgehog protein, and then differentiating the same. According to this method, at least motor neurons and GABAergic neurons can be systemically and efficiently produced from ES cells. Selective acquisition of neurons would be applicable to transplant therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Alzheimer's disease, etc.