COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR SELF-RENEWAL AND DIFFERENTIATION IN HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

摘要

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the production of differentiated mammalian cells. More particularly, the present invention provides cellular differentiation methods employing culturing the cells on a feeder layer or under feeder-free conditions in cell culture and further contacting the cells with an inhibitor of the PI3-kinase pathway and a member of the TGFb family for the generation of differentiated mammalian cells from pluripotent mammalian stem cells. Preferably, the differentiated cell is selected from the group consisting of a mesendodermal cell, a mesodermal cell, and an endodermal cell.