Embryonic Stem Cells and Squamous Epithelia

描述（由申请人提供）：人胚胎干（ES）细胞现在可用于研究体细胞类型的产生。为此目的，人ES细胞具有优于早期可用的鼠ES细胞的重要优势。我们拟研究从人ES细胞（WA01）中分化出复层鳞状上皮角质形成细胞。已知ES细胞具有在发育中的胚胎外产生这种上皮的能力，因为当ES细胞被注射到scid小鼠中时，上皮发育。但我们的主要目的是找到促进培养中ES细胞分化的条件，然后使用3T3支持物分离由该分化产生的角质形成细胞株。我们将研究影响角质形成细胞发育的因素，使用获得的数量的定量测量作为标准，并以这种方式达到产生角质形成细胞最大产量的条件。如果可能的话，我们将鉴定分离的角质形成细胞所属的特定鳞状上皮。我们将尝试寻找成熟角质形成细胞的体干细胞前体细胞，使用干细胞标记物进行鉴定。根据分离的角质形成细胞或角质形成细胞前体的性质，可以容易地设想实际应用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are now available for the study of the generation of somatic cell types. For this purpose, human ES cells have important advantages over the murine ES cells available earlier. We propose to study the generation of keratinocytes of stratified squamous epithelium from the human ES cells (WA01). ES cells are known to have the capacity to generate such epithelium outside the developing embryo, since the epithelium develops when the ES cells are injected into scid mice. But our main intention is to find conditions promoting differentiation of the ES cells in culture and then to isolate strains of keratinocytes resulting from that differentiation, using 3T3 support. We will examine the factors that influence the development of keratinocytes, using as criterion a quantitative measure of the number obtained, and in this way arrive at the conditions producing maximal yield of keratinocytes. We will identify, when possible, the specific squamous epithelium to which isolated keratinocytes belong. We will attempt to find somatic stem cell precursors of the mature keratinocytes using stem cell markers for their identification. Depending on the nature of the keratinocytes or keratinocyte precursors isolated, practical applications can be readily envisioned.