WARF: P99276US
Method of Making Embryoid Bodies from Primate Embryonic Stem Cells

INVENTORS

•

James Thomson, Vivienne Marshall, Jennifer Swiergiel

Embryoid bodies are three-dimensional aggregates of embryonic stem cells (ES cells). ES cells form embryoid bodies before differentiating into defined lineages; thus, coaxing ES cells to form embryoid bodies is important to realizing the eventual therapeutic uses of ES cells. But when subjected to the same conditions that cause mouse ES cells to form embryoid bodies, human ES cells often die. UW-Madison researchers have developed an improved method of forming embryoid bodies from human and non-human primate ES cells. The method starts with ES cell colonies adhered to a substrate. The colonies are removed from the substrate as clumps through either physical or chemical means. The clumps of ES cells are then incubated under conditions that prevent them from attaching to their container. This allows the ES cells to coalesce into embryoid bodies that can then be differentiated into a variety of desired lineages. In essence, the development of embryoid bodies from primate ES cells depends on maintaining the cells as aggregated clumps, because isolated cells in culture die.

• Effectively forming embryoid bodies from primate cell lines

• Differentiating stem cells into defined tissues will likely require the formation of embryoid bodies.
• Embryoid bodies are suitable for medical purposes or research.

For current licensing status, please contact our team at licensing@warf.org or phone 608.262.4924. (Clicking this link will open a contact form in a popup window. If you have problems viewing the form, try disabling your popup blocker software.)