| abstract |
The present invention relates to the field of stem cell biology, in particular, to the lineage-specific differentiation of pluripotent or pluripotent stem cells, which may include, but are not limited to, in addition to non-embryonic human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) In addition to human embryonic stem cells (hESC), adult stem cells, stem cells from a patient with a disease or any other stem cell capable of lineage-specific differentiation. Specifically, the following method is described: lineage-specific differentiation of hESCs and/or hiPSCs into floor plate midbrain progenitors, which are then further differentiated into large numbers of midbrain fate FOXA2+LMX1A+TH+dopamine (DA) neurons using novel culture conditions. The midbrain outcome FOXA2+LMX1A+TH+dopamine (DA) neurons generated using the methods of the present invention are further contemplated for a variety of uses including, but not limited to, use in in vitro drug discovery assays, neurological research, and As a therapeutic agent for disease reversal or damage or deficiency of dopamine neurons in patients. |