Cryopreservation of early postmitotic neuronal cells in culture

Abstract

Background: The application is in the field of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the cryopreservation of neuronal cells in culture. Objective: It aims at establishing conditions for the cryopreservation of cultured neuronal cells readily usable, upon thawing. That is cryopreserved neuronal cells with a high rate of survivability and with a potential to differentiate into mature neuronal cells rapidly, after thawing. Methods: Neuronal precursor cells and neuronal cells were generated in vitro, from cultures of human ESCs (hESCs). Neuronal cells were frozen and cryopreserved at a stage when they begin to express neuronal class III β-tubulin. Results/conclusion: The application claims that neuronal cells elicit a rate of survivability greater than 50% and neurites outgrowth within 10 to 14 hours, after thawing. The cryopreservation of post-mitotic neuronal or neural-like cells provides a source of nerve cells readily usable for research and therapy.

Keywords::

• differentiation
• embryonic stem cells
• human
• nervous system
• neural stem cells
• neural progenitor cells
• pharmacology
• therapy