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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Generation of Human Neurons and Oligodendrocytes from Pluripotent Stem Cells for Modeling Neuron-Oligodendrocyte Interactions
Published on: November 9, 2020
Vitronectin promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation during neurogenesis of human embryonic stem cells
Jung-Eun Gil1, Dong-Hun Woo, Joong-Hyun Shim
1Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
We demonstrate enhanced differentiation of oligodendrocytes during neurogenesis of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using an extracellular matrix protein, vitronectin (VN). We show that VN is expressed in the ventral part of the developing human spinal cord. Combined treatment of retinoic acid, sonic hedgehog, and noggin in the presence of VN allows hESCs to differentiate into O4-positive oligodendrocytes. Particularly, VN profoundly promotes the derivation of oligodendrocyte progenitors that proliferate and differentiate into oligodendrocytes in response to mitogenic and survival factors. These results support the beneficial effect of VN on oligodendrocytic differentiation of hESCs.
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