Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Efficient Neural Differentiation using Single-Cell Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: January 18, 2020
Effect of VEGF on neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells in vitro
Shujie Jiao1, Huifang Xu, Jie Xu
1Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. jiaoshujie462@163.com
Abstract:
The effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in vitro and the possible mechanism were observed. The hESCs lines, TJMU1 and TJMU2, were established and stored by our laboratory. hESCs differentiated into neuronal cells through embryonic body formation. In this induction process, hESCs were divided into three groups: group A, routine induction; group B, routine induction+10 ng/mL VEGF; group C, routine induction+10 ng/mL VEGF+10 ng/mL VEGFR2/Fc. OCT4, Nestin and GFAP in each group were detected by RT-PCR, and the cells expressing Nestin and GFAP were counted by immunofluorescence. The percentage of Nestin positive cells in group B was significantly higher than in groups A and C, while the percentage of GFAP positive cells in group B was significantly lower than in groups A and C (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between groups A and C (P>0.05). It was concluded that VEGF, via VEGFR2, stimulated the neural differentiation of hESCs in vitro.
