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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Suitable for Culturing Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: June 21, 2012
Culturing human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free conditions
Sohyun L McElroy1, Renee A Reijo Pera
1Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Education, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304-5542, USA.
Abstract:
INTRODUCTIONHuman embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to differentiate into all three germ layers and proliferate in long-term culture in vitro. hESCs can provide a cell source for the testing of novel therapies, drug screening, and functional genomics applications. Undifferentiated hESCs can be maintained and proliferated on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) or human feeder cells. In this protocol, we describe the culture of hESCs in feeder-free conditions on Matrigel with MEF-conditioned medium. This protocol can be used for applications such as genetic modification of hESCs without feeder cell contamination.

