Activin A can induce definitive endoderm differentiation from human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells
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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
A Quick and Efficient Method for the Purification of Endoderm Cells Generated from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: March 3, 2016
Zhiqiang Wang1, Wenliang Li, Tianxing Chen
1Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, People's Republic of China.
Objectives:
As activin/nodal signaling plays a key role in definitive endoderm (DE) differentiation, we have explored activin A-induced differentiation of DE from human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (hPESCs).
Results:
Administration of 5 ng activin A/ml had no effect on the expression of markers of DE differentiation. However, higher concentrations of activin A (50 and 100 ng/ml) upregulated Sox17 and Cxcr4, as well upregulating the mesendodermal precursor marker, Brachyury.
Conclusions:
These findings demonstrate that low dose activin A can maintain the undifferentiated potency of hPESCs, whereas higher doses induce DE differentiation; 50 ng/ml is the optimal concentration for inducing DE from hPESCs.
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