Generation of Epiblast-Like Cells

Abstract

Different states of pluripotency can be captured in vitro depending on the embryo stage from which they are derived and the culture conditions. Pluripotency is a continuum of different states between the two extremes of naïve embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and primed Epiblast Stem Cells (EpiSCs), which resemble the pre/peri- and post- implantation embryo, respectively. The transition from naïve to primed pluripotency can be induced by growing naïve ESCs in EpiSCs medium, containing bFGF and Activin. Here we report the detailed protocol to generate and characterize the epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs), which correspond to a primed intermediate state between naïve ESCs and EpiSCs.

Keywords: Embryonic Stem Cells; Epiblast-like Cells (EpiLCs); Naïve pluripotency; Pluripotency; Primed pluripotency; Primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs).