Neural induction - Dual SMAD inhibition

Abstract

Dual SMAD inhibition takes a confluent, feeder free culture of hPSCs and rapidly differentiates them into early neurectoderm (Chambers et al., 2009). This rapid differentiation is caused by blocking the two signaling pathways that utilize SMADs for transduction: BMP and TGFB. Oct4 is extinguished and Pax6 expression has begun by around day 7-8, depending on the line used. This neurectoderm can be passaged to become rosettes or can be patterning to become many other types of neural cells (for example, see Fasano et al., 2010).