Development of Mouse Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells:IV Differentiation to Mature T and B Lymphocytes afterImplantation of Embryoid Bodies Into Nude Mice

摘要

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells in culture can differentiate into late stages of manylineage-committed precursor cells. Under appropriate organ-culture conditions, ES celsdifferentiate into lymphoidlike cells at a stage equivalent to lymphoid cells found in fetalliver. These hematopoietic precursors are located in cup-shaped structures found in someembryoid bodies; we called such embryoid bodies “ES fetuses.” In this study, we havefollowed the maturation of hematopoietic cells after implantation of ES fetuses into nudemice for 3 weeks. ES-cell-derived lymphoid cells-pre-B cells, mature B cells, and mature Tcells were found in all lymphoid organs. Interestingly, there was also an increase of T cellsof host origin. Because native nude mouse lack thymus, these T cells might be educated bythymuslike epithelium generated from ES fetuses. Practical applications of this combinedin vitroandin vivosystem are discussed.