Expression profiling of lineage differentiation in pluripotential human embryonal carcinoma cells.

Pluripotential human embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell linesundergo differentiation programs resembling those occurring in embryonal stem cells during development. Expression profiling was performed during the terminal differentiation of the EC cell line, NTera2/Clone D1 by all-trans-retinoic acid. Time-response analysis via clustering of >12,000 human transcripts revealed distinct stages in the transition from an EC cell to neuronal progenitor cells expressing patterning markers compatible with posterior hindbrain fates followed by the appearance of immature postmitotic neurons with an evolving synaptic apparatus. Global analysis of gene expression allows monitoring cell fate and differentiation of EC cells in vitro and may provide insight into human embryonal stem cell development.