Human ESC-derived Neuromesodermal Progenitors (NMPs) Successfully Differentiate into Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs).

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), as an adult stem cell type, are used to treat various disorders in clinics. However, derivation of homogenous and adequate amount of MSCs limits the regenerative treatment potential. Although mesoderm is the main source of mesenchymal progenitors during embryonic development, neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs), reside in the primitive streak during development, is known to differentiate into paraxial mesoderm. In the current study, we generated NMPs from human embryonic stem cells (hESC), subsequently derived MSCs and characterized this cell population in vitro and in vivo. Using a bFGF and CHIR induced NMP formation protocol followed by serum containing culture conditions; here we show that MSCs can be generated from NMPs identified by not only the expression of T/Bra and Sox 2 but also FLK-1/PDGFRα in our study. NMP-derived MSCs were plastic adherent fibroblast like cells with colony forming capacity and trilineage (osteo-, chondro- and adipo-genic) differentiation potential. In the present study, we demonstrate that NMP-derived MSCs have an endothelial tendency which might be related to their FLK-1+/PDGFRα + NMP origin. NMP-derived MSCs displayed a protein expression profile of characterized MSCs. Growth factor and angiogenesis related pathway proteins were similarly expressed in NMP-derived MSCs and characterized MSCs. NMP-derived MSCs keep characteristics after short-term and long-term freeze-thaw cycles and localized into bone marrow followed by tail vein injection into NOD/SCID mice. Together, these data showed that hESC-derived NMPs might be used as a precursor cell population for MSC derivation and could be used for in vitro and in vivo research.