Background
Human embryonic stem cells (HESC) readily differentiate into an apparently haphazard array of cell types, corresponding to all three germ layers, when their culture conditions are altered, for example by growth in suspension as aggregates known as embryoid bodies (EBs). However, this diversity of differentiation means that the efficiency of producing any one particular cell type is inevitably low. Although pancreatic differentiation has been reported from HESC, practicable applications for the use of beta-cells derived from HESC to treat diabetes will only be possible once techniques are developed to promote efficient differentiation along the pancreatic lineages.
Conclusion
Constitutive expression of Pax4 in HESC substantially enhances their propensity to form putative beta-cells. Our findings provide a novel foundation to study the mechanism of pancreatic beta-cells differentiation during early human development and to help evaluate strategies for the generation of purified beta-cells for future clinical applications.