Patent ID: 8187878
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: A61P,C12N

Abstract:
1. A method of differentiating a pluripotent human embryonic stem cell culture, the method consisting essentially of the steps: (a) providing the pluripotent human embryonic stem cell culture, and (b) contacting the pluripotent human embryonic stem cell culture with an effective amount of an inhibitor of a PI-3-kinase signaling pathway and a member of the TGFβ family to differentiate pluripotent human embryonic stem cells to definitive endoderm cells, wherein the inhibitor of a PI-3-kinase signaling pathway and the member of the TGFβ family are added exogenously to the pluripotent human embryonic stem cell culture at the same time, wherein the member of the TGFβ family is selected from the group consisting of Nodal, Activin A, Activin B, TGF-β, BMP2, BMP4, and a mixture thereof, thereby producing a definitive endoderm cell culture, wherein the percentage of definitive endoderm cells in the definitive endoderm cell culture is greater than 50%.