@entity1 motor neurons derived from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESCs and hiPSCs) are a potentially important tool for studying motor neuron survival and pathological cell death. However, their basic survival requirements remain poorly characterized. Here, we sought to optimize a robust survival assay and characterize their response to different @entity2057 . First, to increase motor neuron yield, we screened a small-molecule collection and found that the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor @entity12223 enhances motor neuron progenitor proliferation up to 4-fold in hESC and hiPSC cultures. Next, we FACS-purified motor neurons expressing the @entity25093 ::GFP reporter from @entity12223 -amplified embryoid bodies and cultured them in the presence of mitotic inhibitors to eliminate dividing progenitors. Survival of these purified motor neurons in the absence of any other cell type was strongly dependent on neurotrophic support. @entity6352 , @entity2252 and @entity7178 all showed potent survival effects (EC(50) 1-2 pM). The number of surviving motor neurons was further enhanced in the presence of @entity1928 and @entity1922 , agents that increase endogenous @entity268 levels. As a demonstration of the ability of the assay to detect novel neurotrophic agents, @entity12223 itself was found to support @entity1 motor neuron survival. Thus, purified @entity1 stem cell-derived motor neurons show survival requirements similar to those of primary rodent motor neurons and can be used for rigorous cell-based screening.

Neurotrophic requirements of XXXX motor neurons defined using amplified and purified stem cell-derived cultures.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'Human'] @entity6352 :: ('2668', 'Gene') :: ['GDNF'] @entity268 :: ('CHEBI:17489', 'Chemical') :: ['cAMP'] @entity12223 :: ('MESH:C108830', 'Chemical') :: ['Y-27632'] @entity1922 :: ('MESH:D015056', 'Chemical') :: ['IBMX'] @entity2252 :: ('627', 'Gene') :: ['BDNF'] @entity1928 :: ('MESH:D005576', 'Chemical') :: ['forskolin'] @entity2057 :: ('MESH:D009133', 'Disease') :: ['neurotrophic factors'] @entity25093 :: ('3110', 'Gene') :: ['Hb9'] @entity7178 :: ('1270', 'Gene') :: ['CNTF']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['human']
