Methods for making anterior foregut endoderm
Disclosed herein are cell cultures comprising PDX1-positive endoderm cells and methods of producing the same. Also disclosed herein are cell populations comprising substantially purified PDX1-positive endoderm cells as well as methods for enriching, isolating and purifying PDX1-positive endoderm cells from other cell types. Methods of identifying differentiation factors capable of promoting the differentiation of endoderm cells, such as PDX1-positive foregut endoderm cells and PDX1-negative definitive endoderm cells, are also disclosed.
1. An in vitro method for making human anterior foregut endoderm cells comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining human definitive endoderm cells; and
(b) contacting the human definitive endoderm cells with a retinoid in an amount sufficient to produce human anterior foregut endoderm cells.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the human anterior foregut endoderm cells express HOXA3.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retinoid is retinoic acid (RA).
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein RA is provided at a concentration of about 1 μM.