Compositions and methods for promoting the generation of pdx1+ pancreatic cells

Abstract

Certain embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a method of producing pancreatic cells or pancreatic cell precursors by exposing human embryonic stem cells to an effective amount of at least one compound listed in Table I to differentiate the human embryonic stem cells into the pancreatic cells or the pancreatic cell precursors. Kits and pancreatic cell lines produced using the methods are also described.

1 . A method of producing pancreatic Pdx1-expressing cells comprising contacting a population of human embryonic stem cells to an effective amount of at least one compound listed in Table I to differentiate the human embryonic stem cells into definitive endoderm cells expressing Pdx1. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the compound is compound 1 in table 1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising exposing the population of human embryonic stem cells to at least one additional agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , in which the at least one additional agent is FGF1O. 
     
     
         5 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A kit comprising:
 human embryonic stem cells;   at least one compound listed in Table I; and   instructions for differentiating the stem cells to definitive endoderm cells and for using the at least one compound listed in Table 1 to increase the number of Pdx1-expressing cells in a differentiated cell population.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , in which the compound is compound 1 in table 1. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one additional agent. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , in which the at least one additional agent is FGF1O. 
     
     
         15 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of producing Pdx1+ pancreatic precursors comprising: differentiating human embryonic stem cells to produce definitive endoderm cells; and exposing the population of definitive endoderm cells to an effective amount of at least one compound listed in Table I to produce Pdx1+ pancreatic precursors. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , in which the at least one compound is compound 1 in table 1. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising differentiating the Pdx1+ pancreatic precursors into mature pancreatic cells.