Anterior endoderm cells

Abstract

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 to 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 - 109 . (canceled) 
     
     
         110 . An in vitro cell culture comprising human anterior endoderm cells and an effective amount of a retinoid. 
     
     
         111 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 110 , wherein the retinoid is retinoic acid (RA). 
     
     
         112 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 111 , wherein the RA is provided at a concentration of greater than 0.2 μM. 
     
     
         113 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 111 , wherein the RA is provided at a concentration ranging from about 0.2 μM to about 50 μM. 
     
     
         114 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 111 , wherein the RA is provided at a concentration of about 1 μM. 
     
     
         115 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 110 , wherein the human anterior endoderm cells are derived from human pluripotent cells. 
     
     
         116 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 110 , wherein the human anterior endoderm cells are derived from human definitive endoderm cells. 
     
     
         117 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 110 , wherein the human anterior endoderm cells express HOXA3. 
     
     
         118 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 110 , wherein the human anterior endoderm cells do not express alpha-fetoprotein, CDX1, HOXC6, HOXA13, SOX1 or NFM. 
     
     
         119 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 110 , wherein the anterior endoderm cells are multipotent cells that can differentiate into pharynx, lung, esophagus or trachea cells. 
     
     
         120 . The in vitro cell culture of  claim 110 , wherein the human anterior endoderm cells are differentiated from human definitive endoderm cells at a rate that is faster than naturally occurring anterior endoderm cells are differentiated from human definitive endoderm cells. 
     
     
         121 . An in vitro cell population comprising a) human cells that express HOXA3 and b) an effective amount of a retinoid. 
     
     
         122 . The in vitro cell population of  claim 121 , wherein the human cells express HOXA3 to a greater extent than HOXC6 or HOXA13. 
     
     
         123 . The in vitro cell population of  claim 121 , wherein the retinoid is RA. 
     
     
         124 . The in vitro cell population of  claim 123 , wherein the RA is provided at a concentration of about 1 μM. 
     
     
         125 . The in vitro cell population of  claim 121 , wherein the human cells that express HOXA3 are derived from human pluripotent cells. 
     
     
         126 . The in vitro cell population of  claim 121 , wherein the cells that express HOXA3 are differentiated from human definitive endoderm cells at a faster rate than naturally occurring cells that express HOXA3 are differentiated from human definitive endoderm. 
     
     
         127 . A definitive endoderm cell culture comprising a retinoid. 
     
     
         128 . The definitive endoderm cell culture of  claim 127 , wherein the retinoid is RA. 
     
     
         129 . The definitive endoderm cell culture of  claim 128 , wherein the RA is provided at a concentration of about 1 μM.