Method for inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into germ cells

Abstract

The invention provides a method for inducing human primordial germ cell-like (PGC-like) cells from human pluripotent stem cells, with high efficiency and high reproducibility, and a cell surface marker for identifying human PGC-like cells. In particular, the invention provides a method for producing a human PGC-like cell from a human pluripotent stem cell, includes a step of producing a mesoderm-like cell by culturing a human pluripotent stem cell in a culture medium comprising activin A and a GSK3β inhibitor, and a step of culturing the mesoderm-like cell in a culture medium containing BMP. The invention also provides a method for producing an isolated human PGC-like cell, which includes the aforementioned two steps and the additional step of selecting a cell positive to at least one cell surface marker selected from the group consisting of PECAM (CD31), INTEGRINa6 (CD49f), INTEGRINβ3 (CD61), KIT (CD117), EpCAM, PODOPLANIN and TRA1-81.

1 . A method for sorting a human primordial germ cell-like (PGC-like) cell comprising selecting a cell positive to at least one cell surface marker selected from the group consisting of PECAM (CD31), INTEGRINα6 (CD49f), INTEGRINβ3 (CD61), KIT (CD117), EpCAM, PODOPLANIN and TRA1-81. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said selection is performed by selecting a double positive cell of INTEGRINα6 (CD49f) and EpCAM.