Preface

Essential Stem Cell Methods is an abridgement and update of the three-volume stem cell series originally published in Methods in Enzymology in 2006: Embryonic Stem Cells (vol. 418), Adult Stem Cells (vol. 419), and Stem Cell Tools and Other Experimental Protocols (vol. 420). Stem cells are of great interest to scientists and clinicians due to their unique ability to differentiate into various tissues of the body. In addition to being a promising source of cells for regenerative medicine and drug discovery, they also serve as an excellent model of vertebrate development.

Growing stem cells in culture and differentiating them on demand requires specific skills and knowledge beyond basic cell culture techniques. We have tried to assemble the most robust and current techniques, including both “conventional” and novel methods in the stem cell field. The world’s leading scientists with hands-on expertise were invited to write chapters on methods they are experts in or even established themselves. The book offers a variety of know-how from derivation to differentiation of stem cells, advances in differentiation of essential stem cells, and maintenance of their derivatives. Among them are derivatives of all three germ layers: cells of neural lineage, cardiomyocytes, hematopoietic, spermatogonial, pulmonary, and insulin-producing cells.

Each chapter is written as a short review of the field followed by an easy-to-follow set of protocols that would enable even the least experienced researchers to successfully establish the techniques in their laboratories. Such techniques include gene expression profiling, RNAi and gene delivery, embryo culture for human essential stem cell derivation, characterization and purification of stem cells, and tissue engineering using derivatives of stem cells.

We wish to thank the contributors for sharing their invaluable expertise in comprehensive and easy to follow step-by-step protocols which guide the reader through the challenges of stem cell isolation and differentiation.

Irina Kliminskaya, Ph.D.

Robert Lanza, M.D.