Generation of Oligodendrocytes from Human Pluripotent and Embryonic Stem Cells

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) can be generated using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). By manipulating culture conditions, pluripotent cell types are serially guided through intermediary cell types, developing first into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) then OPCs before maturing as CNS-specific OLs. This procedure is conducted under adherent, feeder-free conditions to derive mature OLs in as few as 28 days.