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STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium

Defined, animal origin-free medium for differentiation of human ES and iPS cells to multiple lineages

STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium

Defined, animal origin-free medium for differentiation of human ES and iPS cells to multiple lineages

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Defined, animal origin-free medium for differentiation of human ES and iPS cells to multiple lineages
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Product Advantages


  • Compatible with TeSR™-cultured human ES and iPS cells

  • Compatible with adherent or EB culture differentiation protocols

  • Capable of supporting endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm differentiation, when specific cytokines or induction factors are added

Overview

STEMdiff™ APEL™ 2 Medium is a fully defined, serum-free and animal origin-free medium for the differentiation of human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. It is based on the APEL formulation published by Dr. Andrew Elefanty and lacks undefined components such as protein-free hybridoma medium.

STEMdiff™ APEL™ 2 can be used in adherent or embryoid body (EB)-based protocols, such as with AggreWell™. It can be used with a variety of different induction factors or cytokines to support differentiation along ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm lineages.
Subtype
Specialized Media
Cell Type
Pluripotent Stem Cells
Species
Human
Application
Cell Culture, Differentiation
Brand
STEMdiff
Area of Interest
Drug Discovery and Toxicity Testing, Stem Cell Biology
Formulation Category
Animal Origin-Free

Data Figures

Figure 1. Generation of Hematopoietic Progenitors Using STEMdiff™ APEL™2 in a Spin EB Protocol

Figure 1. Generation of Hematopoietic Progenitors Using STEMdiff™ APEL™2 in a Spin EB Protocol

(A) Embryoid bodies can be generated by seeding 8000 hPSCs/well of a 96-well plate or (B) 500 hPSCs per microwell of AggreWell™400 24-well plates using STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium supplemented with Rho Kinase Inhibitor. Images shown were taken 24 hours after seeding. For hematopoietic differentiation using STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium, EBs in 96-well plates were generated following a modified Zhu and Kaufman protocol (STEMdiff™ APEL™2 supplemented with Human Recombinant SCF, ACF, Human Recombinant VEGF-165, ACF, Human Recombinant BMP-4, Rho Kinase Inhibitor IV, and Human Recombinant bFGF). At Day 6, EBs were dissociated, and cell counts and flow cytometry were performed. Hematopoietic progenitors were generated in one hESC (H9) and two hiPSC (SCTi003-A and WLS- 1C) lines. Cells were gated on singlets and viability. (C) Representative flow plot of WLS-1C. (D) Quantification of CD34+ cells at Day 6 and (E) quantification of yield of viable CD34+ cells generated per 96-well plate. Error bars are shown as mean +/- SEM, n = 3.

Figure 2. EBs Generated with STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium Can Differentiate to NK Cells at High Efficiency

Figure 2. EBs Generated with STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium Can Differentiate to NK Cells at High Efficiency

Following 6 days of hematopoietic differentiation in STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium (Figure 1), 16 EBs were transferred into each well of a gelatin-coated 6-well plate and cultured for 28 days in NK cell differentiation medium described in the protocol. After 28 days, floating cells were harvested, and cell counts and flow cytometry were performed using a panel of NK markers: Anti-Human CD56 (NCAM) Antibody, Clone HCD56 (APC), Anti-Human CD45 Antibody, Clone HI30 (PE), Anti-Human CD16 Antibody, Clone 3G8 (FITC), KIR (clone HP-MA4), NKG2D, NKp44, and NKp46. (A) Cell surface marker expression on pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived CD56+ NK Cells. Cells were gated on singlets and viability. NK cells were generated in 2 cell lines: ES cell line (H9) and human iPS cell line (WLS-1C). (B) Quantification of CD45+CD56+ cells at day 28 and (C) quantification of yield of viable CD56+ cells generated per 6-well plate. Error bars are shown as mean +/- SEM, n=3.

Figure 3. EBs Generated with STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium Can Differentiation Into Functional NK Cells

Figure 3. EBs Generated with STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium Can Differentiation Into Functional NK Cells

Following 6 days of hematopoietic differentiation in STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium (Figure 1), EBs were transferred to gelatin-coated plates and cultured for 28 days in NK differentiation media following the . protocol. (A) After 28 days, hPSC-derived CD56+ NK cells were co-cultured with K562 target cells labeled with eBioscience™ Cell Proliferation Dye eFluor™ 670 for 5 hours at effector to target (E/T) ratios of 1:1 or 1:3. Positive controls were freshly isolated peripheral blood (PB) NK cells pre-cultured in ImmunoCult™ NK Cell Base Medium prior to co-culture with K562 target cells. K562 cells were cultured in the absence of NK cells as a negative control. The average percent target killing by hPSC-derived NK cells at a 1:1 E/T ratio ranged between 46% and 62%. For degranulation and IFN-γ production experiments, hPSC-derived CD56+ NK cells were co-cultured with K562 targets for 6 hours at an E/T ratio of 1:3, or left unstimulated in the absence of target cells. Co-cultures were set up in the presence of CD107a antibody, and monensin was added after 1 hour of co-culture. Cultures were stained with GloCell™ Fixable Viability Dye Red 780 and an anti-human CD56 antibody at the end of co-culture. (B) To measure degranulation, surface CD107a was assessed using flow cytometry. IFN-γ production was assessed following fixation and permeabilization of cells and staining with an antibody specific to human IFN-γ (clone 4S.B3). (C) Representative flow plots and (D) quantification show gating on fluorescently labeled CD56+CD107a+ NK cells. Upon stimulation, hPSC-derived CD56+ NK cells are able to degranulate, as shown by surface expression of CD107a (56 - 66% for K562 stimulation) and secrete IFN-γ (18 - 27% for K562 stimulation). Data are shown as mean among 2 - 3 independent experiments.

Figure 4. Generation of hPSC-Derived Hematopoietic Lineages Cultured in STEMdiff™ APEL™2 in 2D

Figure 4. Generation of hPSC-Derived Hematopoietic Lineages Cultured in STEMdiff™ APEL™2 in 2D

STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium can be used to generate multiple hematopoietic lineages from hPSCs in 2D when supplemented with appropriate cytokines. For example, . used STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium plus cytokines to generate CD34+/KDR+/CDH5+ hemogenic endothelial cells (not shown) and downstream erythroblasts. (A) By Day 18 of differentiation, red-colored erythroblasts were observed, and (B) by Day 30, flow cytometry showed a high proportion of cells were GlyA+/CD71- , markers of a mature erythrocyte population. . used STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium, StemSpan™-ACF Erythroid Expansion Medium, and Iscove's MDM plus cytokines to generate CD34+/CD31+ hemogenic endothelial cells (not shown) and downstream megakaryocyte cells. (C) Flow cytometry at Day 16 of differentiation demonstrated a CD41a+/CD42b+ cell population, markers of megakaryocyte cells. (D) By Day 21 of differentiation, immunostaining revealed expression of megakaryocyte markers and morphology typical of pro-platelets, indicated by the arrow. Adapted from . and ., both available under a . In an alternative protocol, CD34+/CD45+ hematopoietic progenitors were generated by seeding hPSCs onto Matrigel® and culturing for 12 days in STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium supplemented with cytokines. On Day 12, hematopoietic progenitors were harvested from the culture supernatant, and cell counts and flow cytometry were performed. (E) Representative image of a hiPSCl line (WLS-1C) at Day 12 and (F) flow cytometry plot for hematopoietic progenitor markers CD34+CD45+. In this protocol, hematopoietic progenitors were generated from 3 cell lines; hESC line (H9) and hiPSC lines (SCTi003-A & WLS-1C). (G) Hematopoietic progenitor marker expression and (H) yield of live cells expressing CD34+CD45+ markers at Day 12 are shown.

Figure 5. Generation of hPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells Using STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium

Figure 5. Generation of hPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells Using STEMdiff™ APEL™2 Medium

hPSCs were plated at 50,000 cells/cm2 and cultured for 6 days in STEMdiff™ APEL™2 plus cytokines (BMP4, CHIR, VEGF) to generate endothelial cells based on the published . 2D protocol. On Day 6, cells were harvested, and cell counts and flow cytometry were performed. Endothelial differentiation was performed in 3 cell lines, one hESC line (H9) and two hiPSC lines (SCTi003-A and WLS-1C ). (A) Representative image and (B) flow cytometry data for endothelial markers CD31+CD144+ of H9 at Day 6. Cells were gated on singlets and viability. (C) Quantification of CD31+CD144+ cells and (D) yield of viable CD31+CD144+ cells per cm2.

Protocols and Documentation

Find supporting information and directions for use in the Product Information Sheet or explore additional protocols below.

Document Type
Product Name
Catalog #
Lot #
Language
Document Type
Product Name
Catalog #
05275, 05270
Lot #
All
Language
English
Document Type
Product Name
Catalog #
05275, 05270
Lot #
All
Language
English

Applications

This product is designed for use in the following research area(s) as part of the highlighted workflow stage(s). Explore these workflows to learn more about the other products we offer to support each research area.

Resources and Publications

Publications (20)

Single cell transcriptomics of human kidney organoid endothelium reveals vessel growth processes and arterial maturation upon transplantation M. Koning et al. NPJ Regenerative Medicine 2025 Jul

Abstract

Kidney organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells lack a proper vasculature, hampering their applicability. Transplantation prevents the loss of organoid endothelial cells (ECs) observed in vitro, and promotes vascularization. In this study, we transplanted kidney organoids in chicken embryos and deployed single-cell RNA sequencing of ~12,000 organoid ECs to delineate their molecular landscape and identify key changes associated with transplantation. Transplantation significantly altered EC phenotypic composition. Consistent with angiogenesis, proliferating EC populations expanded 8 days after transplantation. Importantly, ECs underwent a major vein-to-arterial phenotypic shift. One of the transplantation-specific arterial EC populations, characterized by laminar shear stress response and Notch signalling, showed a similar transcriptome as human fetal kidney arterial/afferent arteriolar ECs. Consistently, transplantation-induced transcriptional changes involved proangiogenic and arteriogenic SOX7 transcription factor upregulation and regulon enrichment. These findings point to blood flow and candidate transcription factors such as SOX7 as possible targets to enhance kidney organoid vascularization. Subject terms: Nephrons, Transcriptomics, Angiogenesis, Angiogenesis, Stem cells, Stem-cell differentiation
FGF9 treatment reduces off-target chondrocytes from iPSC-derived kidney organoids V. Joris et al. NPJ Regenerative Medicine 2025 Aug

Abstract

Renal failure due to drug nephrotoxicity or disease is frequently observed in patients. The development of in vitro models able to recapitulate kidney biology offers new possibilities to study drug toxicity or model diseases. Induced pluripotent stem cell–derived kidney organoids already show promise, but several drawbacks must be overcome to maintain them in culture, among which is the presence of non-renal cell populations such as cartilage. We modified the culture protocol and maintained kidney organoids in medium containing FGF9 for 1 additional week compared to the control protocol (Takasato). In comparison to the control, the FGF9-treated kidney organoids had reduced cartilage at day 7 + 25 and diminished chondrocyte marker expression. Importantly, the renal structures assessed by immunofluorescence were unaffected by the FGF9 treatment. This reduction of cartilage produces a higher quality kidney organoid that can be maintained longer in culture to improve their maturation for further in vivo work. Subject terms: Pluripotent stem cells, Stem-cell differentiation, Kidney
Mutated LRRK2 induces a reactive phenotype and alters migration in human iPSC-derived pericyte-like cells S. Peltonen et al. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS 2024 Nov

Abstract

Pericytes play a crucial role in controlling inflammation and vascular functions in the central nervous system, which are disrupted in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Still, there is a lack of studies on the impact of pericytes on neurodegenerative diseases, and their involvement in the pathology of PD is unclear. Our objective was to investigate the molecular and functional differences between healthy pericytes and pericytes with the LRRK2 G2019S mutation, which is one of the most common mutations associated with PD. Our study employed pericyte-like cells obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells produced from PD patients with the LRRK2 G2019S mutation as well as from healthy individuals. We examined the gene expression profiles of the cells and analyzed how the alterations reflect on their functionality. We have shown differences in the expression of genes related to inflammation and angiogenesis. Furthermore, we observe modified migration speed in PD pericyte-like cells as well as enhanced secretion of inflammatory mediators, such as soluble VCAM-1 and MCP-1, in these pericyte-like cells following exposure to proinflammatory stimuli. In summary, our findings support the notion that pericytes play a role in the inflammatory and vascular changes observed in PD. Further investigation of pericytes could provide valuable insight into understanding the pathogenesis of PD. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12987-024-00592-y.