ES/iPS cells possess both pluripotency, enabling differentiation into a wide variety of cell types, and self-renewal capacity, allowing them to proliferate while retaining their undifferentiated, pluripotent state.
Maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation induction into specific cell types are regulated by intracellular signaling pathways. Modulation of these pathways with small molecules enables efficient maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation induction. Growth factors such as cytokines exert similar effects. However, because growth factors are produced using Escherichia coli or cultured cells, there is a potential risk of contamination with endotoxin, animal-derived components, and lot-to-lot variability in performance.
In contrast, small molecules are generally synthesized chemically, eliminating the risk of contamination with endotoxin and animal-derived components. Furthermore, as they are manufactured through well-established synthetic processes, there is minimal lot-to-lot variation, enabling stable and reproducible culture results.
Fujifilm Wako provides a comprehensive range of reagents for ES/iPS cell culture, including media, sera, small molecules, and cytokines for the maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation induction.