Transcriptomes during lens differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

In order to examine the fundamental mechanisms governing lens cells differentiation, we analyzed the transcriptome changes during the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into lens cells and lentoid bodies. The differentiation of hESCs was induced by a sequential treatments of growth factors. In briefly,Noggin (100ng/ul) was applied from day0 to day6; then a combination ofbFGF (100ng/ul) and BMP4/7 (20 ng/ml)was addedfrom day 7 to day 18, followed by bFGF (100ng/ul) and Wnt3a(20 ng/ml) from day19 to day32. Cells at day 0, day 6, day 18 and day 32 were collected for analysis of paired-end RNA sequencing using Illuminia Hiseq 2500. The results revealed dynamic transcription network during lentoid bodies differentiation. We observed differential expression of genes involved insignaling pathways, which were considered to be necessary for lens development. These results provide a valuable resource for studying the mechanisms regulating in vitro lentoid body differentiation of hESCs and getting a glimpse of signaling pathway network in lens embryonic development.