Gene expression of differentiating hESCs into otic progenitors

Stem cells, with their potential to generate different lineages, could offer a solution by replacing damaged or lost cells within the inner ear. We have shown that human embryonic stem cells can be induced to differentiate into otic progenitors, and then into hair cell-like cells and neurons that display expected electrophysiological properties. More importantly, once these otic progenitors are transplanted into animals with induced hearing loss, they differentiate and elicit a significant recovery of auditory function. The generation of otic progenitors is triggered by FGF signalling. In this dataset we have analysed the global gene expression profile of undifferentiated hESCs and compared with cultures that have been treated with FGF3 and 10, the two ligands involved in otic induction, or cultures that have been allowed to differentiate under basal conditions without FGF (DFNB). Global gene expression profiles were obtained from hESC lines H14, Shef3 and Shef1 by hybridizing samples from undifferentiated cells (Day 0) and cells exposed to either FGF3+10- or DFNB medium for 14 days. Three experimental conditions are therefore produced: hESC, FGF3+10 and DFNB.

干细胞具备分化为多种细胞谱系的潜能，可通过替代内耳内受损或缺失的细胞，为听力损伤的治疗提供全新方案。本研究证实，人类胚胎干细胞（human embryonic stem cells, hESCs）可被诱导分化为耳祖细胞，进而转化为毛细胞样细胞与神经元，且上述细胞均展现出预期的电生理特性。更为关键的是，将此类耳祖细胞移植至经诱导构建的听力损伤动物模型中时，其可在体内分化并显著恢复受试动物的听觉功能。

耳祖细胞的生成由成纤维细胞生长因子（fibroblast growth factor, FGF）信号通路触发。本数据集针对未分化的人类胚胎干细胞开展了全基因表达谱分析，并与两类培养体系进行比对：其一为经耳诱导过程中关键的两种配体——成纤维细胞生长因子3（FGF3）与成纤维细胞生长因子10（FGF10）处理的培养物；其二为未添加FGF、于基础培养条件下自然分化的培养物（DFNB）。

本研究通过基因杂交技术，对三株人类胚胎干细胞系H14、Shef3及Shef1的样本进行全基因表达谱检测：样本分别取自未分化细胞（第0天），以及分别经FGF3+10培养基或DFNB培养基培养14天的细胞。

综上，本数据集共包含三种实验条件组：未分化人类胚胎干细胞组（hESC）、FGF3+10处理组与DFNB自然分化组。