Proteins for Stem Cell Culture

Optimize Your Stem Cell Cultures with R&D Systems™ Proteins

Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into any cell type in the human body, making them powerful tools for exploring human development, modeling diseases, screening drugs, and developing novel therapies to treat genetic diseases or repair damaged tissues. Bio-Techne offers a comprehensive selection of R&D Systems cytokines and growth factors for culturing stem cells. Our proteins are rigorously tested to ensure that they provide high levels of bioactivity and lot-to-lot consistency so you can be confident that they will promote robust, reproducible stem cell expansion and differentiation. From basic research to clinical manufacturing, we offer research-grade, Animal-free, and GMP-grade proteins to meet all your research needs.

From Your Peers: Stem Cell Core Facility Directors Explain Why They Choose R&D Systems Cytokines for their Research

Multiple stem cell core facility directors describe their experiences using R&D Systems cytokines and growth factors. Learn why they prefer R&D Systems products for their research. The speakers on the video include Sunita D’Souza, Director of the Center for Modern Pediatric Diseases at St. Jude’s Medical Center; Deborah French, Director of the Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Barbara Corneo, Director of the Stem Cell Core Facility at Columbia University Medical School; and Wenli Yang, Director of the iPSC Core Facility at the University of Pennsylvania.

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells are capable of long-term self-renewal and have the potential to differentiate into cell types of the endoderm, mesoderm, or ectoderm. Both embryonic stem cells (ESCs) isolated from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) produced by reprogramming adult somatic cells into an embryonic-like pluripotent state are collectively called pluripotent stem cells. The discovery that somatic cells could be reprogrammed into iPSCs has provided a potentially limitless supply of stem cells for regenerative medicine, novel therapeutic approaches for repairing damaged tissues, and the possibility of patient-specific cell therapies, while bypassing the ethical issues associated with the use of ESCs.

*GMP-grade proteins are available for these molecules.

Browse Other Cytokines for Stem Cell Culture

Neural Stem Cells

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells of the nervous system that give rise to most, if not all the cells found in the central nervous system, including astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. Transplantation of neural stem cells is of particular interest as a potential cellular therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.

*GMP-grade proteins are available for these molecules.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate to form adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes. They are typically isolated from the bone marrow but MSCs can also be isolated from human umbilical cord blood, adipose, and synovium. Due to their multi-differentiation potential, mesenchymal stem cells have been widely investigated and applied in the area of regenerative medicine for their ability to regenerate musculoskeletal tissues, bone, cartilage, liver, nerve tissue, and skin. In addition, MSCs have been studied for their abilities to promote corneal and tracheal reconstruction, and myocardial damage repair.

*GMP-grade proteins are available for these molecules.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are multipotent cells found in the adult bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. These cells can develop into all of the different cell types found in the blood, including B cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, erythrocytes, and platelets. HSCs have been used to treat hematologic malignancies, blood disorders, liver disease, and to replace or repopulate patients’ hematopoietic systems.

*GMP-grade proteins are available for these molecules.

Key Benefits of Using R&D Systems Proteins for Stem Cell Culture

• High Levels of Biological Activity: Utilizing over 900 different bioassays, the biological activity of every protein we offer is tested in an appropriate bioassay to confirm that it meets our strict QC activity parameters.
• Lot-to-Lot Consistency: Minimal lot-to-lot variability is ensured by testing each new lot side-by-side with previous lots and with a master lot, so you don’t have to worry whether results will be reproducible over time.
• High Purity and Low Endotoxin Levels: Our proteins are typically over 95% pure and have a guaranteed industry-leading endotoxin level of ≤0.1 EU/ug by the LAL method.
• Seamless transition from preclinical research to clinical manufacturing: Our Animal-free RUO proteins originate from the same clone, sequence, and expression system as our Animal-free GMP-grade proteins, allowing for a seamless transition from preclinical research into clinical manufacturing.
• Supply Chain Reliability: Our team has the experience and the capacity to ensure that we can provide you with a stable supply of the proteins you need for your research.
• Bulk Proteins at Discounted Prices: We have the capacity and the expertise to scale up the production of any protein and we offer economical pricing on bulk orders.
• Custom Protein Capabilities: For specialized protein requests, you can always contact our Custom Protein Services team. We have the expertise and the systems necessary to develop the proteins required to advance your research.
• Comprehensive Portfolio of Reagents for Your Entire Workflow: Along with our proteins, we also offer a wide range of other products for stem cell culture and characterization, including Cultrex™ Basement Membrane Extracts and Extracellular Matrices, media and media supplements, Tocris™ small molecules, stem cell differentiation and functional identification kits, antibody panels, immunoassays, RNAscope™ ISH assays, and analytical instruments to automate different steps of your workflow.

R&D Systems Cytokines Are Frequently More Active than Leading Competitor’s Proteins

R&D Systems Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin/TPO Displays Higher Activity than Leading Competitors’ Thrombopoietin Proteins. The bioactivity of R&D Systems Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin (Catalog # 288-TPE; orange line) or recombinant human Thrombopoietin/TPO from two different competitors (green and purple lines) was assessed by measuring the ability of the proteins to stimulate proliferation of the MO7e human megakaryocytic leukemic cell line. The ED₅₀ for this effect for R&D Systems Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin is 0.05-0.5 ng/mL, which is over 2-fold more active than the two competitors’ proteins.

R&D Systems Recombinant Human Wnt-3a Displays Higher Activity than a Leading Competitor’s Human Wnt-3a Protein. The bioactivity of R&D Systems Recombinant Human Wnt-3a (Catalog # 5036-WN; orange line) or recombinant human Wnt-3a from another company (green line) was assessed by measuring the ability of the proteins to induce alkaline phosphatase production in the MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblast cell line. The ED₅₀ of R&D Systems Recombinant Human Wnt-3a was 1.7-fold better than the leading competitor’s Wnt-3a protein, with more than twice the maximum response.

R&D Systems Recombinant Human GDNF Displays Higher Activity than a Leading Competitor’s Recombinant Human GDNF Protein. The bioactivity of R&D Systems Recombinant Human GDNF (Catalog # 212-GD; orange line) or recombinant human GDNF from another company (blue line) was assessed by measuring the ability of the proteins to stimulate the proliferation of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, in the presence of Recombinant Human GFR alpha-1 (R&D Systems, Catalog # 714-GR). The activity of the R&D Systems GDNF protein was approximately 9-fold greater than the leading competitor’s GDNF protein.

R&D Systems Cytokines Are Rigorously Tested to Ensure High Lot-to-Lot Consistency

Lot-to-Lot Consistency Testing of Recombinant Human Noggin. The lot-to-lot consistency of R&D Systems Recombinant Human Noggin (Catalog # 6057-NG; orange, green, purple lines) was assessed by testing the ability of three independent lots of the protein to inhibit BMP-4-induced alkaline phosphatase production in the ATDC5 mouse chondrogenic cell line. The ED₅₀ for this effect is 0.02-0.16 ug/mL, in the presence of 50 ng/mL Recombinant Human BMP-4. Each trace on the graph represents data obtained from Recombinant Human Noggin from a different manufacturing run. The dark blue line on the graph is showing the ability of Recombinant Human BMP-4 (R&D Systems, Catalog # 314-BP; 50 ng/mL) to induce alkaline phosphatase production in the ATDC5 mouse chondrogenic cell line.

Lot-to-Lot Consistency Testing of Recombinant Human Wnt-3a. The lot-to-lot consistency of R&D Systems Recombinant Human Wnt-3a (Catalog # 5036-WN) was assessed by testing the ability of three independent lots of the protein to induce alkaline phosphatase production in the MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblast cell line. The ED₅₀ for this effect is <500 ng/mL. Each trace on the graph represents data obtained from Recombinant Human Wnt-3a from a different manufacturing run.

Lot-to-Lot Consistency Testing of Animal-free GMP-grade Recombinant Human VEGF₁₆₅. The lot-to-lot consistency of R&D Systems GMP-grade Recombinant Human VEGF₁₆₅ (Catalog # BT-VEGF-GMP) was assessed by testing the ability of three independent lots of the protein to stimulate proliferation of HUVEC human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The ED₅₀ for this effect is 1.5-12.0 ng/mL. Each trace on the graph represents data obtained from GMP-grade Recombinant Human VEGF₁₆₅ from a different manufacturing run.

Stem Cell-Related Resources

Cultrex™ Basement Membrane Extracts and Extracellular Matrices for
Stem Cell Culture

Media and Supplements for Stem Cell Culture

Small Molecules for Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Differentiation Kits and Media Supplements

Stem Cell Functional Identification Kits

Stem Cell Marker Antibody Panels

Organoid and 3-D Cell Culture Products

Optimizing Organoid Culture Conditions: The Importance of Growth Factor Bioactivity and Reagent Consistency Application Note

The Organoid Culture Handbook

Organoids Wall Poster

Animal-Free RUO Proteins

Animal-Free and Serum-Free Cell Culture

GMP-Grade Proteins

GMP Small Molecules