Multiple Agilent Microarray Genomic Platforms, Online Design Tool Used to Examine Mouse Epiblast Cells and Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Similarities, Differences

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 26, 2007 -- Using a variety of Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) genomics tools, researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the University of Oxford, U.K., have achieved a major milestone in solving some of the perplexing differences between embryonic stem (ES) cells of humans and mice, according to a paper published in the current issue of Nature (Vol. 448 No. 7150).The paper, titled "New Cell Lines from Mouse Epiblast Share Defining Features with Human Embryonic Stem Cells," describes how the team, led by Ron McKay, Ph.D., derived a new type of pluripotent (able to become any type of tissue) ES cell from mouse embryos that have been implanted in the uterus.

These epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) are made from the epiblast, the part of the embryo that gives rise to all adult tissues, according to the researchers. EpiSCs are described as being distinct from classic mouse ES cells and share many key features of human EScells. "The EpiSCs provide a powerful model to understand the regulation of the mammalian epiblast, the most proximal precursor to all adult cells including those that are a current focus in the field of regenerative medicine," said Josh Chenoweth, Ph.D., a co-author on the study. "Our characterization of the EpiSCs and human ES cells using global epigenetic characterization and expression analysis tells us that we should think about human ES cells as the developmental equivalent of the epiblast." The Nature Editor's Summary reads, "This should provide an important experimental model to accelerate the use of human ES cells in research and eventually, perhaps, in therapy." The researchers used Agilent microarrays to analyze differences and similarities between mouse ES cells, human ES cells and mouse EpiSCs.

The applications included gene expression, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and chromatin immuno precipitation on a chip (ChIP-on-chip). Agilent's online microarray design tool, eArray, and a variety of Agilent informatics software also played roles in the investigation. "The concept of systems biology has been around for some time, but we're excited to see integrative analysis producing results using multiple applications from our Genomics portfolio," said Jay Kaufman, Agilentmarketing director, Genomics. "We recognize that the trend among scientists is to examine biological processes from multiple perspectives, and we continue to add applications accordingly." The full text of the paper can be viewed at www.nature.com/nature/journal/v448/n7150/full/nature05950.html .  For more information about the Agilent gene expression, CGH, ChIP-on-chip microarrays, or the entire Agilent portfolio of microarrays, reagents, instruments and software, please visit www.opengenomics.com.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, lifesciences and chemical analysis. The company's 19,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $5.0billion in fiscal year 2006. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com .

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Press release URL:http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2007/09jul-ca07043.html

Additional metadata keywords (for Web use only): Preserved tumor samples, cancer research, clinical research, microarrays

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