Transcriptome and Proteome Characterization of Surface Ectoderm Cells Differentiated from Human iPSCs

This study validated a protocol using BMP4 and the γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT to induce surface ectoderm (SE) differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The differentiated SE cells expressed markers indicating their commitment to the SE lineage. Integrated quantitative transcriptomic and proteomic profiling showed that TGFβ superfamily signaling pathways were more active in SE cells compared to hiPSCs, and SE differentiation was enhanced by blocking TGFβ-RI signaling. The study also found distinct gene expression patterns and signaling networks between SE cells and neural ectoderm cells. These findings advanced the understanding of early human SE cell development and supported future research in SE-derived tissue development, disease pathogenesis, and regenerative medicine.