Forskolin

Forskolin is a cell permeable activator and has been used to potentiate neuron differentiation as well as maintain human ES cells in a naïve or ground state. Forskolin induces differentiation of various cell types and activates pregnane X receptor (PXR) and FXR. Forskolin exerts an inotropic effect on the heart, has platelet antiaggregatory and antihypertensive actions. and also induces autophagy.

Forskolin has been shown to enable chemical reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to iPS cells in combination with CHIR99021 (SML01B), Tranylcypromine, Valproic Acid, 3-Deazaneplanocin A, and RepSox. (SML06B).

Applications

• Neural stem and progenitor cell, neurons, pluripotent stem cells, neuronal differentiation, reprogramming of fibroblasts, iPSCs
• Maintenance, Reprogramming

References and Publications

• Fang, Jun, et al. 2021. Chemical cocktail activates stem cells, promotes repair after muscle damage. Nat Biomed Eng.
• Robbins JD, et al. 1996. Forskolin carbamates: binding and activation studies with type I adenylyl cyclase. J Med Chem. 39(14):2745-52.
• Matsumiya W, et al. 2012. Forskolin modifies retinal vascular development in Mrp4-knockout mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 53(13):8029-35.
• Mayati A, et al. 2018. Functional polarization of human hepatoma HepaRG cells in response to forskolin. Sci Rep. 8(1):16115.
• Awad JA, et al. 1983. Interactions of forskolin and adenylate cyclase. Effects on substrate kinetics and protection against inactivation by heat and N-ethylmaleimide. J Biol Chem. 258(5):2960-5.
• Seamon KB, et al. 1983. Structure-activity relationships for activation of adenylate cyclase by the diterpene forskolin and its derivatives. J Med Chem. (3):436-9.
• Hou, P., et al. 2013. Pluripotent stem cells induced from mouse somatic cells by small-molecule compounds. Science 341: 651-654.