Use platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) AA to differentiate human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neural progenitor cells into oligodendrocyte precursor cells (Piao et al. Cell Stem Cell, 2015). PDGF is a dimeric glycoprotein that signals through the receptor tyrosine kinases PDGFRα and PDGFRβ. It is a potent mitogen for cells of mesenchymal origin and induces migration through signaling pathways involving MEK/ERK, EGFR, Src, and PI3K/AKT (Kim et al. Growth Factors, 2007). PDGF-AA mediates proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and oligodendrocyte lineage differentiation through the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) (Hu et al. Neuroscience, 2008). Human recombinant PDGF-AA from STEMCELL comes lyophilized with ≥ 95% purity; EC50 ≤ 50 ng/mL; endotoxin levels verified ≤ 1 EU/μg protein. Alternative names: GDGF, Glioma-derived growth factor, ODGF, Osteosarcoma-derived growth factor, Platelet-derived growth factor-AA.