Table 1.

Summary of different human in vitro astrocyte protocols.

Citation Reference	Summary
Krencik et al. (2011)	Immature astrocytes specifiable to the forebrain or spinal cord with FGF8 or RA, respectively, from hiPSCs using a 180-day protocol. Progenitors expanded with EGF + FGF2 for >150 days and then terminally differentiated with CNTF for 7 days. Astrocytes elicited electrophysiological responses to glutamate, propagated calcium waves upon mechanical stimulation, performed glutamate uptake and promoted synapse formation of co-cultured neurons.
Gupta et al. (2012)	Human ES cell derived astrocytes obtained through a combination of BMP-mediated Smad and LIF-mediated JAK-STAT signalling. Neuroprotective properties of astrocyte conditioned media after exposure of human ES cell derived neurons to oxidative stress through glutathione-dependent and independent mechanisms.
Serio et al. (2013)	Astrocytes from TARDBP mutant hiPSCs. NPCs grown in suspension as neurospheres, enriched with LIF and EGF (4−6wks) followed by expansion with EGF and FGF2 and then CNTF for terminal differentiation.
Meyer et al. (2014)	Fibroblast derived astrocytes from SOD1A4V fALS, C9ORF72 fALS and sporadic ALS patients. Conversion to tripotent iNPCs through infection with Sox2, KLF4, Oct3/4, c-Myc, followed by switch to medium containing FGF2, EGF and heparin. Astrocytic differentiation initiated through seeding in NPC medium in fibronectin-coated dish, followed by 10% FBS and 0.3% N2.
Zhang et al. (2016)	Purification of astrocytes from fetal, juvenile and adult brains via immunopanning technique using anti-HepaCAM antibodies.
Hall et al. (2017)	iPSCs from VCP mutant fibroblasts. Astrocytes generated in monoculture throughout - FGF used to expand and BMP4 and LIF used to terminally differentiate.
Sloan et al. (2017)	Patterning 3D brain spheroids from hiPSCs to dorsal or ventral forebrain fate for up to 590 days. Astrocytes isolated by immunopanning with anti-HepaCAM antibodies perform phagocytic function, promote synapse formation and calcium signalling of co-cultured neurons.
Li et al. (2018)	Expression of NFIA and SOX9 speeds up iPSC derived astrocyte generation which display functional attributes including promoting neurite outgrowth, calcium waves after mechanical stimulation and glutamate uptake.