Virtual Karyotyping of Pluripotent Stem Cells on the Basis of Their Global Gene Expression Profiles The authors present a detailed protocol for determining the genomic integrity of pluripotent stem cells using their global gene expression profiles. [Nat Protoc] Abstract Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Recapitulate Hematopoietic Abnormalities of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia Researchers generated induced pluripotent stem cells from malignant cells of two juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia patients with somatic heterozygous p.E76K missense mutations in PTPN11, which encodes SHP-2, a non-receptor tyrosine phosphatase. [Blood] Abstract Geminin Restrains Mesendodermal Fate Acquisition of Embryonic Stem Cells and Is Associated with Antagonism of Wnt Signaling and Enhanced Polycomb-Mediated Repression Scientists investigated the role of Geminin, a nucleoprotein that interacts with both transcription factors and epigenetic regulatory complexes, during fate acquisition of mouse embryonic stem cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract Impaired Cell Reprogramming in Non-Homologous End Joining Deficient Cells Researchers presented data related to the reprogramming of primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts from severe combined immunodeficient (Scid) mice defective in DNA-PKcs: a key protein for Non-Homologous End Joining. Reduced numbers of induced pluripotent stem cell colonies were generated from Scid cells using reprogramming lentiviral vectors, being the reprogramming efficiency 4 to 7 fold lower than the observed in wt cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract HLA Engineering of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells The preparation of many different stem cell lines for clinical use is a daunting task. Researchers developed two distinct genetic engineering approaches that address this problem. First, they used a combination of gene targeting and mitotic recombination to derive human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-homozygous embryonic stem cell (ESC) subclones from an HLA-heterozygous parental line. Second, they derived HLA class I-negative cells by targeted disruption of both alleles of the Beta-2 Microglobulin gene in ESCs. [Mol Ther] Abstract Androgen Receptor Inclusions Acquire GRP78/BiP to Ameliorate Androgen-Induced Protein Misfolding Stress in Embryonic Stem Cells Scientists showed that mouse embryonic stem cells display stress-related cellular phenotypes in response to androgens during early phase of differentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Enhanced Differentiation of Human Neural Crest Stem Cells Towards Schwann Cell Lineage by Aligned Electrospun Fiber Matrix Researchers investigated the effect of nanofiber topography on the differentiation of human embryonic stem cell-derived neural crest stem cells towards the Schwann cell lineage. [Acta Biomater] Abstract Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy Reveals Unique Phenotypes for Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines and Their Progeny Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy was employed to elucidate the macromolecular phenotype of human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated progeny. [J Biophotonics] Abstract Efficient and Reproducible Myogenic Differentiation from Human iPS Cells: Prospects for Modeling Miyoshi Myopathy In Vitro Investigators report the rapid, efficient, and reproducible differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into mature myocytes. They demonstrated that inducible expression of myogenic differentiation1 in immature hiPSCs for at least five days drives cells along the myogenic lineage, with efficiencies reaching 70-90%. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release Two Differential Flows in a Bioreactor Promoted Platelet Generation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Megakaryocytes Researchers demonstrated the proof-of-concept by a two-dimensional flow culture system that enabled us to increase platelet yield from human embryonic stem cell or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived megakaryocytes using a biomimetic artificial blood vessel system. [Exp Hematol] Abstract |