Isolation of Primitive Endoderm, Mesoderm, Vascular Endothelial and Trophoblast Progenitors from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells BMP4-induced progenitors exhibited gene signatures of mesoderm, trophoblast and vascular endothelium, suggesting correspondence to gastrulation-stage primitive streak, chorion and allantois precursors, respectively. The same progenitor classes emerged during the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract Lysine-Specific Demethylase 2A (KDM2A) Normalizes Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Keratinocytes While attempting to improve proliferation of hES-cell-derived Nod keratinocytes, which grow poorly and have a short life span, scientists found that high expression of the KDM2A gene improves the poor proliferation of the cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Neuronal Properties, In Vivo Effects and Pathology of a Huntington’s Disease Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Results indicate that, although Huntington’s disease (HD)-induced pluripotent stem cell carrying 72 CAG repeats can form GABAergic neurons and give rise to functional effects in vivo, without showing an overt HD phenotype, it is highly susceptible to proteasome inhibition and develops HD pathology at later stages of transplantation. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Press Release High Basal γH2AX Levels Sustain Self-Renewal of Mouse Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Investigators report that not only mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), but also mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs), have high basal levels of phosphorylation of histone H2AX (γH2AX). They showed that basal γH2AX levels decrease upon ESC and iPSC differentiation and increase when the cells are treated with self-renewal enhancing small molecules. [Stem Cells] Abstract Atomic Force Mechanobiology of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes The authors describe a method using atomic force microscopy to quantify the mechanobiological properties of pluripotent, stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, including contraction force, rate, duration, and cellular elasticity. [PLoS One] Full Article Trace Metals Alter DNA Repair and Histone Modification Pathways Concurrently in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Investigators tested whether in vitro acute metal exposure, with or without recovery, alters epigenetic pathways in mouse embryonic stem cells. [Toxicol Lett] Abstract Activated Charcoal Composite Biomaterial Promotes Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Toward Neuronal Lineage Scientists showed for the first time, a natural coal-based activated charcoal composite biosubstrate can support and promote neuronal differentiation in human embryonic stem cells. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Generation of Regionally Specified Neural Progenitors and Functional Neurons from Human Embryonic Stem Cells under Defined Conditions Researchers have developed a method to generate human neural progenitors and neurons from human embryonic stem cells, which recapitulates human fetal brain development. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release |