ESC & iPSC News Volume 6.32 | Aug 17 2011

Discovery May Eliminate Potentially Lethal Side Effect of Stem Cell Therapy
Researchers have developed a way to remove pluripotent human embryonic stem cells from their progeny before the differentiated cells are used in humans. [Press release from Stanford School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature Biotechnology]

Scientists Offer New Insight into the Regulation of Stem Cells and Cancer Cells
Scientists have gained new insight into the delicate relationship between two proteins that, when out of balance, can prevent the normal development of stem cells in the heart and may also be important in some types of cancer. [Press release from The J. David Gladstone Institute discussing online prepublication in Nature Cell Biology]

Cells Derived from Pluripotent Stem Cells Are Developmentally Immature
Stem cell researchers have discovered that three types of cells derived from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are similar to each other, but are much more developmentally immature than previously thought when compared to those same cell types taken directly from human tissue. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in Cell Research]

An Antibody Against SSEA-5 Glycan on Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Enables Removal of Teratoma-Forming Cells
Scientists raised a monoclonal antibody against human embryonic stem cells, designated anti–stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-5, which binds a previously unidentified antigen highly and specifically expressed on human pluripotent stem cells—the H type-1 glycan. [Nat Biotechnol]

Embryonic Stem Cells Require Wnt Proteins to Prevent Differentiation to Epiblast Stem Cells
Researchers show here that paracrine and autocrine Wnt signals are essential self-renewal factors for embryonic stem cells, and are required to inhibit their differentiation into epiblast stem cells. [Nat Cell Biol]

Notch Post-Translationally Regulates β-Catenin Protein in Stem and Progenitor Cells
Here, researchers show that membrane-bound Notch physically associates with unphosphorylated (active) β-catenin in stem and colon cancer cells and negatively regulates post-translational accumulation of active β-catenin protein. [Nat Cell Biol]

Defining the Nature of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Progeny
To determine whether human embryonic stem cells and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) make equivalent progeny, and whether either makes cells that are analogous to tissue-derived cells, investigators performed comprehensive transcriptome profiling of purified PSC derivatives and their tissue-derived counterparts. [Cell Res]

Directing Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation by Non-Viral Delivery of siRNA in 3D Culture
Here scientists have developed an efficient system for delivering siRNA to human embryonic stem cells in a 3D culture matrix using lipid-like materials. [Biomaterials]

Endothelial Cells Derived from Human iPSCS Increase Capillary Density and Improve Perfusion in a Mouse Model of Peripheral Arterial Disease
In the present study, researchers investigated the potential of endothelial cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to promote the perfusion of ischemic tissue in a murine model of peripheral arterial disease. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol]

Intravenous Delivery of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Attenuates Endotoxin-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice
Scientists investigated the effect of induced pluripotent stem cells in modifying the pathophysiology of endotoxin-induced acute lung injury. [Chest]

Distinct Effects of Importin α2 and α4 on Oct3/4 Localization and Expression in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
This study identifies for the first time independent roles for specific importin alphas (IMPαs) in murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs), showing that mESC differentiation is accompanied by dynamic changes in the levels of transcripts encoding the IMPs, IMPα3, IMPα4, IMPβ1, and IPO5. [FASEB J]

Generation of Melanocytes from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Here, investigators developed an efficient method for differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells into melanocytes. [J Invest Dermatol]

Induction of Cardiomyogenesis in Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Definitive Endoderm
Researchers addressed whether human definitive endoderm cells can mimic the ability of anterolateral endoderm to induce cardiac myogenesis. [Stem Cells Dev]

CI Awarded $1.86 Million Stem Cell Research Training Grant
California State University Channel Islands (CI) recently won a $1.86 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to help prepare graduate students for careers in stem cell research. [California State University Channel Islands Press Release]

Cellular Dynamics Launches Innovative Research Grant Program
Cellular Dynamics International announced the recent launch of its Innovative Research Grant Program. [Cellular Dynamics International Press Release]

Kyoto University Granted Its First iPS Cell Patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Kyoto University announced that it was granted its first patent associated with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [Kyoto University Center for iPS Cell Research and Application Press Release]

Embryonic Stem-Cell Approvals Rise
Research using human embryonic stem- cell lines approved under President Barack Obama is accelerating, boosting a scientific field that’s been dogged by legal and political threats. [Obama Administration, United States]

Former NIH Director Bernadine Healy Dies
Bernadine Healy, a cardiologist who was the first woman to direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1991 to 1993, died on Saturday from brain cancer. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

U.K. Needs to Stop ‘Muddling’ on Gene Patents, Says Report
The Human Genetics Commission issued a plea to health and research institutions to develop a coherent policy on intellectual property, particularly patents on diagnostic tools. [The Human Genetics Commission, United Kingdom]

U.K. Slashes Science and Engineering Ph.D.s
The United Kingdom’s Engineering and Physical Science Research Council has revealed that it may fund 1000 fewer new Ph.D.s in the upcoming academic year than in 2010-11. [Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, United Kingdom]

NEW 33rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
August 30 – September 3, 2011
Boston, United States

NEW International Society for Cell Therapy North American Regional Meeting
September 15-16, 2011
Charlottesville, United States

NEW International Society for Stem Cell Research 10th Annual Meeting
June 13-16, 2012
Yokohama, Japan

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the ESC & iPSC community.

Lab Technologist – Tissue Culture (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research and Development Technologist, hPSC Media (STEMCELL Technologies)

Scientist (iPSC) (STEMCELL Technologies)

Contract Assay Service Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research and Development Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies)

PhD Research Position in the Department of Biological Chemistry (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Career Development Fellows (Medical Research Council)

Research Group Leader – Human Epigenomics and Stem Cells (MRC Clinical Sciences Centre)

Postdoctoral Position (Nanyang Technological University)

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