Two miRNA Clusters Reveal Alternative Paths in Late-Stage Reprogramming Investigators examined the paths taken by cells during the reprogramming process by following the transcriptional activation of two pluripotent miRNA clusters (mir-290 and mir-302) in individual cells in vivo and in vitro with knockin reporters. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Multifaceted Regulation of Somatic Cell Reprogramming by mRNA Translational Control Scientists showed that eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding proteins, which are translational repressors, have a multifaceted effect on the reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Functional Comparison of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Cells and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from the Same Donor Scientists derived mesenchymal stem cell-like cells (iMPCs) using four different methodologies from a newly established induced pluripotent stem cell line reprogrammed from human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), and compared the iMPCs directly to the originating parental BMSCs. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract Comparative Analysis of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells during Osteogenic Differentiation In Vitro Researchers provide a direct in vitro comparison of the osteogenic differentiation process in mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells from adult C57BL/6J mice. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract A Stem-Cell Based Bioassay to Critically Assess the Pathology of Dysfunctional Neuromuscular Junctions Scientists describe the generation and analysis of mature neuromuscular junctions formed between embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons and primary myotubes. [PLoS One] Full Article Established Monolayer Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Generates Heterogeneous, Neocortical-Like Neurons Stalled at a Stage Equivalent to Mid-Corticogenesis Researchers investigated whether mouse embryonic stem cells undergoing largely undirected neocortical differentiation in monolayer culture recapitulate progressive developmental programs of in vivo progenitor and post-mitotic differentiation, and whether they develop into specific neocortical subtypes. [J Comp Neurol] Abstract Ultrastructural Characteristics of Three Undifferentiated Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Lines and Their Differentiated Three-Dimensional Derivatives: A Comparative Study The fine structures of mouse embryonic stem cells grown as colonies and differentiated in three-dimensional culture as embryoid bodies were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract Ginsenosides May Enhance the Functionality of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes In Vitro Investigators evaluated the effects of red ginseng extract, ginsenoside-Rb1 (gRb1, panaxadiol), and ginsenoside-Re (gRe, panaxatriol) on the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and the functionality of derived cardiomyocytes. [Reprod Sci] Abstract Partial Somatic to Stem Cell Transformations Induced by Cell-Permeable Reprogramming Factors The production of pluripotent stem cells for therapeutic applications will require practical methods to achieve tight temporal and quantitative control of reprogramming factor (RF) expression, while avoiding the mutagenic potential of gene transfer. Toward this end, investigators developed cell-permeable RF proteins incorporating newly developed macromolecule transduction domains. [Sci Rep] Full Article |