ESC & iPSC News 11.34 August 31, 2016 | |
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TOP STORYMapping Pluripotency Differences between Mice, Monkeys, and Humans Scientists showed that certain primate stem cells have pluripotency superior to some types derived from mice. The study maps how pluripotency differs among mice, monkeys, and humans, and illustrates for the first time a developmental counterpart of primate stem cells. [Press release from Kyoto University discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Directed Differentiation of Zebrafish Pluripotent Embryonic Cells to Functional Cardiomyocytes Investigators determined pluripotency window of zebrafish embryos by analyzing their gene-expression patterns of pluripotency factors together with markers of three germ layers, and have found that zebrafish undergoes a very narrow period of pluripotency maintenance from zygotic genome activation to a brief moment after oblong stage. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Researchers showed that treatment with TGFβ pathway inhibitor SB431542 together with ascorbic acid and EGF were required to promote hiPSCs-brown/brite adipose progenitor (BAP) differentiation at a level similar to adult-BAP differentiation. [Sci Rep] Full Article The authors fully characterized mitochondrial development, neurogenesis and synapse formation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived cortical neurons. Differentiation of hiPSCs to cortical neurons with extended period demonstrated mature neurophysiology characterization and functional synaptic network formation. [Sci Rep] Full Article Researchers aimed to determine the potential mitochondrial factor that controls the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into cardiac myocytes. They induced cardiomyocyte differentiation from mouse ESCs and performed microarray assays to assess messenger RNA expression changes at differentiation day eight compared with undifferentiated mESCs. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article Role of Jnk1 in Development of Neural Precursors Revealed by iPSC Modeling The authors report the generation of Jnk1 (Jnk1 KO)-deficient iPSCs from Jnk1 KO mouse tail-tip fibroblasts for modeling the neural disease development. The efficiency in the early induction of iPSCs was higher from Jnk1 KO fibroblasts than that of wild-type fibroblasts. [Oncotarget] Full Article Functional Human and Murine Tissue-Engineered Liver Is Generated from Adult Stem/Progenitor Cells After transplanting multicellular liver organoid units composed of a heterogeneous cellular population that includes adult stem and progenitor cells, both mouse and human tissue-engineered liver form in vivo. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release By employing an in vitro system of human embryonic stem cells, the authors observed that Lefty protein(s) are encased in exosomes for extracellular release. The exosomal- and cell-associated Lefty diverge in their proteolytic processing, and possess N-glycan structures of high mannose and complex nature. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Scientists investigated the differentiation potential of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from human foreskin fibroblasts into hepatocyte-like cells. [Cell Biochem Funct] Abstract To elucidate the relationship between the transcription factor binding signals and gene expression, the authors firstly analyzed the distributions of 57 kinds of transcription factors’ binding signals in human H1 embryonic stem cells. Their distributions in highly and lowly expressed genes were further compared. [Biosystems] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSTherapeutic Use of Stem Cells for Cardiovascular Disease Stem cell treatments are a desirable therapeutic option to regenerate myocardium and improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Several different types of cells have been explored, each with their own benefits and limitations. Induced pluripotent stem cells possess an embryonic-like state and therefore have a high proliferative capacity, but they also pose a risk of teratoma formation. [Clin Transl Med] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSAsterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that its Data Monitoring Committee has reviewed the safety data from the initial cohort of three patients dosed with 2 million cells, and a subsequent five patients in the second cohort dosed with 10 million cells, and has cleared the company to now begin dosing a third cohort of 5-8 complete cervical injury patients with the highest dose of 20 million cells. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release BioTime, Inc. announced the issuance of 31 new patents between July 3, 2015 and August 3, 2016 that are owned by or licensed to BioTime, or its family of companies. The new patents add to the over 700 issued and pending patents worldwide in the collective portfolio and further strengthen the company and its affiliates’ IP position in the field of regenerative medicine. [BioTime, Inc. (Business Wire)] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSTo make replication studies more useful, researchers must make more of them, funders must encourage them and journals must publish them. [Nature News] Editorial New Leader of NIH’s Research Watchdog Faces Staff Revolt Kathryn Partin, who took the helm of ORI in December 2015, has launched a top-to-bottom review of the office, which has been criticized for moving too slowly and meting out sanctions that lack teeth. [ScienceNews] Editorial South African Academics Warn of Universities on the Brink More than 1,200 South African academics are warning that the country’s university system is at a tipping point as a result of chronic underfunding. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW The 2nd International Conference on Aging and Disease (ICAD 2016) Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Research Technologist – Cancer Research (Penn State College of Medicine) NEW Group Leader – Stem Cells and Aging (University of Queensland) Technical Sales Representative (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) PhD Studentship – Fibrosis (National University of Ireland, Galway) Assistant Professor – Developmental Biology (Washington University School of Medicine) Core Staff Scientist – Cancer Research (Moffitt Cancer Center) Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Medicine (University of California, San Francisco) Postdoctoral Position – Biomedical Engineering (University of South Dakota) Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Stem Cell Biology (Yale University) Industrial Research Manager – Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (KU Leuven) Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology (University of California, Davis) Postdoctoral Position – Bone and Stem Cell Research (University of Connecticut Health) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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