ESC & iPSC News 11.41 October 19, 2016 | |
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TOP STORYThe ability to generate hematopoietic stem cells from human pluripotent cells would enable many biomedical applications. Scientists found that hematopoietic CD34+ cells in spin embryoid bodies derived from human embryonic stem cells lack HOXA expression compared with repopulation-competent human cord blood CD34+ cells, indicating incorrect mesoderm patterning. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Reconstitution In Vitro of the Entire Cycle of the Mouse Female Germ Line Investigators report successful reconstitution in vitro of the entire process of oogenesis from mouse pluripotent stem cells. [Nature] Abstract | Editorial Scientists delineated the function of the PHD-finger protein 5a (Phf5a) in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) self-renewal and ascribe its role in regulating pluripotency, cellular reprogramming and myoblast specification. They demonstrated that Phf5a is essential for maintaining pluripotency, since depleted ESCs exhibit hallmarks of differentiation. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract Purification of Functional Human ES and iPSC-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Progenitors Using LRTM1 The authors employ a double selection strategy for cells expressing both CORIN and LMX1A::GFP, and report a cell surface marker to enrich midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) progenitors, LRTM1. When transplanted into 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived LRTM1+ cells survive and differentiate into mDA neurons in vivo, resulting in a significant improvement in motor behavior without tumor formation. [Nat Commun] Full Article Self-Organization of Human Embryonic Stem Cells on Micropatterns Fate allocation in the gastrulating embryo is spatially organized as cells differentiate into specialized cell types depending on their positions with respect to the body axes. There is a need for in vitro protocols that allow the study of spatial organization associated with this developmental transition. Investigators describe a micropatterning approach in which human embryonic stem cells are confined to disk-shaped, submillimeter colonies. [Nat Protoc] Abstract A Balance between Secreted Inhibitors and Edge Sensing Controls Gastruloid Self-Organization To model patterning events in the human embryo, the authors used colonies of human embryonic stem cells grown on micropatterned substrate and differentiated with BMP4. These gastruloids recapitulate the embryonic arrangement of the mammalian germ layers and provide an assay to assess the structural and signaling mechanisms patterning the human gastrula. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Scientists tested whether it is possible to accelerate aging in vitro to trigger late-onset disease phenotypes in an iPSC model of Parkinson’s Disease. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Nono, a Bivalent Domain Factor, Regulates Erk Signaling and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency Researchers report that Nono loss results in robust self-renewing mouse embryonic stem cells with epigenomic and transcriptomic features resembling the 2i (GSK and Erk inhibitors)-induced “ground state.” Erk interacts with and is required for Nono localization to a subset of bivalent genes that have high levels of poised RNA polymerase. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Researchers report the generation of GATA2w/eGFP reporter in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to mark cells expressing GATA2, a critical gene for endothelial to hematopoietic transition. They showed that during differentiation, functional hemogenic endothelial cells are almost exclusively GATA2/eGFP+. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article Researchers report that pancreatic islet-like clusters derived from hESCs are functionally capable of glucose-responsive insulin secretion as well as therapeutic effects. [Sci Rep] Full Article Scientists describe the first fully defined feeder- and xenogeneic-free protocol for the generation of ventral midbrain dopamine neurons from human pluripotent stem cell and utilize two novel reporter knock-in lines for in-depth in vitro and in vivo tracking. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSProgress Towards Generation of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells Efficient derivation of functional hematopoietic stem cells with the capability for definitive in vivo engraftment and multi-lineage potential remains challenging. The authors discuss recent progress and strategies to overcome obstacles that have thwarted past efforts. In addition, they review promising advances in the generation of mature blood lineages and the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSSalk Professor Awarded Multimillion Dollar NIH Pioneer Award for Innovations in Cell Biology Salk Professor Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte has been awarded a 2016 National Institutes of Health Pioneer Award, a highly coveted grant that supports the most innovative biomedical research, for his work in stem cell biology and regeneration. [Salk Institute for Biological Studie] Press Release Mount Sinai Receives $10 Million Grant to Study Graft vs. Host Disease Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have been awarded a $10 million from the National Cancer Institute to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of acute graft-versus-host disease, a common side effect that occurs after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and to develop novel therapeutic strategies for BMT patients with cancer that begin in the cells of blood-forming tissue or hematologic malignancies. [Mount Sinai Health System] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSReports of ‘Three-Parent Babies’ Multiply Claims of infants created using mitochondrial-replacement techniques stir scientific and ethical debate. [Nature News] Editorial How Republicans Reshaped the House Science Committee Lamar Smith has made his mark on science. As chairman of the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Texas Republican has launched dozens of investigations into alleged wrongdoing by scientists, environmental groups and government officials. And he shows no signs of slowing down. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW The Biology of Regenerative Medicine Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells (University of California – San Francisco) Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Research Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cells Self-Renewal Program and Cell Cycle (KU Leuven) Faculty Position – Stem Cell Research (Stanford University) Faculty Position – Stem Cell Research (Children’s Research Institute) Assistant or Associate Member – Stem CellGene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (The Hospital for Sick Children) Chair – Medical Biology (Masaryk University) Research Technologist – Cancer Research (Penn State College of Medicine) 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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Home ESC & iPSC News Volume 11.41 | Oct 19 2016