ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.39 | Oct 9 2019

TOP STORY

Engineering of Human Brain Organoids with a Functional Vascular-Like System

Scientists engineered human ESCs to ectopically express human ETS variant 2 (ETV2). ETV2-expressing cells in human cortical organoids (hCOs) contributed to forming a complex vascular-like network in hCOs. [Nat Methods] Abstract

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Directing Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells toward Androgen-Producing Leydig Cells Rather Than Adrenal Cells

Researchers successfully induced the differentiation of human iPSCs into either human Leydig-like or adrenal-like cells using chemically defined culture conditions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

3D Bioprinting of Liver Spheroids Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Sustain Liver Function and Viability In Vitro

The authors evaluated the impacts of using single cell dispersion of iPS-derived parenchymal versus using iPS-derived hepatocyte-like cells spheroids, both in combination with non-parenchymal cells, into final liver tissue functionality. [Biofabrication] Abstract

Inhibition of Human Y Chromosome Gene, SRY, Promotes Naïve State of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators explored the role of Y chromosome genes on human PSCs by investigating differential expressions of the male-specific region of the Y chromosome genes in primed and naïve cells. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Cellular Reprogramming by Single‐Cell Fusion with Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in Pig

Investigators explored a novel cell fusion system, termed single‐cell fusion, the efficiency was significantly improved verified by fusion of mouse embryonic stem cells, comparing to traditional polyethylene glycol fusion. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Non-Viral Vector Based Gene Transfection with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived Cardiomyocytes

Human iPSC (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes differentiated from PCBC hiPSCs were used as a cell model to be transfected with plasmids carrying green fluorescence protein using polyethylenimine (PEI), including transporter 5 transfection reagent and PEI25, and liposome, including lipofectamine-2000, lipofectamine-3000, and Lipofectamine STEM. [Sci Rep] Full Article

iPSC-Derived Embryoid Bodies as Models of c-Met-Mutated Hereditary Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

Scientists report the generation of iPSCs from the somatic cells of a patient with hereditary c-met-mutated papillary renal cell carcinoma. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Differential Effects of Fluoxetine and Venlafaxine in the Neural Embryonic Stem Cell Test (ESTn) Revealed by a Cell Lineage Map

The authors define the biological domain of ESTn based on the expression of selective markers for certain cell types, and investigated the effects of two antidepressants, fluoxetine and venlafaxine, on neural differentiation. [Neurotoxicology] Abstract

Cytoplasmic Fusion between an Enlarged Embryonic Stem Cell and a Somatic Cell Using a Microtunnel Device

Embryonic stem (ES) cell enlargement was carried out with the colchicine derivative demecolcine (DC). DC induced enlargement of ES cells without loss of their stemness. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Detection of Small Numbers of iPSCs in Different Heterogeneous Cell Mixtures with Highly Sensitive Droplet Digital PCR

Researchers describe searches for iPS cells in heterogeneous cell mixtures, using two different methods—quantitative RT-PCR and droplet digital PCR. In experiments with various heterogeneous mixtures, including mixtures with neural stem cells, they found that the OCT4, TDGF1 and LIN28 genes were the best markers for such a search, and droplet digital PCR provides the greatest measurement accuracy, which was 0.002%. [Mol Biol Rep] Abstract

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Interplay between Metabolites and the Epigenome in Regulating Embryonic and Adult Stem Cell Potency and Maintenance

The authors highlight the significance of metabolism in regulating stem cell homeostasis, cell state, and differentiation capacity, using metabolic regulation of embryonic and adult muscle stem cells as examples, and cast light on the interaction between cellular metabolism and epigenetics. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field.

Cynata Advances Toward Phase II Clinical Trial of Cymerus™ MSCs in Patients with Osteoarthritis

Cynata Therapeutics Limited provided an update on start-up activities of a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate Cynata’s Cymerus™ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment for osteoarthritis, following the signing of an agreement with the University of Sydney. [Cynata Therapeutics Limited (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

BrainStorm Announces Notice of US Patent Allowance for NurOwn^® Cellular Therapeutic Technology Platform

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for BrainStorm’s new US Patent Application, number: 15/113,105, titled: ‘Method of Qualifying Cells’. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Biologists Who Decoded How Cells Sense Oxygen Win Medicine Nobel

A trio of researchers has won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for describing how cells sense and respond to changing oxygen levels by switching genes on and off — a discovery that has been key in understanding human diseases such as cancer and anaemia. [Nature News] Editorial

Split Decisions: How Brexit Has Taken a Toll on Five Researchers

On 23 June 2016, 34 million U.K. citizens took to the polls to vote on a simple, fateful question: Should the United Kingdom remain a part of the European Union, or should it leave? Nearly 52%—a majority of 1.3 million—wanted out, and conservative politicians vowed to carry out the people’s wishes. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW ISSCR 2020 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
March 13-15, 2020
Shanghai, China

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

NEW PhD Position – Human Inducible Stem Cells (University of Fribourg)

Postdoctoral Position – Nuclear RNA Decay and Stem Cell Differentiation (Aarhus University)

Research Associate – Computational Image Analysis and AI (University of Bristol)

Research Associate – Human IPSC Culture (Bayer)

Group Leader – Stem Cell Science (University of Cambridge)

Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology (Children’s Research Institute at UT Southwestern)

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell and Bioinformatics (Indiana University School of Medicine)

Assistant Specialist – Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Striated Muscle Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genetics and Epigenomics of iPSC Biology (Stanford University)

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