SCIENCE NEWS Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Patients with a Premature Aging Disorder Bring Surprises In a study that ties stem cell research together with research on aging and cancer, investigators have used genetic reprogramming to create cells from patients with a rare premature-aging disorder that are able to rebuild their telomeres. [Press release from the Children's Hospital Boston discussing the online prepublication in Nature] McGill Discovery Offers Hope in Diabetes The team discovered mutations in RFX6 and found that these mutations are the cause of a rare syndrome of neonatal diabetes involving the complete absence of islets of Langerhans. [Press release from McGill University discussing the online prepublication in Nature] 'Blindfold Handshake' in the Cell Prevents Diseases Researchers have uncovered how cells ensure inheritance of their genetic information in order to prevent diseases. [Press release from University of Dundee discussing the online prepublication in Developmental Cell] Scientists Discover Molecular Pathway for Organ Tissue Regeneration and Repair Scientists have discovered a molecular pathway that works through the immune system to regenerate damaged kidney tissues and may lead to new therapies for repairing injury in a number of organs. [Press release from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center discussing the online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA] 'Death' Proteins Help Stem Cells Develop: Study Stem cells that can repair and regenerate tissues may need to get their DNA chopped up as a normal part of growing up and turning into specialized cells like muscle cells, Ottawa researchers have found. [Press release from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation discussing the online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA] Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Not Yet Reliable for Clinical Use A new study comparing the ability of induced cells and embryonic cells to morph into the cells of the brain has found that induced cells – even those free of the genetic factors used to program their all-purpose qualities – differentiate less efficiently and faithfully than their embryonic counterparts. [Press release from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine discussing the online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA] Stem Cell Capsules to Target Broken Bones A new way of delivering stem cells could one day lead to a single injection to mend broken or diseased bones and joints, French and Australian scientists say. [Press release from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation discussing the online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA] Gene Transfer: Stick-On Protection A research team has now designed a new polymer coating that protects viral vectors – making them resistant to serum within the body. [Press release from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology of A*STAR discussing the online prepublication in Biomaterials] Personalized Blood Tests for Cancer Using Whole Genome Sequence Scientists have used data from the whole genome sequencing of cancer patients to develop individualized blood tests they believe can help physicians tailor patients' treatments. [Press release from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center discussing the online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine] Athersys Announces Completion of Patient Enrollment in Phase I Study of Multistem® in Acute Myocardial Infarction Athersys, Inc. announced that it has completed patient enrollment for its phase I clinical trial of MultiStem®, its allogeneic stem cell therapy product, administered to individuals following acute myocardial infarction. [Athersys, Inc. Press Release] Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Trap-Eye Shows Positive Results in Phase II Study in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema Bayer HealthCare AG and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that vascular endothelial growth factor Trap-Eye showed positive results in a Phase II study in patients with Diabetic Macular Edema. [Bayer HealthCare AG Press Release] CURRENT PUBLICATIONS Telomere Elongation in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Dyskeratosis Congenita Patients Researchers show that reprogrammed dyskeratosis congenita cells overcome a critical limitation in telomerase RNA component levels to restore telomere maintenance and self-renewal. [Nature] Rfx6 Directs Islet Formation and Insulin Production in Mice and Humans Studies demonstrate a unique position for Rfx6 in the hierarchy of factors that coordinate pancreatic islet development in both mice and humans. [Nature] Kinetochores Generate Microtubules with Distal Plus Ends: Their Roles and Limited Lifetime in Mitosis Researchers provide evidence that, during early mitosis in budding yeast, microtubules are generated at kinetochores with distal plus ends. [Dev Cell] Macrophage Wnt7b is Critical for Kidney Repair and Regeneration Researchers show, using the kidney as a model, that the Wnt pathway ligand Wnt7b is produced by macrophages to stimulate repair and regeneration. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] Caspase 3/Caspase-Activated DNase Promote Cell Differentiation by Inducing DNA Strand Breaks Inhibition of caspase 3 or reduction of caspase-activated DNase expression leads to a dramatic loss of strand-break formation and a block in the myogenic program. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] Neural Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells follows Developmental Principles but with Variable Potency Researchers have shown that human induced pluripotent stem cells use the same transcriptional network to generate neuroepithelia and functionally appropriate neuronal types over the same developmental time course as human embryonic stem cells in response to the same set of morphogens; however, they do it with significantly reduced efficiency and increased variability. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] | | | | | THE CELL THERAPY SOFTWARE EXPERTSâ„¢ | WWW.STEMSOFT.COM | | | |
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