Derivation Conditions Impact X-Inactivation Status in Female Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Female human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines exhibit variability in X-inactivation status. The authors show here that X-inactivation status in female hiPSC lines depends on derivation conditions. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release Targeted Gene Knockout by Direct Delivery of Zinc-Finger Nuclease Proteins Scientists demonstrated the intrinsic cell-penetrating capabilities of the standard zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) architecture and showed that direct delivery of ZFNs as proteins leads to efficient endogenous gene disruption in various mammalian cell types with minimal off-target effects. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release Topical Delivery of siRNA-Based Spherical Nucleic Acid Nanoparticle Conjugates for Gene Regulation Researchers showed that spherical nucleic acid nanoparticle conjugates, gold cores surrounded by a dense shell of highly oriented, covalently immobilized siRNA, freely penetrate almost 100% of keratinocytes in vitro, mouse skin, and human epidermis within hours after application. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Long-Term Remission of Diabetes in NOD Mice Is Induced by Nondepleting Anti-CD4 and Anti-CD8 Antibodies Investigators showed that a short course of nondepleting antibodies specific for the CD4 and CD8 coreceptors rapidly reversed clinical disease in recent-onset diabetic NOD mice. Induction of remission involved selective T-cell purging of the pancreas and draining pancreatic lymph nodes and upregulation of transforming growth factor-β1 by pancreas-resident antigen-presenting cells. [Diabetes] Abstract | Press Release Pharmacological Rescue of Mitochondrial Deficits in iPSC-Derived Neural Cells from Patients with Familial Parkinson’s Disease Researchers analyzed neural cells generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from Parkinson’s disease patients and presymptomatic individuals carrying mutations in the PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1) and LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) genes, and compared them to those of healthy control subjects. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release Vasculogenic and Osteogenesis-Enhancing Potential of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells Subcutaneous implantation of umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial colony-forming cells with human fetal-mesenchymal stem cells (hfMSC) in immunodeficient mice resulted in the formation of chimeric human vessels, with a 2.2 fold increase in host neovascularization compared to hfMSC-only implants. [Stem Cells] Abstract Valproic Acid Confers Functional Pluripotency to Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells in a Transgene-Free Approach Researchers show that c-KIT+ human first-trimester amniotic fluid stem cells can be fully reprogrammed to pluripotency without ectopic factors, by culture on Matrigel in human embryonic stem cell medium supplemented with the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid. [Mol Ther] Full Article | Press Release Harnessing Oncolytic Virus-Mediated Antitumor Immunity in an Infected Cell Vaccine Researchers have developed a potent oncolytic vaccine platform, consisting of tumor cells infected with VSV-Δ51. They demonstrated that prophylactic immunization with this infected cell vaccine protected mice from subsequent tumor challenge, and expression of granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor by the virus increased efficacy. [Mol Ther] Abstract Intra-Arterial Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells in Ischemic Stroke Investigators aimed to assess the safety, feasibility, and biological effects of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in patients with stroke. [Stroke] Abstract Anti-Inflammatory Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC2) Attenuate Symptoms of Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Researchers determined the effects of MSC2-based therapies on an inflammation-linked painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy mouse model. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release
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