ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.28 | Jul 29 2015

Generation of Vascular Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers found that GSK3 inhibition and BMP4 treatment rapidly committed pluripotent cells to a mesodermal fate and subsequent exposure to VEGF-A or PDGF-BB resulted in the differentiation of either endothelial or vascular smooth muscle cells, respectively. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

NF-κB Activation Impairs Somatic Cell Reprogramming in Aging
Investigators explored the regulatory mechanisms that constitute age-associated barriers, through derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from individuals with premature or physiological aging. They demonstrated that NF-κB activation blocks the generation of iPSCs in aging. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Identification of Spen as a Crucial Factor for Xist Function through Forward Genetic Screening in Haploid Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists report a genetic screen for silencing factors in X chromosome inactivation using haploid mouse embryonic stem cells that carry an engineered selectable reporter system. [Cell Rep]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

CHD1L Regulated PARP1-Driven Pluripotency and Chromatin Remodeling during the Early-Stage Cell Reprogramming
Researchers demonstrated that CHD1L, a DNA helicase, possesses chromatin remodeling activity and interacts with PARP1/PARylation in regulating pluripotency during reprogramming. [Stem Cells] Abstract

A Pre-Screening FISH-Based Method to Detect CRISPR/Cas9 Off-Targets in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists showed that a simple fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based strategy allows the detection and the frequency evaluation of non-specific integrations of a given plasmid. FISH analysis revealed that these integrations do not match the software predicted off-target loci. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Prediction of Drug-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Injury Mechanisms with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cells and Machine Learning Methods
Researchers developed a rapid 1-step protocol for the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into proximal tubular-like cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Generation of Naivetropic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Parkinson’s Disease Patients for High Efficiency Genetic Manipulation and Disease Modeling
Scientists converted patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells from the primed state to a naivetropic state by DOX-induced expression of transgenes (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc and Nanog) and the use of 2iL. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

AF9 Promotes hESC Neural Differentiation through Recruiting TET2 to Neurodevelopmental Gene Loci for Methylcytosine Hydroxylation
Investigators showed that AF9 is necessary and sufficient for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) neural differentiation and neurodevelopmental gene activation. [Cell Disc] Full Article

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

VetStem Biopharma, Announces a New Long Term Partnership with VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center
VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center and veterinary regenerative medicine company, VetStem Biopharma, announce educational and clinical partnership in support of local area veterinarians. [[VetStem Biopharma (Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.)] Press Release

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Society Asks NIH to Act Now to Lessen Biomed Scientist Glut
The authors of a new report urging changes in training the U.S. biomedical workforce say they were motivated by a desire for “less talk, more action.” But their prescription for how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) should deal with a glut of young scientists demonstrates why the problem has been so hard to solve. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Epigenetics (Institute of Molecular Biology Mainz)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biophysics (University Paris Diderot)

Scientist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Fellow – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (National Cancer Center Singapore)

Postdoctoral Positions – Human ES & iPS Cells and Heart Regenerative Medicine (University of Pittsburgh)

MICA Stem Cell Scientist (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

Stem Cell Scientist (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurology (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

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