ESC & iPSC News Volume 10.41 | Oct 28 2015

Regeneration of Thyroid Function by Transplantation of Differentiated Pluripotent Stem Cells
Scientists used mouse pluripotent stem cells to identify key conserved roles for BMP and FGF signaling in regulating thyroid lineage specification from foregut endoderm in mouse and Xenopus. [Cell Stem Cell]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Atg5-Independent Autophagy Regulates Mitochondrial Clearance and Is Essential for iPSC Reprogramming
Scientists suggest that an Atg5-independent autophagic process mediates mitochondrial clearance, a characteristic event involved in the metabolic switch. They found that blocking such autophagy, but not canonical autophagy, inhibits mitochondrial clearance, in turn, preventing iPSC induction. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Reprogramming Human B-Cells into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Its Enhancement by C/EBPα
The authors showed for the first time that freshly isolated non-cultured human cord blood- and peripheral blood-derived CD19⁺CD20⁺ B-cells can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells carrying complete VDJH immunoglobulin gene monoclonal rearrangements using non-integrative tetracistronic, but not monocistronic, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and Myc-expressing Sendai Virus. [Leukemia] Abstract

Absence of WASp Enhances Hematopoietic and Megakaryocytic Differentiation in a Human Embryonic Stem Cell Model
Investigators used zinc finger nucleases targeted to the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) locus for the development of two isogenic WAS knockout (WASKO) human embryonic stem cell lines (hESCs). Upon hematopoietic differentiation, hESCs-WASKO generated increased ratios of CD34⁺CD45⁺ progenitors with altered responses to stem cell factor compared to hESCs-WT. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Control of Immune Response to Allogeneic Embryonic Stem Cells by CD3 Antibody–Mediated Operational Tolerance Induction
The authors established in autoimmunity and in transplantation that CD3 antibody therapy induces a state of immune tolerance. Promising results have been obtained with CD3 antibodies in the clinic. In this study, they tested whether this strategy can prolong the survival of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells and their differentiated derivatives in histoincompatible hosts. [Am J Transplant] Abstract

Gingival Fibroblasts as Autologous Feeders for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers established an autologous human gingival fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (hGF-iPSC) culture system by evaluating the feeder ability of hGFs. In both serum-containing and serum-free media, hGFs showed higher proliferation than human dermal fibroblasts. [J Dent Res] Abstract

Sox7 Is Dispensable for Primitive Endoderm Differentiation from Mouse ES Cells
The authors characterized the function of Sox7 in primitive endoderm differentiation using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells as a model system. They showed that ectopic expression of Sox7 in ES cells has a marginal effect on triggering differentiation into primitive endoderm-like cells. [BMC Dev Biol] Full Article

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

Bogus Cell Therapy Market Worth Up to $2.4 Billion
The global market for unproven cell therapies may be worth as much as $2.4 billion, according to a report published by the International Society for Cellular Therapy. [Thomson Reuters] Press Release

New wallchart from our sponsor:
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (a Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology collaboration). Request your free copy.

Canada’s New Government May Be a New Beginning for Science
Canadian scientists have been making do for nearly a decade, in the face of funding cuts, federal lab closures, and a blanket gag order on government researchers. For them, the fall of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government in the national election wasn’t just a relief—it was the rough emotional equivalent of blowing up the Death Star. [Wired] Editorial

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

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience/Stem Cell Research (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – iPSC Research (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Position – Biomaterials for Cell Reprogramming (Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells, Development, and Cancer Biology (University of California, Santa Cruz)

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Biomedical Engineering (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell Biology (University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Injury Research (Indiana University-Purdue University)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.