ESC & iPSC News Volume 11.39 | Oct 5 2016

TOP STORY

Predicting the Functional States of Human iPSC-Derived Neurons with Single-Cell RNA-Seq and Electrophysiology

By combining patch clamping, morphological and transcriptome analysis on single-human neurons in vitro, researchers defined a continuum of poor to highly functional electrophysiological states of differentiated neurons. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Promotes Self-Renewal and Inhibits the Primed State Transition in Naïve Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists demonstrated that inhibition of the secretion of Wnts or inhibition of the stabilization of β-catenin in naïve human embryonic stem cells reduced cell proliferation and colony formation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Endothelial Progenitor Cells on Laminins in Defined and Xeno-Free Systems

Investigators developed a method to culture monolayer human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) on stem cell niche laminin (LN) LN511 or LN521 matrix. They report a chemically defined, xeno-free protocol for differentiation of hESCs to endothelial progenitor cells using LN521 as the main culture substrate. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

ESC-Derived BDNF-Overexpressing Neural Progenitors Differentially Promote Recovery in Huntington’s Disease Models by Enhanced Striatal Differentiation

By transplanting embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived neural progenitors overexpressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the authors combined cell replacement and BDNF supply as a potential Huntington’s disease therapy approach. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Efficient Long-Term Cryopreservation of Pluripotent Stem Cells at −80 °C

The authors demonstrate that addition of Ficoll 70 to cryoprotectant solutions significantly improves system thermal stability at the working temperature (~−80 °C) of laboratory deep freezers. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Neural Stem Cell Tumorigenicity and Biodistribution Assessment for Phase I Clinical Trial in Parkinson’s Disease

Scientists describe preclinical tumorigenicity and biodistribution safety studies that were required by the US Food and Drug Administration and Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration prior to conducting a Phase I clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of human parthenogenetic stem cell derived neural stem cells ISC-hpNSC for treating Parkinson’s disease. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Comprehensive Translational Assessment of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocytes for Evaluating Drug-Induced Arrhythmias

Investigators studied the effects of 26 drugs and 3 drug combinations on two commercially available induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) types using high-throughput voltage-sensitive dye and microelectrode-array assays being studied for the Comprehensive In Vitro Proarrhythmia Assessment initiative and compared the results to clinical QT prolongation and torsade de pointes risk. [Toxicol Sci] Abstract

Three Dimensional Human Neuro-Spheroid Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Based on Differentiated Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from blood cells of five Alzheimer’s disease patients and differentiated them into three-dimensional (3D) human neuronal culture. They characterized neuronal markers of their 3D neurons by immunocytochemical staining to validate the differentiation status. [PLoS One] Full Article

Oct4 Resetting by Aurkb – PP1 Cell Cycle Axis Determines the Identity of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Investigators describe that the regulation of Oct4 by Aurora kinase b (Aurkb)/protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) axis during the cell cycle is important for resetting Oct4 to pluripotency and cell cycle related target genes in determining the identity of embryonic stem cells. [BMB Rep] Abstract | Full Article (Download)

Modeling Fragile X Syndrome Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors summarize the current contribution of pluripotent stem cells, mutant human embryonic stem cells, and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to disease modeling of fragile X syndrome for basic and applied research, including the development of new therapeutic approaches. [Genes (Basel)] Full Article

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Dr. Allen Eaves of STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Named EY Entrepreneur of The Year^™ Pacific 2016

Dr. Allen Eaves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of STEMCELL Technologies, a global biotechnology company that supplies tools and services to enable life science research, is this year’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific winner. [Ernst & Young (CNW Group Ltd.)] Press Release

New Quick-Tissue^™ Kits Revolutionize Skeletal Muscle and Neuron Differentiation

Elixirgen, LLC launched Quick-Muscle^™ 1.0, a groundbreaking biological reagent that develops skeletal muscle cells from human stem cells in just a few days — a cutting-edge advancement for a laboratory process that previously took a month or longer. The Quick-Muscle^™ 1.0 cocktail allows skeletal muscle cells to be rapidly and efficiently produced from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells in only four to five days. [Elixirgen, LLC] Press Release

StemoniX Wins MN Cup Grand Prize, Named Best Breakthrough Business Idea of 2016

StemoniX, was recognized as one of today’s most innovative and market changing businesses, earning the Grand Prize and title of Best Breakthrough Business Idea of 2016 at the 12^th annual MN Cup awards. StemoniX is leading the development and manufacturing of human induced pluripotent stem cell platforms for pharmaceutical drug discovery applications, such as biologically accurate, miniaturized organ-like microtissues. [StemoniX (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Esperite Leads International Consortium for Clinical Translation of Extracellular Vesicles Use in Various Therapies

Esperite N.V. sponsors an international consortium of the leading teams in pediatric regenerative medicine to bring extracellular vesicles (EVs) technology to the clinic with niche applications in treatment of severe neuro-inflammatory diseases. Its first project focuses on EVs application in untreatable-yet acute and chronic drug-resistant epilepsy in children. [Esperite N.V.] Press Release

Dramatic Twists Could Upend Patent Battle over CRISPR Genome-Editing Method

The 9-month-old patent battle over CRISPR, a novel genome-editing tool that could have immense commercial value, has taken two surprising twists. Last week, attorneys for the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the research organizations vying for CRISPR rights, submitted motions that could let it win even if it loses. [Science Insider] Editorial

Democratic Databases: Science on GitHub

Scientists are turning to a software–development site to share data and code. [Nature Toolbox] Editorial

UK Bioethicists Eye Designer Babies and CRISPR Cows

From designer babies to engineered mosquitoes, advances in genome-editing technologies such as CRISPR–Cas9 have raised the possibility of tremendous scientific advances — and serious ethical concerns. [Nature News] Editorial

Biologists Plan Scoring System for Antibodies

Biomedical experts plan to create a scoring system that will help researchers choose reliable antibodies for their experiments. The only problems: figuring out how such a ranking would work — and getting manufacturers to adopt the standard. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW ISSCR: Translational Opportunities in Stem Cell Research 2017
February 27-March 1, 2017
Basel, Switzerland

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Histone and RNA Modifications in Totipotency, Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells and Embryo Development (Oslo University Hospital)

NEW Research Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cells Self-Renewal Program and Cell Cycle (KU Leuven)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Faculty Position – Stem Cell Research (Stanford University)

Faculty Position – Stem Cell Research (Children’s Research Institute)

Assistant or Associate Member – Stem CellGene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Cellular Neuroscience, Stem Cell-Derived Neurons and Autism Research (Weill Cornell Medical School)

Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (The Hospital for Sick Children)

Chair – Medical Biology (Masaryk University)

Research Technologist – Cancer Research (Penn State College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Stem Cell Biology & Immunology (Toronto General Research Institute & McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine)

Group Leader – Stem Cells and Aging (University of Queensland)

Postdoctoral Position – Metabolic Regulation of Embryonic and Stem Cell Biology (Joslin Diabetes Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Medicine (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Position – Bone and Stem Cell Research (University of Connecticut Health)

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