ESC & iPSC News Volume 11.41 | Oct 19 2016

TOP STORY

Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to HOXA⁺ Hemogenic Vasculature That Resembles the Aorta-Gonad-Mesonephros

The ability to generate hematopoietic stem cells from human pluripotent cells would enable many biomedical applications. Scientists found that hematopoietic CD34⁺ cells in spin embryoid bodies derived from human embryonic stem cells lack HOXA expression compared with repopulation-competent human cord blood CD34⁺ cells, indicating incorrect mesoderm patterning. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Reconstitution In Vitro of the Entire Cycle of the Mouse Female Germ Line

Investigators report successful reconstitution in vitro of the entire process of oogenesis from mouse pluripotent stem cells. [Nature] Abstract | Editorial

Regulation of Transcriptional Elongation in Pluripotency and Cell Differentiation by the PHD-Finger Protein Phf5a

Scientists delineated the function of the PHD-finger protein 5a (Phf5a) in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) self-renewal and ascribe its role in regulating pluripotency, cellular reprogramming and myoblast specification. They demonstrated that Phf5a is essential for maintaining pluripotency, since depleted ESCs exhibit hallmarks of differentiation. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Purification of Functional Human ES and iPSC-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Progenitors Using LRTM1

The authors employ a double selection strategy for cells expressing both CORIN and LMX1A::GFP, and report a cell surface marker to enrich midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) progenitors, LRTM1. When transplanted into 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived LRTM1⁺ cells survive and differentiate into mDA neurons in vivo, resulting in a significant improvement in motor behavior without tumor formation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Self-Organization of Human Embryonic Stem Cells on Micropatterns

Fate allocation in the gastrulating embryo is spatially organized as cells differentiate into specialized cell types depending on their positions with respect to the body axes. There is a need for in vitro protocols that allow the study of spatial organization associated with this developmental transition. Investigators describe a micropatterning approach in which human embryonic stem cells are confined to disk-shaped, submillimeter colonies. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

A Balance between Secreted Inhibitors and Edge Sensing Controls Gastruloid Self-Organization

To model patterning events in the human embryo, the authors used colonies of human embryonic stem cells grown on micropatterned substrate and differentiated with BMP4. These gastruloids recapitulate the embryonic arrangement of the mammalian germ layers and provide an assay to assess the structural and signaling mechanisms patterning the human gastrula. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Generating Late-Onset Human iPSC-Based Disease Models by Inducing Neuronal Age-Related Phenotypes through Telomerase Manipulation

Scientists tested whether it is possible to accelerate aging in vitro to trigger late-onset disease phenotypes in an iPSC model of Parkinson’s Disease. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Nono, a Bivalent Domain Factor, Regulates Erk Signaling and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency

Researchers report that Nono loss results in robust self-renewing mouse embryonic stem cells with epigenomic and transcriptomic features resembling the 2i (GSK and Erk inhibitors)-induced “ground state.” Erk interacts with and is required for Nono localization to a subset of bivalent genes that have high levels of poised RNA polymerase. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Generation and Analysis of GATA2^w/eGFP Human ESCs Reveal ITGB3/CD61 as a Reliable Marker for Defining Hemogenic Endothelial Cells during Hematopoiesis

Researchers report the generation of GATA2^w/eGFP reporter in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to mark cells expressing GATA2, a critical gene for endothelial to hematopoietic transition. They showed that during differentiation, functional hemogenic endothelial cells are almost exclusively GATA2/eGFP⁺. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Islet-Like Organoids Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Efficiently Function in the Glucose Responsiveness In Vitro and In Vivo

Researchers report that pancreatic islet-like clusters derived from hESCs are functionally capable of glucose-responsive insulin secretion as well as therapeutic effects. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Efficiently Specified Ventral Midbrain Dopamine Neurons From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Under Xeno-Free Conditions Restore Motor Deficits in Parkinsonian Rodents

Scientists describe the first fully defined feeder- and xenogeneic-free protocol for the generation of ventral midbrain dopamine neurons from human pluripotent stem cell and utilize two novel reporter knock-in lines for in-depth in vitro and in vivo tracking. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Progress Towards Generation of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Efficient derivation of functional hematopoietic stem cells with the capability for definitive in vivo engraftment and multi-lineage potential remains challenging. The authors discuss recent progress and strategies to overcome obstacles that have thwarted past efforts. In addition, they review promising advances in the generation of mature blood lineages and the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

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

Salk Professor Awarded Multimillion Dollar NIH Pioneer Award for Innovations in Cell Biology

Salk Professor Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte has been awarded a 2016 National Institutes of Health Pioneer Award, a highly coveted grant that supports the most innovative biomedical research, for his work in stem cell biology and regeneration. [Salk Institute for Biological Studie] Press Release

Mount Sinai Receives $10 Million Grant to Study Graft vs. Host Disease

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have been awarded a $10 million from the National Cancer Institute to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of acute graft-versus-host disease, a common side effect that occurs after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and to develop novel therapeutic strategies for BMT patients with cancer that begin in the cells of blood-forming tissue or hematologic malignancies. [Mount Sinai Health System] Press Release

Reports of ‘Three-Parent Babies’ Multiply

Claims of infants created using mitochondrial-replacement techniques stir scientific and ethical debate. [Nature News] Editorial

How Republicans Reshaped the House Science Committee

Lamar Smith has made his mark on science. As chairman of the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Texas Republican has launched dozens of investigations into alleged wrongdoing by scientists, environmental groups and government officials. And he shows no signs of slowing down. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The Biology of Regenerative Medicine
April 25-27, 2017
Hinxton, United Kingdom

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells (University of California – San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cells, Cartilage Development and Disease (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

Staff Scientist/Research Assistant II – Pluripotent Stem Cells and Cartilage Biology (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Have we missed an important article or publication in ESC & iPSC News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.