ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.01 | Jan 11 2017

TOP STORY

Wnt/β-Catenin Promotes Gastric Fundus Specification in Mice and Humans

Scientists differentiated human pluripotent stem cells into gastric organoids containing fundic epithelium by first identifying and then recapitulating key events in embryonic fundus development. They then used human fundic-type gastric organoids to identify temporally distinct roles for multiple signaling pathways in epithelial morphogenesis and differentiation of fundic cell types, including chief cells and functional parietal cells. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Synthetic Hybrid Molecule for the Selective Removal of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells from Cell Mixtures

Investigators described the design and evaluation of synthetic hybrid molecules that efficiently reduce the number of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in cell mixtures. The design takes advantage of Kyoto probe 1, a fluorescent chemical probe for hiPSCs, and clinically used anticancer drugs. [Angew Chem Int Ed] Abstract

CtIP-Specific Roles during Cell Reprogramming Have Long-Term Consequences in the Survival and Fitness of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

All reprogramming methods are accompanied by the induction of DNA damage, of which double-strand breaks are the most cytotoxic and mutagenic. Consequently, DNA repair genes seem to be relevant for accurate reprogramming to minimize the impact of such DNA damage. Researchers revealed that reprogramming is associated with high levels of DNA end resection, a critical step in homologous recombination. Moreover, the resection factor CtIP is essential for cell reprogramming and establishment of induced pluripotent stem cells, probably to repair reprogramming-induced DNA damage. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Peptide-Decorated Nanofibrous Niche Augments In Vitro Directed Osteogenic Conversion of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

A chemically defined peptide-decorated polycaprolactone nanofibrous microenvironment was prepared through electrospinning technology and subsequent conjugation with vitronectin peptide to promote the culture and osteogenic potential of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in vitro. The results indicated that hPSCs successfully proliferated and maintained their pluripotency on the biointerface of peptide-conjugated nanofibers without Martrigel under defined conditions. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

A Molecular Roadmap of Definitive Erythropoiesis from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers showed that human induced pluripotent stem cells are able to recapitulate various stages of developmental erythropoiesis. They showed that primitive erythroblasts arise first, express CD31⁺ with CD235a⁺, embryonic globins and red cell markers, but fail to express the hallmark red cell transcripts of adult erythropoiesis. [Br J Haematol] Abstract

Melatonin-Mediated Upregulation of GLUT1 Blocks Exit from Pluripotency by Increasing the Uptake of Oxidized Vitamin C in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

The effects of the combined treatment of vitamin C and melatonin on the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have not yet been examined. In this study, investigators showed that melatonin synergizes with vitamin C to derail exit from pluripotency of mouse ESCs. [FASEB J] Abstract

Membrane Translocation of T-SNARE Protein Syntaxin-4 Abrogates Ground-State Pluripotency in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Aberrant cell populations that display flattened morphology and lose ground-state pluripotency often appear spontaneously, unless glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK1/2) are inactivated. Scientists showed that membrane translocation of the t-SNARE protein syntaxin-4 possibly is involved in this phenomenon. They found that mouse embryonic stem cells cultured without GSK3β/MEK1/2 inhibitors spontaneously extrude syntaxin-4 at the cell surface and that artificial expression of cell surface syntaxin-4 induces appreciable morphological changes and mesodermal differentiation through dephosphorylation of Akt. [Sci Rep] Full Article

An Integrated Miniature Bioprocessing for Personalized Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Expansion and Differentiation into Neural Stem Cells

Investigators explored the use of closed and miniature cell culture device for biomanufacturing patient specific neural stem cells (NSCs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). They demonstrated that, with the assist of a thermoreversible hydrogel scaffold, the bioprocessing including iPSC expansion, iPSC differentiation into NSCs, the subsequent depletion of undifferentiated iPSCs from the NSCs, and concentrating and transporting the purified NSCs to the surgery room, could be integrated and completed within two closed 15 ml conical tubes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Characterizing the Developmental Profile of hESC-Derived Medium Spiny Neuron Progenitors and Assessing Mature Neuron Function Using a CRISPR-Generated Human DARPP-32^WT/eGFP-AMP Reporter Line

Scientists demonstrated that fine tuning WNT and SHH signaling early in human embryonic stem cell differentiation can induce a subpallial progenitor molecular profile. [Neurochem Int] Abstract

Identifying Candidate Reprogramming Genes in Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors analyzed the global transcriptional profiles of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) from seven different labs and present here the first successful clustering according to cell type, not by lab of origin. They identified 2131 different expression genes (DEs) as candidate pluripotency-associated genes by comparing mESCs/miPSCs with somatic cells and 720 DEs between miPSCs and mESCs. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

Current Strategies to Generate Mature Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived Cholangiocytes and Future Applications

Protocols that describe the induction of human induced pluripotent stem cells into cholangiocytes are scarce, although progress is being achieved in this area as well. In order to give the current view on this emerging research field, and in hopes to motivate further advances, the authors present a review on the known differentiation strategies with sight into future applications. [Organogenesis] Abstract

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

Allele to Develop iPSC-Derived Cell Therapies with Focus on Diabetes and Spinal Cord Injury

Allele Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals announced that it has officially entered into the development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapies after the development plan received strong support by the Scientific Advisory Board and was approved by the Board of Directors in December of 2016. [Allele Biotech] Press Release

Bristol-Myers Squibb and GeneCentric Diagnostics Announce Exploratory Biomarker Research Collaboration

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and GeneCentric Diagnostics, Inc. announced a biomarker research collaboration to explore whether the application of GeneCentric’s Cancer Subtype Platform might be able to identify translational biomarkers for Opdivo, which may help inform future clinical trials. [Bristol-Myers Squibb] Press Release

Cleveland Clinic Will Discipline Doctor Who Wrote Antivaccination Column

The Cleveland Clinic released an apology from a staff physician who published an antivaccination column on the news website Cleveland.com. The doctor, Daniel Neides, will be “appropriately disciplined,” the Ohio hospital added in its own statement, which noted that the family physician’s views do not reflect his institution’s. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Advances in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
May 23-26, 2017
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetics of Pluripotent Stem Cells and Development (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Cellular and Molecular Biology (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Development of the Cardiovascular System (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Embryology and Stem Cell Biology (The Francis Crick Institute)

Research Scientist – Stem Cell Gene Editing (Universal Cells Inc.)

Assistant Professor – Heart Tissue Regeneration (University of Cincinnati)

Tenure Track Faculty – Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (University of Notre Dame)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – 3D Genome Organizers in Development and Disease (Karolinska Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Developmental Biology (RIKEN)

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

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

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

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