ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.02 | Jan 18 2017

TOP STORY

Deficiency of MicroRNA miR-34a Expands Cell Fate Potential in Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers showed that microRNA miR-34a deficiency expands the developmental potential of mouse pluripotent stem cells to yield both embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages and strongly induce MuERV-L endogenous retroviruses, similar to what is seen with totipotent 2-cell blastomeres. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Human AML-IPSCs Reacquire Leukemic Properties after Differentiation and Model Clonal Variation of Disease

Investigators generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples harboring MLL rearrangements and found that they retained leukemic mutations but reset leukemic DNA methylation/gene expression patterns. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

EBIO Does Not Induce Cardiomyogenesis in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells but Modulates Cardiac Subtype Enrichment by Lineage-Selective Survival

Investigating 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (EBIO) in human pluripotent stem cells, the authors applied three independent differentiation protocols of low to high cardiomyogenic efficiency. Their study revealed extensive EBIO-triggered cell loss favoring cardiac progenitor preservation and, subsequently, cardiomyocytes with shortened action potentials. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

PDGFRα⁺ Cells in Embryonic Stem Cell Cultures Represent the In Vitro Equivalent of the Pre-Implantation Primitive Endoderm Precursors

Researchers demonstrated that cultured mouse embryonic stem cells express platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) heterogeneously, fluctuating between a PDGFRα⁺ and a platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 positive state. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Jmjd2c/Kdm4c Facilitates the Assembly of Essential Enhancer-Protein Complexes at the Onset of Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

Jmjd2/Kdm4 H3K9-demethylases cooperate in promoting mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) identity. However, little is known about their importance at the exit of ESC pluripotency. The authors uncovered that Jmjd2c facilitates this process by stabilizing the assembly of mediator-cohesin complexes at lineage-specific enhancers. They show that Jmjd2c is required in ESCs to initiate appropriate gene expression programs upon somatic multi-lineage differentiation. [Development] Abstract | Full Article

Mitochondrial Respiratory Dysfunction Disturbs Neuronal and Cardiac Lineage Commitment of Human iPSCs

Scientists established two isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines each carrying different proportions of a heteroplasmic m.3243A>G mutation from the same patient; one exhibited apparently normal and the other showed most likely impaired mitochondrial respiratory function. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Mammary Extracellular Matrix Directs Differentiation of Testicular and Embryonic Stem Cells to Form Functional Mammary Glands In Vivo

Researchers tested whether acellular mammary extracellular matrix preparations are sufficient to direct differentiation of testicular-derived cells and embryonic stem cells to form functional mammary epithelial trees in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Icaritin Enhances mESC Self-Renewal through Upregulating Core Pluripotency Transcription Factors Mediated by ERα

The authors identified Icaritin, a phytoestrogen molecule enhances self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Icaritin increases mESCs proliferation while maintains their self-renewal capacity in vitro and pluripotency in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Label-Free Separation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells with Anti-SSEA-1 Antibody Immobilized Microfluidic Channel

Investigators described a label-free separation of induced pluripotent stem cells using a microfluidic channel. Antibodies against stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1) were covalently immobilized on the channel coated with a phospholipid polymer. [Langmuir] Abstract

Activin A in Combination with ERK1/2 MAPK Pathway Inhibition Sustains Propagation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

The authors showed that Activin A has an ability to efficiently propagate embryonic stem cells without differentiation to epiblast stem cells when combined with a MEK inhibitor PD0325901. [Genes Cells] Abstract

A Xenogeneic-Free System Generating Functional Human Gut Organoids from Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists developed a simple protocol for the generation of mature functional intestinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells under xenogeneic-free conditions. [JCI Insight] Full Article | Press Release

Stem Cell Therapy: An Emerging Modality in Glomerular Diseases

The authors focus on stem cell therapy approaches for the treatment of glomerular disease, including the various cell sources used and recent advances in preclinical and clinical studies. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

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

Support for Chicago Biomedical Consortium Renewed

The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust has renewed its funding commitment to the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, an innovative research and education collaboration of Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago that has helped establish the Chicago area as a leader in biomedical sciences. [Northwestern University] Press Release

Asterias Announces Conference Call to Discuss Six-Month Efficacy Data from AST-OPC1 SCiStar Study

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that the company will host a conference call on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 to discuss new data evaluating the efficacy results six months after implantation of 10 million AST-OPC1 cells in patients with complete cervical spinal cord injuries in the ongoing SCiStar study. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

U.S. Abandons Controversial Consent Proposal on Using Human Research Samples

Federal officials have dropped a controversial plan to impose new rules that researchers say would have made it much harder to use patient blood and tissue samples in research. The final Common Rule omits these provisions, but leaves other changes intact. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Rigorous Replication Effort Succeeds for Just Two of Five Cancer Papers

The first results of a high-profile effort to replicate influential papers in cancer biology are roiling the biomedical community. Of the five studies the project has tackled so far, some involving experimental treatments already in clinical trials, only two could be repeated; one could not, and technical problems stymied the remaining two replication efforts. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Croatia’s Science Minister Rejects Calls to Resign amid Plagiarism Scandal

In a plagiarism scandal in Croatia, the country’s highest-level research ethics committee is clashing with its science minister — who says he won’t step down after the committee found he had copied another scholar’s work. Scientists say the case raises questions about academic integrity at the top of a research system that is already riven with misconduct allegations. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conference – Germinal Stem Cell Biology
June 18-23, 2017
Hong Kong, China

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Multiple Areas (University of Oklahoma)

NEW Regulatory Support Scientist – Biological Product Development (Cook MyoSite, Inc.)

NEW Regulatory Affairs Scientist – Scientific Evaluation and Writing (Cook MyoSite, Inc.)

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

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

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)

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

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

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