ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.08 | Mar 1 2017

TOP STORY

EPHRIN-B1 Mosaicism Drives Cell Segregation in Craniofrontonasal Syndrome hiPSC-Derived Neuroepithelial Cells

By generating human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from craniofrontonasal syndrome patients, researchers demonstrated that mosaicism for EPHRIN-B1 expression induced by random X inactivation in heterozygous females results in robust cell segregation in human neuroepithelial cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Reversal of Phenotypic Abnormalities by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Correction in Huntington Disease Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists report the correction of Huntington disease (HD) human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using a CRISPR-Cas9 and piggyBac transposon-based approach. They showed that both HD and corrected isogenic hiPSCs can be differentiated into excitable, synaptically active forebrain neurons. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The Number of Point Mutations in iPS Cells and ntES Cells Depends on the Method and Somatic Cell Type Employed for Their Generation

Scientists generated nuclear-transfer ES (ntES) cells from both MEFs and tail-tip fibroblasts and by whole genome sequencing found fewer mutations compared with iPSCs generated by retroviral gene transduction. [Stem Cells] Abstract

17β-Oestradiol Promotes Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Dopamine Neurons via Cross-Talk between Insulin-Like Growth Factors-1 and Oestrogen Receptor β

The authors studied the effects of E2 on dopamine (DA) neuron induction of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and its related signaling pathways using a three-stage protocol. The population of hESC-derived neural precursor cells and DA neurons was increased to 92% and 93% to that of DMSO group, respectively. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Resveratrol Enhances Self-Renewal of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers investigated the function of resveratrol (RSV) in self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the related mechanisms. In contrast with its reported roles, they found unexpectedly that differentiated ESCs or iPSCs treated by RSV would not show further differentiation, but regained a naïve pluripotency state with higher expressions of core transcriptional factors and with the ability to differentiate into all three germ layers when transplanted in vivo. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Acellular Mouse Kidney ECM Can Be Used as a Three-Dimensional Substrate to Test the Differentiation Potential of Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Renal Progenitors

Using mouse kidney extracellular matrix and mouse embryonic stem cells the authors report that the extracellular matrix can support the development of kidney structures if the stem cells are first differentiated to kidney progenitor cells before being applied to the acellular organ. [Stem Cell Rev] Full Article

Characterization of Bovine Embryos Cultured under Conditions Appropriate for Sustaining Human Naïve Pluripotency

The objective of this study was to determine the transcriptomic profile related to bovine pluripotency. In vitro derived embryos were cultured in various culture media that recently have been reported capable of maintaining the naïve pluripotent state of human embryonic cells. Compared to standard culture conditions, embryo cultured in ‘naïve’ media reduced mRNA expression levels of the key pluripotency markers NANOG and POU5F1. [PLoS One] Full Article

Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Function as Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons in Rodent Brains

Investigators generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and found that there was no significant vulnerability between dopaminergic (DA) neurons generated from healthy individuals and idiopathic PD patients. PDiPSC-derived DA neurons survived and functioned in the brains of PD model rats. [J Neurosci Res] Abstract

Establishment and Growth Responses of Nile Tilapia Embryonic Stem-Like Cell Lines under Feeder-Free Condition

Scientists describe the derivation, pluripotency, differentiation and growth responses of embryonic stem (ES) cell lines from Nile tilapia, a world-wide commercial farmed fish. One representative line, TES1, showed stable growth and phenotypic characteristics of ES cells over 200 days of culture with more than 59 passages under feeder-free conditions. [Dev Growth Differ] Abstract

Feeder-Independent Canine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Maintained under Serum-Free Conditions

The authors generated canine induced pluripotent stem cells (ciPSCs) expressing doxycycline-inducible murine Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, which were introduced using lentiviral vectors. The resultant ciPSCs required doxycycline to proliferate in the undifferentiated state. [Mol Reprod Dev] Abstract

p53 Switches Off Pluripotency on Differentiation

The role of p53 as “a guardian of the genome” has been well established in somatic cells. However, its role in pluripotent stem cells remains much more elusive. The authors discuss research progress in understanding the role of p53 in pluripotent stem cells and in pluripotent stem cell-like cancer stem cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

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

Regulator Ready Stem Cell Lines Now Available for Clinical Development

The UK Stem Cell Bank at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control is releasing its first stem cell lines suitable for development into novel cell-based medicines to researchers wishing to bring new and innovative therapies to clinical trial. [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] Press Release

Beyond Type 1 Provides Grant to ViaCyte to Support Research and Development of Cell Replacement Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes

ViaCyte, Inc. and Beyond Type 1 announced a grant from Beyond Type 1 to support ViaCyte’s efforts to develop a functional cure for type 1 and other insulin-requiring diabetes. The company’s pluripotent stem cell-derived islet cell replacement therapy, the PEC-Direct^™ product candidate, has the potential to be a breakthrough treatment for high-risk type 1 diabetes. [ViaCyte, Inc.] Press Release

Peer-Review Activists Push Psychology Journals towards Open Data

An editor on the board of a journal published by the prestigious American Psychological Association has been asked to resign in a controversy over data sharing in peer review. Gert Storms — who says he won’t step down — is one of a few hundred scientists who have vowed that, from the start of this year, they will begin rejecting papers if authors won’t publicly share the underlying data, or explain why they can’t. [Nature News] Editorial

Senior Republican Lawmaker Has Some Advice for U.S. Science Marchers

The chairman of a congressional spending panel that oversees a wide swath of U.S. science agencies has some unusual advice for scientists planning to march on 22 April: Don’t talk about research. Instead, demand that Congress find a way to cut mandatory spending programs. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

UK Scientists Welcome Changes to Controversial Research Reforms

Amendments aim to protect autonomy and the independence of research funders from political interference. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) 2017
May 3-6, 2017
London, United Kingdom

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

NEW Senior Scientist – Stem Cell Gene Editing (Universal Cells)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Research (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

Research Associate – Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Associate – Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – RNA, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Lund University)

PhD Student – Epigenetics (Institut of Molecular Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Genome Editing (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cellular Genetics (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Postdoctoral Associate – Epigenetic Drivers of Human Stem Cell Pluripotency and Differentiation (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells and Embryo Development (Oslo University Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Multiple Areas (University of Oklahoma)

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

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.

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

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.