ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.13 | Apr 8 2020

TOP STORY

Cdk1 Controls Global Epigenetic Landscape in Embryonic Stem Cells

Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) altered histone-modification status of ESCs. High levels of Cdk1 in ESCs phosphorylated and partially inactivated Dot1l, the H3K79 methyltransferase responsible for placing activating marks on gene bodies. [Mol Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Parallel PRC2/cPRC1 and vPRC1 Pathways Silence Lineage-Specific Genes and Maintain Self-Renewal in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Individual loss of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1)-dependent canonical PRC1 (cPRC1) or PRC2-independent variant PRC1 (vPRC1) disrupted only one pathway and did not impair mouse ESC (mESC) self-renewal capacity. However, loss of both pathways led to mESC differentiation and activation of a subset of lineage-specific genes co-occupied by relatively high levels of PRC1/PRC2. [Sci Adv] Full Article

Activity in Grafted Human iPS Cell-Derived Cortical Neurons Integrated in Stroke-Injured Rat Brain Regulates Motor Behavior

Scientists showed that intracortically grafted human iPSC-derived cortical neurons sent widespread axonal projections to both hemispheres of rats with ischemic lesions in the cerebral cortex. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

A Modular Differentiation System Maps Multiple Human Kidney Lineages from Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators created a culture system in which mesoderm-like cell types and paraxial and lateral plate mesoderm-like cells were separately generated from human PSCs. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Biomarkers and Precision Therapy for Primary Immunodeficiencies: An In Vitro Study Based on Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from Patients

Scientists investigated the cytotoxicity of a panel of immunomodulators using iPSCs of patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and different forms of Aicardi Goutières syndrome (AGS). iPSCs were obtained by reprogramming AT and AGS patients’ cells and, as a control, the BJ normal human fibroblast line, using Sendai virus. [Clin Pharmacol Ther] Abstract

MSX2 Suppression through Inhibition of TGFβ Signaling Enhances Hematopoietic Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Muscle segment homeobox2 (MSX2) deletion promoted the production of hematopoietic cells from human ESCs (hESCs). Functional and bioinformatics studies further demonstrated that MSX2 deletion augmented hematopoietic differentiation of hESCs by facilitating endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Cell Body Shape and Directional Movement Stability in Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons

Scientists performed live imaging analyses using human iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons. They revealed that healthy iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons migrated according to their shape. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Generation of Intestinal Organoids Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Drug Testing

Researchers evaluated the pharmacokinetic functions of human intestinal epithelial cells differentiated from human iPSCs in 3D cultures. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Regenerated from iPS Cells Have Therapeutic Efficacy in a Patient-Derived Xenograft Solid Tumor Model

Investigators developed an allogeneic approach by transducing HLA-haplotype homozygous iPSCs with WT1-specific TCR α/β genes that had been tested clinically. The regenerated cytotoxic T lymphocytes antigen-specifically suppressed tumor growth in a patient-derived xenograft model of renal cell carcinoma. [iScience] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Bioprocess Technologies that Preserve the Quality of iPSCs

The authors present an overview of cell culture media, suspension modalities, and monitoring techniques that preserve the quality and pluripotency of iPSCs during initiation, expansion, and manufacturing. [Trends Biotechnol] Abstract

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

Fate Therapeutics Announces Worldwide Collaboration with Janssen for Novel iPSC-Derived Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapies

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. announced a global collaboration and option agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen). Under the multi-year collaboration agreement, Janssen will contribute proprietary antigen binding domains for up to four tumor-associated antigen targets. The company will apply its iPSC product platform to research and preclinically develop new iPSC-derived chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK and CAR T-cell product candidates. [Fate Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

UC San Diego to Advance Stem Cell Therapies in New Space Station Lab

A three-year, nearly $5 million award from NASA will allow researchers at the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center at UC San Diego Health, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine and their partners at Space Tango to develop a new integrated space stem cell orbital research laboratory within the International Space Station and launch three collaborative research projects within it. [University of California, San Diego] Press Release

Early-Career Scientists at Critical Career Junctures Brace for Impact of COVID-19

For some scientists, the shutdowns have made it more challenging for them to complete their work. But for others, they come at a critical juncture in the scientist’s career, threatening to derail or delay a major event along their professional path—a small slice of the human suffering and inconvenience that COVID-19 has caused. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NIH’s Process for Removing Reviewers Remains a Mystery, Watchdog Finds

A new report by the Office of Inspector General of National Institute of Health’s (NIH’s) parent body, the Department of Health and Human Services, documents how NIH has begun to remove reviews who breached NIH standards on research integrity. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – iPSCs (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes (The University of Arizona College of Medicine)

Faculty Position – Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Developmental Neuroscience (Children’s National Hospital)

Researcher – iPSCs (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Position – Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Human Lung Organoids (Columbia University Medical Center)

Technician – Stem Cell Culture (University of Luxembourg)

Research Specialist – Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Hepatobiliary Tissues (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine)

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