ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.30 | Aug 2 2017

TOP STORY

Study in Nature Demonstrates Method for Repairing Genes in Human Embryos that Prevents Inherited Diseases

Scientists have demonstrated an effective way of using a gene-editing tool to correct a disease-causing gene mutation in human embryos and stop it from passing to future generations. The new technique uses the gene-editing tool CRISPR to target a mutation in nuclear DNA that causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common genetic heart disease that can cause sudden cardiac death and heart failure. [Press release from Oregon Health & Science University discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Full Article | Editorial 1 | Editorial 2

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Fusion of Regionally Specified hPSC-Derived Organoids Models Human Brain Development and Interneuron Migration

Researchers described the generation of medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) and cortex-specific organoids from hPSCs that recapitulate the development of MGE and cortex domains, respectively. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Surface Topography Guides Morphology and Spatial Patterning of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Colonies

Investigators demonstrated that groove-ridge structures with a periodicity in the submicrometer range induce elongation of iPSC colonies, guide the orientation of apical actin fibers, and direct the polarity of cell division. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Mir-29b Mediates the Neural Tube versus Neural Crest Fate Decision during Embryonic Stem Cell Neural Differentiation

Using ESC neural differentiation systems, scientists found that miR-29b was upregulated in neural tube epithelial (NTE) cells and downregulated in neural crest cells (NCCs). MiR-29b promoted the differentiation of ESCs into NTE cells and inhibited their differentiation into NCCs. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Morphogen and Community Effects Determine Cell Fates in Response to BMP4 Signaling in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers grew hESCs in micropatterned colonies of 1-8 cells (“μColonies”) to quantitatively investigate paracrine signaling and the response to external stimuli. They examined BMP4-mediated differentiation in μColonies and standard culture conditions and found that in μColonies, above a threshold concentration, BMP4 gave rise to only a single cell fate, contrary to its role as a morphogen in other developmental systems. [Development] Abstract

GABPα Is Involved in the Survival of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Investigators generated GA-binding protein alpha (Gabpα) conditional knockout ESCs and characterized their cellular phenotypes. Disruption of Gabpα revealed that the proliferation of Gabpα-null ESCs was drastically repressed and cells started to die within two days. The repressed proliferation of Gabpα-null ESCs was recovered by artificially forced expression of GABPα. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Retinoic Acid-Induced Upregulation of miR-219 Promotes the Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Neural Cells

Scientists demonstrated that miR-219 is sufficient in promoting mouse ESCs to undergo neural differentiation. They discovered that Foxj3 and Zbtb18, two target genes of miR-219, are not able to determine the process of retinoic acid-induced differentiation, however they prevent ESCs from differentiating into neural cells. They also identified four downstream genes, Olig1, Zic5, Erbb2, and Olig2, which are essential to the gene interaction networks for neural differentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Rapid Generation of OPC-Like Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Treating Spinal Cord Injury

The authors demonstrated a rapid and efficient method to differentiate hPSCs into neural progenitors that retain the features of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). They used cell sorting to select A2B5-positive cells from hPSC-derived neural rosettes and cultured the selected cells in the presence of signaling cues, including sonic hedgehog, PDGF and insulin-like growth factor-1. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Survival of iPSC-Derived Grafts within the Striatum of Immunodeficient Mice: Importance of Developmental Stage of Both Transplant and Host Recipient

In order to determine the effect of transplant recipient age on the graft, iPSCs were differentiated to three stages along a striatal differentiation paradigm and transplanted into the striatum of both neonatal and adult immunodeficient mice. Researchers demonstrated that increased murine transplant-recipient age resulted in decreased graft survival and volume/rostro-caudal spread after six weeks in vivo, regardless of “age” of the cells transplanted. [Exp Neurol] Abstract

Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Neural Crest Stem Cells, Functional Peripheral Neurons, and Corneal Keratocytes

Investigators present a defined protocol to efficiently direct hESCs to neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and multiple neural crest lineages. A unique combination of small molecule inhibitors and growth factors were employed to generate NCSCs from hESCs through a neuroectoderm stage. The self-renewal and multipotent capacities of hESC-derived NCSCs were assessed. [Biotechnol J] Abstract

Chemical Reprogramming and Transdifferentiation

The authors review the recent achievements of chemical reprogramming/transdifferentiation and discuss the advantages and challenges facing this strategy in future applications. [Curr Opin Genet Dev] Full Article

Engineering-Derived Approaches for iPSC Preparation, Expansion, Differentiation and Applications

Engineering-derived iPSC approaches are reviewed according to three aspects of iPSC studies: preparation, expansion, differentiation and applications. Further development and possible innovations of cell printing technologies are presented in terms of creating complex and functional iPSC-derived living tissues and organs. [Biofabrication] Abstract

A Pathologist’s Perspective on Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists summarize progress in iPSC research toward disease pathobiology studies, its future potential, and remaining problems from a pathologist’s perspective. They focus on introducing the effort to recapitulate disease-related morphological changes through three-dimensional culture of stem cells such as organoid differentiation. [Lab Invest] Full Article

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

IFLMS to Produce and Distribute Human ESCs for Clinical Use

The Kyoto University Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences (IFLMS) announced that its plan to establish human ESC lines, and produce ESC stocks has been approved by Japan’s science ministry MEXT and health ministry. The initiative was confirmed to be in compliance with both ministries’ guidelines, making IFLMS the first Japanese institute to receive government approval for producing human ESCs for clinical use. [Kyoto University] Press Release

St. Baldrick’s Foundation Announces $23.5 Million in Grants to Fund Lifesaving Childhood Cancer Research

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is proud to award 90 new grants totaling $23.5 million in its summer grant cycle to support the brightest minds in the pediatric cancer field. [St. Baldrick’s Foundation] Press Release

After French Drug Trial Tragedy, European Union Issues New Rules to Protect Study Volunteers

The European Medicines Agency has issued new, stricter rules for studies that test drugs in people for the first time. They aim to better protect participants in such first-in-human studies—often healthy volunteers who receive a financial reward. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

China Cracks Down after Investigation Finds Massive Peer-Review Fraud

A massive peer-review fraud has triggered a tough response from the Chinese government. Officials last week announced that more than 400 researchers listed as authors on some 100 now-retracted papers will face disciplinary action because their misconduct has seriously damaged China’s scientific reputation. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

University of Tokyo Probe Says Chromosome Team Doctored Images

After a nearly year-long investigation into anonymous allegations of data and image falsification in numerous papers, a University of Tokyo committee announced it had confirmed that one research group falsified images and graphs in five papers. The panel cleared five other research groups of wrongdoing. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Why Would a University Pay a Scientist Found Guilty of Misconduct to Leave?

In June 2016, investigators at the University of Georgia in Athens concluded that Azza El-Remessy, a faculty member who studied the impact of diabetes on the eye, had committed misconduct and recommended she be terminated. El-Remessy hired a lawyer to dispute the findings, but the following October she gave up her challenge after the university paid her $100,000—essentially to leave. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW ISSCR International Symposia – Stem Cells: The Next Generation
November 10-12, 2017
Guangzhou, China

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

NEW Assistant Professor – Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (Harvard University)

Post-Doctoral/PhD Position – Stem Cell Biology & Metabolism (University of Freiburg)

Junior Principal Investigator – Molecular Oncology (FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (Harvard University)

Stem Cell Scientist and Postdoctoral Positions – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (National Center for Advancing Translational Science)

Doctoral Grant – 3D Culture of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Brain Organoids (University of Antwerp)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

Laboratory Research Technician – Epigenetics of Stem Cells (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Multiple Areas (University of Oklahoma)

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