ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.31 | Aug 9 2017

TOP STORY

Amniotic Sac in a Dish: Stem Cells Form Structures that Could Aid Understanding of Infertility

A team from the University of Michigan reports that they have coaxed pluripotent human stem cells to grow on a specially engineered surface into structures that resemble an early aspect of human development called the amniotic sac. [Press release from the University of Michigan discussing online prepublication in Nature Communications] Press Release | Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Mechanisms of Transcription Factor-Mediated Direct Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells to Trophoblast Stem-Like Cells

Investigators uncover a sequential, two-step mechanism of cellular reprogramming in which repression of pre-existing ESC-associated gene expression program is followed by activation of trophoblast stem cell-specific genes by CAG factors (Cdx2, Arid3a and Gata3). [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation to Functional Arterial Endothelial Cells through Sequential Activation of ETV2 and NOTCH1 Signaling by HIF1α

Researchers observed that hypoxia exposure of mouse ESCs induced an initial phase of HIF1α-mediated upregulation of the transcription factor Etv2, which in turn induced the commitment to the endothelial cell fate. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Activin Signals through SMAD2/3 to Increase Photoreceptor Precursor Yield during Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

Activin signaling through SMAD2/3 in retinal progenitor cells regulates expression of transcription factors involved in cell type determination and promotes photoreceptor lineage specification. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Modeling Glaucoma: Retinal Ganglion Cells Generated from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells of Patients with SIX6 Risk Allele Show Developmental Abnormalities

Investigators demonstrated that the efficiency of retinal ganglion cell generation by SIX6 risk allele iPSCs is significantly lower than iPSCs-derived from healthy, age-and sex-matched controls. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome Fibroblasts and iPSCs: Cellular Models for Uncovering Disease-Associated Signaling Pathways and Establishing a Screening Platform for Anti-Oxidants

Dermal-derived fibroblasts from Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome patients were reprogrammed into iPSCs in order to bypass premature senescence. [Sci Rep] Full Article

KDM4B-Mediated Reduction of H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 Levels Improves Somatic Cell Reprogramming into Pluripotency

Scientists generated transgenic mice and mouse embryonic fibroblasts for the inducible expression of KDM4B, a demethylase that removes H3 K9 and H3K36 trimethylation (me3) marks (H3K9/36me3). [Sci Rep] Full Article

Wnt Signaling Pathway Regulates Differentiation of Chicken Embryonic Stem Cells into Spermatogonial Stem Cells via Wnt5a

Researchers investigated the mechanism of signaling pathway-mediated differentiation of embryonic stem cells into spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in chicken. The Wnt signaling pathway was identified based on previous RNA Sequencing results and was proven a crucial signaling pathway that participates in the differentiation of ESCs into SSCs. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Effects of Co-Culture Media on Hepatic Differentiation of hiPSC with or without HUVEC Co-Culture

To improve hepatic differentiation, co-cultivation of hiPSC with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) during hepatic differentiation was investigated. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

In Vivo Reprogramming for Tissue Regeneration and Organismal Rejuvenation

Recent studies using in vivo reprogramming have provided important insights on regenerative medicine for diseased organs. Similar studies have revealed unappreciated mechanisms in various biological phenomena, including tissue regeneration, aging, rejuvenation and cancer development in multicellular organisms. The authors review recent progress and future perspectives of in vivo reprogramming. [Curr Opin Genet Dev] Abstract

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Model for Therapy Personalization of Pediatric Patients: Disease Modeling and Drug Adverse Effects Prevention

Recently developed disease models based on iPSCs are discussed, with a particular focus on available models of drugs’ adverse effect, in particular hepatic/pancreatic toxicity. [Curr Med Chem] Abstract

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

Evotec and Fraunhofer IME-SP Sign Strategic Collaboration on iPSC Technology

Evotec AG announced a strategic collaboration on iPSC technology with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, ScreeningPort, Hamburg, as an important element of the existing Evotec/Fraunhofer cooperation agreement signed in 2014. [Evotec AG] Press Release

Asterias Enrolls First Patient in Final Cohort of SCiStar Clinical Trial

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced enrollment and dosing of the first patient in the fifth and final cohort in the company’s ongoing SCiStar Phase I/IIa clinical study of AST-OPC1 in motor complete cervical spinal cord injury. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Thousands across India March in Support of Science

Thousands of scientists, university students and science enthusiasts gathered in dozens of Indian cities to march in support of science — lamenting their country’s low levels of funding for research, and complaining about government promotion of ‘unscientific ideas’. [Nature News] Editorial

FDA Cracks Down on Pioneering Doctor Who Created a Three-Parent Baby

The New York-based doctor who helped a couple have a child using DNA from three people has been told by the U.S. FDA that he can’t go ahead with clinical trials meant to test the technique. [MIT Technology Review] Editorial

CRISPR Patent Battle in Europe Takes a ‘Wild’ Twist with Surprising Player

MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, has become a new major player in the complicated European patent battles over CRISPR, the revolutionary genome-editing tool. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Senate Passes FDA User Fee and Right-to-Try Bills

The Senate has voted in quick succession to pass bills reauthorizing the FDA to collect fees from the industry and expanding access to unapproved medicines. President Trump is now set to sign the user fee bill into law, while the right-to-try legislation will go to the House. [FierceBiotech] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Organs- and Tissues-on-Chips
April 8-12, 2018
Big Sky, Montana, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Mammalian Stem Cell Biology (New York University, School of Medicine)

NEW Assistant Professor – Human Anatomy and Cell Science (University Of Manitoba)

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

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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