ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.42 | Oct 25 2017

TOP STORY

The WNT Target SP5 Negatively Regulates WNT Transcriptional Programs in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists used human PSCs to study the dynamics of the transcriptional response to exogenous activation of the WNT pathway. They describe a mechanism involving the WNT target gene SP5 that leads to termination of the transcriptional program initiated by WNT signaling. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Dynamics of Lineage Commitment Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptomics of Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers measured the gene expression dynamics of retinoic acid driven mouse ESC differentiation from pluripotency to lineage commitment, using an unbiased single-cell transcriptomics approach. They found that the exit from pluripotency marked the start of a lineage transition as well as a transient phase of increased susceptibility to lineage specifying signals. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Rat Embryonic Stem Cells Produce Fertile Offspring through Tetraploid Complementation

Investigators showed that the rat ESCs derived under 2i (two small molecule inhibitors) conditions at very early passages are able to produce fertile offspring by tetraploid complementation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

iPhemap: An Atlas of Phenotype to Genotype Relationships of Human iPSC Models of Neurological Diseases

The authors report a systematic analysis of research practices and reporting bias in neurological disease models from 93 published articles. They developed the iPS cell phenogenetic map project atlas (iPhemap), an open submission, online database to continually catalog disease phenotypes. Their findings offer new insights into the phenogenetics of iPSC-derived models while their web tool provides a platform for researchers to query and deposit phenotypic information of neurological diseases. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Functional Antagonism between OTX2 and NANOG Specifies a Spectrum of Heterogeneous Identities in Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers report that ESCs lacking Nanog or overexpressing Otx2 exhibit an early primed identity in LIF + FBS and fail to convert into 2i-induced naive state. When both Nanog and Otx2 are inactivated, ESCs cultured in LIF + FBS exhibit primed identity and weakened ability to convert into naive state. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia Mutations in ANKH Negatively Affect Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation into Osteoclasts

Scientists identified osteoclast defects in craniometaphyseal dysplasia using an easy-to-use protocol for differentiating osteoclasts from human iPSCs. To exclude differentiation effects due to genetic variability, they generated isogenic human iPSCs, which have identical genetic background except for the ANKH mutation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Haematopoietic Progenitors Are Unable to Downregulate Key EMT-Associated MiRNAs

Investigators compared the miRNA expression profile of haematopoietic progenitors derived from pluripotent stem cells to those derived from bone marrow and found that numerous miRNAs are too highly expressed in haematopoietic progenitors derived from pluripotent stem cells, and that most of these are inhibitors of epithelial-mesenchymal transition or metastasis. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Full Article

Baf53a Is Involved in Survival of Mouse ES Cells, Which Can Be Compensated by Baf53b

The authors found that Baf53a was expressed in undifferentiated ES cells and that it interacted with Oct3/4. Cell death of Baf53a-deficient ES cells was rescued by overexpression of Baf53a, but not by the Baf53a M3 mutant. Baf53b, a homologue of Baf53a, rescued cell death of Baf53a-deficient ES cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Controlled Self-Assembly of Stem Cell Aggregates Instructs Pluripotency and Lineage Bias

Researchers introduce a bioengineered platform of labile substrate arrays that enable simple, scalable generation of cell aggregates via a controllable 2D-to-3D “self-assembly”. As a proof-of-concept, they showed that labile substrates generate size- and shape-controlled embryoid bodies (EBs) and can be easily modified to control EB self-assembly kinetics. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Humanity in a Dish: Population Genetics with iPSCs

The authors describe the recent advances in this developing field, and provide a road map for future in vitro functional population genetic studies and trial-in-a-dish experiments. [Trends Cell Biol] Abstract

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome-Editing System in Human Stem Cells: Current Status and Future Prospects

The authors highlight the basic biology and application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in current human stem cell research, discuss its advantages and challenges, and debate the future prospects for human stem cells in regenerative medicine. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

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

Plasticell and GSK Sign Collaboration Agreement to Produce Hematopoietic Cells from iPSCs

Plasticell has entered into a collaboration with GSK to use its combinatorial stem cell screening technology, CombiCult^®, to optimize the directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells to specific blood cell lineages for use by GSK in its therapeutic research. [Plasticell Limited] Press Release

Astellas and Universal Cells, Inc. Announce a Collaboration Utilizing Universal Donor Cell Technology

Astellas Pharma Inc. and Universal Cells, Inc. announced that Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Universal Cells have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement to research, develop and commercialize a novel cell therapy for an undisclosed indication. [Astellas Pharma Inc.] Press Release

Paul Tesar Receives 2017 New York Stem Cell Foundation — Robertson Stem Cell Prize

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) announced that Paul Tesar, is the 2017 recipient of the NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Prize for his pioneering discovery of pluripotent epiblast stem cells and technologies to utilize pluripotent stem cells for discovery of new therapeutics for neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and pediatric leukodystrophies. [The New York Stem Cell Foundation] Press Release

United States Should Dramatically Retool Animal Research Rules, Groups Say

Association of American Medical Colleges and three allied groups are pushing for sweeping changes to animal research rules. In a report, the groups call for moving all oversight to a single, unnamed agency, conducting less frequent lab inspections, and giving researchers greater say in crafting new rules. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

French Scientists in Uproar over Changes to Medical-Research Clusters

A group of French scientists is due to meet government officials in a bid to resolve a row that has left many of the country’s leading biomedical researchers furious. Scientists were shocked when the government unexpectedly postponed a call for applications to create a new crop of medical-research clusters just days before the closing date, and said that it would slash the budget earmarked for the project. [Nature News] Editorial

In Brazil, Researchers Struggle to Fend Off Deepening Budget Cuts

With time and money running out, Brazilian scientists are turning up the pressure on the federal government to avoid a total collapse of the national science and technology funding system before the end of the year. Researchers delivered a petition with more than 82,000 signatures to congressional leaders in Brasília, demanding the reversal of deep budget cuts that have left research institutions struggling to pay even basic water and electricity bills.” [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2018 Annual Meeting
June 20-23, 2018
Melbourne, Australia

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

NEW Quality Control Analyst – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Strategic Marketing Manager – Toxicology and Safety Pharmacology (Cellular Dynamics International)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine (Maastricht University)

Head of Facility – Gene Editing and Embryology (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

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

Faculty Positions – Stem Cells or Organoid Models (Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells, Development and Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Wound Healing (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Cell Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cell Biology of Tubulogenesis (University of Copenhagen)

Technical Director – Personalized Stem Cell Banking (Brilliant Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Multiple Areas (University of Oklahoma)

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.