ESC & iPSC News Volume 12.47 | Nov 29 2017

TOP STORY

Discovery Speeds Cell Reprogramming

CRM scientists have made a key discovery that could enhance the efficiency and the speed of the conversion of cells from one type to another in the lab. The molecules – called SMAD2 and SMAD3 – can enhance the efficiency of reprogramming cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. [Press release from the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell] Press Release 1 | Press Release 2 | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Cardiopatch Platform Enables Maturation and Scale-Up of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Engineered Heart Tissues

Researchers present a “Cardiopatch” platform for 3D culture and maturation of human iPSC-cardiomyocytes that after five weeks of differentiation show robust electromechanical coupling, consistent H-zones, I-bands, and evidence for T-tubules and M-bands. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release | Video

A Transcribed Enhancer Dictates Mesendoderm Specification in Pluripotency

Genetic and epigenetic manipulation of the MesEndoderm Transcriptional Enhancer Organizing Region (Meteor) enhancer revealed its indispensable role during mesendoderm specification and subsequent cardiogenic differentiation via transcription-independent and -dependent mechanisms. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation into Functional Epicardial Progenitor Cells

Investigators induced differentiation of human PSCs (both embryonic and induced) to proepicardial/epicardial progenitor cells that cover the heart during development. They confirmed the (pro)epicardial-like properties of these cells using in vitro co-culture assays and in ovo grafting of human PSC-epicardial cells into chick embryos. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

A COUP-TFII Human Embryonic Stem Cell Reporter Line to Identify and Select Atrial Cardiomyocytes

Researchers targeted mCherry to the chick ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) genomic locus in human pluripotent stem cells expressing GFP from the NKX2.5 locus. This dual atrial NKX2.5^EGFP/+-COUP-TFII^mCherry/+ reporter line allowed identification and selection of GFP⁺/mCherry⁺ cardiomyocytes following cardiac differentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Trib2 Regulates the Pluripotency of Embryonic Stem Cells and Enhances Reprogramming Efficiency

The authors elucidated the importance of tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) in maintaining pluripotency in mouse ES cells and in generating iPS cells from somatic cells through the reprogramming process. Trib2 expression decreased as ES cells differentiated, and Trib2 knockdown in ES cells changed their colony morphology while reducing the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the expression of the pluripotency marker genes Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and Klf4. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

A Universal Approach to Correct Various HBB Gene Mutations in Human Stem Cells for Gene Therapy of Beta-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease

Using human induced pluripotent stem cells from two β-thal patients with different HBB gene mutations, scientists devised and tested a universal strategy to achieve targeted insertion of the HBB cDNA in exon 1 of HBB gene using Cas9 and two validated guide RNAs. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Reprogramming to Pluripotency Does Not Require Transition through a Primitive Streak-like State

Researchers analyzed reprogramming in human and mouse cells of mesodermal as well as ectodermal origin by thorough marker gene analyses in combination with genetic reporters, conditional loss of function and stable fate-labeling for the broad primitive streak marker Eomesodermin. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Regulation of Human and Mouse Telomerase Genes by Genomic Contexts and Transcription Factors During Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

Investigators generated mouse embryonic stem cell lines containing single-copy bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) reporters, covering hTERT and mTERT genes and their neighboring loci, via recombinase-mediated BAC targeting. ESC lines with chimeric BACs, in which two TERT promoters were swapped, were also generated. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Similarities between smDCs and regDCs in Alleviating the Immune Injury Caused by Transplantation of Hepatocytes Differentiated from ESCs

Researchers investigated the tolerogenic mechanisms induced by semimature dendritic cells (smDCs) and regulatory dendritic cells (regDCs) after transplantation of hepatocytes differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells and to confirm the low immunogenicity of hepatocytes differentiated from ESCs. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

The Use of Stem Cells for Understanding and Treating Huntington’s Disease

The authors discuss the role of compensatory neurogenesis in the Huntington’s disease (HD) brain, the use of stem cell-based therapies for HD to replace or prevent cell loss, and the recent advance of cell reprogramming to model and/or treat HD. [Stem Cells] Abstract

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

Matthias Meier Receives Consolidator Grant

Dr. Matthias Meier’s work is dedicated to creating chip technologies for cultivation and analysis of human stem cells. The biophysicist from the University of Freiburg’s Department of Microsystems Engineering is receiving a two million euro European Research Council Consolidator Grant for his research on inducible pluripotent stem cells. [Universität Freiburg] Press Release

U of T Professor Wins Prestigious Women in Science Award

For her pioneering efforts in understanding early embryonic development, University of Toronto professor Dr. Janet Rossant has been named the 2018 North American Laureate of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. Rossant is among five global recipients, and she will receive a €100,000 award for her contributions to the life sciences. [The Varsity] Press Release

China to Roll Back Regulations for Traditional Medicine Despite Safety Concerns

Support for traditional medicine in China goes right to the top. President Xi Jinping has called this type of medicine a “gem” of the country’s scientific heritage and promised to give alternative therapies and Western drugs equal government support. The country is taking dramatic steps to promote these cures even as researchers raise concerns about such treatments. [Nature News] Editorial

Zimbabwe’s Researchers Hope Political Change Will Revitalize Science

Academics are optimistic that the end of Robert Mugabe’s authoritarian rule could boost research and international collaboration. [Nature News] Editorial

United Kingdom Relies on Science to Revive Flagging Economy

The United Kingdom has laid out how it will pour money into research to boost its economy — including cash for artificial intelligence and other high-tech industries — as the country prepares to leave the European Union in 2019. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 4^th Annual Perinatal Stem Cell Society Congress
March 1-2, 2018
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Position – Retinal Development and Synaptogenesis in Human Retinal Organoids (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles/USC Keck School of Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Translational iPS Cell Research, Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation (NIH NCATS)

NEW Research Assistant – Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Organoid Formation and Self-Organization (Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – 3D Coculture/Organoid Cultures of Brain Structures (KU Leuven)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – 3D Multicellular Culture Systems (KU Leuven)

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

Bioengineer – Stem Cells (Scaled Biolabs Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Stem Cell Metabolism (University of Helsinki)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cytokines in Immunity, Stem Cells and Tissue Repair (Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine)

Research Assistant – Organoid Formation and Self-Organization (Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research)

Research Scientist – Global Research for Stem Cells (Novo Nordisk)

Postdoctoral Fellow – iPSC Research (Kyoto University)

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

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

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

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Multiple Areas (University of Oklahoma)

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