ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.04 | Jan 31 2018

TOP STORY

Cardiogenic Programming of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Dose-Controlled Activation of EOMES

Researchers defined an unrecognized interplay between eomesodermin (EOMES) and the WNT signaling pathway in controlling cardiac induction by using loss and gain-of-function approaches in human embryonic stem cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Unique Molecular Events during Reprogramming of Human Somatic Cells to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) at Naïve State

Using the human inducible reprogramming system together with the 5iLAF naïve induction strategy, integrative analysis of transcriptional and epigenetic dynamics across the transition from human fibroblasts to naïve iPSCs revealed ordered waves of gene network activation sharing signatures with those found during embryonic development from late embryogenesis to pre-implantation stages. [Elife] Abstract

Argonaute 2 Is Required for Extra-Embryonic Endoderm Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

To investigate the role of argonaute (AGO) during mouse early development, the authors generated Ago2-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells and performed a detailed characterization of their differentiation potential. They demonstrated, both in vivo and in vitro, that AGO2 is dispensable for the embryonic germ-layer formation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Reduced Self-Diploidization and Improved Survival of Semi-Cloned Mice Produced from Androgenetic Haploid Embryonic Stem Cells through Overexpression of Dnmt3b

Investigators found that the genome-wide DNA methylation level in androgenetic haploid embryonic stem cells was extremely low. Subsequently, downregulation of both de novo methyltransferase Dnmt3b and other methylation-related genes was determined to be responsible for DNA hypomethylation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

iPSC Modeling of Severe Aplastic Anemia Reveals Impaired Differentiation and Telomere Shortening in Blood Progenitors

Researchers derived iPSCs from three unaffected controls and three severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients and have shown that this in vitro model mimics two key features of the disease: The failure to maintain telomere length during the reprogramming process and hematopoietic differentiation resulting in SAA-iPSC and iPSC-derived-hematopoietic progenitors with shorter telomeres than controls and the impaired ability of SAA-iPSC-derived hematopoietic progenitors to give rise to erythroid and myeloid cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

FLI1 and PKC Co-Activation Promote Highly Efficient Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Endothelial-Like Cells

The authors established a conditional overexpression system in human ESCs based on 15 transcription factors reported to be responsible for hematopoiesis lineage. Among them, only overexpression of FLI1 could induce human ESCs to a hematopoietic lineage. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

A Novel Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Blood-Brain Barrier Model: Applicability to Study Antibody-Triggered Receptor-Mediated Transcytosis

Scientists developed a renewable, scalable and transgene free human blood-brain barrier model, composed of brain endothelial cells, generated from human amniotic fluid derived induced pluripotent stem cells, which can also give rise to syngeneic neural cells of the neurovascular unit. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Spatiotemporal Patterning of EpCAM Is Important for Murine Embryonic Endo- and Mesodermal Differentiation

The authors describe timing and rationale for EpCAM regulation in early murine gastrulation and ESC differentiation using single cell RNA-sequencing datasets, in vivo and in vitro models including CRISPR-Cas9-engineered ESC-mutants. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 7-Mediated MicroRNA-221 Repression Maintains Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 Levels in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists revealed that the protein arginine methyltransferase 7-mediated repression of miR-221-3p and miR-221-5p expression plays a critical role in maintaining mouse ESC stemness. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Guggulsterone-Releasing Microspheres Direct the Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Neural Phenotypes

Researchers encapsulated guggulsterone into novel poly-ε-caprolactone-based microspheres and characterized its release profile over 44 days in vitro, demonstrating they can control its release over time. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

Cancer Therapy-Induced Cardiomyopathy: Can Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Modeling Help Prevent It?

The authors review the cardiotoxicity profiles of common chemotherapeutic agents as well as efforts to model them in vitro using human iPSC-cardiomyocytes. [Eur Heart J] Full Article

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

UF Launches New Center for Regenerative Medicine

The University of Florida has launched a Center for Regenerative Medicine to develop lifesaving therapies “to heal the body from within” using stem cells that repair damaged tissue and organs. [University of Florida] Press Release

First John W. Walsh Translational Research Award Granted

The Alpha-1 Foundation celebrates the first granting of the John W. Walsh Translational Research Award in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, an honorable award named after John W. Walsh, co-founder of the Alpha-1 Foundation, a visionary man who dedicated his life’s work to finding a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and helping those affected by Alpha-1. [Alpha-1 Foundation] Press Release

US Government Rethinks How to Retire Research Chimps

The research chimpanzees owned or supported by the US National Institutes of Health are ready to retire — but nearly 300 are still stuck in three US research facilities, awaiting spots at the country’s only federally funded sanctuary. [Nature News] Editorial

Computer Scientist to Lead French Research Giant; Interim Head Leaves Amid Misconduct Allegations

Computer scientist Antoine Petit, 57, is the new head of Europe’s largest research organization. There was an unusual twist to Petit’s appointment, however. A week before the official procedure ended, the French government named Petit interim president of the National Center for Scientific Research, a position that had been held by cell biologist Anne Peyroche since Fuchs’s departure. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Gender Bias Goes Away When Grant Reviewers Focus on the Science

But female scientists suffer when their research proposals are judged primarily on the strength of their CVs. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Annual Meeting of the Israel Stem Cell Society 2018
May 31, 2018
Tel Aviv, Israel

NEW Pluripotent Stem Cell Training
November 13-15, 2018
Leiden, The Netherlands

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

NEW Research Assistant – Stem Cell Modeling (NUI Galway)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cell-Based Cardiac Regeneration (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Position – Pancreas Development and Stem Cells (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neurodegeneration (Lund University)

Research Scientist – Stem Cell Research (Evotec AG)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioinformatics and Computational Biology of Stem Cells & Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Fellows – Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (The University of Queensland)

Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Medicine (University of Pennsylvania)

PhD Studentship – Patient Specific iPSCs for Studying Leukemia (Institute for Biomedical Engineering)

Postdoctral Fellow – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (Boston University School of Medicine)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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