ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.06 | Feb 14 2018

TOP STORY

Efficient Technique Discovered for Isolating Embryonic Stem Cells in Cows

For more than 35 years, scientists have tried to isolate embryonic stem cells in cows without much success. Researchers were able to develop a new culture system that allows them to efficiently derive stem cells on almost every single attempt. [Press release from the University of California, Davis discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America] Press Release | Abstract | Editorial

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Non-Apoptotic Function of MCL-1 in Promoting Pluripotency and Modulating Mitochondrial Dynamics in Stem Cells

The authors describe a non-cell death function of the anti-apoptotic protein, MCL-1, in regulating mitochondrial dynamics and promoting pluripotency of stem cells. MCL-1 is induced upon reprogramming, and its inhibition or knockdown induces dramatic changes to the mitochondrial network as well as loss of the key pluripotency transcription factors, NANOG and OCT4. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Generation of Functioning Nephrons by Implanting Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Kidney Progenitors

Investigators reproducibly differentiated three genetically distinct wild-type human PSC lines to kidney precursors that underwent rudimentary morphogenesis in vitro. They expressed nephron and collecting duct lineage marker genes, several of which are mutated in human kidney disease. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Combined Ectopic Expression of Homologous Recombination Factors Promotes Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

Scientists report that ES cells utilize Rad51-dependent homologous recombination to enhance viability and induce rapid proliferation through a replication-coupled pathway. In addition, ES cell differentiation was shown to be enhanced by ectopic expression of a subset of recombinases. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Preserving Self-Renewal of Porcine Pluripotent Stem Cells in Serum-Free 3i Culture Condition and Independent of LIF and b-FGF Cytokines

The authors generated a doxycycline-inducible porcine iPS cell line and used it to screen the optimal culture condition to sustain the self-renewal of porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs). They found that LIF and b-FGF were required for porcine cell reprogramming, but were not essential cytokines for maintaining the self-renewal and pluripotency of piPSCs. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

The Oncogene Etv5 Promotes MET in Somatic Reprogramming and Orchestrates Epiblast/Primitive Endoderm Specification during mESCs Differentiation

Scientists screened a pool of spermatogonial stem cells transcription factors, and found that oncogene Etv5 could dramatically increase the efficiency of iPSC generation when combined with Yamanaka factors. They also demonstrated that Etv5 could promote mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) at the early stage of reprogramming by regulating Tet2-miR200s-Zeb1 axis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Folic Acid Exposure Rescues Spina Bifida Aperta Phenotypes in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Model

Researchers used human iPSCs derived from fetuses with spina bifida aperta (SBA) to study the pathophysiology of neural tube defects and explore the effects of folic acid (FA) exposure. They report that FA exposure in SBA model was necessary for the proper formation and maturation of neural tube structures and robust differentiation of mesodermal derivatives. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 Suppresses the p53 and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways to Promote Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Self-Renewal

Investigators showed that progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is the target antigen of both monoclonal antibodies , and is predominantly expressed on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and some cancer cells. PGRMC1 was rapidly downregulated during early differentiation of hPSCs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Neuropilin-1 Mediated Arterial Differentiation of Murine Pluripotent Stem Cells

Using murine embryonic stem cells as the model system, scientists investigated the neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) expression during the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells toward a vascular progenitor population. They hypothesized that Nrp1, an early arterial marker present in a developing embryo, may be more responsive when further induced in vitro towards an arterial fate. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Lipid Supplement in the Cultural Condition Facilitates the Porcine iPSC Derivation through cAMP/PKA/CREB Signal Pathway

Researchers generated the porcine iPSCs that resemble the mouse ESCs under lipid and fatty-acid-enriched cultural conditions. These porcine iPSCs showed positive for the ESCs pluripotency markers and had the differentiation abilities to all three germ layers, and importantly, had the capability of aggregation into the inner cell mass of porcine blastocysts. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Fabrication of Micropatterned Alginate-Gelatin and κ-Carrageenan Hydrogels of Defined Shapes Using Simple Wax Mould Method as a Platform for Stem Cell/Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) Culture

Scientists generated and characterized uniform and reproducible micropatterned hydrogels of varying sizes and shapes such as square projections, square grooves, and circular grids and crisscrossed hillocks. Human mesenchymal stem cells and human iPSCs were found to be cytocompatible with these hydrogels. [Int J Biol Macromol] Abstract

Assessing the Genome Integrity of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: What Quality Control Metrics?

The authors reviewed human iPSC (hiPSC) genome quality control monitoring methods and laboratory practice. Due to their frequency and functional consequences, recurrent genetic defects found in cultured hiPSCs are inacceptable and their appearance should be monitored by routine screening. [Stem Cells] Abstract

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

Fujifilm and Takeda Announce Collaboration to Develop Regenerative Medicine Therapies Using Cardiomyocytes Derived from iPSC

FUJIFILM Corporation and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. announced a collaboration to develop regenerative medicine therapies using cardiomyocytes derived from iPSCs for the treatment of heart failure. [Fujifilm Holdings Corporation] Press Release

Astellas Acquires Universal Cells, Inc.

Astellas Pharma Inc. and Universal Cells, Inc. announced that Astellas has acquired Universal Cells. Astellas will gain Universal Cells’ proprietary Universal Donor Cell technology to create cell therapy products that do not require human leukocyte antigen matching, potentially overcoming a huge treatment challenge by reducing the risk of rejection. [Universal Cells, Inc.] Press Release

Learn the basics of culturing mouse intestinal organoids with an instructional video series. Watch the Video Now

Trump Science Budget Sows Confusion

US president makes last-minute decision to abandon proposal for major cuts to National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and Department of Energy’s science office. [Nature News] Editorial

Few UK Universities Have Adopted Rules against Impact-Factor Abuse

Institutions have made little progress against the misuse of research metrics when hiring and promoting academics. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cold Spring Harbor (CSH): Mouse Development, Stem Cells & Cancer
June 6-25, 2018
Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States

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NEW Multiple Positions – Neuroscience and Stem Cells (Sun Yat-Sen University)

Postdoctoral Position – Metabolic Regulation of Embryos and Stem Cells (Joslin Diabetes Center)

Associate Scientific Editor – Cell Reports/Cell Stem Cell (Elsevier)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Stem Cell Biology (University of Oxford)

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 – Regenerative Medicine (University of Pennsylvania)

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