ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.11 | Mar 21 2018

TOP STORY

Stem Cells Treat Macular Degeneration

Scientists describe the safe and effective implantation of a specially engineered patch of retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from stem cells to treat people with sudden severe sight loss from wet age-related macular degeneration. This is the first description of a completely engineered tissue that has been successfully used in this way. [Press release from the University of California, Santa Barbara discussing online prepublication in Nature Biotechnology] Press Release | Abstract | Editorial

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Zc3h13 Regulates Nuclear RNA m⁶A Methylation and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal

Investigators demonstrated that ZC3H13, a zinc-finger protein, plays an important role in modulating RNA m⁶A methylation in the nucleus. They showed that knockdown of Zc3h13 in mouse embryonic stem cell significantly decreases global m⁶A level on mRNA. [Mol Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Collection of Homozygous Mutant Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Arising from Autodiploidization during Haploid Gene Trap Mutagenesis

Researchers designed a new methodology that facilitates enrichment of homozygous mutant ESC clones arising from autodiploidization during haploid gene trap mutagenesis. They successfully generated 222 homozygous mutant ESCs from 2208 clones by excluding heterozygous ESCs and ESCs with multiple vector insertions. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

HSP60 Is Required for Stemness and Proper Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Few studies have examined the proteins responsible for differences in mitochondrial structure and function between ESCs and somatic cells. The authors investigated the differences between mitochondrial proteins in these two cell types. They demonstrated that HSP60 is more abundant in mouse ESC mitochondria than in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Deciphering Synergistic Regulatory Networks of MicroRNAs in hESCs and Fibroblasts

Investigators identified miRNA targets incorporating differential expression profiles of miRNAs and genes in human ESCs (hESCs)-fibroblasts as well as miRNA targeting information followed by enrichment analysis. [Int J Biol Macromol] Abstract

Telomeric Noncoding RNA Promotes Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal through Inhibition of Tcf3 Activity

Scientists found that telomeric RNA (TERRA or TelRNA), one type of long noncoding RNAs, is highly expressed in mouse ESCs, but declines significantly upon differentiation. TERRA was induced by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and reproduced its self-renewal-promoting effect when overexpressed. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract

Generation of Functional Cardiomyocytes from Rat Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Feeder-Free Expansion and Differentiation in Suspension Culture

Investigators comparatively explored the potential of recently available rat ESCs and iPSCs (riPSCs) as a source for cardiomyocytes (CMs). They developed feeder cell-free culture conditions facilitating the expansion of undifferentiated riPSCs and initiated cardiac differentiation by embryoid body-formation in agarose microwell arrays, which substituted the robust but labor-intensive hanging drop method. [PLoS One] Full Article

Physiological Oxygen Culture Reveals Retention of Metabolic Memory in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists compared the metabolism of three human iPS cell lines to assess the fidelity of metabolic reprogramming. When challenged with reduced oxygen concentration, embryonic stem cells have been shown to modulate carbohydrate use in a predictably way. In the same model, two of three iPS cell lines failed to regulate carbohydrate metabolism. [PLoS One] Full Article

Mitochondria Structural Reorganization during Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Derivation

Researchers performed comparative morphological and morphometric analyses of three embryonic stem cell lines during their derivation in vitro. They revealed cells that had two and sometimes three morphologically distinct mitochondria types in the cytoplasm. [Protoplasma] Abstract

Augmentation of Musculoskeletal Regeneration: Role for Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors summarize methods for chondrogenic, osteogenic, myogenic and adipogenic differentiation of PSCs and their potential for therapeutic applications. [Regen Med] Full Article

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

WideCells Granted Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership for Stem Cell Technology

WideCells Group PLC announced that its 100%-owned stem cell storage and research division WideCells Ltd has been granted a government-backed Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University to undertake research on a new form of stem cell technology. [WideCells Group PLC (Proactive Investor UK Limited)] Press Release

Boehringer Ingelheim and Vanderbilt University Expand Partnership to Develop Novel Treatment Approaches for Cancer

Boehringer Ingelheim and Vanderbilt University announced the expansion of their successful existing collaboration to develop novel anti-cancer compounds. [Vanderbilt University] Press Release

AIDS Researcher Top Candidate to Lead the C.D.C.

One of the nation’s leading AIDS researchers and an expert in the treatment of heroin addiction is the leading candidate to oversee the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.). [The New York Times] Editorial

Chinese Leaders Create Super Science Ministry

Chinese leaders released plans to expand the powers of the country’s science and technology ministry. The beefed-up agency will continue to oversee science policy and major projects, but will take on extra responsibilities for funding research grants and for recruiting foreign scientists. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 4^th Cell Therapy Conference: Manufacturing and Testing of Pluripotent Stem Cells
June 5-6, 2018
Los Angeles, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Biology (University of Iceland Biomedical Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Translational iPS Cell Research, Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences)

NEW Associate/Assistant Professor(s) – Disease Modeling with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Animal Models of Down Syndrome (Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology and iPSCs (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Associate – hiPSC-Based Brain Organoids (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurodegenerative Diseases (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Principal Investigator – Stem Cell Approaches to Study Neurodevelopmental Diseases (CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal)

Postdoctoral Associate – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neurodegeneration (Lund University)

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