ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.17 | May 2 2018

TOP STORY

Blastocyst-Like Structures Generated Solely from Stem Cells

Researchers report that trophoblast and embryonic stem cells cooperate in vitro to form structures that morphologically and transcriptionally resemble embryonic day 3.5 blastocysts, termed blastoids. [Nature] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Self-Interference 3D Super-Resolution Microscopy for Deep Tissue Investigations

Investigators combined SELFI with conventional localization microscopy to visualize F-actin 3D filament networks and reveal the spatial distribution of the transcription factor OCT4 in human induced pluripotent stem cells at depths up to 50 µm inside uncleared tissue spheroids. [Nat Methods] Abstract

A PAX5-OCT4-PRDM1 Developmental Switch Specifies Human Primordial Germ Cells

The authors analyzed bona fide human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) to probe the developmental genetics of human germ cell specification and differentiation. They examined the distribution of OCT4 occupancy in hPGCs relative to human human ESCs. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

P53 and mTOR Signaling Determine Fitness Selection through Cell Competition during Early Mouse Embryonic Development

Investigators identified that in the early mouse embryo and upon exit from naive pluripotency, the confrontation of cells with different fitness levels leads to an inhibition of mTOR signaling in the less fit cell type, causing its elimination. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Patient-iPSC-Derived Kidney Organoids Show Functional Validation of a Ciliopathic Renal Phenotype and Reveal Underlying Pathogenetic Mechanisms

A one-step reprogramming and gene-editing protocol was used to derive both uncorrected proband iPSCs and isogenic gene-corrected iPSCs, which were differentiated to kidney organoids. [Am J Hum Genet] Abstract

The STAT3 Target Mettl8 Regulates Mouse ESC Differentiation via Inhibiting the JNK Pathway

Scientists showed that STAT3 positively regulates gene expression of methyltransferase-like protein 8 (Mettl8) in mouse ESCs. They found that METTL8 is dispensable for pluripotency but affects ESC differentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Unraveling the Inconsistencies of Cardiac Differentiation Efficiency Induced by the GSK3β Inhibitor CHIR99021 in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers analyzed the differentiation process of multiple human PSC (hPSC) lines in response to dynamic GSK3β inhibition under varying cell culture conditions. hPSCs showed strong differences in cell-cycle profiles with varying culture confluency. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Transient PP2A Inhibition Alleviates Normal Tissue Stem Cell Susceptibility to Cell Death during Radiotherapy

The authors demonstrated that constitutively high expression and radiation induction of phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in stem cells plays a role in promoting susceptibility to irradiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Interaction of the Primordial Germ Cell-Specific Protein C2EIP with PTCH2 Directs Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells via HH Signaling Activation

Scientists confirmed that C2EIP is a primordial germ cell marker gene that regulates differentiation by influencing the expression of pluripotency-associated genes such as Oct4 and Sox2. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Stage-Specific Effects of Bioactive Lipids on Human iPSC Cardiac Differentiation and Cardiomyocyte Proliferation

Using a 96-well differentiation platform for generating human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes the authors found that sphingosine-1-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid can independently enhance cardiomyocyte generation when administered at an early stage of differentiation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Chemically Controlled Aggregation of Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists characterized a chemical‐based method to control aggregate size within a specific, tunable range with low heterogeneity, thereby reducing process variability in PSC expansion. [Biotechnol Bioeng] Full Article

Vitamin C in Stem Cell Reprogramming and Cancer

Vitamin C can modulate ESC function, enhance reprogramming of fibroblasts to iPSCs, and hinder the aberrant self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells through its ability to enhance the activity of either Jumonji C domain-containing histone demethylases or ten-eleven translocation DNA hydroxylases. [Trends Cell Biol] Abstract

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

BioTime Presents Updated OpRegen^® Clinical Trial Data

BioTime, Inc. announced that an abstract related to one of its lead programs, OpRegen^® for dry-age related macular degeneration, was presented. [Press release from BioTime, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2018 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Meeting, Honolulu] Press Release

Kadimastem Announces the Enrollment of the First Patient for Its Clinical Trial in ALS Patients

Kadimastem announced the enrollment of the first patient for its clinical trial in ALS patients, using the cell therapy product developed by the company, AstroRx^®. [Kadimastem] Press Release

AgeX Announces NIH Grant Award

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc., a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc., announced the award of a grant of approximately $386,000 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant provides funding for continued development of the company’s technologies for treating stroke. [AgeX Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Nature Journals Formalize Ethical Standards for Human Embryo and Stem-Cell Research

Nature journals encourage stem-cell scientists to embrace guidelines agreed in 2016 by the International Society for Stem Cell Research as they design, execute and report their research. [Nature News] Editorial

Miracle Cures or Modern Quackery? Stem Cell Clinics Multiply, with Heartbreaking Results for Some Patients

No one tracks how many injuries have occurred from unproven, direct-to-consumer treatments. Such cases have become public in recent years only when doctors write about them in medical journals or patients file lawsuits. [The Washington Post] Editorial

Accused Cancer Scientist Resigns as Editor of Prestigious Journal

Inder Verma, the prominent cancer scientist and geneticist who has been accused of sexual harassment by several women, resigned yesterday as editor-in-chief of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a prestigious academic journal. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Scientists Alarmed by Report White House May Tighten Limits on Chinese Researchers in U.S.

One of the nation’s leading scientific organizations expressed alarm about a report that the White House is considering imposing further limits on research by Chinese citizens in the United States, saying that “scientific progress depends on openness, transparency, and the free flow of ideas.” [STAT News] Editorial

Prominent Cell Biologist Fired after Data Manipulation Investigation

A University of Tokyo scientist known for his work on cell division has been fired, Retraction Watch reports. The university announced the “disciplinary dismissal” in a statement. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 6^th Cambridge International Stem Cell Symposium
September 19-21, 2018
Cambridge, United Kingdom

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

NEW PhD Candidate Position – Cardiovascular Diseases and iPSCs (University Medical Center Göttingen)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist/Senior Scientist – Bioprocess Engineering (Bluerock Therapeutics, LLC.)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Cardiovascular Stem Cell/iPSC Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

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 – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

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