ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.26 | Jul 4 2018

TOP STORY

Generation of Hepatic Stellate Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Enables In Vitro Modeling of Liver Fibrosis

Scientists reported efficient differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into hepatic stellate cell-like cells (iPSC-HSCs). iPSC-HSCs closely resembled primary human HSCs at the transcriptional, cellular, and functional levels and possessed a gene expression profile intermediate between that of quiescent and activated HSCs. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Uhrf1 Regulates Active Transcriptional Marks at Bivalent Domains in Pluripotent Stem Cells through Setd1a

Although Uhrf1 is not essential in ESC self-renewal, it remains elusive how Uhrf1 regulates cell specification. Investigators reported that Uhrf1 formed a complex with the active trithorax group, the Setd1a/COMPASS complex, to maintain bivalent histone marks, particularly those associated with neuroectoderm and mesoderm specification. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Low Cell-Matrix Adhesion Reveals Two Subtypes of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers showed that a human PSC (hPSC) population cultured on a low-adhesion substrate developed two hPSC subtypes with different colony morphologies: flat and domed. The dome-like cells showed higher active proliferation capacity and increased several pluripotent genes’ expression compared with the flat monolayer cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

3D Printing Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells with Novel Hydroxypropyl Chitin Bioink: Scalable Expansion and Uniform Aggregation

3D cell printing was used as a novel method for iPSC scalable expansion. Hydroxypropyl chitin, utilized as a new type of bioink, and a set of optimized printing parameters were shown to achieve high cell survival after the printing process and high proliferation efficiency during subsequent 10-day culture. [Biofabrication] Abstract

The Polycomb Group Protein Yaf2 Regulates the Pluripotency of Embryonic Stem Cells in a Phosphorylation-Dependent Manner

Investigators showed that deletion of Yaf2 resulted in compromised proliferation and abnormal differentiation of mouse ESCs. They confirmed that Yaf2 assembled into a noncanonical polycomb repressive complex, with deletion analysis identifying the region encompassing amino acid residues 102-150 as required for this assembly. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

A Sprouty4 Reporter to Monitor FGF/ERK Signaling Activity in ESCs and Mice

Researchers developed a transcriptional readout of FGF/ERK activity by targeting a histone H2B-linked Venus fluorophore to the endogenous locus of Spry4, an early pathway target, and generated Spry^4H2B-Venus ESCs and a derivative mouse line. The Spry^4H2B-Venus reporter was heterogeneously expressed within ESC cultures and responded to FGF/ERK signaling manipulation. [Dev Biol] Abstract

Combined Proteomic and In Silico Target Identification Reveal a Role for 5-Lipoxygenase in Developmental Signaling Pathways

Lipoxygenin and the structurally unrelated 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor CJ-13,610 promoted cardiac differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells and inhibited Hedgehog, TGF-β, BMP, and Activin A signaling, suggesting an unexpected and yet unknown role of 5-LO in these developmental pathways. [Cell Chem Biol] Abstract

Rapid Generation of Functional and Homogeneous Excitatory Human Forebrain Neurons Using Neurogenin-2 (Ngn2)

The authors described a stepwise protocol in generating Ngn2-induced neuronal cells from both feeder-free human pluripotent stem cells and feeder-dependent human pluripotent stem cells. [Protoc exch] Full Article

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cell Therapy News & Mesenchymal Cell News.

Zero-Dimensional, One-Dimensional, Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Biomaterials for Cell Fate Regulation

The influence of different biomaterials on inducing cell self-renewal, differentiation, reprogramming, dedifferentiation, and transdifferentiation is discussed based on the progress at 0-D, 1-D, 2-D and 3-D levels, following which the current research limitations and research perspectives are provided. [Adv Drug Deliv Rev] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Trans-Spliced Long Non-Coding RNA: An Emerging Regulator of Pluripotency

Accumulating evidence indicates that the molecular mechanisms underlying pluripotency maintenance in PSCs involve many factors. Investigators summarize and discuss current knowledge about the roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), including trans-spliced lncRNAs, in controlling pluripotency. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

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

£215 Million Research Fund to Tackle the Next Generation of Health Challenges

The government has announced £215 million investment in NHS health research and an additional £3 million for a new research leader program for nurses and midwives. [Gov.UK] Press Release

UH Cancer Center Renews NCI Designation

The University of Hawai‘i (UH) Cancer Center successfully competed for renewal of National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, and has been awarded a $6 million Cancer Center Support Grant to fund research at the Center. [University of Hawai’i Cancer Center] Press Release

Grant to Explore Genome Editing and Stem Cell Potential for Cardiac Treatment

Examining the treatment potential of cardiac cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells may lead to dramatically altering the care of cardiac disease and heart injuries, thanks to a grant from the National Institutes of Health. [The Pennsylvania State University] Press Release

Hungarian Academy to Draw Up Alternative Research Budget

The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is set to put forward an “alternative proposal” for the country’s research budget, after the government moved to put the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in charge of financing research institutions, seen as the latest attack on sector autonomy by the authoritarian Orbán administration. [Times Higher Education] Editorial

University of Gothenburg Moves to Fire Professor for Misconduct

The University of Gothenburg has taken steps to remove Suchitra Sumitran-Holgersson from her post as a professor there, after an investigation concluded that she manipulated images in seven out of 10 papers. [The Scientist] Editorial

Geneticist Francisco Ayala Quits After Sexual Harassment Accusations

The University of California, Irvine, which found him guilty of inappropriate behavior, will remove Ayala’s name from buildings and scholarships. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Cell Symposia: Translation of Stem Cells to the Clinic: Challenges and Opportunities
December 2-4, 2018
Los Angeles, California, United States

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

NEW Research Associate – Embryonic Stem Cell Derivatives for Vascular Grafts (Imperial College London)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Stem Cell Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Research Associate/Scientist – iPSC Research and Manufacture (Evotec AG)

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

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Vertebrate Neural Tube Development (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Positions – Human Functional Genomics of Aging & Disease (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

Research Associate/PhD Position – iPSCs & Neurodegenerative Disease (TU Dresden)

Research Specialist – Cardiovascular Disease (University of Illinois)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Cell Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes (The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology – DanStem)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

Senior Scientist/ Scientist – Tissue Engineering (Novoheart)

Postdoctoral Fellow – hiPSC Based Cardiac Regeneration (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Skeletal Muscle Disease Modeling and Regeneration (Duke University)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

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

Have we missed an important article or publication in ESC & iPSC News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.