ESC & iPSC News 13.45 November 14, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYREX1 Is the Critical Target of RNF12 in Imprinted X Chromosome Inactivation in Mice Researchers showed that loss of Rex1 rescued the random X chromosome inactivation phenotype observed in Rnf12−/− ESCs, and that REX1 was the prime target of RNF12 in ESCs. [Nat Commun] Full Article | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Use of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes to Assess Drug Cardiotoxicity Scientists describe how to differentiate human iPSCs (hiPSCs) into hiPSC-cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and subsequently implement contractility and cytotoxicity assays that can evaluate drug-induced cardiotoxicity in hiPSC-CMs. They also describe how to carry out the calculations needed to generate a cardiac safety index metric from these quantitative toxicity measurements. [Nat Protoc] Abstract By using CRISPR/Cas9n, a double-reporter human ESC (hESC) line was generated for PAX7/MYF5, allowing prospective readout. This strategy allowed pathway screen to define efficient myogenic induction in human PSCs. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Investigators showed that Brd4’s bromodomains partnered with the histone acetyltransferase P300, increasing its enzymatic activities. Augmenting histone acetylation by Brd4-P300 interaction recruited the chromatin remodeler Brg1 altering chromatin structure. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Insulin Mutations Impair Beta-Cell Development in a Patient-Derived iPSC Model of Neonatal Diabetes Researchers generated iPSCs from people carrying insulin (INS) mutations, engineered isogenic CRISPR-Cas9 mutation-corrected lines and differentiated them to beta-like cells. They showed increased endoplasmic reticulum-stress and reduced proliferation in INS-mutant beta-like cells compared with corrected controls. [Elife] Full Article Embryonic Stem Cells Derived Kidney Organoids as Faithful Models to Target Programmed Nephrogenesis The authors describe differentiation of wild type and Wnt4 knockout mouse ESCs into kidney progenitors, and such cells induced to undergo nephrogenesis by mouse E11.5 ureteric bud mediated induction. [Sci Rep] Full Article Investigators report that the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4)/nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex plays a critical role in neural differentiation of mouse ESCs. They found that RNAi-mediated Chd4 knockdown suppressed neural differentiation, as did knockdown of methyl-CpG binding domain protein Mbd3, another NuRD subunit. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Scientists report that MAX associated with DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 cooperatively controlled germ cell-related gene expression in ESCs. [PLoS One] Full Article Examining the Role of the Surfactant Family Member SFTA3 in Interneuron Specification Researchers showed that NKX2.1 knockouts (KOs) had a significantly diminished capacity to differentiate into medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) interneuron subtypes. SFTA3 KOs also demonstrated a somewhat reduced ability to differentiate down the MGE-like lineage, although not as severe relative to NKX2.1 deficiency. [PLoS One] Full Article Scientists found abnormal stress-induced contractile and electrophysiological properties associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) human iPSC (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes. [J Clin Med] Full Article Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cell Therapy News & Mesenchymal Cell News. | |
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REVIEWSStemming Retinal Regeneration with Pluripotent Stem Cells The authors begin with a brief introduction to retinal degenerative diseases and cell death in diverse diseases, followed by methods for retinal cell generation. Preclinical and clinical studies are discussed, and future concerns about efficacy, safety and immunorejection are also addressed. [Prog Retin Eye Res] Abstract Investigators provide a comprehensive overview of the most promising DNA-free reprogramming techniques that have the potential to derive integration-free iPSCs without genomic manipulation, such as sendai virus, recombinant proteins, microRNAs, synthetic messenger RNA and small molecules. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWS‘Reprogrammed’ Stem Cells Implanted into Patient with Parkinson’s Disease Japanese neurosurgeons have implanted ‘reprogrammed’ stem cells into the brain of a patient with Parkinson’s disease for the first time. The condition is only the second for which a therapy has been trialled using iPSCs, which are developed by reprogramming the cells of body tissues such as skin so that they revert to an embryonic-like state, from which they can morph into other cell types. [Nature News] Editorial Fate Therapeutics, Inc. announced new clinical data for FATE-NK100, an investigational, first-in-class, allogeneic donor-derived natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy, and provided a regulatory update on the development of FT500, a universal, off-the-shelf NK cell product candidate derived from a master iPSC line. [Fate Therapeutics] Press Release Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China-Taylor & Francis Research Lab Launches A jointly established Research Lab will provide a grant to finance research projects on a specific annual topic, focusing on areas of key importance to the Chinese research community and providing an opportunity to drive significant change on issues most affecting Chinese researchers. [Taylor & Francis Group] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSHHS Will Bring In Fetal Tissue Experts for ‘Listening Session’ The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will hold the first in a series of “listening sessions” on the topic of human fetal tissue research, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting. The meeting is the latest step in a department-wide audit of how the federal government procures fetal tissue for medical research and testing. [STAT News] Editorial With Democrats in Control of U.S. House, Science Panel Gets Fresh Start The results of divisive midterm elections, with Democrats reclaiming control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Republicans likely strengthening their hold on the Senate, have allowed both parties to claim victory. U.S. scientists are also experiencing mixed emotions. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Africa’s Science ‘Millionaires’: Survey Spotlights Top-Funded Researchers Africa’s research funding system has created few winners: only 2% or so of scientists from just a handful of countries and fields report receiving million-dollar grants, while almost half say they don’t receive any research funding. [Nature News] Editorial Keio Researchers Plan to Treat Spinal Cord Injuries with Stem Cells Keio University is poised to conduct the world’s first treatment of patients who have sustained spinal cord injuries using iPSCs, sources close to the matter said. If approved by the state, the private university plans to inject neural stem cells produced from iPS cells into four people aged 18 or older who were injured while playing sports or in traffic accidents, starting next year. [The Japan Times] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Keystone Symposia: Cell Competition in Development and Disease Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Assistant/Associate Adjunct Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (UC Davis) Scientist – Cell Culture Media and Cell Line Development (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Fellow – Patient Derived Organoids (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey) Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Diabetes (A*STAR) Postdoctoral Fellows – iPSCs & Blood Development (University of Washington) Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Precision Medicine (Columbia University) Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University) 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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