ESC & iPSC News Volume 13.50 | Dec 19 2018

TOP STORY

Modeling Peripartum Cardiomyopathy with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveals Distinctive Abnormal Function of Cardiomyocytes

Researchers aimed to model peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iCMs) and to determine whether low levels of STAT3 characterize PPCM iCMs. [Circulation] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Functional Annotation of TNNT2 Variants of Uncertain Significance with Genome-Edited Cardiomyocytes

Scientists used CRISPR-Cas9-mediated homology-directed repair to introduce known pathogenic TNNT2 variants into iPSCs from a healthy person, correct the R173W variant in iPSCs from a patient with severe dilated cardiomyopathy and introduce the K210del variant into the corrected iPSCs. [Circulation] Full Article

Differentiation of Primate Primordial Germ Cell-Like Cells following Transplantation into the Adult Gonadal Niche

Investigators report the use of xenotransplantation and homologous transplantation to validate an in vitro protocol for differentiating male rhesus macaque primordial germ cell-like cells from iPSCs. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Yap1 Safeguards Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells from Excessive Apoptosis during Differentiation

Mechanistically, Yap1 strongly activated anti-apoptotic genes via cis-regulatory elements while mildly suppressing pro-apoptotic genes, which moderated the level of mitochondrial priming that occurs during differentiation. Individually modulating the expression of single apoptosis-related genes targeted by Yap1 was sufficient to augment or hinder survival during differentiation. [Elife] Full Article

Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis Regulates a Balance between Opposing Signals to Maintain the Pluripotent State of Embryonic Stem Cells

Knockdown of the clathrin heavy chain resulted in a loss of pluripotency accompanied by reduced E-cadherin levels and increased levels of transforming growth factor β and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Packaging Functionally-Important Plasma Proteins into the α-Granules of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Megakaryocytes

iPSCs were differentiated to CD41⁺/CD42b⁺ megakaryocytes (MKs) using a serum-free protocol. The resulting MKs were polyploid, expressed a number of platelet-specific surface receptors and spread on fibrinogen or collagen-coated surfaces. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Activation of Hes1 and Msx1 in Transgenic Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Increases Differentiation into Neural Crest Derivatives

Researchers generated stable mouse ESCs transfected with constructs encoding chimeric proteins in which the ligand binding domain of glucocorticoid receptor, which is translocated to the nucleus by dexamethasone addition, was fused to either Hes1 or Msx1, as well as double-transgenic cells. Upon neural crest (NC) differentiation, all lines exhibited significantly decreased Sox2 expression and upregulated Sox9, Snai1, and Msx1 expression, indicating NC commitment. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

The Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Compound Silibinin Stimulates Leukopoiesis from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Silibinin treatment activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase, AKT, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, stimulated hypoxia-induced factor-1α, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 expression and raised intracellular nitric oxide. [Phytother Res] Abstract

Asxl1 Ablation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Impairs Neural Differentiation without Affecting Self-Renewal

Additional sex comb-like1 (Asxl1) deficiency in ESCs exhibited no effect on cell proliferation, expression of core pluripotent transcription factors, or alkaline phosphatase activity, suggesting dispensability of Asxl1 for self-renewal of ESCs. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

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Mechanical Regulation of Genome Architecture and Cell-Fate Decisions

The author discusses recent evidence for the biophysical regulation of genome architecture and nuclear programs. They start by discussing the coupling between cellular architecture, genome organization and gene expression. They then review the role of biophysical factors in regulating genome architecture and cell-state transitions. [Curr Opin Cell Biol] Full Article

mRNA-Based Genetic Reprogramming

Investigators discuss the origins of the mRNA-based reprogramming system, its benefits and drawbacks, recent technical improvements which simplify its application, and the status of current efforts to industrialize this approach to mass-produce human stem cells for the clinic. [Mol Ther] Abstract

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

ERS Genomics and Lonza Enter into CRISPR/Cas9 Technology Licensing Deal

ERS Genomics Limited and Lonza Pharma & Biotech announced a license agreement to provide Lonza with access to ERS Genomics’ CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology patents. Lonza will have the ability to utilize CRISPR/Cas9 in its bioproduction products and services and also for use in iPSC for research applications. [ERS Genomics Limited] Press Release

Cynata Completes Clinical Study Report for Phase I Trial of CYP-001 in GvHD

Cynata Therapeutics Limited announced that the clinical study report describing full details of the results from the Phase I clinical trial of CYP-001 for the treatment of steroid-resistant acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) has been completed. The Phase I trial of CYP-001 represents the first time a clinical trial using an iPSC-derived therapy has been completed. [Cynata Therapeutics Limited (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Further to the Announcement of the Agreement Signed with the South Korean Cell2in: KORIL Approves Cellect’s Grant Application

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. announced that KORIL-RDF, has approved Cellect’s grant application, submitted with Cell2in. The agreement will potentially enhance and accelerate the development of Cellect’s ApoGraft^™ Technology Platform. [Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Biological Industries USA Announces Call for Applications for 2019 Stem Cell Research Awards

Biological Industries USA announced the expansion of the BI-USA Stem Cell Research Awards Program. The 2019 BI-USA Stem Cell Research Awards are designed to encourage cutting-edge scientific research using a variety of cell types that are critical for regenerative medicine applications, including human stem cells, T cells, and endothelial cells. [Biological Industries USA (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

University of California Squares Off against Major Publisher, With Big Stakes for Access to Research

There’s a high-stakes fight in California that could shape the way that academic research gets read and published far beyond the West Coast. The battle is pitting the University of California system against Elsevier, the Netherlands-based publisher of academic journals. At issue is how open-access research gets paid for. [STAT News] Editorial

Canadian Government Ending Networks of Centres of Excellence Program

Canada’s federal government is ending a 30-year-old research funding program, the Networks of Centres of Excellence, leaving researchers uncertain about where future funding will come from, The Globe and Mail reports. The program will be phased out over the course of the next three years, according to a spokesperson for Science Minister Kirsty Duncan. [The Scientist] Editorial

Australia Cuts Research Funding for Universities

Australian scientists have expressed disappointment over an AU$328.5 million cut to research funding that had been expected over the next four years. In a budget update, the government announced that it will freeze funding increases for the program that supports research, facilities, and training, including of PhDs, at universities. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW AACR Annual Meeting 2019
March 29-April 3, 2019
Atlanta, Georgia, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – PSC-Derived Human Lung Organoids (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)

NEW Advanced Research Assistant – Cellular Generation & Phenotyping (Wellcome Sanger Institute)

Scientist – Cell Culture Media and Cell Line Development (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Human iPSC Cell Differentiation Research (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Laboratory Research Scientist – Human Embryology & Stem Cell Biology (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Editing hiPSCs (Leiden University Medical Center)

Staff Scientist – Epigenetics & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)

Assistant/Associate Adjunct Professor – Cardiovascular Medicine (UC Davis)

Postdoctoral Position – iPSC Models of Neurodegenerative Disease (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Diabetes (A*STAR)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University)

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