ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.03 | Jan 30 2019

TOP STORY

TFAP2C- and p63-Dependent Networks Sequentially Rearrange Chromatin Landscapes to Drive Human Epidermal Lineage Commitment

Scientists defined epigenomic landscape during epidermal differentiation of human PSCs and created inference networks that integrated gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and transcription factor binding to define regulatory mechanisms during keratinocyte specification. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Differentiation and Maturation of Oligodendrocytes in Human Three-Dimensional Neural Cultures

Investigators developed a new differentiation method of human iPSCs to generate 3D brain organoids that contained oligodendrocytes as well as neurons and astrocytes, called human oligodendrocyte spheroids. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

Implantation Initiation of Self-Assembled Embryo-Like Structures Generated Using Three Types of Mouse Blastocyst-Derived Stem Cells

Researchers devised a nonadherent-suspension-shaking system to generate self-assembled embryo-like structures using mouse embryonic, trophoblast and extra-embryonic endoderm stem cells. When cultured together, the three cell types aggregated and sorted into lineage-specific compartments. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Dppa2 and Dppa4 Directly Regulate the Dux-Driven Zygotic Transcriptional Program

Through a combination of overexpression, knockdown, knockout, and rescue experiments together with transcriptional analyses, investigators showed that developmental pluripotency-associated 2 (Dppa2) and Dppa4 directly regulated the 2C-like cell population and associated transcripts, including Dux and the Zscan4 cluster. [Genes Dev] Abstract | Press Release | Full Article

Reconstitution of Male Germline Cell Specification from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using Defined Factors In Vitro

ESCs were first induced into primordial germ cell-like cells, which were further induced into male germline cells, including spermatogonial stem cell-like cells (SSCLCs) and spermatid-like cells. The obtained SSCLCs were functional as infertile male mice sired healthy offspring via SSCLC transplantation. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Protein Methyltransferase Inhibition Decreases Endocrine Specification through the Upregulation of Aldh1b1 Expression

The authors aimed to identify small molecule inducers of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1b1 (Aldh1b1) expression taking advantage of a mouse ES (mES) Aldh1b1 lacZ reporter cell line and a pancreas differentiation protocol directing mES cells into pancreatic progenitors. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Full Article

Dynamic Methylation of an L1 Transduction Family during Reprogramming and Neurodifferentiation

Scientists identified a de novo LINE-1 (L1) insertion in a human iPSC (hiPSC) line via retrotransposon capture (RC) sequencing. The L1 insertion was full-length and carried 5′ and 3′ transductions. The corresponding donor RC-L1 was part of a large and recently active L1 transduction family and was highly mobile in a cultured cell L1 retrotransposition reporter assay. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract | Full Article

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Safeguards Epigenetic Stability and Homeostasis of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

The activity of the pathway was progressively silenced during passages in culture and this resulted in a loss of DNA methylation at many imprinting control regions, loss of recruitment of chromatin repressors, and activation of retrotransposons, resulting in impaired mouse ESC differentiation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Chemically Defined and Xenogeneic-Free Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Definitive Endoderm in 3D Culture

The novel protocol successfully worked with different human (h) PSC lines including hESCs and hiPSCs maintained in two different stem cell media prior to differentiation. Definitive endoderm cells obtained by the novel BSA-free 3D protocol could be further differentiated into PDX1- or NKX6.1-expressing pancreatic progenitor cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Targeted Gene Silencing in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using Cell-Penetrating Peptide PepFect 14

Human ES cells were transfected in ROCK inhibitor containing medium for 24-hours right after EDTA passaging as small cell clumps. Fluorescently labeled siRNA and siRNAs targeting OCT4 or beta-2-microglobulin mRNA sequences were used to evaluate the efficiency of transfection and silencing. Analyses were performed at various time points by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence microscopy. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

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Open Chromatin, Epigenetic Plasticity, and Nuclear Organization in Pluripotency

The authors systematically review chromatin and epigenetic features in GSK3/MEK inhibitors- and serum-grown conditions to come to a clearer picture of what are genuine characteristics of pluripotency and what open chromatin features predict pluripotency. [Dev Cell] Abstract

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

Asterias Provides Top Line 12 Month Data Update for Its OPC1 Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial in Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. provided top-line 12 month data from the company’s Phase I/IIa SCiStar study designed to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of OPC1 in the treatment of severe cervical spinal cord injury [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Completion of Manufacturing of Clinical Grade FasL Enables Cellect to Expedite US Clinical Programs into Multiple Studies

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. announced it has concluded the scale-up development and manufacturing of clinical grade FasL in collaboration with its outsourced supplier. The FasL protein is central to Cellect’s technology of cell separation and functional selection of stem cells and is the key active ingredient in Cellect’s ApoGraft^™ and Apotainer product lines. [Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Grants over $4.7 Million in Awards to 24 Top Young Scientists

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation named 18 new Damon Runyon Fellows at its fall Fellowship Award Committee review. The recipients of this prestigious, four-year award are outstanding postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators across the country. [Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (EurekAlert!)] Editorial

Japan Should Put the Brakes on Stem-Cell Sales

Healing spinal-cord injuries has been one of the most difficult – and doggedly pursued – quests in medicine, and among the most symbolic goals for the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Progress, however, has been frustratingly slow. Dozens of seemingly promising efforts, based on animal studies, have fallen flat. [Nature News] Editorial

The US Scientists Who Knew about CRISPRed Babies

Multiple researchers were aware of He Jiankui’s clinical trial before the news became public in November. The most recent revelation came when the AP reported that He sent an email to University of Massachusetts professor Craig Mello in April 2018 in which he said a pregnancy had been achieved with the CRISPRed embryos. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW The NYSCF Conference 2019
October 22, 2019
New York, New York, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Discovery Oncology (Merck)

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

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

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells & Neurodegeneration (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (City of Hope)

Senior Laboratory Research Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Research (The Francis Crick Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genetics and Epigenomics of iPSC Biology (Stanford University)

Assistant Associate Professor/Professor in Residence – Stem Cell Program (UC Davis Medical Center)

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

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

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

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