ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.12 | Apr 3 2019

TOP STORY

Derivation of Enteric Neuron Lineages from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators present a detailed protocol for the induction of a regionally specific neural crest intermediate that occurs over the course of a 15-d interval and is an effective source for the in vitro derivation of functional enteric neurons from human PSCs. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

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USP8 Maintains Embryonic Stem Cell Stemness via Deubiquitination of EPG5

Researchers showed that EPG5, a eukaryotic-specific autophagy regulator which mediates autophagosome/lysosome fusion, was highly expressed in ESCs and contributed to ESC identity maintenance. They identified that the deubiquitinating enzyme USP8 bound to the coiled-coil domain of EPG5. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Fusion of Reprogramming Factors Alters the Trajectory of Somatic Lineage Conversion

Scientists employed genetic lineage tracing and found that induction of induced neural stem cells with individual vectors led to direct lineage conversion. In contrast, polycistronic expression produced a Brn4-Klf4 fusion protein that enabled induction of pluripotency. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Global Characterization of X Chromosome Inactivation in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators found differences in X chromosome inactivation (XCI) status between most published samples of ESCs and iPSCs. While the majority of iPSC lines maintained an inactive X chromosome, ESC lines tended to silence the expression of XIST and upregulate distal chromosomal regions. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Enhanced Wound Healing Promotion by Immune Response-Free Monkey Autologous iPSCs and Exosomes vs. Their Allogeneic Counterparts

iPSCs were induced from skin fibroblastic cells of adult male rhesus macaques belonging to four unrelated consanguineous families. Teratoma generativity, host immune response, and skin wound healing promotion were evaluated subsequently. [EBioMedicine] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Defined Conditions for Propagation and Manipulation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Researchers provide detailed methodologies for derivation, propagation, genetic modification and primary differentiation of ES cells in 2i or 2i+LIF media without serum or undefined serum substitutes. [Development] Full Article

Systematic Comparison of Retinal Organoid Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveals Stage Specific, Cell Line, and Methodological Differences

Scientists determined the impact that the method of embryoid body formation and maintenance as well as cell line background had on retinal organoid differentiation from human ESCs and human iPSCs. Their data indicated that cell line-specific differences dominated the variables that underline differentiation efficiency in the early stages of differentiation. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

An Engineered Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Model with Survivin as a Molecular Marker and EGFP as the Reporter for High Throughput Screening of Embryotoxic Chemicals In Vitro

A high throughput embryotoxicity screening based on mouse ESCs (mESCs) expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) driven by a human survivin promoter and a human cytomegalovirus promoter, respectively, was developed. Nine chemicals with known developmental toxicity were used to validate a survivin-based embryotoxicity assay. [Biotechnol Bioeng] Abstract

WNT Inhibition and Increased Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling Promotes Derivation of Less Heterogeneous Primed Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Compatible with Differentiation

DMEM/F12 with a higher dose of FGF2 conditions improved primed human ESC traits, such as conferring a primed transcriptional signature with high levels of pluripotency markers and reduced levels of differentiation markers. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Line from an Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex Patient Heterozygous for Keratin 5 E475G Mutation and with the Dowling Meara Phenotype

The authors generated MLi002-A, a new iPSC line derived from keratinocytes of a skin punch biopsy of a female patient with the severe epidermolysis bullosa (EB) simplex Dowling-Meara phenotype and the keratin K5 E475G mutation. This was the first iPSC model of EB simplex. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article

MeIQx Alters Autophagosome Maturation, Cellular Lipidomic Profiles and Expression of Core Pluripotent Factors

Investigators demonstrated that autophagosome maturation is blocked by 2-amino-3, 8-dimethylimidazo[4, 5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx). MeIQx decreased the expression of pluripotency-associated proteins in mouse ESCs. [J Agric Food Chem] Abstract

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iPSCs: A Powerful Tool for Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering

The authors provide a general vision of the basic aspects to consider when engineering skeletal muscle tissue using iPSCs. They focus on the three main pillars of tissue engineering: the scaffold designing, the selection of the ideal cell source and the addition of factors that can enhance the resemblance with the native tissue. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

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

Fate Therapeutics Presents Late-Breaking Preclinical Data Highlighting Unique Advantages of Clonal Master Engineered iPSC Lines for Off-the-Shelf CAR T-Cell Therapy

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. presented late-breaking preclinical data highlighting the company’s unmatched ability to mass produce uniformly engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy. Their proprietary approach to CAR T-cell therapy utilizes a one-time genetic modification event followed by high-throughput selection of a single gene-edited induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). [Press release from Fate Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2019 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Atlanta] Press Release

Leaps by Bayer and Khloris Join Forces to Develop Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) As Breakthrough Anti-Cancer Vaccines

Leaps by Bayer and Khloris Biosciences announced that they have joined forces to develop novel, first-in-class anti-cancer vaccines based on human iPSCs. This technology has the potential to address one of today’s biggest issues in human health: to prevent and cure cancer. [Bayer (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Fate Therapeutics Announces First Patient Treated with iPSC-Derived NK Cell Cancer Immunotherapy FT500 Successfully Completes Initial Safety Assessment

Fate Therapeutics, Inc announced that the first patient treated with FT500 successfully completed an initial safety assessment. The universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell product candidate is the first-ever cell therapy derived from an iPSC administered to a patient in the US. [Fate Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Australia Budget Fails to Impress Scientists

Australians are just weeks from a national election and the government’s latest budget prioritizes tax cuts, roads and small businesses ahead of spending on science. Projects in nuclear medicine, environment protection and gender equality in science received modest investments. But there was no new money for research grants and universities would be worse off under the proposal. [Nature News] Editorial

India’s Clinical-Trial Rules to Speed Up Drug Approvals

India has announced new rules for clinical trials that will speed up drug approvals and remove the requirement for large studies to test the efficacy of drugs that have already been approved in other nations. The country will also introduce regulations for universities undertaking research involving people. [Nature News] Editorial

Staff Scientists at the University of California Set to Form a First-of-Its-Kind Union

There are 5,000 of them within the University of California system, with titles like project scientist or professional researcher. They’re not on the tenure track, but they power one of the world’s most prolific research institutions. Now, organizers are in the final stages of setting up a first-of-its-kind union exclusively for academic researchers who are not faculty, postdocs, or graduate students. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW 3^rd International Conference on Stem Cells
October 3-8, 2019
Chania, Greece

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

NEW Associate Staff Scientist, Automation Systems (New York Stem Cell Foundation)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (Washington University School of Medicine)

Scientist – Stem Cell Metabolism (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Postdoctoral Positions – Epigenetics of Stem Cells, Development and Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Staff Scientist – Transcriptional Control in Development and Disease (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Human iPSCs, Epigenetics, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology, and Blood Cancers (Nationwide Children’s Hospital & Ohio State University)

Director of Operations – Biotech Production (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

Lecturer – iPSC Models of Neurological Disease (University College London)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Patient-Derived iPSC Research (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Human iPSC Research (Emory University)

Research Associate – iPSC & Neurodegenerative Disease (TU Dresden)

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

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

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