ESC & iPSC News 14.22 June 12, 2019 | |
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TOP STORYUsing Organ-Chip technology, researchers created an entirely human blood-brain barrier-Chip with iPSC-derived brain microvascular endothelial-like cells (iBMECs), astrocytes, and neurons. The iBMECs formed a tight monolayer that expressed markers specific to brain vasculature. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Codon Usage Optimization in Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells Using ribosome and transcriptome profiling, investigators identified distinct codon signatures during human embryonic stem cell differentiation. They found that cell state-specific codon bias was determined by the guanine-cytosine content of differentially expressed genes. [Genome Biol] Full Article The authors deciphered the consequences of 5-methylcytosine deposition into the abundant non-coding vault RNA VTRNA1.1. Methylation of cytosine 69 in VTRNA1.1 occurred frequently in human cells, was exclusively mediated by NSUN2, and determined the processing of VTRNA1.1 into small-vault RNAs. [Nat Commun] Full Article Scientists showed that Gm12794c, one of the most highly upregulated Prame members, and previously identified as a key player for the maintenance of pluripotency, had a functional role in conferring ESCs resistance to retinoic acid (RA) signaling. RA-dependent expression of Gm12794c induced a ground state-like metastate, as evaluated by activation of two-cell (2C)-specific genes, global DNA hypomethylation and rearrangement of chromatin similar to that observed in naive totipotent preimplantation epiblast cells and 2C-like cells. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract Investigators demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 9 promoted, via its receptor ALK1 and SMAD1/5 activation, sprouting angiogenesis of human ESC-derived endothelial cells. They showed that the secreted angiogenic factor epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) was a downstream target of BMP9-SMAD1/5-mediated signaling, and that EGFL7 promoted expansion of endothelium via interference with NOTCH signaling, activation of ERK, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract The authors developed an efficient protocol to derive monocytes and macrophages from human (h)iPSCs and performed a functional comparison with peripheral blood (PB)-derived cells. hiPSC-derived monocytes were functional after cryopreservation and exhibited gene expression profiles comparable with PB-derived monocytes. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article Researchers described an efficient gene correction via single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ssODN)-mediated in-frame deletion within the B domain of F8 with CRISPR/Cas9 in hemophilia (HA) patient-derived iPSCs (HA-iPSCs). The expression and activity of FVIII was restored in corrected HA-iPSC-derived endothelial progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Fibroblasts from premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients, including fragile X syndrome, abnormal karyotype and gene mutation were reprogrammed to pluripotency status by retroviral transduction using defined factors. The morphology, growth characteristics, gene expression profiles, epigenetic status, and in vitro and in vivo differentiation potential of the POI-1-iPSCs were analyzed. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article Mature lentoid bodies (LBs) on day 25, which were differentiated from human iPSCs using the “fried egg” method, were continually cultured or extra treated with either ultraviolet (UV) radiation or hydrogen peroxide. The LBs’ shape alteration and opacity were examined using light microscopy and mean gray value evaluation. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Expression Dynamics of Repetitive DNA in Early Human Embryonic Development Investigators uncovered stage-specific expressions of more than a thousand repeat elements whose expressions fluctuated with a mild global decrease at the blastocyst stage. Most satellites were highly expressed at the four-cell level and expressions of ACRO1 and D20S16 specifically peaked at this point. Whereas all members of the SVA elements were highly upregulated at eight-cell and morula stages, other transposons and small RNA repeats exhibited a high level of variation among their specific subtypes. [BMC Genomics] Full Article Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cell Therapy News & Mesenchymal Cell News. | |
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REVIEWSSelf-Organization of Stem Cells into Embryos: A Window on Early Mammalian Development Adding stem cells for extraembryonic lineages generates three-dimensional models that are more autonomous from the environment and recapitulate many features of the pre- and postimplantation mouse embryo, including gastrulation. Investigators review the principles of self-organization and how they set cells in motion to create an embryo. [Science] Abstract Engineering Stem Cell Self-Organization to Build Better Organoids The authors discuss how engineering efforts for guiding stem-cell-based development at multiple stages can form the basis for the assembly of highly complex and rationally designed self-organizing multicellular systems with increased robustness and physiological relevance. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article Design Approaches for Generating Organ Constructs Scientists highlight prevailing approaches for generating organ constructs, from organoids to chimeric organ engineering. They also discuss design principles of different approaches, their utility and limitations, and propose strategies to resolve existing hurdles. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWS$4M for Open Science Drug Screening The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital) will lead an open science partnership to develop precision drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. A grant from Quebec’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation, under its Fonds d’accélération des collaborations en santé, worth up to $2 million, will fund this unique public-private partnership that includes The Neuro, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and the Structural Genomics Consortium. [McGill University] Press Release ONCURIOUS NV announced that it has received from Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship a project grant of close to €1 million to support the further pre-clinical development of its pipeline of next generation cancer immunotherapies. Oncurious will do this in close collaboration with VIB Discovery Sciences, steered by the scientific input of the VIB founding labs. [Oncurious NV] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSIn Wake of Trump’s Fetal Tissue Clampdown, Scientists Strain to Adjust The new Trump policy, issued 5 June after a nine-month review led by officials at the Department of Health and Human Services, has three major components. One kills a long-standing contract between the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and the University of California, San Francisco, under which the university used fetal tissue to develop humanized mice for HIV drug testing. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Nature reported that molecular biologist Denis Rebrikov at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University in Moscow says that he plans to create babies with an edit of the same gene. The proposals are controversial, and already scientists are raising doubts about the credibility of Rebrikov’s claims and his understanding of the risks. [Nature News] Editorial Wellcome Sanger Institute to Close Animal Facility The Wellcome Sanger Institute announced that it would be closing its animal facility, which provides mice, zebrafish, rats, and frogs to geneticists at the institute and internationally, reports Nature. The Institute states that the closure is related to the growing use of cell lines and organoids, instead of animals. [The Scientist] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW International Conference on Genomes & AI: From Packing to Regulation Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – iPSC Models of Diabetes (New York Stem Cell Foundation) NEW Research Technichian – iPSC Generation and Differentiation (The University of Chicago) Scientist – Stem Cell Metabolism (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Researcher – Cystic Fibrosis Stem Cell Models (The University of Alabama at Birmingham) Postdoctoral Researcher – Dementia Treatment with iPSCs (Cardiff University) Postdoctoral Associate – RNA Genomics in iPSCs (The Jackson Laboratory) Research Assistant – Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine (Boston Children’s Hospital) Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cells & Joint Tissue Development (Boston Children’s Hospital) Postdoctoral Fellow – Genetics and Epigenomics of iPSC Biology (Stanford University) Assistant Associate Professor/Professor in Residence – Stem Cell Program (UC Davis) 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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