ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.35 | Sep 11 2019

TOP STORY

Self-Organizing Neuruloids Model Developmental Aspects of Huntington’s Disease in the Ectodermal Compartment

Using isogenic Huntington’s disease human embryonic stem cells and deep neural network analysis, the authors showed how specific phenotypic signatures arose in the model of early human development as a consequence of mutant huntingtin protein. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Distinct Imprinting Signatures and Biased Differentiation of Human Androgenetic and Parthenogenetic Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists explored molecular and developmental aspects of imprinting in humans by generating exclusively paternal human androgenetic embryonic stem cells and comparing them with exclusively maternal parthenogenetic ESCs and bi-parental ESCs, establishing a pluripotent cell system of distinct parental backgrounds. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Decreased Enhancer-Promoter Proximity Accompanying Enhancer Activation

Using super-resolution 3D-FISH and chromosome conformation capture, researchers observed a decreased spatial proximity between Sonic hedgehog gene and its enhancers during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells to neural progenitors. [Mol Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Engineering of Human Cardiac Muscle Electromechanically Matured to an Adult-Like Phenotype

Investigators developed a protocol to generate engineered cardiac tissues from human iPSCs and electromechanically mature them toward an adult-like phenotype. [Nat Protoc] Full Article

Next-Generation Unnatural Monosaccharides Reveal that ESRRB O-GlcNAcylation Regulates Pluripotency of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Applying 1,3-di-O-propionylated GalNAz in mouse ESCs, the authors identified ESRRB, a critical transcription factor for pluripotency, as an O-GlcNAcylated protein. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Cell-Type Dependent Enhancer Binding of the EWS/ATF1 Fusion Gene in Clear Cell Sarcomas

Scientists established iPSCs from EWS/ATF1-controllable murine clear cell sarcoma cells harboring sarcoma-associated genetic abnormalities. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Human iPSC Modeling of a Familial Form of Atrial Fibrillation Reveals a Gain of Function of I_f and I_CaL in Patient-Derived Cardiomyocytes

The authors investigated the pathophysiological mechanisms of a familial form of atrial fibrillation, with particular attention to the identification of putative triggering cellular mechanisms, using patients’ derived cardiomyocytes differentiated from iPSCs. [Cardiovasc Res] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Derivation of Brain Capillary-Like Endothelial Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Researchers describe a two-step differentiation protocol to derive brain capillary-like endothelial cells from human PSCs. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Characterization of Dystroglycan Binding in Adhesion of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Laminin-511 E8 Fragment

Investigators showed that dystroglycan (DG) was strongly expressed in human iPSCs. The fully glycosylated DG was functionally active for laminin binding, and although it has been suggested that LM511-E8 lacks DG binding sites, the fragment did weakly bind to DG. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Generation of an Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Line (SDQLCHi008-A) from a Patient with ASD and DD Carrying an 830 kb De Novo Deletion at chr7q11.22 Including the Exon 1 of AUTS2 Gene

An iPSC line was generated from human urine-derived cells of a four year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay (DD) carrying a 830 kb de novo deletion at chromosome 7q11.22 disrupting the first exon and promoter region of AUTS2. [Stem Cell Res] Abstract

Integrin‐Targeted Cyclic Forces Accelerate Neural Tube‐Like Rosette Formation from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

To investigate the impact of dynamic mechanical forces on neural induction of human ESCs (hESCs), researchers employed acoustic tweezing cytometry to apply cyclic forces/strains to hESCs by actuating integrin‐bound microbubbles using ultrasound pulses. [Adv Biosyst] Abstract

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Analysis of the Mechanism Underlying Liver Diseases Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors focus on modeling liver diseases using human iPS cells and discuss the experimental evidence that supports the utility of such disease models, including that in recent studies. [Immunol Med] Full Article

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

Vertex to Acquire Semma Therapeutics with a Goal of Developing Curative Cell-Based Treatments for Type 1 Diabetes

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that the company has entered into a definitive agreement under which Vertex will acquire Semma Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company pioneering the use of stem cell-derived human islets as a potentially curative treatment for type 1 diabetes. [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

Lineage Cell Therapeutics Announces Issuance of US Patent for Method of Treating Spinal Cord Injury with Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells

Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 10,286,009, entitled “Pluripotent stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury” covering methods for utilizing pluripotent stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury. [Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

EU Research Commissioner Named, but Lacks ‘Research’ in Her Title

Mariya Gabriel, a conservative politician from Bulgaria, is slated to become the next European research chief- although her job title, unlike that of her predecessors, doesn’t include the words “research” or “science.” Some researchers and science policy experts worry the new job title could signal a reduced standing for science within von der Leyen’s proposed executive branch for the European Union, made up of 26 commissioners. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

US EPA to Eliminate All Mammal Testing by 2035

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, DC, announced September 10^th that it will stop conducting or funding studies on mammals by 2035. The move, which is already eliciting strong reactions from groups supporting or opposing experiments on animals, makes EPA the first federal agency to put a hard deadline on phasing out animal research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Google Bans Ads for Experimental Medical Treatments

On September 6^th, Google announced it would “prohibit advertising for unproven or experimental medical techniques such as most stem cell therapy, cellular (non-stem) therapy, and gene therapy.” The treatments, the company says in the statement, can have “dangerous health outcomes” and therefore have “no place” on the its platforms. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW SCSS – ISCT Joint Symposium 2019 “Frontiers in Cell Therapy”
November 13-15, 2019
Singapore, Singapore

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

NEW Group Leader – Stem Cell Science (University of Cambridge)

Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology (Children’s Research Institute at UT Southwestern)

Research Fellow – Vascular Stem Cell Biology (Queen’s University Belfast)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cell Cycles in Stem Cells (University of California, Santa Cruz)

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell and Bioinformatics (Indiana University School of Medicine)

Investigator – Stem Cells (GlaxoSmithKline)

Assistant Specialist – Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (University of California, Davis)

Biologist – Stem Cell Engineering (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Cancer Research (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Striated Muscle Regeneration (Duke University)

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

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