ESC & iPSC News Volume 14.43 | Nov 6 2019

TOP STORY

Loss of ZnT8 Function Protects against Diabetes by Enhanced Insulin Secretion

In genome-edited human iPSC-derived β-like cells, scientists established that the p.Arg138* allele resulted in reduced SLC30A8 expression due to haploinsufficiency. [Nat Genet] Abstract

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Disease Modeling of a Mutation in α‐Actinin 2 Guides Clinical Therapy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Investigators generated patient‐derived human‐iPSCs (hiPSCs) and showed that hiPSC‐derived cardiomyocytes and engineered heart tissues recapitulated several hallmarks of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, such as hypertrophy, myofibrillar disarray, hypercontractility, impaired relaxation, and higher myofilament Ca²⁺ sensitivity, and also prolonged action potential duration and enhanced L‐type Ca²⁺ current. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Transcriptional Profiling of Xenogeneic Transplants: Examining Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Grafts in the Rodent Brain

Researchers present a simple methodology utilizing differences in the RNA sequence between species to discriminate xenograft from host gene expression. To demonstrate the approach, they assessed grafts of undifferentiated human stem cells and neural progenitors in the rodent brain. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Patient-Specific iPSC Model of a Genetic Vascular Dementia Syndrome Reveals Failure of Mural Cells to Stabilize Capillary Structures

To elucidate molecular mechanisms of the condition and identify drug targets, the authors established a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model and demonstrated for the first time a failure of the patient iPSC-derived vascular mural cells in engaging and stabilizing endothelial capillary structures. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

A Transcriptomic Study of Williams-Beuren Syndrome Associated Genes in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists generated mouse embryonic stem cells clones expressing each of the four human Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) genes found in the specific delated region 7q11.23 causative of the WBS. [Sci Data] Full Article

Enhancement of Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte Maturation by Chemical Conditioning in a 3D Environment

The authors showed the effects of a combination of biochemical factors, thyroid hormone, dexamethasone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 on the maturation of human iPSC-cardiomyocytes in 3D cardiac microtissues that recapitulated aspects of the native myocardium. [J Mol Cell Cardiol] Abstract

Generation of Complex Human Organoid Models including Vascular Networks by Incorporation of Mesodermal Progenitor Cells

Scientists generated complex human tumor, as well as neural, organoids. They showed that the formed blood vessels displayed a hierarchic organization and mural cells were assembled into the vessel wall. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Generation of a Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Line (PHAi003) from a Primary Immunodeficient Patient with CD70 Mutation

Investigators generated human induced pluripotent stem cell lines, PHAi003-A and PHAi003-B, from a primary immunodeficiency patient carrying the homozygous frameshift CD70 mutation c.250delT. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article

Modeling Neurotropic Flavivirus Infection in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Systems

Researchers investigated and compared the infectivity and replication kinetics in human iPSCs (hiPSCs), hiPSC-derived neural stem cells and undifferentiated neurons, and the effect of viral infection on host innate antiviral responses of representative flaviviruses associated with diverse neurological diseases, i.e., Zika virus, West Nile virus, and dengue virus. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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Application of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Generating Tissue Engineered Blood Vessels as Vascular Grafts

The authors focus on the evolution and role of human iPSCs (hiPSCs) in vascular tissue engineering technology, and summarize the current progress, challenges, and future directions of research on hiPSC-based tissue engineered blood vessels. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

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Allogene Therapeutics and Notch Therapeutics Announce Collaboration to Research and Develop Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-Derived Allogeneic Therapies for Hematologic Cancer Indications

Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. and Notch Therapeutics Inc. announced an exclusive worldwide collaboration and license agreement to research and develop iPSC AlloCAR™ therapy products for initial application in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma. [Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

ISS National Lab and National Science Foundation Issue Joint Solicitation on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology

The International Space Station (ISS) US National Laboratory and the National Science Foundation announced their third annual joint solicitation for investigators to leverage the microgravity environment onboard the orbiting laboratory for research in the fields of tissue engineering and mechanobiology. Up to $2 million will be awarded for multiple research investigations to support flight projects to the ISS National Lab. [The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc.] Press Release

Report Sketches Vision for UK Research After Brexit

An eagerly awaited external report, commissioned by the government, lays out research priorities and options if those relationships with Europe are severed. It calls for increased spending on R&D nationwide, a new research fellowship program, and larger chunks of money for universities to quickly target research opportunities. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Science Chief at NIH Drug Abuse Institute Resigned After Sexual Misconduct Probe

In August, Antonello Bonci, scientific director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, resigned, and the agency’s director told employees in an email that Bonci would be running an addiction institute in Florida. Science has learned that Bonci’s departure followed an investigation spurred by an internal complaint, which alleged that he sexually targeted a trainee and later directed resources to another trainee with whom he was in an intimate relationship. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

South Korea Clamps Down on Academics Attending ‘Weak’ Conferences

South Korea’s education ministry wants to stop academics from participating in conferences that it considers “weak” and of little academic value. The ministry announced on 17 October that it will require all universities to adopt measures to vet academics’ travel to overseas conferences so as to “prevent researchers from engaging in poor academic activities”. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The Life of the Skeleton from Embryonic Development to Aging
February 2-7, 2020
Galveston, Texas, United States

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NEW Faculty Position – Stem Cell Research (Yale University School of Medicine)

NEW Multiple Positions – Stem Cell Biology (NIH NCATS Stem Cell Translation Laboratory)

Research Assistant – Stem Cells and Engineering (New York Blood Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – CRISPR/Cas9 in ESCs (Institute of Molecular Biology GmbH)

Postdoctoral Researcher – iPSC Models in Neurology (IRIBHM)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Regenerative Medicine (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

PhD Position – Human Inducible Stem Cells (University of Fribourg)

Research Associate – Computational Image Analysis and AI (University of Bristol)

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

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

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