ESC & iPSC News Volume 15.06 | Feb 19 2020

TOP STORY

Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomics Reveal Somitogenesis in Gastruloids

Scientists compared mouse gastruloids with mouse embryos using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. They identified various embryonic cell types that were not previously known to be present in gastruloids, and showed that key regulators of somitogenesis were expressed similarly between embryos and gastruloids. [Nature] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Viral Delivery of GDNF Promotes Functional Integration of Human Stem Cell Grafts in Parkinson’s Disease

The authors examined whether delivery of a developmentally critical protein, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), could improve graft outcomes. They tracked the response of dopaminergic neurons implanted into either a GDNF-rich environment or after a delay in exposure. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Regulatory Dynamics of Tet1 and Oct4 Resolve Stages of Global DNA Demethylation and Transcriptomic Changes in Reprogramming

Full Tet1 activation marked an intermediate stage that accompanied predominantly repression of somatic genes, preceding full Oct4 activation, and distinguished two waves of global DNA demethylation that targeted distinct genomic features but were uncoupled from transcriptional changes. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Derivation of Trophoblast Stem Cells from Naïve Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists found that naïve human PSCs (hPSCs) could directly give rise to human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs) and underwent further differentiation into both extravillous and syncytiotrophoblast. In contrast, primed hPSCs did not support hTSC derivation, but gave rise to non-self-renewing cytotrophoblasts in response to BMP4. [eLIFE] Full Article

Azoramide Protects iPSC-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons with PLA2G6 D331Y Mutation through Restoring ER Function and CREB Signaling

The authors found that a recently identified unfolded protein response modulator, azoramide, showed protective effects on patient iPSCs-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons with the homozygous phospholipase A2 group 6 (PLA2G6) D331Y mutant. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Enhancing Hematopoiesis from Murine Embryonic Stem Cells through MLL1-Induced Activation of a Rac/Rho/Integrin Signaling Axis

Investigators developed a mixed lineage leukemia (MLL)1-inducible ESC system and showed that induction of wild-type MLL1 during ESC differentiation selectively increased hematopoietic potential from a transitional c-Kit⁺/Cd41⁺ population in the embryoid body and also at sites of hematopoiesis in embryos. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

HIF1α Regulates Early Metabolic Changes due to Activation of Innate Immunity in Nuclear Reprogramming

Investigators showed that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), a central regulator of adaptation to limiting oxygen tension, was an unexpected but crucial regulator of innate immune-mediated nuclear reprogramming. HIF1α was dramatically upregulated as a consequence of toll-like receptor 3 signaling and was necessary for efficient induction of pluripotency and transdifferentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Transplantation of iPSC-TM Stimulates Division of Trabecular Meshwork Cells in Human Eyes

Researchers evaluated whether transplantation of iPSC derived trabecular meshwork’s (TM)-like cells restored TM cellularity and function in human eyes obtained from older human donors. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Thalidomide Inhibits Human iPSC Mesendoderm Differentiation by Modulating CRBN-Dependent Degradation of SALL4

Thalidomide-induced degradation of SALL4 was examined in human iPSCs that were differentiated either to lateral plate mesoderm-like cells, the developmental ontology of the limb bud, or definitive endoderm. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Maturation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cerebellar Neurons in the Absence of Co-Culture

Scientists describe a novel differentiation strategy that uses defined medium to generate Purkinje cells, granule cells, interneurons, and deep cerebellar nuclei projection neurons, that self-formed and differentiated into electrically active cells. Using a defined basal medium optimized for neuronal cell culture, they successfully promoted the differentiation of cerebellar precursors without the need for co-culturing. [Front Bioeng Biotechnol] Full Article

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models of Neurodegenerative Disorders for Studying the Biomedical Implications of Autophagy

The authors provide an overview of the regulation of autophagy, generation of human iPSCs (hiPSCs) via cellular reprogramming, and neuronal differentiation, and outline the findings in various neurodegenerative disorders where autophagy has been studied using hiPSC models. [J Mol Biol] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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

CIBMTR^® Announces Real World Data Effort to Accelerate Breakthroughs that Transform Patient Experiences in Cellular Therapy with IQVIA

The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research^® (CIBMTR^®) announced the selection of IQVIA as it seeks to expand the value real world data can bring to patients, through systematic investigation to generate real world evidence. The CIBMTR is a long-standing research collaboration between the National Marrow Donor Program^®/Be The Match^® and the Medical College of Wisconsin, dedicated to improving survival, treatment and quality of life for transplant and cellular therapy patients. [CIBMTR^®] Press Release

JangoBio Creating First Organoids for Complete Hormone Restoration

JangoBio announced significant scientific breakthroughs in developing sustainable stem cell-based therapies for complete hormone restoration. Research scientists at its Fitchburg, WI laboratory have successfully created organoids that emulate the production of ovarian and testicular hormones. [JangoBio] Press Release

Scholars Debate Causes of Women’s Underrepresentation in STEM

Two new commentaries on a contested 2018 study about gender disparities in STEM fields clash over whether sex differences or social inequalities are to blame for the lack of women scientists and engineers. [The Scientist] Editorial

The Next Chapter for African Genomics

Nigeria is poised to become a hub for genetics research, but a few stubborn challenges block the way. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Advances in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
March 8-11, 2020
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scholarship – Non-Coding RNAs (University of Gothenburg)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Research Assistant – Cellular Generation and Phenotyping (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Human iPS Models of Parkinson’s Disease (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stem Cell Niche Biology (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Positions – Create ‘Foie Gras’ in Vitro from Stem Cells (KU Leuven)

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

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell Biology (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Endocrinology (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

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

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