ESC & iPSC News Volume 15.08 | Mar 4 2020

TOP STORY

Lamin B2 Levels Regulate Polyploidization of Cardiomyocyte Nuclei and Myocardial Regeneration

Inactivating lamin B2 (LMNB2) in human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes reduced karyokinesis and increased formation of polyploid nuclei. In primary cardiomyocytes from human infants with heart disease, modifying LMNB2 expression correspondingly altered metaphase progression and ploidy of daughter nuclei. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Robustness of Catalytically-Dead Cas9 Activators in Human Pluripotent and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Researchers compared the ability of the first-generation catalytically-dead Cas9 (dCas9)-VP64 activator and the second-generation systems, dCas9-SAM and dCas9-SunTag, to induce gene expression in human PSCs and human mesenchymal stem cells. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

HIF-1α/Actl6a/H3K9ac Axis Is Critical for Pluripotency and Lineage Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors found that disrupting the expression of HIF-1α reduced self-renewal and pluripotency of human iPSCs (hiPSCs). HIF-1α-knockdown led to lower mitochondrial membrane potential and higher reactive oxygen species production in hiPSCs. [FASEB J] Full Article

Aberrant Development Corrected in Adult-Onset Huntington’s Disease iPSC-Derived Neuronal Cultures via WNT Signaling Modulation

Investigators used a modified protocol to differentiate iPSCs from Huntington’s disease (HD) patients and unaffected controls into neuronal cultures enriched for medium spiny neurons, the cell type most affected in HD. They performed single-cell and bulk transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses and demonstrated that a persistent cyclin D1⁺ neural stem cell population was observed selectively in adult-onset HD iPSCs during differentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

N-Terminal Amino Acids Determine KLF4 Protein Stability in 2A Peptide-Linked Polycistronic Reprogramming Constructs

The authors showed that the N-terminal proline remnant of the 2A peptide, alone or in combination with leucine, introduced during polycistronic cloning, destabilized KLF4 resulting in increased protein degradation, which hindered reprogramming. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Generation of Human Androgenetic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers generated human androgenetic iPSCs (AgHiPSCs) from primary androgenetic fibroblasts derived from complete hydatidiform moles. To investigate the pluripotency state of AgHiPSCs, they analyzed their cellular and molecular characteristics. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Tenocyte-Like Cells Promote the Regeneration of Injured Tendons in Mice

The iPSC-derived EGFP-positive cells exhibited elevated expression of tendon-specific genes, including Scx, Mohawk, Tenomodulin, and Fibromodulin, indicating that they had tenocyte-like properties. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Profiling the Toxcast Library with a Pluripotent Human (H9) Stem Cell Line-Based Biomarker Assay for Developmental Toxicity

The Stemina devTOX quickPredict platform is a human pluripotent stem cell-based assay that predicts the developmental toxicity potential based on changes in cellular metabolism following chemical exposure. Using this assay, scientists screened 1065 ToxCast Phase I and II chemicals in single-concentration or concentration-response for the targeted biomarker. [Toxicol Sci] Abstract

Chondrogenic Differentiation from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Non-Viral Minicircle Vectors

The authors generated minicircle vectors containing bone morphogenetic protein 2 and transforming growth factor beta 3 and delivered them to mesenchymal stem cell-like, human iPSC-derived outgrowth (OG) cells. Cell pellets generated using minicircle-transfected OG cells successfully differentiated into the chondrogenic lineage. The implanted minicircle-based chondrogenic pellets recovered the osteochondral defects in rat models. [Cells] Abstract | Full Article Download

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Yes-Associated Protein and PDZ Binding Motif: A Critical Signaling Pathway in the Control of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Differentiation

Scientists summarize the function of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and PDZ binding motif (TAZ) and focus on the regulation of YAP/TAZ in self-renewal and differentiation of human ESCs. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract

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

NanoSurface Biomedical Awarded $1.9M in Funding from NIH

NanoSurface Biomedical received $1.9 million in new funding in 2019 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support accelerated development of NanoSurface’s innovative human iPSC-based platforms for drug discovery and safety screening. [NanoSurface Biomedical] Press Release

MD Anderson Receives More than $20 Million in CPRIT Funding

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was awarded more than $20 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to support research, clinical translation, prevention and recruitment efforts. In total, MD Anderson received 28% of the $78 million in awards announced by CPRIT. [MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

Scientists Grapple with US Restrictions on Fetal Tissue Research

The Trump administration’s changes to policy involving material donated from abortions have led scientists to adjust their research projects or seek alternative sources of funding. [The Scientist] Editorial

China Bans Cash Rewards for Publishing Papers

Chinese institutions have been told to stop paying researchers bonuses for publishing in journals, as part of a new national policy to cut perverse incentives that encourage scientists to publish lots of papers rather than focus on high-impact work. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Asia-Pacific (TERMIS-AP) Conference 2020
September 21-24, 2020
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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

NEW Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation and Cytogenetics (GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung)

Head – Automated Stem Cell and Organoid Facility (Fondazione Human Technopole)

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

Postdoctoral Associate – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine)

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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