ESC & iPSC News Volume 15.17 | May 6 2020

TOP STORY

In Vitro Capture and Characterization of Embryonic Rosette-Stage Pluripotency between Naive and Primed States

Scientists identified a rosette pluripotent state defined by the co-expression of naive factors with the transcription factor OTX2. Downregulation of blastocyst WNT signals drove the transition into rosette pluripotency by inducing OTX2. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

LGR4, Not LGR5, Enhances hPSC Hematopoiesis by Facilitating Mesoderm Induction via TGF-Beta Signaling Activation

Scientists identified leucine-rich-repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) as an essential regulator of early hematopoietic differentiation of human PSCs. The deletion of LGR4 severely impaired mesoderm development, thereby limiting hematopoietic differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstact

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Are Functionally Mature In Vitro and Integrate into the Mouse Striatum following Transplantation

The authors describe step-by-step a fast feeder-free neuronal differentiation protocol to direct human PSCs to mature forebrain neurons in 37 days in vitro. [Mol Neurobiol] Full Article

LRRK2 Is Recruited to Phagosomes and Co-recruits RAB8 and RAB10 in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Macrophages

Investigators characterized a platform for interrogating the expression and function of endogenous LRRK2 in authentic human phagocytes using human iPSC-derived macrophages and microglia. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Partial Reactivation of X Chromosome Instead of Chromosome-Wide Dampening in Naive Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors performed allelic analysis of X-linked genes at the single-cell level in human PSCs and found that there was partial reactivation of the inactive X chromosome instead of chromosome-wide dampening upon conversion from primed to naive state. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models Suggest Preadipocyte Senescence as a Possible Cause of Metabolic Complications of Werner and Bloom Syndromes

To interrogate the underlying cause of adipose tissue dysfunction in Werner and Bloom syndromes, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was used to generate human PSCs lacking either functional WRN or BLM helicase. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Calcium Dysregulation in Leigh Syndrome Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neurons

Researchers describe the generation and characterization of iPSCs, neural stem cells and iPSC-derived neurons harboring the mtDNA mutation m.13513G>A in heteroplasmy. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

A PIANO (Proper, Insufficient, Aberrant, and NO Reprogramming) Response to the Yamanaka Factors in the Initial Stages of Human iPSC Reprogramming

Using RNA-seq, scientists scored 579 genes successfully reprogrammed within 48 hours, indicating the potency of the reprogramming factors. They tallied 438 genes reprogrammed significantly but insufficiently up to 72 hours, indicating a positive drive with some inadequacy of the Yamanaka factors. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived 3D-Neurospheres are Suitable for Neurotoxicity Screening

Investigators presented a human iPSC-based 3D in vitro system suitable to test neurotoxicity. Human iPSCs-derived 3D neurospheres grown in 96-well plate format were characterized timewise for six weeks. [Cells] Full Article

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cell Therapy News & Mesenchymal Cell News.

Overcoming Kidney Organoid Challenges for Regenerative Medicine

The authors discuss recent advances and remaining challenges for kidney organoids to become successful in regenerative medicine. [NPJ Regen Med] Full Article

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

Lineage Cell Therapeutics to Apply Allogeneic Dendritic Cell Therapy Program to COVID-19 Vaccine Development

Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has applied for grant funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to support the use of VAC, Lineage’s allogeneic dendritic cell therapy, toward the development of a potential vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. [Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Century Therapeutics Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Board

Century Therapeutics announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board to include several renowned experts in the fields of developmental and stem cell biology, genetics, and immuno-oncology. [Century Therapeutics (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

‘It Will Not Be Easy.’ as Labs Begin to Reopen, Enormous Challenges Remain

One of the biggest challenges labs face is how to keep their members physically distanced to limit any potential spread of SARS-CoV-2. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Coronavirus: Share Lessons on Lifting Lockdowns

Countries are starting to lift restrictions on movement, but there is little consensus on how this should be done. Sharing best practice is the way forward. [Nature News] Editorial

In light of COVID-19, many conferences are being cancelled or postponed. As such:

We are suspending new event postings in our newsletters and on Twitter.
We will strive to keep our current event listings updated with event status.
We encourage you to visit event sites directly for updates.

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

NEW Senior Scientist – Human iPSC Gene Engineering (Empyrean Therapeutics Ltd)

Research Assistant – Cell-Based Assays for Drug Discovery (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellow – ALS (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Wnt Signaling (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum)

Postdoctoral Position – iPSCs (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes (The University of Arizona College of Medicine)

Faculty Position – Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Developmental Neuroscience (Children’s National Hospital)

Research Specialist – Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Hepatobiliary Tissues (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in ESC & iPSC News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.