ESC & iPSC News Volume 5.02 | Jan 20 2010

TOP STORY

Functional and Transcriptional Characterization of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells for Treatment of Myocardial Infarction
Researchers developed an extracellular matrix culture system for increasing endothelial differentiation and free from contaminating animal cells. The transcriptional changes that occur during endothelial differentiation of human embryonic stem cells using whole genome microarray were investigated, and compared to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. [PLoS One]

SCIENCE NEWS

Stem Cells Become Functioning Neurons in Mice
Transplanted neurons grown from embryonic stem cells were able to form proper brain connections in newborn mice, according to researchers. [Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford]

Scientists Identify Molecule that Inhibits Stem Cell Differentiation
The molecule, called DNMT1, helps the stem cells know whether to self-renew to create more stem cells, or to differentiate into specialized, non-dividing adult skin cells. [Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Expansion and Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells by TGF(Beta) Inhibition is Id1 Dependent
To define vasculogenic developmental pathways and enhance differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endothelial cells, researchers used an endothelial cell-specific VE-cadherin promoter driving green fluorescent protein to screen for factors that promote vascular commitment. [Nat Biotechnol]

Modeling Disease in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using an Efficient BAC-Based Homologous Recombination System
To improve the efficiency of genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem cells, researchers have developed a bacterial artificial chromosome based approach that enables high efficiency homologous recombination. [Cell Stem Cell]

Generation of Functional Natural Killer T Cells In Vitro from Embryonic Stem Cells Bearing Rearranged Invariant V(alpha)14-J(alpha)18 TCR(alpha) Gene
Using cloned natural killer T (NKT) embryonic stem cells generated by the transfer of nuclei from mature NKT cells, researchers have established a culture system that preferentially developed functional NKT cells and also identified early NKT progenitors. [Blood]

Epigenetic Chromatin States Uniquely Define the Developmental Plasticity of Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Heritable epigenetic signatures are proposed to serve as an important regulatory mechanism in lineage fate determination. To investigate this, researchers profiled chromatin modifications in murine hematopoietic stem cells, lineage-restricted progenitors, and CD4+ T cells using modified genome-scale mini-chromatin immunoprecipitation technology. [Blood]

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Show Similar Stress Defense Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Regulation to Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers generated seven human induced pluripotent stem cells lines from adult human dermal fibroblasts and fully characterized two of those clones. Both human induced pluripotent stem cells clones express pluripotency markers and are able to differentiate in vitro into cells belonging to all three germ layers. [Stem Cells]

Expression of a Mutant Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta Alters Lineage Differentiation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
New findings suggest that appropriate levels of normal retinoid receptors are crucial for lineage-specific differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells in vitro. [Stem Cells Dev]

Role of Nitric Oxide Signaling in Endothelial Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Because of its importance in endothelial cell growth in the adult, researchers hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) may play a critical role in endothelial cell (EC) development. Accordingly, researchers assessed the role of NO embryonic stem cell differentiation into ECs. [Stem Cells Dev]

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INDUSTRY NEWS

The Automation Partnership Begins New Five Year Collaboration with Top Regenerative Medicine Centre Following an Injection of £5.3 Million from the United Kingdom Government
The Automation Partnership announced recently that its collaboration with leading translational research group, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine at Loughborough University is to continue into a second five year phase. [The Automation Partnership Press Release]

Fort McPherson’s Biotech Makeover Moves Forward
A proposed 170-acre research park, expected to be the engine of a redeveloped Fort McPherson, could generate up to 7,000 jobs and lure Big Pharma to southwest Atlanta. [Atlanta Business Chronicle]

AstraZeneca to Announce Tie-Up with Dako
AstraZeneca is set to step up its approach to personalised medicine, by announcing a deal with diagnostics group Dako. [The Telegraph]

POLICY NEWS

Governor O’Malley Names Dr. Judith Britz Executive Director of the Maryland Biotechnology Center
Governor Martin O’Malley named Dr. Judith A. Britz, a scientist, academician and entrepreneur with more than 25 years in Maryland’s bioscience industry, as Executive Director of the Maryland Biotechnology Center. [Maryland Biotechnology Center, United States]

Directed Stem Cell Differentiation for Cell-Based Therapies for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases [SBIR (R43/R44)] [Small Business Innovation Research, United States]

Directed Stem Cell Differentiation for Cell-Based Therapies for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases [STTR (R41/R42)] [Small Business Technology Transfer, United States]

EVENTS

Phacilitate Cell and Gene Therapy Forum 2010
January 25-27, 2010
Washington, DC, United States

CHI’s Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2010
February 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

SMI’s 2nd Annual Stem Cells Conference 2010
February 15-16, 2010
London, United Kingdom

Keystone Symposia: Stem Cell Differentiation and Dedifferentiation (B4)
February 15-20, 2010
Keystone, United States

5th Annual Stem Cell Summit
February 16, 2010
New York, United States

4th World Congress on Regenerative Medicine
March 12-14, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand

SBE’s 2nd International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering
May 2-5, 2010
Boston, United States

16th Annual ISCT meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

ISSCR 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Business Development Europe – Cell Therapy Products (PALL Corporation)

Research & Development Scientist – Pancreatic Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Endothelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Epithelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Data Entry Assistant – Marketing (STEMCELL Technologies)

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