ESC & iPSC News Volume 5.14 | Apr 14 2010

TOP STORY

Scripps Research Scientists Solve Mystery of Fragile Stem Cells
Scientists have solved the decade-old mystery of why human embryonic stem cells are so difficult to culture in the laboratory, providing scientists with useful new techniques and moving the field closer to the day when stem cells can be used for therapeutic purposes. [Press release from Scripps Research Institute discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

SCIENCE NEWS

For Stem Cells, Practice Makes Perfect
In a new study, researchers have found that reprogramming is imperfect in the early stages of differentiation, with some genes turned on and off at random. [Press release from the Carnegie Institution for Science discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

Stem Cell Treatment Shows Early Promise: Celgene
Celgene Corp. said recently that its experimental stem cell treatment showed promise in a tiny, Phase I study of patients with Crohn’s disease who failed to respond to prior therapy, according to initial results. [Reuters Press Release]

Researchers Grow High Purity Liver Tissue from Stem Cells
A research group has developed a new method for growing liver tissue using Induced Pluripotent Stem cells, resulting in high purity cells that have high expectations for medical application. [The Mainichi Daily News]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

An Oct4-Centered Protein Interaction Network in Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers use an improved affinity protocol to purify Oct4-interacting proteins from mouse embryonic stem cells. [Cell Stem Cell]

Epigenetic Stability Increases Extensively During Drosophila Follicle Stem Cell Differentiation
Results suggest that stem/early progenitor cells cannot accurately transmit nongenetic information to their progeny; full epigenetic competence is acquired only gradually during early differentiation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Comparison of Contractile Behavior of Native Murine Ventricular Tissue and Cardiomyocytes Derived from Embryonic or Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
The results indicate immaturity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the beta-adrenergic response of cardiomyocytes differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells. [FASEB J]

Activation of the Imprinted Dlk₁-Dio₃ Region Correlates with Pluripotency Levels of Mouse Stem Cells
Investigators identified a conserved imprinted region of the mouse genome, the Dlk₁-Dio₃ region, which was activated in fully pluripotent mouse stem cells but repressed in partially pluripotent cells. [J Biol Chem]

Controlled MHC-T Cell Receptor Signaling Allows Efficient Generation of Functional, Antigen-Specific CD8⁺ T Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells and Thymic Progenitors
Researchers demonstrate that both thymus-derived immature T cells (DP: CD4⁺CD8⁺) as well as mouse embryonic stem cells can be efficiently differentiated into antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells using either major histo-compatibility (MHC) tetramers or peptide-loaded stromal cells. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Long-Term Culture Following Embryonic Stem-Like Gene-Induced Reprogramming Elicits an Aggressive Phenotype in Mutated Cholangiocellular Carcinoma Cells
Researchers determined that the long-term cultured-induced pluripotent cancer cells from HuCC-T1 might be prone to an undesirable therapeutic response because of an association with the activated endogenous c-MYC. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun]

Efficient Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Oligodendrocyte Progenitors for Application in a Rat Contusion Model of Spinal Cord Injury
This study utilized a contusion model of spinal cord injury in rats using the standardized NYU-MASCIS impactor, after which oligodendrocyte progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells were transplanted into the spinal cord to study their survival and migration route toward the areas of injury. [Int J Neurosci]

Enhanced Survival In Vitro of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells Using Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Conditioned Medium
Results suggested that 25% embryonic stem cell conditioned medium may be a new tool for cultivating human corneal endothelial cells for transplantation. [Mol Vis]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fate Therapeutics Expands Stem Cell Modulator Pipeline with Acquisition of Verio Therapeutics
Under the terms of the agreement, Fate Therapeutics has formed a Canadian subsidiary, which will continue Verio’s discovery and development operations in Ottawa. The transaction has been approved on behalf of the boards of directors of both companies. [Fate Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

The University of Texas Health Science Center Stem Cell Scientists Explore Treatments for Blood Disorders and Lung Diseases
Stem cell scientists were awarded stimulus grants totaling almost $2 million to research experimental treatments for blood disorders and inherited lung diseases affecting children. [The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Press Release]

Cipla May Pick Up Stake in Manipal’s Stem Cell Unit Arm
According to industry sources, Cipla is expected to invest close to Rs 45 crore in this relatively new firm, which has been working on a pipeline of products for the past five years focused on degenerative diseases. [Business Standard]

Regenerative Medical Firm Plans to Expand Operations
Stemnion, a privately held company taking an innovative approach to treating wounds through regenerative medicine, has finished enrollment for first-phase clinical trials and is expanding its South Oakland operations. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Jackson Lab Biomedical Research and Ave Maria as Neighbors. Can They Co-Exist?
While the mission of Jackson Lab Biomedical Research is clear, its means toward accomplishing that mission still are being unraveled by residents of Collier County and those surrounding the small conservative university – specifically, whether the nonprofit biomedical group conducts the type of research considered contrary to Catholic doctrine. [Naples News]

POLICY NEWS

University of Chicago Physician Named to Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues
Daniel Sulmasy, MD, PhD, the Kilbride-Clinton Professor of Medicine and Ethics in the Department of Medicine and the Divinity School, and Associate Director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago, has been named to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. [Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, United States]

Indian Council of Medical Research-Department of Biotechnology Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Therapy (2007) – Public Consultation
To generate consensus of important organizations and people of India, a Public Consultation for Eastern Region including West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh is scheduled to be held on the 17th of April, 2010. [Indian Council of Medical Research, India]

National Human Genome Research Institute Names New Chief of Genome Technology Branch
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has named Lawrence C. Brody, Ph.D., as the new chief of its Genome Technology Branch, the largest of seven branches in the NHGRI Division of Intramural Research. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Minor Use Minor Species Development of Drugs; Research Project Grant (R01) (RFA-FD-10-001) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Bioengineering Nanotechnology Initiative [STTR (R41/R42)] (PA-10-149) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Bioengineering Nanotechnology Initiative [SBIR (R43/R44)] (PA-10-150) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Clinical Investigator Status (Biologics) [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Background on Study Results of U.S. Academic Researchers [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

May 7, 2010: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Secretary Sebelius Announces Five New Health and Human Services Regional Directors [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

EVENTS

Society for Biological Engineering’s (SBE) 2nd International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering
May 2-5, 2010
Boston, United States

World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
May 11-13, 2010
London, United Kingdom

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – European Union 2010
June 13-17, 2010
Galway, Ireland

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) 3rd Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

International Society for Cell Therapy (ISCT) – Europe 2nd Regional Meeting
September 11-14, 2010
Belgirate, Italy

5th World Congress on Preventive & Regenerative Medicine (WCRM) 2010
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, Germany

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North America 2010 Annual Conference
December 5-8, 2010
Orlando, United States

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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