ESC & iPSC News Volume 7.40 | Oct 10 2012

Self-Renewal of Embryonic- Stem-Cell-Derived Progenitors by Organ-Matched Mesenchyme
Researchers found that co-culture with organ-matched mesenchyme permits proliferation and self-renewal of progenitors, without differentiation, and enables an expansion of more than a million-fold for human endodermal cells with full retention of their developmental potential. [Nature] Abstract

Esrrb Is a Pivotal Target of the Gsk3/Tcf3 Axis Regulating Embryonic Stem Cell Self- Renewal
Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (Gsk3) supports mouse embryonic stem cells by modulating Tcf3, but the critical targets downstream of Tcf3 are unclear. Researchers analyzed the intersection between genome localization and transcriptome data sets to identify genes repressed by Tcf3. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract

Altered Hematopoiesis in Trisomy 21 as Revealed through In Vitro Differentiation of Isogenic Human Pluripotent Cells
Human trisomy 21 pluripotent cells of various origins, human embryonic stem, and induced pluripotent stem cells, were differentiated in vitro as a model to recapitulate the effects of trisomy on hematopoiesis. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article

Trisomy 21-Associated Defects in Human Primitive Hematopoiesis Revealed through Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers modeled Down syndrome (trisomy 21, T21) yolk sac hematopoiesis using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Blood progenitor populations generated from T21 iPSCs were present at normal frequency and proliferated normally. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Development of a Novel Two- Dimensional Directed Differentiation System for Generation of Cardiomyocytes from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators developed a novel two dimensional stepwise differentiation system that generates a high yield of cardiomyocytes from human pluripotent stem cells without using special cytokines. [Int J Cardiol] Abstract

Establishment of a Molecular Embryonic Stem Cell Developmental Toxicity Assay
The mouse embryonic stem cell test (EST) is a ten-day screen for teratogenic potential developed to reduce animal use for embryotoxicity testing of chemicals. In this study, the authors used the cytotoxicity IC₅₀ values and transcriptional expression changes as primary endpoints in a shorter four-day version of the EST, the molecular embryonic stem cell assay. [Toxicol Sci] Abstract

γ-Secretase Inhibitors Prevent Overgrowth of Transplanted Neural Progenitors Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers used γ-secretase inhibitors to dampen Notch signaling in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors before transplantation and examined the effects on the growth of proliferative grafts. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Over-Expression of Kir2.1 Channel in Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Attenuates Post-Transplantation Proarrhythmic Risk in Myocardial Infarction
The authors investigated whether forced expression of Kir2.1-encoded inward rectifying K+ channels that are otherwise absent in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes would attenuate their proarrhythmic risk after post-myocardial infarction transplantation. [Heart Rhythm] Abstract

Nuclear Transferred Embryonic Stem Cell for Analysis of B1 B-Lymphocyte Development
Scientists demonstrated that nuclear transferred embryonic stem cells can be established with high efficiency using innate-like B lymphocytes as donor cells. [Int Immunol] Abstract

The KRAB-ZFP/KAP1 System Contributes to the Early Embryonic Establishment of Site-Specific DNA Methylation Patterns Maintained during Development
Researchers demonstrated that the KRAB-ZFP-mediated recruitment of KAP1 to DNA in embryonic stem cells induces cytosine methylation. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012: Sir John B. Gurdon, Shinya Yamanaka
Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has decided to award The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 jointly to John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. [Nobel Media AB] Press Release

TEL and imec Extend Partnership into Life Science Related Research
Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) announced the participation in imec’s bio-research program “Human++”. One of the research tracks within imec’s “Human++” program is the development of next-generation platform technologies, which can be applied to automated cell inspection methods for clinical-grade induced pluripotent stem cells. [Tokyo Electron Limited] Press Release

Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Hosts Fifth Annual Maryland Stem Cell Research Symposium in Annapolis
The Fifth Annual Maryland Stem Cell Research Symposium will be presented by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission (Commission) and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. The Commission also announced its four research funding programs for 2013. Requests for Applications include: Investigator-Initiated Grants, Exploratory Grants, Post-Doctoral Fellowships, and Pre-Clinical and Clinical Grants, a new funding mechanism designed to support for-profit companies. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund] Press Release

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

Research Technologist - Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist - Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Product Manager - Hematopoietic (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Stem Cell Researcher (BioTalentum Ltd.)

Postdoctoral Position - Biomedical Engineering (School of Medicine, Tsinghua University)

Research Associate - Quality Assurance (University of California)

Postdoctoral Fellow in Stem Cell Tissue Engineering (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellowship - Stem Cells, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Discovery (Roche Switzerland AG)

Postdoctoral Opportunity in Basic and Translational Neuroscience/Stem Cell Research (University of Aveiro, Portugal)


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