ESC & iPSC News Volume 7.47 | Nov 28 2012

Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Hemogenic Endothelial Cells Undergo Distinct Waves of Endothelial to Hematopoietic Transition
Several studies have demonstrated that hematopoietic cells originate from endothelium in early development; however, the phenotypic progression of progenitor cells during human embryonic hemogenesis is not well described. Researchers defined the developmental hierarchy among intermediate populations of hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. [Blood] Abstract

Role of SOX17 in Hematopoietic Development from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
To search for genes that promote hematopoietic development from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), researchers overexpressed several known hematopoietic regulator genes in hESCs/iPSCs-derived CD34⁺CD43^– endothelial cells enriched in hemogenic endothelium. [Blood] Abstract

Reverse Engineering a Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Specific Transcriptional Network Reveals a New Modulator of Neuronal Differentiation
The overexpression and knock-down of E130012A19Rik in embryonic stem cell lines undergoing differentiation into neurons and glia cells caused a strong up-regulation of the glutamatergic neurons marker Vglut2 and a strong down-regulation of the GABAergic neurons marker GAD65 and of the radial glia marker Blbp. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

Transcription Elongation Factor Tcea3 Regulates the Pluripotent Differentiation Potential of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells, via the Lefty1-Nodal-Smad2 Pathway
The authors report that the transcription elongation factor Tcea3 is highly enriched in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and plays important roles in regulating the differentiation. Strikingly, altering Tcea3 expression in mouse ESCs did not affect self-renewal under non-differentiating conditions; however, upon exposure to differentiating cues, its overexpression impaired in vitro differentiation capacity, and its knockdown biased differentiation towards mesodermal and endodermal fates. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Intrapatient Variations in Type 1 Diabetes-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation into Insulin-Producing Cells
From individual patients with type 1 diabetes, multiple human induced pluripotent clones were produced and prospectively screened using a battery of developmental markers to assess respective differentiation propensity and proficiency in yielding functional insulin-producing progeny. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Test Systems for Developmental Neurotoxicity: a Transcriptomics Approach
The fields of developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and reproductive toxicity (RT) would greatly benefit from in vitro tests that allow the identification of toxicant-induced changes of the cellular proteostasis, or of its underlying transcriptome network. Therefore, the ‘human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived novel alternative test systems’ European commission research project established RT tests based on defined differentiation protocols of hESC and their progeny. In this study, valproic acid and methylmercury were used as positive control compounds to address fundamental questions. [Arch Toxicol] Full Article

HMGA1 Reprograms Somatic Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells by Inducing Stem Cell Transcriptional Networks
Researchers demonstrated for the first time that high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) enhances cellular reprogramming from a somatic cell to a fully pluripotent stem cell. These findings identify a novel role for HMGA1 as a key regulator of the stem cell state by inducing transcriptional networks that drive pluripotency. [PLoS One] Full Article

Keratinocyte Growth Factor and Dexamethasone Plus Elevated cAMP Levels Synergistically Support Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation into Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells
Alveolar epithelial type II (ATII)-like cells can be generated from murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs), albeit to date no robust protocols applying specific differentiation factors are established. Scientists hypothesized that keratinocyte growth factor, an important mediator of lung organogenesis and primary ATII cell maturation and proliferation, together with dexamethasone, 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP and isobutylmethylxanthine, which induce maturation of primary fetal ATII cells, also support the alveolar differentiation of murine ESCs. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Injectable Polyethylene Glycol-Fibrinogen Hydrogel Adjuvant Improves Survival and Differentiation of Transplanted Mesoangioblasts in Acute and Chronic Skeletal Muscle Degeneration
Researchers investigated the use of intra-muscular transplantation of mesoangioblasts (vessel-associated progenitor cells), delivered with an injectable hydrogel biomaterial directly into the tibialis anterior muscle of acutely injured or dystrophic mice. The hydrogel cell carrier, made from a polyethylene glycol-fibrinogen matrix, is polymerized in situ together with mesoangioblasts to form a resorbable cellularized implant. [Skelet Muscle] Full Article | Press Release

Public Release of LifeMap Discovery™ Version 1.0
LifeMap Sciences, Inc. are pleased to announce the public release of LifeMap Discovery™ version 1.0. LifeMap Discovery is a state-of-the-art roadmap of embryonic development and stem cell biology. The platform integrates embryonic development and stem cell biology with molecular, cellular, anatomical and disease-related information, and provides data mining capabilities and bioinformatics applications. [LifeMap Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

UC-Davis and StemCyte Announce Cord Blood Banking Partnership
StemCyte, Inc. announced an agreement with the UC Davis Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program in Sacramento to advance the collection, processing and registration of high quality and diverse cord blood cells from California mothers for public banking. [StemCyte, Inc.] Press Release

Stem Cell Pioneer Recognized for 20 Years of Discovery and Innovation
Dr. David Harris, Professor of Immunology at the University of Arizona and a scientific pioneer in the field of stem cell banking, was the recipient of the Arizona BioIndustry Association™ 2012 award for “20 Years of Discovery and Innovation”. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

Chairman Hall Congratulates Rep. Lamar Smith on Selection to be Next Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Rep. Ralph M. Hall (R-TX), Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, congratulated Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) for being selected by the House Republican Steering Committee to be the next Chairman in the 113th Congress. [Committee on Science, Space and Technology] Press Release

East Asia Faces Unique Challenges, Opportunities for Stem Cell Innovation
Tension is the theme running through the new consensus statement issued by the Hinxton Group, an international working group on stem cell research and regulation. Specifically, tension between intellectual property policies and scientific norms of free exchange, but also between eastern and western cultures, national and international interests, and privatized vs. nationalized health care systems. [Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics] Press Release

NEW World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress Asia
March 18-21, 2013
Singapore, Singapore

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

Product Quality Scientist (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Endothelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Stem Cell Researcher (BioTalentum Ltd.)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Stem Cells (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

PhD Student – Biochemical Analysis of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Differentiation (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Position – Functional Genomics of ESCs & iPSCs (University of Cologne)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Genomics (University of Virginia)


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