ESC & iPSC News Volume 8.04 | Jan 30 2013

Lack of Immune Response to Differentiated Cells Derived from Syngeneic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Scientists differentiated mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into embryoid bodies (EBs) or representative cell types spanning the three embryonic germ layers and assessed their immunogenicity in vitro and after their transplantation into syngeneic recipients. They found no evidence of increased T cell proliferation in vitro, rejection of syngeneic iPSC-derived EBs/tissue-specific cells after transplantation, or an antigen-specific secondary immune response. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract

Impaired Epithelial Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Ectodermal Dysplasia-Related Patients Is Rescued by the Small Compound APR-246/PRIMA-1^MET
Researchers designed a unique cellular model that recapitulated major embryonic defects related to ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and cleft lip/palate (EEC) syndrome. Fibroblasts from healthy donors and EEC patients carrying two different point mutations in the DNA binding domain of p63 were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cell lines. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

HAT Cofactor Trrap Maintains Self-Renewal and Restricts Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Investigators showed that conditional deletion of the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) cofactor Trrap in mouse embryonic stem cells triggers unscheduled differentiation associated with loss of histone acetylation, condensation of chromatin into distinct foci (heterochromatization), and uncoupling of H3K4 dimethylation and H3K27 trimethylation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Regulation of L-Threonine Dehydrogenase (TDH) in Somatic Cell Reprogramming
Scientists report TDH as a novel regulator of somatic cell reprogramming. Knockdown of TDH inhibits, whereas induction of TDH enhances reprogramming efficiency. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Gbx2, a LIF/Stat3 Target, Promotes Reprogramming to and Retention of the Pluripotent Ground State
Investigators identified gastrulation brain homeobox 2 (Gbx2) as a leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) downstream target that when overexpressed allows long-term expansion of undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells in the absence of LIF/Stat3 signaling. [J Cell Sci] Abstract

Embryonic Stem Cells Facilitate the Isolation of Persistent Clonal Cardiovascular Progenitor Cell Lines and Leukemia Inhibitor Factor Maintains Their Self-Renewal and Myocardial Differentiation Potential In Vitro
Using postnatal murine hearts with a selectable marker as the stem cell source and embryonic stem cells and leukemia inhibitory factor-secreting fibroblasts as a surrogate niche, researchers succeeded in the isolation of stable clonal cardiovascular progenitor cell lines. [Cells Tissues Organs] Abstract

Derivation and Isolation of NKX2.1-Positive Basal Forebrain Progenitors from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Investigators report efficient derivation of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic progenitors using an established human embryonic stem cell (hESC) reporter line that expresses green fluorescent protein under the control of an endogenous NKX2.1 promoter. GABAergic progenitors were derived from this hESC line by a modified monolayer neural differentiation protocol. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

The Long-Term Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Cardiomyocytes: An Indirect Co-Culture Model
Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were cultured in hanging drops to form embryoid bodies (EBs) and treated with 0.1 mmol/L ascorbic acid to induce the differentiation of ESCs into cardiomyocytes (CMs). During time course of ESC differentiation, the percentages of EBs with contracting areas in neonatal CMs co-culture were significantly higher than that without co-culture or in epidermal keratinocytes co-culture. [PLoS One] Full Article

BMP and TGF-ß Pathway Mediators Are Critical Upstream Regulators of Wnt Signaling during Midbrain Dopamine Differentiation in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Scientists report that the transient inhibition of constitutive BMP (pSMADs1,5,8) signaling, either alone or in combination with TGF-ß inhibition (pSMADs2,3), is critically important in the upstream regulation of Wnt1-Lmx1a signaling in midbrain dopamine progenitors. [Dev Biol] Abstract

Reprogramming of Fibroblasts from Older Women with Pelvic Floor Disorders Alters Cellular Behavior Associated with Donor Age
Investigators report successful derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells from women with pelvic organ prolapse. Older age did not interfere with successful reprogramming. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Adult Stem Cell Breakthrough Builds on Nobel Prize Winners' Work
University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers have built on Nobel Prize-winning research to devise a new way to create powerful stem cells that could cure several conditions that cause blindness. A team led by Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., can now turn adult limbal stem cells from the cornea into cells similar to powerfully-regenerative embryonic stem cells in animal models. [University of Nebraska Medical Center] Press Release

New Stem Cell Fund at BGU
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has established a stem cell research fund thanks to a generous contribution from Rhoda Baruch. The Jacob Baruch Stem Cell Research Fund will support scholarly collaboration between various medical and pharmacological researchers, stem biologists and tissue engineers. [American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev] Press Release

Stem Cell Agency’s Governing Board Proposes Dramatic Changes in Response to IOM Report
The Governing Board of California’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has adopted a framework of proposals that could dramatically change some aspects of its work, in order to address recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). [California Institute For Regenerative Medicine, United States] Press Release

NIH Urged to Retire Most Research Chimps, End Many Studies
A working group advising the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on chimpanzee research urged that the agency sharply scale back biomedical and behavioral studies involving these animals. NIH should retire most of the nearly 700 chimps it supports, end many research projects, and make sure that chimps still being studied are kept in proper living conditions. [National Institutes of Health, United States] Press Release

NEW South Central Association of Blood Banks 2013 Annual Meeting
April 18-21, 2013
Baton Rouge, United States

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

Senior QC Analyst/Assay Development Associate (StemCells, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Stem Cell Biology (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Position - Cardiovascular Regenerative Therapies (University of California, Los Angeles)

Senior Postdoctoral Position (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Biology)

Postdoctoral Scientist (Medical Research Council [National Institute for Medical Research])

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Stem Cell Biology and iPS Disease Modeling (Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - iPS Cell Biology (National University of Singapore, Life Sciences Institute)

Postdoctoral Position - Stem Cell Biology (Stony Brook University Medical Center)

Postdotoral Position - Stem Cell and Neurodegenerative Diseases (University of Connecticut Health Center)


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