ESC & iPSC News Volume 8.12 | Mar 27 2013

Expansion of Functional Human Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells via Reprogramming to Pluripotency and Redifferentiation
The authors report an induced pluripotent stem cell-based reprogramming approach for the expansion of functional mucosal-associated invariant T cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract

Drug Screening Using a Library of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Reveals Disease Specific Patterns of Cardiotoxicity
Investigators generated a library of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes from patients with various hereditary cardiac disorders to model differences in cardiac drug toxicity susceptibility for patients of different genetic backgrounds. [Circulation] Abstract | Press Release

WNT Signaling Determines Tumorigenicity and Function of ESC-Derived Retinal Progenitors
In an attempt to find major extracellular signaling and intrinsic factors controlling tumorigenicity and therapeutic functionality of transplanted embryonic stem cell-derived (ESC-derived) retinal progenitor cells (ESC-RPCs), investigators evaluated multiple kinds of ESC-RPCs in a mouse retinal degeneration model and conducted genome-wide gene expression profiling. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

An Epigenetic Component of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging Amenable to Reprogramming into a Young State
The authors applied induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell reprogramming of aged hematopoietic progenitors and allowed the resulting aged-derived iPS cells to reform hematopoiesis via blastocyst complementation. Next, they functionally characterized iPS-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in primary chimeras and following the transplantation of ‘re-differentiated’ HSCs into new hosts; the gold standard to assess HSC function. [Blood] Abstract | Press Release

Generation of Induced Neurons via Direct Conversion In Vivo
Scientists showed that transplanted human fibroblasts and human astrocytes, which are engineered to express inducible forms of neural reprogramming genes, convert into neurons when reprogramming genes are activated after transplantation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Nicotinamide Overcomes Pluripotency Deficits and Reprogramming Barriers
Findings establish that adequate intracellular NAD⁺ content is crucial for pluripotency; the distinct effects of nicotinamide (NAM) on pluripotency may be dependent not only on its metabolic advantage as a NAD⁺ precursor but also on the ability of NAM to enhance resistance to cellular stress. [Stem Cells] Abstract

NuRD Blocks Reprogramming of Mouse Somatic Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells
Nuclear reprogramming is an inefficient process and the molecular mechanisms that reset the epigenetic state during induced pluripotent stem cell generation are largely unknown. Scientists showed that down-regulation of the NuRD (Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylation) complex is required for efficient reprogramming. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Generation and Characterization of a Novel Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Line with a Dynamic Reporter of Nanog Expression
Researchers described the generation and validation of a mouse embryonic stem cell line with a novel Nanog reporter (Nd, from Nanog dynamics), containing a BAC transgene where the short-lived fluorescent protein VNP is placed under Nanog regulation. [PLoS One] Full Article

N-methyl-D-aspartic Acid Receptor-Dependent Glutamate Excitotoxicity in Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neurons
Investigators generated neurons from human embryonic stem cells and characterized the development of vulnerability to glutamate excitotoxicity, a key contributor to neuronal injury in several acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. [Neurosci Lett] Abstract

Clinical-Scale Derivation of Natural Killer Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cancer Therapy
Researchers used a two-stage culture system to efficiently produce natural killer cells from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells in the absence of cell sorting and without need for xenogeneic stromal cells. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Cellular Dynamics and Coriell Institute for Medical Research Awarded Multi-Million Dollar Grants from California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to Manufacture and Bank Stem Cell Lines
Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) and Coriell Institute for Medical Research announced receiving two multi-million dollar grant awards from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). CIRM awarded CDI $16 million to create three induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines for each of 3000 healthy and diseased donors. In addition, CIRM awarded Coriell Institute almost $10 million to set up and biobank the iPSC lines, of which CDI will be the primary subcontractor. [Cellular Dynamics International] Press Release

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Funds Investigator to Build New Muscle from Skin Cells to Treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy has awarded University of Minnesota researcher Dr. Rita Perlingeiro a grant for $220,000 to develop a therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy using a new type of adult-derived stem cell called induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. [Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy] Press Release

Gladstone Investigator Shinya Yamanaka to Receive “Commitment to a Cure” Award from the ALS Community
Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, a senior investigator at the Gladstone Institutes, will receive the Essey Award for his “Commitment to a Cure” from The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. This annual award represents the exceptional determination, spirit and dedication to the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. [Gladstone Institutes] Press Release

Stem-Cell Ruling Riles Researchers
Italy’s health minister, Renato Balduzzi, has decreed that a controversial stem-cell treatment can continue in 32 terminally ill patients, mostly children – even though the stem cells involved are not manufactured according to Italy’s legal safety standards. [Italian Health Minister, Italy] Press Release

Congress Completes Work on 2013 Spending Bill
U.S. research agencies finally know what they have to spend for the rest of the 2013 fiscal year after Congress completed work on a bill to fund the government through 30 September. [House of Representatives, United States] Press Release

Canadian Budget Targets Industrial Applications
Canadian scientists are feeling a decided chill in the air after federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled the government’s fiscal blueprint for 2013 to 2014. The new budget promises stiffer competition for a smaller pool of research grants. What little new money is made available will again be funneled into targeted “industry-academic” partnerships. [Finance Minister, Canada] Press Release

New French Science Law Falls Short of Expectations
Months of consultation with the French scientific community culminated when the science minister presented a draft bill for a new higher education and research law that France’s Parliament will soon consider. [French Parliament, France] Press Release

U.K. Agency Cautiously Endorses Mitochondria Replacement
There is broad public support in the United Kingdom for allowing a new type of IVF treatment that could prevent mitochondrial diseases, the country’s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority announced. The techniques would introduce new DNA into an embryo, and so it has raised thorny ethical questions. At the same time, the authority advised the government that several safeguards should be included in any proposals for new regulations that would permit clinics to perform the technique. [Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, United Kingdom] Press Release

NEW Clinical Trials: Moving Stem Cell Based Therapies to the Clinic
April 15, 10:00AM (PT in US)
Webinar

NEW Gordon Research Seminar – Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering
July 27-28, 2013
Holderness, United States

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

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Stem Cell (Yale University, School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Research (University of Washington)

Lecturer or Reader – Associate Professor (University of Reading)

Transgenic Technologist (ETH Zurich)

Research Scientist (Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)


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