ESC & iPSC News Volume 8.33 | Aug 21 2013

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    ESC & iPSC News 8.33 August 21, 2013

    ESC & iPSC News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    Developmental Fate and Cellular Maturity Encoded in Human Regulatory DNA Landscapes
    Researchers report consistent patterns of gain and loss of DNase I-hypersensitive sites (DHSs) as cells progress from embryonic stem cells to terminal fates. DHS patterns alone convey rich information about cell fate and lineage relationships distinct from information conveyed by gene expression. [Cell]
    Abstract | Graphical Abstract
    Derivation of Metabolically Active Hepatocytes from Pluripotent Stem Cells - View On-Demand Webinar Now.

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    High Mitochondrial Priming Sensitizes hESCs to DNA-Damage-Induced Apoptosis
    Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are highly sensitive to DNA damage and have low survival ability relative to differentiated cells. The authors investigated the source of this difference by comparing damage response pathways in hESCs and differentiated cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

    Complement Anaphylatoxin C3a Is a Potent Inducer of Embryonic Chick Retina Regeneration
    Scientists showed that complement fragment C3a is sufficient to induce complete regeneration of the embryonic chick retina from stem/progenitor cells present in the eye, independent of fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling. Instead, C3a induces retina regeneration via STAT3 activation, which in turn activates the injury- and inflammation-responsive factors, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. [Nat Commun] Full Article

    Efficient Genome Engineering in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Cas9 from Neisseria meningitidis
    Using a distinct clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated (Cas) system from Neisseria meningitidis, investigators demonstrated efficient targeting of an endogenous gene in three human pluripotent stem cells lines using homology-directed repair. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

    Baculoviral Transduction Facilitates Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nuclease-Mediated Targeted Transgene Integration and Cre/LoxP Cassette Exchange in Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
    Researchers report a baculovirus-transcription activator-like effector nuclease system for AAVS1 locus-directed homologous recombination in human induced pluripotent stem cells. [Nucleic Acid Res] Full Article

    Efficient, Long Term Production of Monocyte-Derived Macrophages from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells under Partly-Defined and Fully-Defined Conditions
    Scientists described a method for deriving monocytes and macrophages from human pluripotent stem cells which improves on previously published protocols in that it uses entirely defined, feeder- and serum-free culture conditions and produces very consistent, pure, high yields across both human embryonic stem cell and multiple human induced pluripotent stem cell lines over time periods of up to one year. [PLoS One]
    Full Article

    Enhanced Reconstruction of Rat Calvarial Defects Achieved by Plasma-Treated Electrospun Scaffolds and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
    The capacity of polyethersulfone (PES) and plasma-treated PES scaffolds to support the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells was investigated by MTT assay and for common osteogenic markers such as alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium mineral deposition and bone-related genes. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract

    Influence of Biological Matrix and Artificial Electrospun Scaffolds on Proliferation, Differentiation and Trophic Factor Synthesis of Rat Embryonic Stem Cells
    Scientists investigated proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis, growth and neurotrophic factor synthesis of rat embryonic stem cells cultured in 2D and 3D conditions generated using Cultrex® Basement Membrane Extract and in poly-(L-lactic acid) electrospun microfibers. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

    Vitamin C Facilitates Pluripotent Stem Cell Maintenance by Promoting Pluripotency Gene Transcription
    Scientists found that vitamin C maintained the morphology of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) colonies and inhibited mESC differentiation. Gene expression profiling revealed that the genes down-regulated by vitamin C were grouped in the regulation of differentiation and development, while most of the up-regulated genes were enriched in the regulation of transcription involving numerous pluripotency factors, which was further confirmed by real time quantitative PCR. [Biochimie] Abstract

    Onset of Rosette Formation During Spontaneous Neural Differentiation of hESC and hiPSC Colonies
    Investigators examined the involvement of early neural markers – OTX2, PAX6, Sox1, Nestin, NR2F1, NR2F2, and IRX2 – in the onset of rosette formation, during spontaneous neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) colonies. [Gene] Full Article

    Take the 'if' out of 'diff': Reduce variability when differentiating to neural progenitors

     
    REVIEWS
    Human Kidney Cell Reprogramming: Applications for Disease Modeling and Personalized Medicine
    The authors summarize the unique characteristics of induced pluripotent stem cells and their potential applications for modeling kidney disease. Pioneering such endeavors could yield constructs that recapitulate disease phenotypes, open avenues for more targeted drug development, and potentially serve as replenishable sources for replacement of kidney cells in the setting of human disease. [J Am Soc Nephrol] Abstract

    Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field.

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    BioLife Solutions Expands Strategic Relationship with STEMCELL Technologies Inc.
    BioLife Solutions, Inc. announced an expansion of its relationship with STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Since August 2009, STEMCELL Technologies has distributed BioLife’s biopreservation media products to the worldwide research and clinical biobanking communities. [BioLife Solutions, Inc.] Press Release

    Stem Cell Research Lab to Open at Tehnopol
    A stem cell research lab was opened at Tehnopol, a science park in Tallinn. In cooperation with the Cell Therapy Cluster, the Enterprise Estonia and EU-funded lab will be used to develop high-quality cell treatment products. [Estonian Public Broadcasting] Press Release

    From our sponsor:
    Learn About Groundbreaking Applications for Feeder-Free hESC & hiPSC Culture Watch Webinar Now

     
    POLICY NEWS
    DOH Gives Health Facilities Engaged in Stem Cell Therapy until Aug. 31 to Register
    The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) has given all health facilities practicing stem cell therapy and companies importing and producing stem cell products until August 31 to apply for accreditation and product registration, respectively. Nick Lutero, director of the DOH-Bureau of Health Facilities and Services, said it will be considered illegal for facilities to do stem cell procedures if they fail to comply with the requirement. [Philippines Department of Health, Philippines] Press Release

    $250 Million Regenerative Medicine Plan Part of Rudd Labor Health Policy
    Scientists would be able to “grow” kidneys for patients under a plan by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to develop regenerative medicine in Australia. Mr. Rudd will outline his plan for the nation to play a leading role in the next frontier of healthcare in Brisbane, where he will announce a $250 million investment fund to take medical research breakthroughs from the lab to the patient. [Government of Australia, Australia] Press Release

     
    EVENTS
    NEW World Stem Cell Summit (WSCS) 2013
    December 4-6, 2013
    San Diego, United States

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Research Associate – Safety of Stem Cells (The University of Manchester)

    Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Research Associate – Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Initiative (King’s College London)

    Postdoctoral Position – Neurosteroids and Neural Stem Cells in Developing Brain (Children’s National Medical Center)

    Tenure-Track Position – Cell Biologist (McGill University)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Stem Cell Biology and Hematopoiesis (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

    Stem Cell Researcher – Heart Research Group (University of Tampere)

    Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Therapy and Epigenetics of Retina (University of Pittsburgh, Ophthalmology)

    Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)


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