A HCN4+ Cardiomyogenic Progenitor Derived from the First Heart Field and Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Scientists present Hcn4 (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 4) as an first heart field (FHF) marker. Lineage-traced Hcn4+/FHF cells delineate FHF-derived structures in the heart and primarily contribute to cardiomyogenic cell lineages, thereby identifying an early cardiomyogenic progenitor pool. As a surface marker, HCN4 also allowed the isolation of cardiomyogenic Hcn4+/FHF progenitors from human embryonic stem cells. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract Identification of DPPA4 and DPPA2 as a Novel Family of Pluripotency-Related Oncogenes In order to identify novel pluripotency-related oncogenes, an expression screen for oncogenic foci-inducing genes within a retroviral human embryonic stem cell cDNA library was conducted. From this screen, the authors identified not only known oncogenes but also intriguingly the key pluripotency factor, DPPA4 (developmental pluripotency-associated 4) that encodes a DNA binding SAP domain-containing protein. [Stem Cells]Abstract Akt Suppression of TGFβ Signaling Contributes to the Maintenance of Vascular Identity in Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells Investigators generated vascular endothelial cells from mouse embryonic stem cells, and shown that active Akt is essential to their survival and propagation as homogeneous monolayers in vitro. [Stem Cells] Abstract Cortical Region-Specific Engraftment of Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitor Cells Restores Axonal Sprouting to a Subcortical Target and Achieves Motor Functional Recovery in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury Scientists evaluated the ability of embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells to become cortical deep layer neurons, to restore the neural network, and to repair brain damage in an hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy mouse model. [Front Cell Neurosci] Full Article HEXIM1 Induces Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells A genome-wide study using human embryonic stem cells shows that most mRNA synthesis is regulated at the stage of transcription elongation, suggesting a possible role for positive transcription elongation factor b/hexamethylene bisacetamide inducible protein 1 (HEXIM1) in the gene regulation of stem cells. In this report, researchers detected a marked increase in HEXIM1 protein levels in the differentiated human pluripotent stem cells induced by LY294002 treatment. [PLoS One] Full Article Directed In Vitro Myogenesis of Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Their In Vivo Engraftment Researchers report that human embryonic stem cells can differentiate into skeletal muscle cells without genetic manipulation. This is achieved through the isolation of cells expressing a mesodermal marker, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α, following embryoid body formation. [PLoS One] Full Article Hypoxia-Enhanced Derivation of iPSCs from Human Dental Pulp Cells Because the authors showed previously that hypoxia facilitates the isolation and maintenance of human dental pulp cells (DPCs), they examined whether it promotes the reprogramming of DPCs to become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). [J Dent Res] Abstract Functional Vascular Endothelium Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells To establish a cellular platform for studying endothelial biology, scientists have generated vascular endothelium from human induced pluripotent stem cells exhibiting the rich functional phenotypic plasticity of mature primary vascular endothelium. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release |