ESC & iPSC News Volume 8.50 | Dec 18 2013

Characterizing the Strand-Specific Distribution of Non-CpG Methylation in Human Pluripotent Cells
With the divide-and-compare strategy, scientists showed that CHG and CHH methylation are not intrinsically different in human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. [Nucleic Acids Res] Abstract

The Effects of Artificial E-Cadherin Matrix-Induced Embryonic Stem Cell Scattering on Paxillin and RhoA Activation via α-Catenin
Investigators aimed to clarify the effect of cell scattering on the regulation of Rho family GTPases Rac1 and RhoA as well as paxillin. Allowing embryonic stem cells to spread and scatter on a synthetically designed E-cadherin substratum causes phosphorylation of paxillin on consensus phosphorylation sites leading to activation of Rac1 and inactivation of RhoA. [Biomaterials] Abstract

The Polycomb Protein Ezh2 Impacts on iPS Cell Generation
The authors investigated the impact of Ezh2, a core subunit of Polycomb repressive complex 2, on generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. They found that Ezh2 expression is induced during iPS cell generation and iPS cells contain high levels of Ezh2 mRNA and protein. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Patients with Human Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Show Increased Mineralization and Cartilage Formation
Researchers created human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from normal and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva dermal fibroblasts by two separate methods, retroviral integration or integration-free episomal vectors. [Orphanet J Rare Dis] Abstract | Full Article

Recellularization of Well Preserved Acellular Kidney Scaffold Using Embryonic Stem Cells
After infusion of whole-kidney scaffolds with murine embryonic stem cells through the renal artery, and pressure-controlled perfusion with recirculating cell medium for 24 and 72 hours, seeded cells were almost completely retained into the organ and uniformly distributed in the vascular network and in glomerular capillaries without major signs of apoptosis. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Improving Embryonic Stem Cell Expansion through the Combination of Perfusion and Bioprocess Model Design
To characterize nutritional requirements, the expansion of undifferentiated murine embryonic stem cells encapsulated in hydrogels was performed in batch and perfusion cultures using bioreactors. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Synthetic Niches for Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Bypassing Embryoid Body Formation
Scientists describe the application of highly porous polymer scaffolds as synthetic stem cell niches. Bypassing the embryoid body formation step, these scaffolds are capable of three-dimensional culture of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells and subsequent directed differentiation into three primary germ layers. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract

In Vivo Reprogramming of Adult Somatic Cells to Pluripotency by Overexpression of Yamanaka Factors
Researchers hypothesized that the reprogramming of somatic cells towards pluripotency could be achieved in vivo by gene transfer of reprogramming factors. In order to efficiently reprogram cells in vivo, high levels of the Yamanaka transcription factors need to be expressed at the target tissue. [J Vis Exp]
Full Article | Press Release

Small Molecule-Mediated Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells toward Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
By combining small molecules and growth factors, scientists developed a fully chemically defined, directed differentiation system to generate ventricular-like cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells with high efficiency and reproducibility. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

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Advanced Cell Technology Announces Release of New Edition of Definitive Resource in Tissue Engineering
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced its chief scientific officer, Robert Lanza, M.D., and Robert Langer, Sc.D. have released the fourth edition of “Principles of Tissue Engineering.” The 1936-page volume includes contributions from 20 members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, as well as dozens of pioneers in the fields of stem cells, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. [Advanced Cell Technology] Press Release

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US Budget Deal Would Ease Science Agencies’ Pain
The US Congress has announced that it is close to a deal on government spending that would, for the next two years, eliminate the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration. The deal offers a respite from the partisan battles over government spending that culminated in October with a 16-day government shutdown, and it would give a budgetary boost to science agencies in 2014, rather than another set of cuts. [Nature News] Editorial

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Postdoctoral Associate – Stem Cell Biology (State University of New York)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Clinical MD – Clinical Development Program for Oncology and Autoimmune Diseases (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Chief Medical Officer – Novel Therapeutics in Oncology and Autoimmune Disease (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – RNA and Stem Cell Biology (Cancer Research Centre of Lyon)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Liver Tissue Engineering (Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Assistant Director (Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Stem Cells (Sabine Costagliola-ULB)

Scientist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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