ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.04 | Feb 5 2014

The Influence of a Spatiotemporal 3D Environment on Endothelial Cell Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Current endothelial cell (EC) differentiation protocols are inefficient, and the phenotypes of the differentiated ECs are only briefly stable, which significantly inhibits their utility for basic science research. A remarkably more efficient human induced pluripotent stem cells-EC differentiation protocol that incorporates a three-dimensional fibrin scaffold is presented. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Cleavage of E-Cadherin and β-Catenin by Calpain Affects Wnt Signaling and Spheroid Formation in Suspension Cultures of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators assessed gene expression of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells grown in surface-adherent culture versus free-floating suspension culture spheroids. [Mol Cell Proteomics] Abstract

Regulation of iPS Cell Induction by Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling
Researchers report that Wnt/β-catenin enhances induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells induction at the early stage of reprogramming. The augmented reprogramming induced by β-catenin is not due to increased total cell population or activation of c-Myc. [J Biol Chem] Abstract

Generation of Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
A 4-in-1 lentiviral vector containing Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc was transduced into rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) isolated from the synovia of two RA patients and two OA patients. Immunohistochemical staining and real-time PCR studies were performed to demonstrate the pluripotency of the induced pluripotent stem cells. [Arthritis Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells in Serum- and Feeder-Free Defined Culture and TGF-Β1 Regulation of Pluripotency
Scientists successfully generated human iPS cells from human dental pulp cells using Yamanaka’s factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) with retroviral vectors in serum- and feeder-free defined culture conditions. [PLoS One] Full Article

Reprogramming of COPD Lung Fibroblasts through Formation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
Reprogramming somatic cells to iPSCs eliminates many epigenetic modifications that characterize differentiated cells. Investigators tested whether functional differences between COPD and non-COPD fibroblasts could be reduced utilizing this approach. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Adipocytes Derived from PA6 Cells Reliably Promote the Differentiation of Dopaminergic Neurons from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers report that the coculture of human embryonic stem cells with PA6-derived adipocytes reliably induces their differentiation into midbrain dopaminergic neurons. [J Neurosci Res] Abstract

Chemically Induced Specification of Retinal Ganglion Cells from Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
A novel, stepwise chemical protocol is described for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells into functional retinal ganglion cells. [Stem Cell Transl Med] Abstract

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Role of p75 Neurotrophin Receptor in Stem Cell Biology: More than Just a Marker
The authors give an overview of the current knowledge on p75^NTR in stem cells, ranging from embryonic to adult stem cells, and cancer stem cells. In an attempt to address its potential role in the control of stem cell biology, the molecular mechanisms underlying p75^NTR signaling in different models are also highlighted. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

Great Expectations: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technologies
New applications of induced pluripotent stem cell technology to research on complex idiopathic conditions raise several important ethical and social considerations for potential research participants and their families. Investigators examine these issues through the lens of emerging research on autism spectrum disorder. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

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Stem Cell Agency Funds More than $66 Million in Research Including New Genomics Initiative
A team bringing together experts and investigators from seven different major California institutions has been awarded $40 million to create a new Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Genomics, by California’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine]
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Hollande Pledges to Avoid Cuts to France’s Science Funding
French President François Hollande promised to spare the research and higher education budget from savings of €50 billion that his government has pledged to find over the next three years to reign in its massive public deficit. [Nature News] Editorial

Obama Promises Action and Seeks a Science-Funding Boost
US President Barack Obama says 2014 will be a “year of action” in which he plans to use his executive authority to enact new policies, while seeking greater cooperation from the sharply divided Congress. [Nature News] Editorial

Elsevier Opens Its Papers to Text-Mining
Academics: prepare your computers for text-mining. Publishing giant Elsevier says that it has now made it easy for scientists to extract facts and data computationally from its more than 11 million online research papers. Other publishers are likely to follow suit this year, lowering barriers to the computer-based research technique. [Nature News] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Initiative (European Bioinformatics Institute)

NEW Lab Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Senior Research Scientist – Immunogenicity and Epigenetic Regulation of hiPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells (Magdi Yacoub Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Signaling and Epigenetics (Fondazione Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare)

Postdoctoral Position – Systems Biology of Cellular Reprogramming (University of California – San Diego)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Mount-Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Regulation of Heart Formation Using Human ES & iPS Cells (University of Pittsburgh)

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