Systematic Identification of Culture Conditions for Induction and Maintenance of Naive Human Pluripotency Investigators took a systematic approach to identify small molecules that support self-renewal of naive human embryonic stem cells based on maintenance of endogenous OCT4 distal enhancer activity, a molecular signature of ground state pluripotency. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release Genetic Insulin Resistance Is a Potent Regulator of Gene Expression and Proliferation in Human iPS Cells To define the consequences of genetic insulin resistance distinct from those secondary to cellular differentiation or in vivo regulation, researchers generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from individuals with insulin receptor mutations and age-appropriate controls, and studied insulin signaling and gene expression in comparison to fibroblasts from which they were derived. [Diabetes] Abstract | Press Release Hepatic Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells as Microscaled Multilayered Colonies Leading to Enhanced Homogeneity and Maturation Off-the-shelf micro-stencil arrays were developed to generate adherent multilayered colonies composed of human embryonic stem cell-derived cells. Compared with conventional 2D format, the micro-scaled multilayered colonies with uniform and defined sizes constrained within the microwells are composed of more homogenous and mature hepatocyte-like cells with significantly lowered AFP expression and elevated hepatic functions. [Small] Abstract Mutation Frequency Dynamics in HPRT Locus in Culture-Adapted Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Correspond to Their Differentiated Counterparts Base excision repair (BER), a major genomic integrity maintenance mechanism, has been shown to fail during human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) adaptation. Investigators show that the increase in the mutation frequency caused by the inhibition of BER was similar to that caused by the hESC adaptation process. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Incorporation of Gold-Coated Microspheres into Embryoid Body of Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Cardiomyogenic Differentiation Investigators show that incorporation of gold-coated microspheres into human embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies enhances the cardiomyogenic differentiation process of pluripotent embryonic stem cells. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract Alginate Encapsulation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Enhance Directed Differentiation to Pancreatic Islet-Like Cells Scientists developed a stage-wise directed differentiation protocol to produce alginate-encapsulated islet-like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells, which can be directly implanted for diabetes therapy. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract Transplantation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Improves Functional Recovery in Huntington’s Disease Rat Model Researchers determined the functional recovery of transplanted induced pluripotent stem cells in a rat model of Huntington’s disease with use of 18F-FDG microPET/CT imaging. [PLoS One] Full Article Modulating Notochordal Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Natural Nucleus Pulposus Tissue Matrix Scientists show that direct contact between human induced pluripotent stem cells and nucleus pulposus matrix can promote the differentiation yield, whilst both the contact and non-contact cultures can generate functional notochordal cell-like cells. [PLoS One] Full Article Differentiation of Human Limbal-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Limbal-Like Epithelium Researchers generated human induced pluripotent stem cells and directed them to limbal differentiation by maintaining them on natural substrata mimicking the native limbal epithelial stem cell niche, including feederless denuded human amniotic membrane and de-epithelialized corneas. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract |