Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cells Reveal Niches that Support Neuronal Differentiation in the Adult Rat Brain Embryoid body (EB) cells derived from embryonic stem cells are endowed with a high potential to respond to specification and neuralization signals of the embryo. To identify microenvironments in the postnatal and adult rat brain with the capacity to support neuronal differentiation, researchers transplanted dissociated EB cells to conventional neurogenic and non-neurogenic regions. [Stem Cells] Abstract An AAVS1-Targeted Minigene Platform for Correction of iPSCs from All Five Types of Chronic Granulomatous Disease Investigators generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells of patients with each of five chronic granulomatous disease genotypes. [Mol Ther] Abstract Small Molecule-Directed Specification of Sclerotome-Like Chondroprogenitors and Induction of a Somitic Chondrogenesis Program from Embryonic Stem Cells Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) generate rostral paraxial mesoderm-like progeny in five to six days of differentiation induced by Wnt3a and Noggin (Nog). Researchers report that canonical Wnt signaling introduced either by forced expression of activated β-catenin, or the small-molecule inhibitor of Gsk3, CHIR99021, satisfied the need for Wnt3a signaling, and that the small-molecule inhibitor of BMP type I receptors, LDN193189, was able to replace Nog. [Development] Abstract | Press Release Sonic Hedgehog Increases the Skin Wound Healing Ability of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells through Micro RNA 200 Family Although shh is important in maintaining the stem cell, the recovery effect of mESCs with shh has not yet been elucidated. Scientists investigated the effect of mESCs with shh in skin recovery in vivo as well as the related intracellular signal pathways in vitro. [Br J Pharmacol] Abstract Cartilage Repair Using Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Chondroprogenitors Scientists developed a 14-day culture protocol under potential GMP, chemically defined conditions to generate chondroprogenitors from human embryonic stem cells. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract Engineering Efficient Retinal Pigment Epithelium Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells The authors sought to identify, quantify, and reduce the sources of variability in human embryonic stem cell-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) differentiation. By monitoring the emergence of pigmented cells over time, they show how the cell line, passaging method, passage number, and seeding density have a significant and reproducible effect on the RPE yield. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract Deep Sequencing Reveals Low Incidence of Endogenous LINE-1 Retrotransposition in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Scientists verified long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1) expression during and after reprogramming as well as potential somatic insertions driven by the most active human endogenous LINE-1 subfamily. [PLoS One] Full Article Investigation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Keratinocytes as an In Vitro Research Model for Mechanical Stress Dynamic Response Researchers investigated the use of keratinocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells as a reliable alternative model to HaCaT for study of the effects of mechanical tension. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract |