Pravastatin Reverses Obesity-Induced Dysfunction of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells via a Nitric Oxide-Dependent Mechanism Metabolic abnormalities of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) from obese individuals could potentially limit their therapeutic efficacy for peripheral vascular disease. Investigators compared the function of iPSC-ECs from normal and diet-induced obesity mice using comprehensive in vitro and in vivo assays. [Eur Heart J] Abstract HIPPO Pathway Members Restrict SOX2 to the Inner Cell Mass Where It Promotes ICM Fates in the Mouse Blastocyst Researchers investigated the regulation of Sox2 patterning and show that SOX2 is restricted to inner cell mass (ICM) progenitors prior to blastocyst formation by members of the HIPPO pathway, independent of CDX2, the trophectoderm transcription factor that restricts Oct4 and Nanog to the ICM. [PLoS Genet] Full Article | Press Release Symmetry Breaking, Germ Layer Specification and Axial Organization in Aggregates of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Scientists report that small aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells, of about 300 cells, self-organize into polarized structures that exhibit collective behaviors reminiscent of those that cells exhibit in early mouse embryos, including symmetry breaking, axial organization, germ layer specification and cell behavior, as well as axis elongation. [Development] Full Article | Press Release | Video Identification of a Small Molecule that Turns ON the Pluripotency Gene Circuitry in Human Fibroblasts Researchers report the identification of a SAHA-PIP that could trigger genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming and turn ON the typically conserved core pluripotency gene network. [ACS Chem Biol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Advanced Feeder-Free Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Directly from Blood Cells Investigators report efficient generation of induced pluripotent stem cells directly from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in feeder-free conditions in approximately two weeks. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract ROCK Inhibitor Is Not Required for Embryoid Body Formation from Singularized Human Embryonic Stem Cells Researchers report a technology to form human embryoid bodies from singularized human embryonic stem cells without the use of the p160 rho-associated coiled-coil kinase inhibitor or centrifugation. [PLoS One] Full Article Controlling Expansion and Cardiomyogenic Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in Scalable Suspension Culture Human pluripotent stem cell expansion as matrix-independent aggregates in suspension culture was combined with cardiomyogenic differentiation using chemical Wnt pathway modulators. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract 3D Reconstitution of the Patterned Neural Tube from Embryonic Stem Cells Scientists show that single mouse embryonic stem cells directly embedded in Matrigel or defined synthetic matrices under neural induction conditions can clonally form neuroepithelial cysts containing a single lumen in 3D. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release |