ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.43 | Nov 5 2014

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    ESC & iPSC News 9.43 November 5, 2014

    ESC & iPSC News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    Scientists Generate First Human Stomach Tissue in Lab with Stem Cells
    Scientists used pluripotent stem cells to generate functional, three-dimensional human stomach tissue in a laboratory – creating an unprecedented tool for researching the development and diseases of an organ central to several public health crises, ranging from cancer to diabetes. [Press release from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Video | Abstract
    New TeSRâ„¢-E8â„¢ is Here For Feeder-Free Culture of Human ES Cells and iPS Cells

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    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

    Free Cell Stem Cell Poster: Directed Differentiation of ESCs/iPSCs

     
    REVIEWS
    Modeling Central Nervous System Diseases Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
    The authors provide a background regarding why induced pluripotent stem cells represent a paradigm shift for central nervous system (CNS) disease modeling. They describe the efforts in the field to develop more biologically relevant CNS disease models, which should provide screening assays useful for the pharmaceutical industry. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

    Generation of Pluripotent Stem Cells without the Use of Genetic Material
    The authors discuss what types of small chemical or large (protein) molecules could be used to replace the viral transduction of genes and/or genetic reprogramming to obtain human induced pluripotent stem cells. [Lab Invest] Abstract

    Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field.

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    New Stem Cell Action Plan Promises Major Leap Forward in Alleviating Human Suffering
    A coalition of Canadian stem cell advocates, researchers and charities has launched an aggressive Action Plan for Canada to lead the way in bringing up to ten breakthrough therapies to the clinic by 2025. [Canadian Stem Cell Foundation] Press Release

    City of Hope Awarded $8 Million to Launch Stem Cell Therapy Clinic Focused on Fighting Incurable Disease
    Identifying cures for currently incurable diseases and providing patients safe, fast, and potentially life-saving treatments is the focus of City of Hope’s new Alpha Clinic for Cell Therapy and Innovation. The clinic is funded by an $8 million, five-year grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. [City of Hope]
    Press Release

    From our sponsor: Pluripotent cell isolation for regenerative medicine. Request a free wallchart from Nature.

     
    POLICY NEWS
    European Union’s Pairing Plan for Science Proves Popular
    A program designed to boost investments in the scientific infrastructure of Europe’s lagging regions by pairing them with elite institutes elsewhere on the continent has proved unexpectedly popular. The European Commission has received 169 scientific business plans for the scheme, dubbed Teaming, and may be able to advance only 16% of the proposals to the next round of the competition. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

    Ministers Promise Basket of Gifts for German Science
    Germany’s universities and large science organizations have been promised a continuing windfall to help them to cope with rising student enrollment and increasing competition for grant money. Political leaders have pledged €25.3 billion over the next six years to support special programs for research and higher education. [Nature News] Editorial

     
    EVENTS
    NEW Cell & Gene Therapy Forum 2015
    January 26-28, 2015
    Washington DC, United States

    Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the ESC & iPSC community.

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW PhD Studentship – The Initial Network for Cellular Reprogramming to Pluripotency (University of Edinburgh)

    NEW Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell and RNA Biology (Lund University)

    Postdoctoral Position – Muscle Cell Therapy (I-Stem)

    Postdoctoral Scientist – Stem Cell Biology (Texas Biomedical Research Institute)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cell Laboratory (University of California – San Diego)

    PhD Position – DNA Demethylation, Reprogramming & Differentiation (Institute of Molecular Biology)

    Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stem Cells & Epigenetics (National Institutes of Health)

    Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine (Texas Biomedical Research Institute)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)


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