ESC & iPSC News Volume 9.45 | Nov 19 2014

Foxd3 Suppresses NFAT-Mediated Differentiation to Maintain Self-Renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers report that Foxd3 suppresses differentiation induced by calcineurin-NFAT signaling to maintain the ESC identity. Mechanistically, Foxd3 interacts with NFAT proteins and recruits co-repressor Tle4, a member of the Tle repressor family highly expressed in undifferentiated ESCs, to suppress NFATc3’s transcriptional activities. [EMBO Rep] Abstract

Functional Compensation between Myc and PI3K Signaling Supports Self-Renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists demonstrate that c-Myc and PI3K function cooperatively but independently to support embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal when murine ESCs are cultured under conventional culture condition. [Stem Cells] Abstract

CDK1 Plays an Important Role in the Maintenance of Pluripotency and Genomic Stability in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
To investigate the impacts of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) downregulation, researchers performed RNA interference studies which in addition to expected mitotic deficiencies revealed a large range of additional phenotypes related to maintenance of pluripotency, ability to repair double strand breaks and commitment to apoptosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The Secretome of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reduces Lung Fibrosis in Part by Hepatocyte Growth Factor
Investigators evaluated the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells conditioned media to regenerate and repair the alveolar epithelium in vitro and improve bleomycin induced lung injury in vivo. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Nanog Requires BRD4 to Maintain Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Is Suppressed by Bromodomain Inhibitor JQ1 Together with Lefty1
Investigators demonstrate that the pan-BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal domain) bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 induces rapid spontaneous differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells by inducing marked transcriptional down-regulation of Nanog as well as the stemness markers Lefty1 and Lefty2 but not Myc, often used as a marker of BET inhibitor activity in cancer. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

The Effect of 3D Nanofibrous Scaffolds on the Chondrogenesis of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Their Application in Restoration of Cartilage Defects
Researchers investigated the effect of 3D nanofibrous scaffolds on the chondrogenesis of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and articular cartilage defect restoration. The chondrogenesis of the iPSCs in vitro and the restoration of the cartilage defect was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, the Cell Counting Kit-8, histological observation, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis. [PLoS One] Full Article

Reprogramming Suppresses Premature Senescence Phenotypes of Werner Syndrome Cells and Maintains Chromosomal Stability over Long-Term Culture
Scientists describe the effects of long-term culture on Werner syndrome induced pluripotent stem cells, which acquired and maintained infinite proliferative potential for self-renewal over two years. [PLoS One]
Full Article | Press Release

Human Embryonic Stem Cells Carrying Unbalanced Translocations Demonstrate Impaired Differentiation into Trophoblasts: An In-Vitro Model of Human Implantation Failure
Scientists derived the first human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line carrying unbalanced t(11;22), which showed the typical morphological and molecular characteristics of a hESC line. Control hESCs differentiated into trophoblasts secreted increasing levels of beta-hCG and concomitantly expressed the trophoblast genes, CDX2, TP63, KRT7, ERVW1, CGA, GCM1, KLF4 and PPARG. [Mol Hum Reprod] Abstract

Effects of Mouse Utricle Stromal Tissues on Hair Cell Induction from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Clarification of the molecular mechanisms underlying inner ear disorders is also impeded by the anatomical limitation of experimental access to the human inner ear. Therefore, the generation of hair cells, possibly from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, is important for regenerative therapy and studies of inner ear diseases. Researchers generated hair cells from mouse iPS cells using an established stepwise induction protocol. [BMC Neurosci] Full Article

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

Human Longevity, Inc. Signs Collaborative Agreement with King’s College London to Access TwinsUK Registry
Human Longevity, Inc., a biological data-driven human health technology and cell therapy company, announced a collaborative agreement with King’s College London to access their TwinsUK Registry. [Human Longevity, Inc.] Press Release

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China Predicted to Outspend the US on Science by 2020
China is on track to overtake the United States in research and development spending by the end of the decade, according to a report on the global state of research spending. Other developing and middle-income countries are also narrowing their gap with the United States, Europe and Japan, the document finds. [Nature News] Editorial

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

NEW Scientist, Reprogramming and Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Head of Cellular and Molecular Therapies Laboratory (NHS Blood & Transplant)

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

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)

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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