Nanog

[Development] Researchers reported that the conjunct activity of two orphan nuclear receptors, Esrrb and Nr5a2, paralleled the importance of that of Oct4 and Sox2 in naïve mouse ESCs. By occupying a large common set of regulatory elements, these two factors controlled the binding of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog to DNA.

[Journal of Translational Medicine] In vivo and in vitro metastasis assays confirmed miR-4721 promoted cell migration and invasion. Tumor spheroid formation assay, side population assay, and ALDEFLUOR assay verified miR-4721 regulated cancer stem cell-like properties.

[Microscopy Research and Technique] Scientists tested the ability of human MSCs isolated from the vascular wall to grow as spheres, and provide a characterization of this 3D model.

[Molecular Cancer Research] To elucidate the underlying mechanisms that drive breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) tumorigenicity in TNBC, scientists identified the long noncoding RNA BMP/OP-Responsive Gene (BORG) as an enhancer of BCSC phenotypes.

[Anti-Cancer Drugs] Colon cancer stem cells were selected and high/low expression of miR-148a/152 plasmids were synthesized to intervene CD44+/CD133+ colon cancer stem cells to investigate the function of miR-148a/152 in invasion, migration, proliferation, colony formation and apoptosis of cells.

[Stem Cell Reports] Scientists showed that AhR regulated pluripotency factors and maintained the metabolic activity required for proper embryo differentiation. AhR-lacking embryos showed a pluripotent phenotype characterized by a delayed expression of trophectoderm differentiation markers.