Volume 10.26 | Jul 15 - ESC & iPSC News

ESC & iPSC News 10.26 July 15, 2015

TOP STORY

Researchers Create Model of Early Human Heart Development from Stem Cells
Researchers used biochemical and biophysical cues to prompt stem cells to differentiate and self-organize into micron-scale cardiac tissue, including microchambers. [Press release from University of California, Berkeley discussing online publication in Nature Communications] Press Release | Full Article

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PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Directed Differentiation of Cholangiocytes from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
The authors describe a protocol that achieves efficient differentiation of biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes) from human pluripotent stem cells through delivery of developmentally relevant cues, including NOTCH signaling. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract

Durable Pluripotency and Haploidy in Epiblast Stem Cells Derived from Haploid Embryonic Stem Cells In Vitro
Researchers report that mouse haploid embryonic stem cells can differentiate in vitro into haploid epiblast stem cells, which maintain an intact haploid genome, unlimited self-renewal potential, and durable pluripotency to differentiate into various tissues in vitro and in vivo. [J Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

Barriers for Deriving Transgene-Free Pig iPS Cells with Episomal Vectors
The authors generated porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using non-integrating replicating episomal plasmids. Although these porcine iPSCs met most pluripotency criteria, they could neither generate cloned piglets through nuclear transfer, nor contribute to later stage chimeras through morula injections or aggregations. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Differentiation of Odontoblast-Like Cells from Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Pax9 and Bmp4 Transfection
Researchers describe a novel method of odontoblast differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells using gene transfection. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Evidence for Bystander Signaling between Human Trophoblast Cells and Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Scientists examined the responses of human embryonic stem cells in tissue culture to two metals at low concentration. They compared direct exposures with indirect exposures across a bi-layered model of the placenta cell barrier. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Ethyl 2-((4-Chlorophenyl)Amino)Thiazole-4-Carboxylate and Derivatives Are Potent Inducers of Oct3/4
Researchers report a lead structure ethyl 2-(4-chlorophenylamino)-thiazole-4-carboxylate, termed O4I2, showing high activity in enforcing Oct3/4 expression. Based on chemical expansion they further identified derivatives having increased activity towards Oct3/4 induction. [J Med Chem] Abstract

Transcriptional Activation of Human CDCA8 Gene Regulated by Transcription Factor NF-Y in Embryonic Stem Cells and Cancer Cells
Reporter gene assays revealed that the cell division cycle associated 8 (CDCA8) promoter was activated in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and cancer cell lines, and drove the reporter expression specifically to pluripotent cells during early mouse embryo development, and to tumor tissues in tumor-bearing mice, indicating that CDCA8 is transcriptionally activated in hESCs and cancer cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Improvement of Cell Survival during Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Definitive Endoderm Differentiation
Researchers used a SOX17-enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter human embryonic stem cell line to compare and modify established definitive endoderm differentiation protocols. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Investigating DNA Methylation Dynamics and Safety of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation towards Striatal Neurons
Investigators report the global changes observed on the CpG islands distributed in promoters, gene bodies and intergenic regions and the major biochemical pathways and genes involved in methylation changes, as H9-human embryonic stem cells turn into a neuronal culture containing medium-sized spiny striatal neurons. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

MiR-181c Regulates Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation via Targeting GATA4
Investigators provided evidence that miR-181c was significantly increased in undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and decreased in differentiated cells. In addition, knockdown of miR-181c down-regulated the expression of hESC pluripotency markers Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and c-Myc. [Mol Cells] Abstract

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REVIEWS

Utilizing Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) to Understand the Actions of Estrogens in Human Neurons
The authors review iPSC technology and how it’s currently being used to model neural development and neurological diseases. They explore whether this cellular system could be used to understand the role of estrogens in human neurons, and present preliminary data in support of this. [Horm Behav] Full Article

Two New Routes to Make Blood: Hematopoietic Specification from Pluripotent Cell Lines vs. Reprogramming of Somatic Cells
Researchers discuss different sources of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) available at the moment, various safety risks associated with them, and possible solutions for successful use of hPSCs in the clinic. They also discuss ongoing clinical trials of hPSC-based treatments [Ann Med] Abstract

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

Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2015

INDUSTRY NEWS

CSU Awarded $1.3 Million NIH Grant for Stem Cell Research
Moo-Yeal Lee, Ph.D., and Chandra Kothapalli, Ph.D., of Cleveland State University have been awarded a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for innovative stem cell research to improve testing for toxic compounds that could harm the development of the human brain. [Cleveland State University] Press Release

Groundbreaking Clinical Trial to Assess Use of Newborn Stem Cells in the Treatment of Pediatric Stroke
Cord Blood Registry^® announced the launch of an FDA-regulated clinical trial to investigate autologous stem cell therapy in children diagnosed as having had a prenatal or perinatal pediatric stroke. [Cord Blood Registry^®] Press Release

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POLICY NEWS

Use of Regulated Animals in U.S. Biomedical Research Falls to Lowest Levels on Record
The number of federally regulated animals used in U.S. biomedical research dropped last year to its lowest level since data collection began in 1972, according to new statistics posted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Russia’s Only Private Science Funder Closes Its Doors
The Dynasty Foundation, Russia’s only private funder of scientific research, announced its closure after being labeled a “foreign agent” by the Russian government in May. The decision was made at a meeting of the foundation’s council and published on Dynasty’s website. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

EVENTS

NEW Cell Culture 2016
February 2-4, 2016
London, United Kingdom

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW Research Fellow – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Medicine (National Cancer Centre Singapore)

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

Postdoctoral Positions – Human ES & iPS Cells and Heart Regenerative Medicine (University of Pittsburgh)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Niche Function (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

MICA Stem Cell Scientist (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

Stem Cell Scientist (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurology (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Postdoctoral Position – Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Self-Renewal (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences )

Postdoctoral Position – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Study Metabolism and Gene Expression Regulating Neural Tube Development (Joslin Diabetes Center)

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