Is hepatic differentiation of embryonic stem cells induced by valproic acid and cytokines?November 18, 2009Embryonic stem (ES) cells, known for their capacity to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into almost all types of cells including hepatocytes, have raised the hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure. There have been several protocols available for hepatic fate specification from ES cells, however, most of the protocols currently used result in low yield or purity of functional hepatocytes. Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has been demonstrated to facilitate the hepatic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. However, little is know about whether VPA could induce the hepatic differentiation of ES cells. A research team from China reported such research and the development of a protocol for direct hepatic lineage differentiation, from early developmental progenitors to a population of mature hepatocytes, based on sequential induction with VPA and cytokines. Results showed that VPA can direct the hepatic specification of ES cells and largely participates in the differentiation of ES cells into hepatic progenitors. Further differentiation of hepatic progenitors into mature hepatocytes requires supplementation with cytokines. Their study will be published on November 7, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Their research may not only be helpful for the clinical application of hepatocyte transplantation, but also provide an in vitro research model for the better investigation and understanding of the entire developmental process of hepatocytes, from ES cells to hepatic progenitors, and then to mature hepatocytes. Furthermore, as VPA is an epigenetic modulator, their results may also be of benefit to the research of mechanisms of epigenetic modifications during liver development. World Journal of Gastroenterology |
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| Related Embryonic Stem Cells Current Events and Embryonic Stem Cells News Articles Gene that improves quality of reprogrammed stem cells identified by Singapore scientists In the 7 Feb. 2010 issue of the journal Nature, scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), report that a genetic molecule, called Tbx3, which is crucial for many aspects of early developmental processes in mammals, significantly improves the quality of stem cells that have been reprogrammed from differentiated cells. Scientists map epigenome of human stem cells during development Scientists at The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) led an international effort to build a map that shows in detail how the human genome is modified during embryonic development. Stanford researchers explore link between human birth defect syndrome, cancer metastasis Some cells are natural rule-breakers. Neural crest cells for example, not only migrate throughout the body during development (most cells are more selective in their wandering), they are also more developmentally flexible than their predecessors (a no-no for nearly all cell types). Scripps Research and GIS scientists map epigenome of human stem cells during development Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) led an international effort to build a map that shows in detail how the human genome is modified during embryonic development. Disarming specialized stem cells might combat deadly ovarian cancer Eliminating cancer stem cells (CSCs) within a tumor could hold the key to successful treatments for ovarian cancer, which has been notoriously difficult to detect and treat, according to new findings published this week in the journal Oncogene by Yale School of Medicine researchers. Stem cell breakthrough: Bone marrow cells are the answer Using cells from mice, scientists from Iowa and Iran have discovered a new strategy for making embryonic stem cell transplants less likely to be rejected by a recipient's immune system. New concoction reprograms differentiated cells into pluripotent stem cells In the new issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, Singapore scientists report the surprising discovery that a novel transcription factor, Nr5a2, can replace one of the classical reprogramming factors, Oct 4, to significantly increase the efficiency of reprogramming differentiated stem cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). NYSCF Fellow lead author on study that creates blood vessel cells from stem cells New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF)-Druckenmiller Fellow, Daylon James, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medial College, is lead author on a study defining conditions for generating a plentiful supply of endothelial (vessel lining) cells that are suitable for therapeutic use. New way to generate abundant functional blood vessel cells from human stem cells discovered In a significant step toward restoring healthy blood circulation to treat a variety of diseases, a team of scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College has developed a new technique and described a novel mechanism for turning human embryonic and pluripotent stem cells into plentiful, functional endothelial cells, which are critical to the formation of blood vessels. The viruses within -- and what keeps them there It is known that viral "squatters" comprise nearly half of our genetic code. These genomic invaders inserted their DNA into our own millions of years ago when they infected our ancestors. But just how we keep them quiet and prevent them from attack was more of a mystery until EPFL researchers revived them. More Embryonic Stem Cells Current Events and Embryonic Stem Cells News Articles |
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