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Pluripotency or differentiation -- That is the question

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich discover key molecules in the cell nucleus that orchestrate paraspeckles formation, a structure linked to ALS progression. The discovery provides new insights into pluripotency and differentiation processes, potentially leading to breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and therapeutic strategies for ALS.

CAR-T immunotherapies may have a new player

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and University of Minnesota have developed a new CAR-T immunotherapy using natural killer cells engineered from human induced pluripotent stem cells. These cells demonstrated heightened activity against ovarian cancer with less toxicity, offering potential advantages ...

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJun 28, 2018

Let's talk about sex chromosomes

Male and female cells behave differently after being reprogrammed into stem cells due to their number of X chromosomes. This affects DNA methylation, a process that changes DNA activity without changing its sequence.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateApr 19, 2018

Back to the beginning

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new process to generate NP-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The team mimicked the embryonic development process to produce nucleus pulposus cells, which could potentially be used to treat degenerative disc disease.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalStem Cell Research & Therapy·DateApr 17, 2018

Stem cell 'twins' to study disease

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a gene editing method called MhAX, which creates genetically matched stem cell 'twins' for studying disease-related mutations. The technique guides the cell's own repair mechanisms and allows for precise removal of reporter genes, leaving only the modified SNP behind.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 5, 2018

Mending hearts in three dimensions

A Kyoto-Osaka team uses hiPSCs to develop biodegradable aligned nanofibers as a scaffold for culturing cardiomyocytes, forming robust and functional cardiac tissue-like constructs. These CTLCs show excellent operability leading to favorable heart function recovery in injured rat hearts.

SourceKyoto University·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateOct 26, 2017

Stem cell consortium tackles complex genetic diseases

A collaborative effort analyzed iPS cells to understand how individual mutations contribute to polygenetic diseases, revealing that smaller collections of cells can produce results and identifying small changes in gene expression with dramatic effects on cells. The study also found that some effects manifest before cell differentiation.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateApr 6, 2017

Real-time, observable MRI delivery updated to improve stem cell therapy for Parkinson's

Researchers used Real-time intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (RT-IMRI) to guide the transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons into brains modeled with Parkinson's disease. The study found that RT-IMRI guidance enhances cell survival and improves procedure efficacy and safety.

First report on efficient reprogramming of diabetic foot ulcer cells to create therapeutic stem cell

Scientists have developed a technique to convert diabetic foot ulcer cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can be used to study new therapeutic approaches and develop disease models. This breakthrough has significant implications for the treatment of non-healing chronic wounds.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalCellular Reprogramming·DateAug 10, 2016

Gauging stem cells for regenerative medicine

Scientists developed guidelines to evaluate laboratory-generated stem cells, finding that no current methods produce truly naïve embryonic cells. The new criteria may aid researchers in achieving this goal, which could benefit both basic research and medical applications of stem cells.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJul 14, 2016

RNA's part in determining the health of stem cells

Researchers discovered 16 RNA-binding proteins whose depletion affects stem cell pluripotency and identified six RBPs making up the critical protein complex called small subunit processome (SSUP). Enhanced translational activity is crucial for ESC maintenance, while precise regulation of translation rates may influence stem cell determ...

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalGenes & Development·DateOct 12, 2015

Stem cell-derived 'mini-brains' reveal potential drug treatment for rare disorder

Researchers have identified a histone deacetylase inhibitor that reverses MECP2 alterations in mutant neurons, offering hope for treating the devastating neurological disorder. The breakthrough uses stem cell-derived 'mini-brains' to screen potential drug libraries, providing an efficient method for finding effective treatments.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateSep 8, 2015

A switch for health heart muscle

Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation have discovered a unique genetic switch that guides stem cells into developing specialized heart muscle. The discovery of the Mel18 protein is expected to reveal underlying causes of heart defects and potentially lead to new methods for controlling stem cells in the laboratory.

SourceCenter for Genomic Regulation·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateSep 3, 2015

Histones may hold the key to the generation of totipotent stem cells

Researchers from RIKEN in Japan have identified a duo of histone proteins, TH2A and TH2B, that dramatically enhance the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The study demonstrates that these proteins function as substitutes for two Yamanaka factors and increase iPSC cell generation by twentyfold and speed up the process.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateFeb 6, 2014