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Immune cell model paves way for new treatments targeting common infection amongst immunocompromised children

Researchers have successfully engineered human immune cells to model an infection common among immunocompromised people, paving the way for new drug testing and treatments. The immune cell type created played a key role in infection, inflammation, and regeneration, but also served as a natural host for germs.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalStem Cell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2022

Sterile mice produce rat sperm

Researchers generated rat sperm cells inside sterile mice using blastocyst complementation, achieving a proof-of-principle for producing gametes from one animal species in another. This breakthrough may speed up the production of transgenic rats for biomedical research and potentially support animal species conservation efforts.

SourceCell Press·JournalStem Cell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2022

Epigenetic switch helps keep early embryo cells on the right track

A study reveals an epigenetic switch that restricts early embryo cells from differentiating into certain tissue lineages. The research identifies PRC2 as a key regulator of gene expression in embryonic development, allowing for better control of stem cell specialization and blastoid formation.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalNature Cell Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 13, 2022

Cardiac progenitor cells generate healthy tissue after a heart attack

A team of researchers has successfully treated damaged pig hearts with cardiac progenitor cells, demonstrating the formation of new cardiac tissue and improved cardiac function. The treatment could potentially be used to treat patients with serious heart failure, particularly older patients with coexisting conditions.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Cell Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 12, 2022

Designer neurons offer new hope for treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Researchers have developed a process to convert non-neuronal cells into functioning neurons that can take up residence in the brain and restore capacities undermined by Parkinson's destruction of dopaminergic cells. In a proof-of-concept study, one group of experimentally engineered cells performs optimally in terms of survival, growth...

SourceArizona State University·Journalnpj Regenerative Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 2022

Researchers share insights about the mechanisms of human embryo and create method to develop transcriptionally similar cells in tissue culture

Scientists have identified a retinoic acid-dependent hemogenic endothelial progenitor from human pluripotent stem cells, enabling the development of transcriptionally similar cells in tissue culture. This breakthrough method brings researchers closer to developing blood-forming stem cells for transfusions and cancer treatments.

Mount Sinai develops method to advance maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived heart cells

Researchers at Mount Sinai have developed a reproducible method to advance the maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, which support heart muscle contraction. The new protocol enables efficient energy generation from both carbohydrates and fatty acids, improving disease modeling and regenerative therapies.

Stem cell secrets allow researchers to revamp reprogramming

A genome-wide functional screen identified critical regulators of naïve stem cell reprogramming, enabling the creation of high-quality, stable stem cell populations. The study also uncovered epigenetic factors that hinder or help reprogramming, including the essential PRC1.3 complex and inhibitory HDAC2 protein.

SourceBabraham Institute·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 25, 2022

One step closer to artificial rhino eggs

Researchers have successfully created artificial egg cells from northern white rhino stem cells using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. This breakthrough brings the team closer to achieving their goal of creating artificially generated rhino oocytes, a crucial step towards saving the subspecies from extinction.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2022

Studying diseases with better delivery of gene-editing tools

A Penn State-led team of researchers developed a new delivery system that improves the efficiency and lifespan of CRISPR gene-editing tools after delivery into stem cells. The method uses an enzyme called PiggyBac, which enables permanent integration of the editing tools into the cell's genetic code, resulting in 99% of mutated cells b...

SourcePenn State·JournalBioactive Materials·DateMar 7, 2022

Study identifies key regulator of cell differentiation

Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified BEND3 as a critical regulator of cell differentiation, discovering that it represses genes associated with cell fate. This finding has implications for understanding normal development and potentially improving cancer treatment.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 21, 2022

Improved retinal transplant technique ready for clinical trials

Researchers at RIKEN have developed a new retinal transplant technique by engineering human-derived retina sheets to lose bipolar cells, allowing better connections to host retinas and improved responses to light. The technique has shown substantial functional improvement in animal studies and is now poised for human clinical trials.

SourceRIKEN·JournaliScience·DateJan 25, 2022

Breakthrough research on human embryo models paves the way for improving in vitro fertilization success rate and new non-hormonal, user-friendly contraception

Researchers have discovered molecules that could be candidates for contraceptives or fertility enhancers using human blastoid models. These models also show promise in improving the self-organization of stem cells during IVF procedures.

Brain organoids develop optic cups that respond to light

Researchers generated brain organoids containing functional optic cups from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), demonstrating intrinsic self-patterning ability. The optic cups exhibited light sensitivity, diverse retinal cell types, and connectivity to brain regions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 17, 2021

New insight into mammalian stem cell evolution

Researchers at Kyoto University found that gene regulatory networks for pluripotent stem cells are highly conserved across mammals, but also exhibit unique variations. These differences may explain why certain features of mammalian pluripotent stem cells have evolved differently in various species.

SourceKyoto University·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·DateSep 7, 2020

NUS Medicine researchers can reprogramme cells to original state for regenerative medicine

Researchers at NUS Medicine have discovered a way to induce totipotency in pluripotent embryonic stem cells, allowing for maximum cell engineering and therapeutic potential. This breakthrough provides new avenues for regenerative medicine, particularly in cell replacement therapies for debilitating diseases.

A research team develop biotransistors able to hear small beats of live

A research team has developed biotransistors that can record small beats of live cells and micro-tissues, paving the way for drug development and screening. The transistors, made of organic material on a flexible substrate, are biocompatible and offer intrinsic signal amplification, reducing the need for external amplifiers.

SourceSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)·JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics·DateDec 11, 2019