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NEW STUDY: Discovery of chemical means to reverse aging and restore cellular function

A team of scientists at Harvard Medical School has identified six chemical cocktails that can restore cellular aging and rejuvenate human cells. The study builds upon the discovery of Yamanaka factors, which can convert adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, raising hopes for treating age-related diseases and injuries. The im...

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

Test animals, hold your breath!

Researchers from Kyoto University developed a microchip using human iPS cells to measure transport capacity of membrane proteins, potentially giving test animals respite. The model simulates glucose reabsorption and drug excretion in renal proximal tubules, enabling patient-specific disease modeling and personalized medicine studies.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2023

Human embryo-like models created from stem cells to understand earliest stages of human development

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a stem cell-derived model of the human embryo, allowing for the experimental modeling of embryonic development during the second week of pregnancy. This breakthrough could help understand why and how pregnancies fail, and potentially lead to new treatments for genetic disorders.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2023

Stem cell model of human brain development suggests embryonic origins of Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers used a stem cell model to study the effects of Alzheimer's disease-associated mutations on early human brain development, finding that mutant spheres were larger and contained fewer mature neurons. The study highlights the need for tailored therapies and paves the way for studying Alzheimer's in its early stages.

SourceInternational Society for Stem Cell Research·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateJun 22, 2023

Researchers overcome stem cell delivery barrier, paving the way for regenerative medicine

Scientists have developed a new method to deliver genetic information to stem cells using nanoparticles coated with a specific polymer, enabling more efficient control over cellular differentiation. This innovation has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regenerative medicine treatments.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2023

Filling a niche: Neural stem cells help maintain their microenvironment

A new study from Tokyo Medical and Dental University sheds light on the neural stem cell niche's composition during development. Researchers found that vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) plays a crucial role in maintaining NSPCs under hypoxic conditions, promoting lower rates of cell death and increased cell proliferation.

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalInflammation and Regeneration·DateMar 15, 2023

How to assemble a complete jaw

A USC-led team of scientists identified the key gene Nr5a2, essential for opening up genome regions that enable neural crest cells to form tendons and salivary glands. Zebrafish and mice lacking this gene exhibited skeletal and tendon defects, as well as failed salivary gland development.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2023

CHOP researchers develop tool that reduces errors in stem cell transplant reporting

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a custom-built application to automate the determination of engraftment after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The tool has been shown to improve accuracy of reported engraftments, reducing errors in neutrophil and platelet engraftment reporting.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalTransplantation and Cellular Therapy·DateJan 23, 2023

Lab-grown retinal eye cells make successful connections, open door for clinical trials to treat blindness

Researchers have successfully grown retinal cells from stem cells that can connect with neighboring cells and transmit sensory information like healthy ones. The breakthrough could lead to human clinical trials to treat degenerative eye disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 4, 2023

On the trail of missing genes and cancer clues

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology discovered a direct link between TET protein loss of function and missing genes in embryonic stem cells, which can lead to cancer growth. The study found that TET proteins are crucial for maintaining genome stability, and their loss results in aneuploidies, a common feature of cancer cells.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2022

Chung-Ang University researchers use biomolecule-loaded metal-organic frameworks nanopatterns to aid artificial stem cell differentiation

A new platform mimics live cellular environment to guide stem cell differentiation outside the body. Researchers from Chung-Ang University developed a novel platform based on metal-organic frameworks, which offers advantages over conventional methods for in vitro stem cell differentiation.

SourceChung Ang University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 9, 2022

Great progress thanks to mini organs

Researchers have developed mini organs that replicate the cervical tissue, allowing for the study of normal physiology, disease development, and infectious processes. The creation of these mini organs, known as organoids, offers new opportunities for personalized medicine, finding new active substances, and modeling diseases.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Protocols·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 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.

Researchers produce fully functional pancreatic beta cells from stem cells for the first time

Scientists have successfully produced fully functional pancreatic beta cells from stem cells for the first time, offering a breakthrough in treating type 1 diabetes. The study's findings demonstrate that these stem cell-derived beta cells can regulate insulin secretion and manage glucose metabolism in both cell cultures and mice studies.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateMar 3, 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

Scientists show how bone-bordering cells may help shape a skull

A new study by researchers at Mount Sinai found that a specific gene, HHIP, helps regulate the development of the coronal suture, a fibrous joint that connects the front and middle bone plates. The study showed that embryos with a missing HHIP gene had misshapen skulls and fewer mesenchymal cells separating the bones.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 9, 2021

How the body uses fat to fight infection

Researchers discovered that blood stem cells use high-energy fatty acids from the body's fat stores to power up their response to infection. This finding could lead to new approaches in treating bacterial infections, particularly in vulnerable and older individuals.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2021