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Magnetic cellular 'Legos' for the regenerative medicine of the future

Scientists successfully aggregate cells using only magnets without an external matrix, forming a deformable tissue that can be stretched or compressed at will. This breakthrough approach could revolutionize regenerative medicine by providing a powerful tool for biophysical studies and tissue engineering.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 12, 2017

A star is born: Lesser-known brain cell takes center stage

Researchers at Salk Institute developed a new protocol to derive astrocytes from human stem cells, which could provide breakthroughs for treatments of stroke, Alzheimer's and psychiatric disorders. The method allows for faster and more effective production of astrocytes, enabling researchers to model neurological disorders in a dish.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateJun 6, 2017

Genetic cross-talk key to cell balance

Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered direct cross-regulatory feedback between Nanog and Hox genes, which regulate pluripotency and differentiation. This study provides important insight into tissue formation processes and holds relevance for regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 5, 2017

Epigenetic program leading to vessel differentiation

A collaborative research group found that histone code changes and a transcription factor group essential for blood vessel differentiation play key roles in vessel formation. They also discovered that the regulatory genomic region of the transcription factors has gradually switched from suppressing to activating transcription.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateMay 19, 2017

Let there be tissue

UCSB researchers have developed a new method to control gene expression in embryonic stem cells using light, allowing for the precise engineering of tissues. This breakthrough could lead to novel therapeutic applications and insights into tissue development.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMay 15, 2017

Engineering human stem cells to model the kidney's filtration barrier on a chip

A team of researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute has successfully engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells into mature podocytes with over 90% efficiency, paving the way for modeling patient-specific kidney diseases and guiding therapeutic discovery. The development of a functional human kidney glomerulus chip opens up new expe...

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateMay 10, 2017

Success in the 3-D bioprinting of cartilage

A team of researchers at the University of Gothenburg has developed a method to generate cartilage tissue by printing stem cells using a 3D-bioprinter. The resulting cartilage is extremely similar to human cartilage, with properties and structures identical to those found in natural cartilage.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 28, 2017

Identical twins; not-so-identical stem cells

Researchers found that even though iPSCs derived from identical twins have the same genes, they have distinct epigenetic markers, particularly near MYC binding sites. This discovery helps scientists better understand the processes involved in reprogramming cells and the differences between iPSCs and ESCs.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateApr 19, 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

A tale of 2 states

Human embryonic stem cells exist in two states: naïve and primed. Researchers have identified molecular flags on these cells, allowing them to track and investigate their transition. This approach has revealed new insights into the timing and coordination of gene activity changes during reprogramming.

SourceBabraham Institute·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMar 23, 2017

New platform for culturing stem cells

A new platform for culturing human pluripotent stem cells has been developed at Kyoto University, combining micro and nanotechnologies to precisely control the culture environment. The Multiplexed Artificial Cellular Microenvironment (MACME) array mimics extracellular environments with nanofibres in fluid-filled micro-chambers of preci...

SourceKyoto University·JournalSmall·DateMar 14, 2017

A short jump from single-celled ancestors to animals

Researchers studied a single-celled amoeba called Capsaspora owczarzaki and found it uses the same protein-regulating tools as multicellular animals to control cell differentiation over time. This suggests that the single-celled ancestor of all animals likely possessed these systems and was more complex than previously thought.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateOct 13, 2016

Neural stem cells control their own fate

Researchers found that neural stem cells in the hippocampus use the Drosha protein to regulate their differentiation into specific cell types. The discovery challenges the long-held view that stem cell differentiation is controlled solely by the local environment.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateAug 18, 2016

Monitoring cell fates

Researchers at ETH Zurich study how stem cells differentiate into blood cells, revealing complex mechanisms beyond previously thought protein GATA1 and PU.1 roles. This knowledge is vital for developing effective treatments for life-threatening diseases.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateJul 27, 2016

Protein pairs make cells remember

Researchers have discovered that protein pairs are essential for cellular memory, allowing cells to store and recall information. The formation of these pairs enables cells to respond more quickly to environmental stimuli and differentiate into specialized cells.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalCell Reports·DateJul 15, 2016

Protein pairs make cells remember

Researchers discovered that protein pairs form feedback loops to store information in a cell's memory. The formation of these pairs is crucial for the cell's sensitivity to environmental stimuli and its ability to differentiate into specialized cells.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalCell Reports·DateJul 14, 2016

Stem cells feel the force

Researchers found that stretch-induced mechanical forces downregulate thousands of genes while increasing a few in skin stem cells. This leads to changes in DNA packing within the nucleus, affecting transcriptional activity and differentiation.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateJul 12, 2016

How diet influences colon cancer

A high-fat diet drives a population boom of intestinal stem cells and generates a pool of other cells that behave like stem cells, leading to an increase in tumor formation. The researchers found that the high-fat diet changes the biology of both stem cells and non-stem-cell populations, ultimately resulting in more tumors.

New biomarker to assess stem cells developed

A team of scientists at UCL has discovered a way to fast-track the screening of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using DNA methylation as a biomarker. This new approach can help identify 'good' and 'bad' cell lines, which is crucial for laboratory research and potential cell replacement therapies.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 29, 2016