A new study maps the distinct differences among cells in the retina's retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which nourishes and supports photoreceptors. The research identifies five subpopulations with varying levels of disease sensitivity, opening doors to more precise cell and gene therapies for specific degenerative eye diseases.
Scientists at Osaka University created 3D human stem cell-derived lacrimal gland organoids that mimic the human tear duct. The organoids exhibited organization and branching patterns characteristic of the human lacrimal gland, demonstrating potential as a platform for regenerative therapies for dry eye syndrome.
A team of researchers at UC Riverside has discovered that a protein complex called CAF-1 controls genome organization to maintain lineage fidelity in blood stem cells. The study found that CAF-1 keeps specific genomic sites compacted and inaccessible to transcription factors, ensuring the expression of lineage-specific genes.
A recent study published in Stem Cell Reports found that sleep deprivation negatively affects corneal stem cells, leading to increased rates of cell multiplication and reduced tear film antioxidants. This can result in serious effects on corneal health, such as thinning and ruffling of the cornea.
Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered a novel mechanism that restricts cell division in healthy stomach tissue, protecting against cancerous changes. However, Helicobacter pylori infection deactivates this mechanism, enabling cells to grow uncontrollably and increasing the risk of stomach cancer.
Researchers at EPFL's School of Life Sciences have identified a critical link between cellular lipids and the determination of cell fate. They found that changes in lipid composition can influence the behavior of cells in response to external stimuli, even if the original cell type is identical.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a new approach to produce artificial tissue using micro-scaffolds with a diameter of less than a third of a millimetre. These scaffolds can accommodate thousands of cells and enable high cell density and control over mechanical properties.
Researchers at the Babraham Institute have successfully developed a method to 'time jump' human skin cells by 30 years, restoring their specialized function. The new technique uses a partial reprogramming approach, allowing cells to retain their unique characteristics while still rejuvenating.
Researchers discovered a key protein, c-Maf, required for naive endothelial cells to mature into liver sinusoidal blood vessels. Induced liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (iLSECs) support hepatocytes, promoting healthy function.
Researchers at Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf developed a laboratory-based model of acute kidney injury (AKI) using three-dimensional kidney organoids. They treated the organoids with a toxic substance to replicate processes such as inflammation and cell death, which are common in kidney diseases.
Researchers at UBC have successfully 3D printed human testicular cells and observed early signs of sperm-producing capabilities. This breakthrough may lead to new fertility treatments for couples with untreatable forms of male infertility.
Researchers developed genetic modifications to increase stress resistance and immune evasion in stem cell-derived beta cells, leading to improved survival rates. The study suggests a potential breakthrough for treating type 1 diabetes through transplantation of these cells.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a way to extend the longevity of germline stem cells in fruit flies by halting egg production during diapause. This process, studied in detail for its potential to inform future medical discoveries, found nearly every step to be put on hold, extending the stem cells' viability.
Scientists at Tokyo Medical and Dental University developed artificial tendons using human stem cells, mimicking natural tendon properties. The resulting tissue exhibited similar mechanical and biological properties to normal tendons, making it an attractive strategy for clinical application in tendon injuries.
A Swiss-French team has identified a mechanism that could lead to the development of new therapies for acute myeloid leukaemia, a particularly dangerous form of cancer. The selective activation of AMPK triggers apoptosis in tumour cells by initiating the cell's stress response.
Researchers found that infusing bone-marrow stem cells into mice with sepsis increased their survival by 50-60% and decreased inflammation. This treatment could offer an alternative to current granulocyte transfusions, which have limited benefits.
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.
Researchers discovered that the IL-6 family of proteins is required for maintaining and regenerating cartilage in joints and growth plates. The study found that blocking this gene could lead to severe cartilage and skeletal changes, particularly in females.
Scientists create artificial liver cells that function like real ones, but excrete less urea, until they induce aquaporin 9, enabling them to break down ammonia into urea. The new model is being used to test OTC chaperones for therapies.
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) may be rooted in impaired and inefficient muscle tissue regeneration, which enables unwanted bone growth. This discovery could lead to new therapies targeting both extra-skeletal bone formation and muscle function.
Regrowing healthy cartilage in damaged joints is a promising approach to treating arthritis. UConn bioengineers successfully regrowed cartilage in a rabbit's knee using piezoelectricity, a phenomenon that also exists in the human body.
A new graft strategy has reduced chronic graft-versus-host disease in leukemia patients by depleting naïve T cells from donor blood. The approach has shown promising results, with only 7% of patients developing chronic GVHD compared to 30-60% with standard treatment.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have identified opportunities to use microgravity in space for large-scale stem cell production, disease modeling, and biofabrication. This could lead to breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and the development of new treatments.
A new gene and stem-cell therapy has been proven to be effective in treating Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a genetic skin disorder, without any side effects. The treatment, which involves transplanting genetically modified skin cells, has resulted in stable results after five years, with the patient now 13 years old.
Researchers at Keck School of Medicine of USC have developed a stem cell-based bio-implant to repair cartilage and delay joint degeneration. The Plurocart implant successfully integrates into damaged articular cartilage tissue and survives for up to six months.
A team of researchers at Fudan University has found that the protein NeuroD1 does not induce microglia-to-neuron conversion as previously thought. Instead, it causes microglial cell death. The study suggests that this finding may be due to experimental artifacts and highlights the need for stringent evidence in scientific research.
Researchers at Cornell University have launched scMuscle, a large single-cell database that provides a comprehensive picture of the dynamics of muscle repair. The database houses transcriptomic data from approximately 365,000 cells involved in muscle injury across various ages and experimental conditions.
A recent study analyzed 59 US stem cell clinics and found that most rely on weakly scientifically credible marketing tactics, including technical descriptions of stem cells and patient testimonials. Only a minority invokes stronger forms of evidence, such as registered clinical trials or scientific peer-reviewed articles.
Researchers from Kazan Federal University have developed a gene-cell preparation that uses membrane vesicles to target and kill cancer cells. The technology has shown promise in treating various types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colon cancer.
Scientists from the University of Johannesburg found that shining two lasers on adult stem cells accelerates their transformation into different types of cells. The consecutive irradiation increases proliferation and differentiation under laboratory conditions, paving the way for potential therapies to repair damaged tissues.
A study published in the Journal of Cell Biology found that skin stem cell motility is crucial for wound healing and skin regeneration. The researchers discovered that a specific molecule, EGFR, drives skin stem cell movement and coordinates the production of collagen COL17A1.
A clinical trial conducted by TTUHSC researchers found that corneal epithelial stem cell-derived eye drops significantly improved symptoms of severe dry eye disease, with patients experiencing a 23% improvement in SPEED questionnaire scores and a 17.1% improvement in OSDI scores. No adverse reactions were reported during the 12-week tr...
Researchers link repeated injury to airway stem cells with chronic lung disease, suggesting that biological aging of these cells may contribute to the development of this condition. The study found that injury caused activation of a subset of stem cells, leading to their premature aging and loss of functional capacity.
Researchers used human-induced stem cells carrying different versions of the APOE gene to study their interaction with neurons and astrocytes. The study found that astrocytes carrying the AD-associated APOE4 gene released more cholesterol, which led to increased beta-amyloid production in neurons.
Researchers at Kyushu University successfully reconstitute the ovarian follicle from mouse stem cells, generating functional egg cells and growing viable mice. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for infertility and help conserve endangered animals through egg cell production.
A study published in Cell Reports Medicine reveals the molecular and cellular changes in testicular tissue of infertile men, identifying alterations in spermatogonial stem cell compartment. The research provides new insights into male infertility and prepares ground for better diagnosis.
Researchers found no significant DNA changes in stem cells after transplant, but an anti-virus drug called ganciclovir may contribute to cancer development. Further research is needed to investigate this further.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have designed a convection-enhanced macroencapsulation device that offers improved cell loading capacity, increased cell survival, glucose sensitivity, and timely insulin secretion. The device has the potential to be an autonomous system for minimally invasive treatment of type 1 diabetes.
Researchers at City of Hope developed a powerful miniature brain platform to study the causes of Alzheimer's disease and test dementia drugs in development. They used human stem cell technology to model sporadic Alzheimer's disease, finding that exposure to serum from blood can induce multiple symptoms.
Researchers discovered elevated cryptic transcription in aging mammalian stem cells, which is thought to contribute to the aging process. The study found that strategies controlling cryptic transcription may have pro-longevity effects.
Yanhong Shi and her team are developing an autologous treatment for Canavan disease using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, which has shown promising results in preclinical studies. The goal is to correct the genetic mutation that causes the disease by introducing a functional ASPA gene into brain cells.
Researchers at TUM used organoids to investigate mechanical influences on organ growth, finding that collective cell movements deform collagen matrix, controlling further growth. This discovery provides a new model for simulating and investigating organ development.
Researchers discovered that colorectal cancer cells exploit an innate immune system activator to fuel their own growth and eliminate surrounding healthy cells. This feedback loop disrupts the balance of cell growth and differentiation, allowing tumors to expand and spread.
A multidisciplinary research team has discovered that two plant stem cell proteins, BRAVO and WOX5, physically interact to regulate each other's function in a small group of stem cells. This interaction is crucial for the plant's survival under stress factors like extreme cold, heat, or floods.
A new technology has been developed to reduce adverse effects of medical materials in the human body. The material can be loaded with therapeutic cells and deliver them to desired sites, mitigating inflammation and blood clots.
A Korean research team has developed a nanofilm-based 'cell caging' technology to prevent immune rejection and facilitate smooth insulin secretion in type 1 diabetic patients. The technology, announced by Seoul National University, uses enzymatic crosslinking to create ultra-thin nanofilms that can regulate blood glucose levels.
Researchers used base editing to convert a pathogenic hemoglobin gene to a benign variant, rescuing disease symptoms in animal models and enabling long-lasting production of healthy blood cells. The treatment successfully edited up to 80% of the mutated gene in human blood stem cells and maintained its effects in mice for 16 weeks.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University and Chinese Academy Sciences have developed peptide nanoparticles that can be visualized in living cells using hyperspectral microscopy. These nanoparticles have the ability to scatter light efficiently, allowing for non-fluorescent labeling of cells.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen conducted a study on stem cell transplantation, revealing that one drug is more effective than previously thought due to its impact on cell signaling pathways. This discovery may lead to improved drugs for both stem cell mobilization and HIV treatment.
Researchers developed an algorithm to compare cell types in different species, revealing conserved genes and cell type families across evolutionary distances. The mapping method accounts for changes over millions of years, enabling biologists to trace the trajectory of cell types in organisms along the tree of life.
GlycoRNA is a small ribbon of ribonucleic acid (RNA) with sugar molecules, appearing ubiquitously in and on cells. Its discovery suggests the existence of unknown biomolecular pathways and associations with autoimmune diseases.
Infants and children with ADA-SCID, a life-threatening inherited immunodeficiency disorder, have regained immune system function after receiving gene therapy. The treatment involves inserting a normal copy of the ADA gene into blood-forming stem cells, offering a one-time procedure with long-term benefits.
Researchers at University of Queensland develop gene therapy to block scar formation by targeting SOX9 gene, promising benefits for burn patients and others with significant scarring. The study uses siRNA technology to reduce scarring in animal models, paving the way for potential human treatment.
A new form of gene therapy has successfully treated 48 out of 50 children born with a rare and deadly inherited disorder. The treatment, developed by an international team, involves delivering a corrected copy of the ADA gene into stem cells, which are then returned to the child's body to produce healthy immune cells.
A team of researchers has created a molecular catalog of cells in healthy lungs and those affected by cystic fibrosis. The study reveals new subtypes of cells and sheds light on the cellular changes that occur in the airways, providing potential targets for future genetic therapies.
A team of researchers has developed a molecular catalog of cells in healthy lungs and those with cystic fibrosis, revealing new subtypes of cells and how the disease alters their composition. This discovery could help scientists identify prime targets for future genetic therapies.
A research team at City University of Hong Kong developed a new microneedle technology to deliver living cells in a minimally invasive manner. The cryomicroneedles showed robust immune responses against tumors in mice, providing a promising alternative to conventional vaccination methods.
Researchers have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit genetic mutations in patients with muscular dystrophy, enabling the development of a potential therapy. The treatment involves removing stem cells from a patient's muscle tissue, editing them outside the body, and then injecting them back into the muscle.
Victoria Blaho, Ph.D., assistant professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys, received the first-ever Lina M. Obeid Award for her work on sphingolipids and their role in immune function, cancer, neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers found that applying fat grafts enriched with adipose-derived stem cells improved fat retention in LoS patients. The study suggested a safe and feasible alternative to conventional treatment methods for correcting facial atrophy.