Add BrightSurf on Google Email

New insight into how Autism might develop in human brain

A team of scientists from McGill University discovered a key role for the GRIN2B gene in early neural stem cell development and autism. They used genetic engineering to reprogram skin cells into brain cells with the patient's mutation, showing how improper protein production leads to impaired brain development.

SourceMcGill University·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateJun 26, 2018

Why we make blood cells in our bones

Researchers at Harvard University have discovered that the 'blood stem cell niche' evolved to protect blood stem cells from ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight. This finding has significant implications for improving the safety of blood stem cell transplants, a procedure used to treat patients with blood diseases and cancers.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateJun 13, 2018

How stem cells move

Researchers from Newcastle University discovered that human embryonic stem cells travel back and forth in a line, revealing subtle patterns to their movement. This finding has important implications for the development of computer models to predict and control stem cell evolution.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalPhysical Biology·DateJun 12, 2018

Scientists use RFID chips to track biological samples

Scientists have developed a method to track biological samples using RFID chips, which can withstand extreme conditions and identify organoids grown from stem cells. This technology has the potential to advance drug testing and transplantation by providing real-time data on organoid health.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·DateMay 31, 2018

A key switch in biological clocks

Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School have identified CK1 as the priming kinase that 'switches on' the biological clock's phosphorylation process, shedding light on circadian rhythm regulation. This discovery may lead to treatments for circadian clock disorders and improve sleep-wake cycles.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 27, 2018

Flow of cerebrospinal fluid regulates neural stem cell division

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München discovered that cerebrospinal fluid flow stimulates neural stem cell division through ENaC channel protein. The study highlights a new mechanism controlling neural stem cell proliferation and has implications for brain function and treatment.

UMD researcher discovers mechanisms and epigenetic markers with implications for diseases ranging from cancers to infertility

A UMD researcher has discovered mechanisms dictating germline stem cell development and epigenetic markers associated with diseases such as cancers, viral infections, and male infertility. These findings provide insight into treatments for these conditions and unlock future animal and human health research.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateApr 30, 2018

Mammary stem cells challenge costly bovine disease

Mammary stem cells from dairy cows may help heal damaged tissue and combat bacterial infections, potentially reducing antibiotic use and improving milk quality. The secreted factors of these cells have been shown to promote tissue regeneration, form new blood vessels, and protect epithelial cells from damage.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 24, 2018

Protein can slow intestinal tumor growth

Researchers at Stockholm University discovered a new mechanism regulating stem cells in the fruit fly's intestine and found that a specific protein can slow tumour growth. The study sheds light on how intestinal diseases occur and may contribute to the development of new medicine to prevent and cure them.

SourceStockholm University·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

Lung stem cells repair airways after injury

Researchers at the University of Iowa have discovered glandular myoepithelial cells that can regenerate airways after severe injury. These reserve stem cells can develop into new replacement cells in both submucosal glands and the lining of the airway, offering a potential therapeutic target for lung diseases.

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateApr 12, 2018

'Sleeping' stem cells could aid brain repair

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered a new type of 'sleeping' stem cell in the brain that has a high potential for repair following brain injury or disease. The G2 quiescent stem cell can awaken and produce key brain cells, such as neurons and glia, faster than previously identified quiescent stem cells.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScience·DateApr 5, 2018

It's all about the (stem cell) neighborhood

Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School have identified key regulators of the intestinal stem cell niche, including hormones R-spondins and Wnts. The team's study shows that subepithelial myofibroblasts are essential sources of these hormones, highlighting the close interaction between epithelial stem cells and their niche.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 5, 2018

Lab-grown human cerebellar cells yield clues to autism

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital used stem cell technology to create Purkinje cells from patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, a genetic syndrome often linked to autism. The lab-grown cells showed structural abnormalities and impaired development of synapses, which may help explain how autism develops at the molecular level.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateFeb 16, 2018

Research uncovers gene network that regulates motor neuron formation during embryonic development

Researchers at UCLA have uncovered a gene network that promotes the formation of spinal motor neurons in chicken and mouse embryos. The study sheds light on how embryonic development is orchestrated for motor neuron formation, with implications for stem cell-based therapies to repair or study neurodegenerative diseases.

New mouse model makes stem cells light up green

Researchers have developed a method to selectively mark multipotent stromal cells in mice using the CD73 gene, allowing for the analysis of their distribution pattern and function in living organisms. This breakthrough enables the study of these stem cells in their original state, providing insights into their role in regenerative medi...

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateFeb 1, 2018