Tissue-specific differentiation of ESCs

Bernstein and Hyun review strategies used to direct tissue-specific differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and methods for the identification and selection of tissue-specific precursors for scientific study and clinical use.

Differences in stem cell secretomes

The secretome of human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUPVCs) and adipose tissue-derived stem cells differ, with HUPVC conditioned media able to promote neuronal survival and differentiation without exogenous supplement.

From the heart: epicardial stem cells

Nenad Bursac comments on recent research describing a distinct population of epicardium-derived mesenchymal stem cells residing in a perivascular niche of the heart with a broad multilineage potential, and considers future applications.

Nanoparticles and stem cells in orthopaedics

Alicia El Haj and colleagues review recent research on the applications of iron-oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles to improve how stem cells are controlled, monitored and targeted to sites of repair.

Down syndrome-specific iPSCs

The derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from two patients with different karyotypes of Down syndrome offers opportunities for disease modeling, drug discovery and potential future cell replacement therapies.

Progress on Parkinson's

Sanbing Shen and colleagues provide an overview of recent progress towards a combined approach of drugs, cell replacement, and gene therapy to halt disease progression and improve treatment of Parkinson's disease.

GMP fibroblast line for hESC derivation

The human fibroblast line Ncl1Fed1A, produced in compliance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards, has been qualified for derivation and maintenance of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

Sleeping beauties?

Sottocornola and Lo Celso review recent findings on dormant hematopoietic stem cells, examining whether the mechanism of dormancy is common amongst regenerating tissues, and discuss implications for cancer therapy.

iPS cells, identity and fate

Hide Akutsu and colleagues review recent research on variation in induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, their ability to differentiate and the identity of the differentiated cells.