ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2012) The fate of an embryonic stem cell, which has the potential to become any type of body cell, is determined by a complex interaction of genes, proteins that bind DNA, and molecules that modify those genes and proteins.

In a new paper, biologists from MIT and the University of California at San Francisco have outlined how those interactions direct the development of stem cells into mature heart cells. The study, the first to follow heart-cell differentiation over time in such detail, could help scientists better understand how particular mutations can lead to congenital heart defects. It could also assist efforts to engineer artificial heart tissue.

"We're hoping that some of the information we've been able to glean from our study will help us to approach a new understanding of heart development, and also lead to the possibility of using cells that are generated in a dish to replace heart cells that are lost as a consequence of aging and disease," says Laurie Boyer, an associate professor of biology at MIT and a senior author of the paper, which appears in the Sept. 13 online edition of Cell.

Research in Boyer's lab focuses on how DNA is organized and controlled in different cell types to create the wide variety of cells that make up the human body.

Inside a cell, DNA is wrapped around proteins called histones, which help control which genes are accessible at any given time. Histones may be tagged with different chemical modifications, which influence whether a particular stretch of DNA is exposed or hidden.

"These modifications cause structural changes that can act as docking sites for other factors to bind," says Joe Wamstad, a postdoc in Boyer's lab and one of the lead authors of the Cell paper. "It may make the DNA more or less accessible to manipulation by other factors, helping to ensure that you don't express a gene at the wrong time."

In this paper, the researchers found that histone-modification patterns shift rapidly as a stem cell differentiates. Furthermore, the patterns reveal genes that are active at different stages, as well as regulatory elements that control those genes.

Tracking development

To discover those patterns, the researchers grew mouse embryonic stem cells in a lab dish and treated them with proteins and growth factors that drive heart cell development. The cells could be followed through four distinct stages, from embryonic stem cells to fully differentiated cardiomyocytes (the cells that compose heart muscle). At each stage, the researchers used high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze histone modifications and determine which genes were being expressed.

"It's basically watching differentiation over time in a dish, and being able to take snapshots of that and put it all together to try to understand how the complex process of cardiac commitment is regulated," Boyer says.

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Probing matters of the heart: Stem cell differentiation study sheds light on genetic basis of heart disease

Zutphen, The Netherlands (ots/PRNewswire) -

Cryo-Save Group promotes the awareness of cord blood storage and stem cell therapies at several professional conferences held throughout eastern and southern Europe.

It is with great pleasure that Cryo-Save supports the awareness, research and advancement of cord blood storage and therapies by taking part in and sponsoring four major conferences in Cyprus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Hungary during the months of September and October.

Stem cells are becoming ever more important in the medical field as a way to treat a broad variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases such as leukemia's and other childhood cancers. Patients suffering from sickle cell anemia have been considered cured after being treated with stem cells.[1] Over 4,000 clinical trials using cord blood stem cells are taking place to treat diseases such as cerebral palsy, diabetes and autism with many more potential clinical trials continuing to develop.

"Cryo-Save's efforts to inform the medical community about advances in regenerative medicine means that patients suffering from diseases treatable with stem cells can also become better informed," says Dr. Cherie Daly, Medical Affairs Manager Cryo-Save. "Having a series of events and programs as part of Cord Blood Awareness Months makes an even stronger impact on the meaningfulness of this research and its application." Cryo-Save Group will continue its commitment to promoting the storage of cord blood and stem cells even after Cord Blood Awareness Months by offering several customer related promotions.

A half-day conference in Limassol, Cyprus will be held September 15 giving the medical community the opportunity to talk with scientists specialized in stem cells about the latest applications and cord blood and tissue regulatory requirements. Cryo-Save's Medical Affairs Manager Dr. Cherie Daly, member of ITERA (International Tissue Engineering Research Association), member of the Advisory Panel for the Parents' Guide to Cord Blood Foundation and Dr. Sally Sennitt, Cryo-Save Lab Director, will be there to present on these topics.

The third International Conference on Regenerative Medicine: Stem Cells, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnologies will take place September 21 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Arnoud van Tulder, Cryo-Save Group CEO, will present on the "Importance of Family Stem Cell Banking: Over 10 Years of Leading Experience." Medical professionals will also present on subjects like applications of cord blood, stem cell therapies and pharmacogenomics.

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1. University of Illinois at Chicago (2012, June 18). Chicago woman cured of sickle cell disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120618194714.htm

With the idea of broadening perspectives and expanding knowledge in the areas of regenerative medicine, genetics and clinical applications, Cryo-Save Serbia will be sponsoring the fifth International Symposium on Regenerative and Personalised Medicine on October 4 in Belgrade. Leading speakers such as Prof. Dr. Daniel Surbek from the University of Bern, Switzerland and Maja Stojiljkovic Petrovic, PhD of IMGGE, University of Belgrade will present their research and other works pertaining to stem cell application in tissue engineering at the symposium.

Excerpt from:
Professional Conferences Held as Part of Cryo-Save's Cord Blood Awareness Months

Zutphen, The Netherlands (ots/PRNewswire) -

Cryo-Save Group promotes the awareness of cord blood storage and stem cell therapies at several professional conferences held throughout eastern and southern Europe.

It is with great pleasure that Cryo-Save supports the awareness, research and advancement of cord blood storage and therapies by taking part in and sponsoring four major conferences in Cyprus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Hungary during the months of September and October.

Stem cells are becoming ever more important in the medical field as a way to treat a broad variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases such as leukemia's and other childhood cancers. Patients suffering from sickle cell anemia have been considered cured after being treated with stem cells.[1] Over 4,000 clinical trials using cord blood stem cells are taking place to treat diseases such as cerebral palsy, diabetes and autism with many more potential clinical trials continuing to develop.

"Cryo-Save's efforts to inform the medical community about advances in regenerative medicine means that patients suffering from diseases treatable with stem cells can also become better informed," says Dr. Cherie Daly, Medical Affairs Manager Cryo-Save. "Having a series of events and programs as part of Cord Blood Awareness Months makes an even stronger impact on the meaningfulness of this research and its application." Cryo-Save Group will continue its commitment to promoting the storage of cord blood and stem cells even after Cord Blood Awareness Months by offering several customer related promotions.

A half-day conference in Limassol, Cyprus will be held September 15 giving the medical community the opportunity to talk with scientists specialized in stem cells about the latest applications and cord blood and tissue regulatory requirements. Cryo-Save's Medical Affairs Manager Dr. Cherie Daly, member of ITERA (International Tissue Engineering Research Association), member of the Advisory Panel for the Parents' Guide to Cord Blood Foundation and Dr. Sally Sennitt, Cryo-Save Lab Director, will be there to present on these topics.

The third International Conference on Regenerative Medicine: Stem Cells, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnologies will take place September 21 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Arnoud van Tulder, Cryo-Save Group CEO, will present on the "Importance of Family Stem Cell Banking: Over 10 Years of Leading Experience." Medical professionals will also present on subjects like applications of cord blood, stem cell therapies and pharmacogenomics.

--------------------------------------------------

1. University of Illinois at Chicago (2012, June 18). Chicago woman cured of sickle cell disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120618194714.htm

With the idea of broadening perspectives and expanding knowledge in the areas of regenerative medicine, genetics and clinical applications, Cryo-Save Serbia will be sponsoring the fifth International Symposium on Regenerative and Personalised Medicine on October 4 in Belgrade. Leading speakers such as Prof. Dr. Daniel Surbek from the University of Bern, Switzerland and Maja Stojiljkovic Petrovic, PhD of IMGGE, University of Belgrade will present their research and other works pertaining to stem cell application in tissue engineering at the symposium.

Excerpt from:
Professional Conferences Held as Part of Cryo-Save's Cord Blood Awareness Months

In this image of mouse embryonic fibroblasts undergoing reprogramming, each colored dot represents messenger RNA associated with a specific gene that is active in cells being reprogrammed. Red dots represent mRNA for the gene Sall4, green is Sox2, and blue is Fbxo15. The researchers determined that Sox2 activates Sall4 and then activates the downstream gene Fbxo15, creating a gene hierarchy in the later phase of reprogramming. Credit: Dina Faddah/Whitehead Institute

Several years ago, biologists discovered that regular body cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cellscells with the ability to become any other type of cell. Such cells hold great promise for treating many human diseases.

These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are usually created by genetically modifying cells to overexpress four genes that make them revert to an immature, embryonic state. However, the procedure works in only a small percentage of cells.

Now, new genetic markers identified by researchers at Whitehead Institute and MIT could help make that process more efficient, allowing scientists to predict which treated cells will successfully become pluripotent.

The new paper, published in the Sept. 13 online edition of Cell, also identifies new combinations of reprogramming factors that produce iPSCs, according to the researchers.

Led by Rudolf Jaenisch, a Whitehead Founding Member and an MIT professor of biology, the study is the first to examine genetic changes that occur in individual cells as they become pluripotent. Previous studies have only looked at gene-expression changes in large populations of cellsnot all of which will actually reprogrammaking it harder to pick out genes involved in the process.

"In previous studies, you weren't able to detect the few cells that expressed predictive pluripotency markers. The really cool part of this study is that you can detect two or three cells that express these important genes early, which has never been done before," says Dina Faddah, a graduate student in Jaenisch's lab and one of the paper's lead authors.

The other lead author is Yosef Buganim, a postdoc at Whitehead Institute.

Single-cell analysis

In 2007, scientists discovered that adult human cells could be reprogrammed by overexpressing four genesOct4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4. However, in a population of cells in which those genes are overexpressed, only about 0.1 to 1 percent will become pluripotent.

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Scientists bring new efficiency to stem cell reprogramming

ScienceDaily (Sep. 13, 2012) Several years ago, biologists discovered that regular body cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells -- cells with the ability to become any other type of cell. Such cells hold great promise for treating many human diseases.

These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are usually created by genetically modifying cells to overexpress four genes that make them revert to an immature, embryonic state. However, the procedure works in only a small percentage of cells.

Now, new genetic markers identified by researchers at MIT and the Whitehead Institute could help make that process more efficient, allowing scientists to predict which treated cells will successfully become pluripotent.

The new paper, published in the Sept. 13 online edition of Cell, also identifies new combinations of reprogramming factors that produce iPSCs, according to the researchers.

Led by Rudolf Jaenisch, an MIT professor of biology and member of the Whitehead Institute, the study is the first to examine genetic changes that occur in individual cells as they become pluripotent. Previous studies have only looked at gene-expression changes in large populations of cells -- not all of which will actually reprogram -- making it harder to pick out genes involved in the process.

"In previous studies, you weren't able to detect the few cells that expressed predictive pluripotency markers. The really cool part of this study is that you can detect two or three cells that express these important genes early, which has never been done before," says Dina Faddah, a graduate student in Jaenisch's lab and one of the paper's lead authors.

The other lead author is Yosef Buganim, a postdoc at the Whitehead Institute.

Single-cell analysis

In 2007, scientists discovered that adult human cells could be reprogrammed by overexpressing four genes -- Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4. However, in a population of cells in which those genes are overexpressed, only about 0.1 to 1 percent will become pluripotent.

In the new study, Jaenisch's team reprogrammed mouse embryonic fibroblast cells and then measured their expression of 48 genes known or suspected to be involved in pluripotency at several points during the process. This allowed them to compare gene-expression profiles in cells that became pluripotent, those that did not, and those that were only partially reprogrammed.

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Tracking stem cell reprogramming: Biologists reveal genes key to development of pluripotency, in single cells

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --RNL Bio (www.rnl.co.kr) announced on Sep 11, 2012 that it signed the agreement with RST Biomedikal Sanayi A.S. (RST), a Turkish company, to license RNL Bio's stem cell technology. Turkey is the 6th country where RNL Bio's stem cell technology has entered. This is one of the major accomplishments that RNL BIO has long focused on establishing the so-called 'Stem Cell Silk Road' with South Korean stem cell technology to give hope to patients with intractable diseases in the world.

RST as a licensee will pay the $5 million fee upfront within 60 days from the agreement and will continue to pay the running royalty of 15% of the revenue, which could be up to $ 200 million. RST will benefit from the geographical advantages of Turkey where Western, Arabic and Oriental cultures are crossed. It plans to establish a GMP facility and invite patients from Europe and Middle East early next year.

Ilknur Erdemin, CEO of RST said, "We expect to improve public health and the quality of life in Turkey through stem cell therapy technology imported from RNL BIO in treating various intractable diseases. We will also grow Turkey to one of the world's most renowned country in regards to medical tourism with RNL's stem cell technology in combination with Turkish World's Heritage." To begin with, RST will focus on the treatment ofdiabeticcomplications, autoimmune diseases, cerebral palsy, and degenerative arthritis with RNL's autologous adipose derived stem cell technology. Stem cell therapy has already been allowed by Turkish health authority since 2011. Turkey actively promotes the industry of regenerative medicine and makes a quick move to expand in related fields.

Dr. Jeong-Chan Ra, president of RNL Stem Cell Technology Institute said, "This licensing deal will be a good opportunity todevelopRNL's stem cell technology to be the world's standards and tofulfillmy goal to make RNL BIO a company that will have treated and helped the most patients suffering from intractable diseases." He had a seminar introducing his stem cell studies to Turkish attendees from related fields and distinguished invitees one day prior to signing licensing agreement.

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RNL BIO, a South Korean adult stem cell firm, introduces its autologous stem cell therapeutics in Turkey to treat ...

The number of hematopoietic stem cell donors in the Chinese mainland hit 3,000 on Friday, as the country saw a rapid increase in donors over the last four years, an official said.

Hong Junling, director of the China Marrow Donor Program, a nonprofit organization under the auspices of the Red Cross Society of China, said that 3,000 people have donated their blood cells to domestic and overseas patients through the program.

"It took 12 years for the CMDP to witness the growth of stem cell donors from the first case to the 1,000th case from 1996 to 2008, yet the number increased from 1,000 to 3,000 cases within the last four years," he said during a news conference on Friday.

Hematopoietic stem cells are routinely used to treat a series of blood diseases, including leukemia and anemia, according to a leaflet published by the program.

The organization, established in 1992, has become the world's fourth-largest databank of stem cells donors, ranking after the United States, Germany and Brazil, with more than 1.5 million candidate donors listed in its database, Hong said.

"The number of candidate donors who had their blood samples enlisted in the program is expected to reach 2 million in 2015," he said.

The 3,000th donor was Ma Yahui, a 34-year-old woman from Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, who had her blood extracted on Thursday at a hospital in Beijing. She received a certificate on Friday from the program with the number "3,000".

"I thought previously that donating stem cells is quite complicated, but I found out it is very simple after my blood was extracted yesterday," she said. "It's similar to donating blood."

The donated stem cells will be transplanted to a 2-year-old boy in South Korea who has leukemia, Ma said.

"I am a mother of a 4-year-old boy, and I felt deep sympathy toward the Korean baby patient," she said. "Saving the life of other people is not so difficultwhat we should do is just reach out our arms and give a little blood to the patients."

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Eastday-Stem cell donors reaches 3,000 mark