#hescs

Scientists conducted a study comparing induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and embryonic stem cells created using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). They found that the cells derived from these two methods resulted in cells with highly similar gene expression and DNA methylation patterns.

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) research has been hampered by the inability to transfer research and tools from mouse ESC studies to their human counterparts, in part because human ESCs are “primed” and slightly less plastic than the mouse cells. Now researchers in the lab of Whitehead Institute Founding Member Rudolf Jaenisch have discovered how to manipulate and maintain human ESCs into a “naïve” or base pluripotent state similar to that of mouse ESCs without the use of any reprogramming factors.

Scientists have shown that by encapsulating immature pancreatic cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC), and implanting them under the skin in animal models of diabetes, sufficient insulin is produced to maintain glucose levels without unwanted potential trade-offs of the technology.

Researchers at the University of Washington have successfully created a line of human embryonic stem cells that have the ability to develop into a far broader range of tissues than most existing cell lines.

A new method allows for large-scale generation of human embryonic stem cells of high clinical quality. It also allows for production of such cells without destroying any human embryos.

While the ability of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to become any type of mature cell is indisputably crucial to human development, no less important is the mechanism needed to maintain hESCs in their pluripotent state until such change is required.

Scientists have discovered a molecular network in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that integrates cell communication signals to keep the cell in its stem cell state. 

Having no current treatments available, the leading cause of vision loss may be able to be treated using human embryonic stem cells. Just today, it was announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved clinical trials of an application to treat Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) using retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. Dry AMD afflicts between 10-15 million Americans. Read More..