Researchers at UC, Berkeley identified a signaling molecule that interferes with the ability of older skeletal muscle to regenerate. After injury, adult skeletal muscle regenerates by activating muscle stem cells that fuse with the existing muscle cells to repair the damage. This ability to regenerate diminishes with age, not because of a decline in the … Continue reading Aging Muscles Inhibit Stem Cells, Prevent Repair
Mutation Revealed to Convert Blood Stem Cells to Cancer Stem Cells
Researchers at UC, Los Angeles discovered a series of mutations that can convert normal blood stem cells into cancer stem cells. It is believed that many types of cancer result from cancer stem cells created by such mutations. In this case the first mutation converted normal stem cells and then caused over expression of an … Continue reading Mutation Revealed to Convert Blood Stem Cells to Cancer Stem Cells
Pattern of Small Genetic Factors Found to Characterize Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute discovered that human embryonic stem cells have a very specific signature when it comes to the regulators of their genes. MicroRNAs are very small, naturally occurring bits of genetic material. They don't code for specific proteins like genes do, but they regulate the activity of genes and turn on … Continue reading Pattern of Small Genetic Factors Found to Characterize Embryonic Stem Cells
First clinical Trial Begins for a Therapy Enabled By CIRM Funding
Researchers at UC, San Diego verified a suspect gene mutation in blood-forming stem cells was by itself necessary and sufficient to cause a class of severe blood diseases called myeloproliferative disorders. They then worked with a team of researchers from other academic institutions and from the San Diego pharmaceutical company TargeGen to conduct animal tests … Continue reading First clinical Trial Begins for a Therapy Enabled By CIRM Funding
Validation of Technique Inducing Skin Cells to become Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers at UC, Los Angeles succeeded in inducing skin cells to become pluripotent cells with genetic featured very much like embryonic stem cells. They verified work published during the completion of their project, which showed that the introduction of four specific genetic factors is sufficient to induce differentiated adult cells into reverting to an embryonic … Continue reading Validation of Technique Inducing Skin Cells to become Pluripotent Stem Cells
Mutation Causing Cardiomyopathy Validated in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers at UC, Irvine used mouse embryonic stem cells to demonstrate that a specific mutation can cause cardiomyopathy, with a thickened heart wall, in the mouse. The team looked at the small DNA molecule located outside of the nucleus, so-called mitochondrial DNA, which we all inherit exclusively from our mothers. They also discovered that severe … Continue reading Mutation Causing Cardiomyopathy Validated in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Genes Identified as Unique to Specialized Colon Cells
Researchers at University of California, San Francisco found nearly a thousand genes that are expressed differently in different parts of the colon. The colon is constantly renewed via its own stem cells and understanding how these genes are expressed differently as the cells specialize will help understand what happens when this goes wrong as in … Continue reading Genes Identified as Unique to Specialized Colon Cells
Proteins Found that Guide Neuron Migration in Brain
Researchers at UC, San Francisco discovered that membrane proteins that form cell to cell connections also have an important role in controlling how neurons migrate in the brain. Understanding neuronal migration is a critical aspect of cell therapy in the nervous system, as replacement cells will need to be directed to their appropriate site of … Continue reading Proteins Found that Guide Neuron Migration in Brain
Genes Found that Characterize Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers at UC, San Francisco identified a group of genes that are active in embryonic stem cells but not in more differentiated cells. They also developed a technique to find DNA regions that could be important for activating these genes, and identified a factor that directs the production of proteins from genes that contain these … Continue reading Genes Found that Characterize Embryonic Stem Cells
Key Protein Involved in Forming Nuclear Membrane after Division Found
Researchers at UC, San Diego found the function of a key protein involved in the cell cycle, the process by which a cell duplicates all its genes and divides. The protein is critical to the assembly of the membrane around the cell's nucleus. A fundamental understanding of the cell cycle is integral to advancing all … Continue reading Key Protein Involved in Forming Nuclear Membrane after Division Found
The Stem Cellar 