Expression and differentiation between OCT4A and its Pseudogenes in human ESCs and differentiated adult somatic cells.

The POU5F1 gene codes for the OCT4 transcription factor, which is one of the key regulators of pluripotency. Its transcription, alternative splicing, and alternative translation leading to the synthesis of the active, nuclear localized OCT4A has been described in detail. Much less, however, is known about actively transcribed OCT4 pseudogenes, several of which display high homology to OCT4A and can be expressed and translated into proteins.

Restoration of skeletal muscle defects with adult human cells delivered on fibrin microthreads.

Large-scale musculoskeletal wounds, such as those seen in trauma injuries, present poor functional healing prognoses. In severe trauma, when the native tissue architecture is destroyed or lost, the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle is diminished by scar formation. Here we demonstrate that a scaffold system composed of fibrin microthreads can provide an efficient delivery system for cell-based therapies and improve regeneration of a large defect in the tibialis anterior of the mouse.

Induction of stem cell gene expression in adult human fibroblasts without transgenes.

Reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has potential for derivation of patient-specific cells for therapy as well as for development of models with which to study disease progression. Derivation of iPS cells from human somatic cells has been achieved by viral transduction of human fibroblasts with early developmental genes. Because forced expression of these genes by viral transduction results in transgene integration with unknown and unpredictable potential mutagenic effects, identification of cell culture conditions that can induce endogenous expression of these genes is desirable.

Nonhuman primate parthenogenetic stem cells.

Parthenogenesis is the biological phenomenon by which embryonic development is initiated without male contribution. Whereas parthenogenesis is a common mode of reproduction in lower organisms, the mammalian parthenote fails to produce a successful pregnancy. We herein describe in vitro parthenogenetic development of monkey (Macaca fascicularis) eggs to the blastocyst stage, and their use to create a pluripotent line of stem cells.