SOX2 protein transduction directly converts human fibroblasts into oligodendrocyte-like cells.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are ideal therapeutic cells for treatment of spinal cord injuries and diseases that affect myelin. However, it is necessary to generate a cell population with a low risk of teratoma formation and oncogenesis from a patient's somatic cells. In this study, we investigated the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to oligodendrocyte-like cells in one step with a safe non-genetic delivery method that used protein transduction.

Gene Expression Patterns of Royan Human Embryonic Stem Cells Correlate with Their Propensity and Culture Systems.

Objective: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to give rise to all types of cells in the human body when appropriately induced to differentiate. Stem cells can differentiate spontaneously into the three-germ layer derivatives by embryoid bodies (EBs) formation. However, the two-dimensional (2D) adherent culture of hESCs under defined conditions is commonly used for directed differentiation toward a specific type of mature cells.

Metabolic Signature of Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Objective: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), with the capacity to self-renew and differentiate into all other cell types, are of benefit in regenerative medicine applications. Tightly controlled gene expression networks and epigenetic factors regulate these properties. In this study, we aim to evaluate the metabolic signature of pluripotency under 2i and R2i culture conditions versus serum condition.

Prospective Isolation of ISL1 Cardiac Progenitors from Human ESCs for Myocardial Infarction Therapy.

The LIM-homeodomain transcription factor ISL1 marks multipotent cardiac progenitors that give rise to cardiac muscle, endothelium, and smooth muscle cells. ISL1 progenitors can be derived from human pluripotent stem cells, but the inability to efficiently isolate pure populations has limited their characterization. Using a genetic selection strategy, we were able to highly enrich ISL1 cells derived from human embryonic stem cells.

Proteome analysis of human embryonic stem cells organelles.

Unlabelled: As the functions of proteins are associated with their cellular localization, the comprehensive sub-cellular proteome knowledge of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is indispensable for ensuring a therapeutic effect. Here, we have utilized a sub-cellular proteomics approach to analyze the localization of proteins in the nucleus, mitochondria, crude membrane, cytoplasm, heavy and light microsomes. Out of 2002 reproducibly identified proteins, we detected 762 proteins in a single organelle whereas 160 proteins were found in all sub-cellular fractions.

Red/ox states of human protein disulfide isomerase regulate binding affinity of 17 beta-estradiol.

Human protein disulfide isomerase (hPDI) is a key redox-regulated thiol-containing protein operating as both oxidoreductase and molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum of cells. hPDI thiol-disulfide interchange reactions lead to the adoption of two distinct red/ox conformations with different substrate preferences. hPDI also displays high binding capacity for some endogenous steroid hormones including 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and thus contributes to the regulation of their intracellular concentration, storage and actions.

Advanced glycation end-products produced systemically and by macrophages: A common contributor to inflammation and degenerative diseases.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptor have been implicated in the progressions of many intractable diseases, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis, and are also critical for pathologic changes in chronic degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and alcoholic brain damage. Recently activated macrophages were found to be a source of AGEs, and the most abundant form of AGEs, AGE-albumin excreted by macrophages has been implicated in these diseases and to act through common pathways. AGEs inhibition has been shown to prevent the pathogenesis of AGEs-related diseases in human, and therapeutic advances have resulted in several agents that prevent their adverse effects.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of human testis reveals system-wide molecular and cellular pathways associated with non-obstructive azoospermia.

Unlabelled: Male infertility accounts for half of the infertility problems experienced by couples. Azoospermia, having no measurable level of sperm in seminal fluid, is one of the known conditions resulting in male infertility. In order to elucidate the complex molecular mechanisms causing male azoospermia, label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics was carried out on testicular tissue specimens from patients with obstructive azoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia, including maturation arrest (MA) and Sertoli cell only syndrome (SCOS).

Organellar proteomics of embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are undifferentiated cells with two common remarkable features known as self-renewal and differentiation. Proteomics plays an increasingly important role in understanding molecular mechanisms underlying self-renewal and pluripotency of ESCs and their applications in cell therapy and developmental biology studies. As the function of a protein is strongly associated with its localization in cell, a complete and accurate picture of the proteome of ESCs cannot be achieved without knowing the subcellular locations of proteins.

Quantitative proteomics analysis highlights the role of redox hemostasis and energy metabolism in human embryonic stem cell differentiation to neural cells.

Unlabelled: Neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is a unique opportunity for in vitro analyses of neurogenesis in humans. Extrinsic cues through neural plate formation are well described in the hESCs although intracellular mechanisms underlying neural development are largely unknown. Proteome analysis of hESC differentiation to neural cells will help to further define molecular mechanisms involved in neurogenesis in humans.