Stem Cells

Using stem cells from mice, researchers from Kyoto University tested the potential damage spaceflight can have on spermatazoa stem cells and the resulting offspring. After six months aboard the ISS, the stem cells were used to successfully produce healthy offspring.

Parents are spending thousands of pounds to bank stem cells from their children's milk teeth – but the recipient companies' claims about their future medical value are unproven and potentially misleading, reveals an investigation by The BMJ, published today.

When bones break and there is extreme tissue loss--such as after a car accident or a battlefield injury--current treatments don't often lead to effective healing.

More than one-sixth of adults around the world experience infertility in their lifetime. There is a high unmet need not only for increased access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need but, importantly, also for new biomedical solutions that can address the root causes of infertility.

Much the way the caps on the ends of a shoelace prevent it from fraying, telomeres - regions of repetitive DNA sequences and a protein structure - protect the tips of chromosomes from damage.

Recent advancements in cancer research are shedding light on a novel therapeutic strategy aimed at overcoming the formidable challenge of cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Features of spaceflight such as gravitational changes and circadian rhythm disruption—not to mention radiation—take a toll on the body, including muscle wasting and decreased bone density. These may even affect the ability to produce healthy offspring.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) released an update of its 2021 Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation today.

Chronic wounds, especially those caused by diabetes, are notoriously difficult to heal. These wounds are characterized by prolonged inflammation, impaired collagen production, and poor tissue regeneration.

A research team led by Professor Takuya Yamamoto and Assistant Professor Ryusaku Matsumoto (Department of Life Science Frontiers) has developed a machine learning model that enables early prediction of hypothalamus–pituitary organoid formation from human iPS cells to aid in organoid research and regenerative medicine.

In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, UCLA scientists have shown it's possible to reprogram a patient's blood-forming stem cells to generate a continuous supply of functional T cells, the immune system's most powerful cancer-killing agents.

A new radioimmunotherapy approach has been shown to successfully eliminate cancer stem cells (CSCs) in preclinical models of ovarian cancer, outperforming the current gold standard.

Novel allogeneic stem cells and differentiated iPSCs are providing more physiologically relevant disease models. The post Designer Stem Cells Power New R&D Assay Systems appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

One of the reasons why the immune system declines with age is that hematopoietic stem cell populations that are resident in the bone marrow and responsible for creating immune cells become progressively more damaged and dysfunctional over time. It isn't just the stem cells, however. Stem cells reside within structures of supporting cells known as niches. The niche itself becomes damaged and dysfunction, contributing to the problems exhibited by stem cell populations. One of the most direct approaches to stem cell aging is to introduce into the body a replacement population of undamaged, rejuvenated stem cells, such as those that can be generated via the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells from a patient tissue sample. Some preparation and finessing is needed for hematopoietic stem […]

Aging is an accumulation of specific forms of cell and tissue damage, coupled with the dysfunctions produced by that damage. While the damage of aging would occur regardless of the surrounding environment, many environmental exposures also produce cell and tissue damage. This additional burden of damage can result in what appears to be accelerated aging, even if the damage is somewhat dissimilar in character to that produced during aging by the body itself. Sometimes the damage is in fact similar. Photoaging of skin resulting from ultraviolet light exposure is a good example; like any radiation exposure, this causes a greater burden of some of the forms of damage and dysfunction known to occur with age, such as DNA damage and an increased burden of senescent […]

A team of researchers has recently developed a nondestructive imaging and machine learning system that accurately predicts the efficiency of stem cell differentiation into muscle stem cells. The team was led by Associate Professor Hidetoshi Sakurai (Department of Clinical Application) in collaboration with Epistra Inc. The work is published in Scientific Reports.

An innovative, antibody-based therapy enabled safe stem cell transplants in three children with Fanconi anemia, avoiding toxic chemotherapy and radiation, with positive outcomes after two years. The post Novel, Less Toxic, Stem Cell Transplant Prep Yields Successful Outcomes appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Ovarian aging, characterized by diminishing egg reserves and quality, affects millions of women worldwide, often leading to infertility.

A new federal initiative seeks to develop stem cell treatments and other technology to repair brain tissue damaged by stroke, trauma, or neurodegeneration.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that amniotic fluid stem cells can be safely collected from vaginal fluid after childbirth rather than relying on more invasive methods that can pose some risk to the mother and fetus.

Advances in blood stem cell transplants now make it possible for people with blood cancers to get safe and effective "mismatched" transplants that will potentially cure their disease, new UVA Cancer Center research reveals. The advances will allow far more people to receive the lifesaving treatment.

TUESDAY, July 15, 2025 — Minnesota native Mark Welter needed a kidney transplant, but wasn’t happy that he’d be on immune-suppressing drugs for the rest of his life.The drugs are critical to keep a patient’s body from rejecting a donated organ, but...

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg and ETH Zürich have created the first integrated map detailing the metabolic and molecular changes in human blood stem cells as they age, specialize, or turn cancerous.

In a comprehensive Genomic Press perspective (peer-reviewed review) article, an international team of neuroscientists has outlined crucial validity standards that could transform how researchers use stem cell technology to study devastating brain disorders.

The axonal connections between neurons are sheathed in myelin, which acts as an insulator to enable the propagation of electrical impulses along the axon. Like all molecular structures in the body and brain, myelin sheathing is subject to ongoing damage and must continually be maintained in order to prevent dysfunction in the nervous system. A population of cells known as oligodendrocytes undertakes this task. Conditions in which excessive loss of myelin occurs, such as the autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis, are particularly debilitating. But a lesser degree of myelin damage occurs to everyone in old age, in part due to reduced oligodendrocyte function, and this damage contributes to cognitive impairment. Thus it is interesting to keep an eye on that part of the research community focused […]

Modern dairy cows are milk-producing powerhouses—some yielding more than 50 kg a day. But all that productivity comes at a price: their mammary glands often suffer from inflammation and cellular stress, which not only reduces milk quality but also affects the cows' well-being.

A newly created cell model of the amniotic sac could reveal new insights into early pregnancy, as well as generate helpful products for medical use.

Nerve cells are not just nerve cells. Depending on how finely we distinguish, there are several hundred to several thousand different types of nerve cell in the human brain according to the latest calculations.

A new process could help to treat liver disease without needing an organ transplant, a new study reveals.

In a discovery that could reshape approaches to regenerative medicine and bone repair, researchers have found that human stem cells can be prompted to begin turning into bone cells simply by squeezing through narrow spaces.

A study led by Cambridge researchers has shed light on how neural stem cell grafts could help restore myelin in the central nervous system.

By using a genetic technique developed at UT Southwestern Medical Center that forces cells to rid themselves of mitochondria, researchers are gaining new insights into the function of these critical organelles.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common, debilitating neurodegenerative disease affecting about 10 percent of people over the age of 65 and one third of people aged 85 and above. Besides environmental factors, the genes have a strong influence on whether or not a person develops AD during their lifetime.

A new way to grow stem cells may help them release more of the signaling proteins they use to repair tissue, potentially improving future treatments.

By using a genetic technique developed at UT Southwestern Medical Center that forces cells to rid themselves of mitochondria, researchers are gaining new insights into the function of these critical organelles. Their findings, published in Cell, add to fundamental knowledge about the role of mitochondria in cells and evolution and could eventually lead to new treatments for patients with mitochondrial diseases such as Leigh syndrome and Kearns-Sayre syndrome, which can affect numerous organ systems.

Scientists have developed a technique that aligns stem cells into a single sheet, resulting in a marked increase in the secretion of signaling proteins which help repair tissue and regulate the immune system. The new approach, described in the journal Materials Today Bio, could improve stem cell-based treatments for conditions such as heart disease, liver damage, and autoimmune illnesses.

Researchers in Japan have successfully generated lung cells similar to alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts without using stem cell technology. The AT2-like cells were generated in just 7 to 10 days—a significant reduction compared to the approximately one month typically required by conventional stem cell-based differentiation methods.

A study published in Cell Stem Cell reveals that some mutations in blood stem cells might help protect against late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Blood cancer patients who may have previously struggled to find a donor for transplantation now have more options.

Rejuvenation Research, Ahead of Print.

TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 — A single infusion of a new stem cell-based treatment may have helped 10 out of 12 people with severe type 1 diabetes stop using insulin, researchers report.The treatment, called zimislecel, was made by Vertex P...

One-year data suggest allogeneic stem cell-derived islet-cell therapy could become a future option for those with type 1 diabetes in whom the benefits outweigh the risks of immunosuppression.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can be harvested from fat and bone marrow, have immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects that are beneficial for both human and veterinary medicine.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can be harvested from fat and bone marrow, have immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects that are beneficial for both human and veterinary medicine. However, MSCs have a limited proliferation capacity, with their quality varying depending on the donor's age and where they were harvested from.

Zemcelpro provides an option for people with a hematologic malignancy who need a blood stem cell transplant but have no suitable donor.

Using a newly devised, three-dimensional model to study the regeneration of nerve tissue in the nose, researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and colleagues have discovered that one type of stem cell thought to be dormant may play a more significant role in preserving the sense of smell than originally believed.

Researchers here focus on a signaling mechanism that is diminished with age, the interaction between circulating prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its receptor EP4 on muscle stem cells. Levels of both PGE2 and its receptor decline with age, and this appears to broadly impair muscle stem cell function. The proof of that point is that delivering more PGE2 to aged mice improves muscle stem cell function, leading to an improved response following muscle injury. Researchers examined the effects of circulating prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its receptor EP4 on muscle tissue. Their prior research had established that PGE2 signals during muscle injury trigger muscle stem cells to regenerate the muscles of young mice. In aged mice, the team found that EP4 expression on aged muscle stem cells […]

A team at Kobe University has created a game-changing resource for autism research: 63 mouse embryonic stem cell lines, each carrying a genetic mutation strongly associated with the disorder. By pairing classic stem cell manipulation with precise CRISPR gene editing, they ve built a standardized platform that mirrors autism-linked genetic conditions in mice. These models not only replicate autism-related traits but also expose key dysfunctions, like the brain s inability to clean up faulty proteins.

Blood vessels are essential to nearly all tissues, delivering nutrients and oxygen, regulating hemostasis, and modulating inflammation.

The population across developed countries is getting older and the associated frailty and debilitation are becoming major health problems.

Using a newly devised, three-dimensional model to study the regeneration of nerve tissue in the nose, researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and colleagues have discovered that one type of stem cell thought to be dormant may play a more significant role in preserving the sense of smell than originally believed.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Embryo Models Working Group has released updated recommendations for the oversight and regulation of stem cell-based embryo models (SCBEM), aiming to address rapid advancements and ensure responsible scientific progress.

The stem cell-based embryo model (SCBEM) takes advantage of the flexibility of pluripotent stem cells (non-reproductive cells that can give rise to many different types of cells) to resemble that of embryos. While this model has helped to advance research in diseases and develop therapies or treatments, it has also sparked international debate on what regulations should be placed on this type of experimentation.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Embryo Models Working Group has released updated recommendations for the oversight and regulation of stem cell-based embryo models (SCBEM), aiming to address rapid advancements and ensure responsible scientific progress.

The U.S. health secretary said people should have access to experimental therapies including unregulated stem cells. But some methods have resulted in blindness, tumors and other injuries.

The U.S. health secretary said people should have access to experimental therapies including unregulated stem cells. But some methods have resulted in blindness, tumors and other injuries.

Scientists at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), Milan, have found that gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 in combination with AAV6 vectors can trigger inflammatory and senescence-like responses in blood stem cells, compromising their long-term ability to regenerate the blood system.

Over 500 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes-a disease that contributes to major complications such as stroke, kidney failure, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers demonstrated that haplo-HSCT, combined with post-transplant cyclophosphamide, is a feasible and effective treatment for hematologic malignancies even in resource-limited settings.

A team of scientists from the San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget) in Milan, Italy, has identified a unique window shortly after birth in which circulating blood stem cells can be effectively targeted with gene therapy directly in the body.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) announces the launch of a new online continuing education course, Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific Research to Patient Care.

Advances in human stem cell-derived disease models have the potential to augment our predictive power for the efficacy and safety of new drugs.

You might recall a recent article implicating impaired ketogenesis of supporting Leydig cells in the age-related functional decline of the testes in mice. Today's open access preprint presents a different perspective on this functional decline, in flies as opposed to a mammalian species. Rather than aspects of cell metabolism, the authors focus on genes that regulate germline stem cell quality in the testes. These cells influence tissue function in more ways than simply producing daughter cells; their signaling is also important. Stem cell populations lose function with age in a number of broadly similar ways, even if each population is meaningfully different from one another in specific mechanisms. Stem cells can become negatively influenced by the signaling environment, as age-related damage accumulates in the supporting […]

Researchers have developed a vascularized organoid model of hormone secreting cells in the pancreas. The advance promises to improve diabetes research and cell-based therapies.

Researchers led by Maike Sander, Scientific Director of the Max Delbrück Center, have developed a vascularized organoid model of hormone secreting cells in the pancreas.

Researchers developed an organoid model of human pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic islets with integrated vasculature. The SC-islet organoids with blood vessels contained greater numbers of mature β cells and secreted more insulin than non-vascularized models. The post First Vascularized Organoid Model of Stem Cell-Derived Pancreatic Islets appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

The hematopoietic cell populations in bone marrow deteriorate with age, negatively affecting the production of immune cells and red blood cells. Given the importance of immune system dysfunction in aging, restoring the hematopoietic populations to youthful competence is thought important. A number of lines of research focus on this goal, one of which is replacement, meaning the delivery of a functional population of hematopoietic stem cells into the bone marrow with the support needed for these cells to survive and engraft. This requires the ability to reliably and cost-effectively generate hematopoietic stem cells from induced pluripotent stem cells made from a tissue sample provided by the recipient. Most of the other capabilities needed to establish this form of therapy exist, but making hematopoietic stem cells […]

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Researchers have developed a method to confidently produce blood cell precursors from stem cells in mice, by activating a set of seven key genes in the laboratory. The team takes a step forward towards the production of precursor cells able to restore the bone marrow of blood cancer patients, in a successful example of regenerative medicine.

Researchers have developed a new stem cell model of the mature human amniotic sac, which replicates development of the tissues supporting the embryo from two to four weeks after fertilization. This is the first model of amniotic sac development after two weeks.

Stem cell therapies have expanded in use over the last 30 years, and are now widespread. Substituting extracellular vesicles for the stem cells is a more recent innovation, but also now widely used in the medical tourism industry. These treatments have shown effects on aging and longevity in animal studies, but we have no idea whether this is the case in humans, and we are in no danger of finding out any time soon. Even short clinical trials are expensive, while trials large enough and long enough to assess effects on life span are prohibitively expensive. There is as yet no generally accepted and trusted measure of biological age one might apply to patients before and after a treatment. The existing aging clocks will produce […]

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a new stem cell model of the mature human amniotic sac, which replicates development of the tissues supporting the embryo from two to four weeks after fertilization.

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a new stem cell model of the mature human amniotic sac, which replicates development of the tissues supporting the embryo from two to four weeks after fertilization. This is the first model of amniotic sac development after two weeks.

Mor than 800 million people worldwide are living with diabetes, according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, with numbers steadily increasing.

Hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow generate red blood cells and immune cells. Immune cells can be roughly divided into myeloid lineages of the innate immune system and lymphoid lineages of the adaptive immune system. With advancing age, the generation of myeloid cells becomes favored over lymphoid cells, and this is one source of dysfunction in the aged immune system. Here, researchers find a signature of age-related dysfunction in hematopoietic cells that favor myeloid cell production. This could be a first step towards targeting these malfunctioning hematopoietic cells in order to restore a more balanced generation of immune cells and thus improve immune function in older individuals. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) exhibit significant age-related phenotypic and functional alterations. Although single-cell technologies have elucidated age-related […]

Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are characterized by irreversible neuron damage and limited natural repair mechanisms.

The authors of this review paper have a positive view of the future of regenerative medicine built on the ability to generate induced pluripotent stem cells from any patient cell sample. That should be tempered by a realistic expectation on timelines. At this point almost two decades have passed since the discovery of the first approach to reprogramming adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, but relatively little progress has been made on bringing therapies into even initial clinical trials. Perhaps the biggest challenge is that working with cells is very expensive and very challenging, far more so than development of small molecule drugs. Higher costs means fewer programs, slower progress. Aging-related diseases often involve the dysfunction or loss of specific cell types, leading to […]

Just a few weeks after conception, stem cells are already orchestrating the future structure of the human brain. A new Yale-led study shows that, early in development, molecular "traffic cops" known as morphogens regulate the activation of gene programs that initiate stem cells' differentiation into more specialized brain cells.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of an aging patient population and an increasing prevalence of age-associated diseases, underscoring the need for advancing research into the biological mechanisms of aging.

A novel study has unveiled a technique that enhances stem cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases by combining magnetic guidance with localized ultrasound stimulation. This approach successfully navigates magnetically loaded stem cells to specific brain regions and promotes their differentiation into neurons using a miniaturized ultrasound device.

Author(s): Christine M. Ritter, Tianxiang Ma, Natascha Leijnse, Younes Farhangi Barooji, William Hamilton, Joshua M. Brickman, Amin Doostmohammadi, and Lene B. OddershedeThe segregation of two cell types at the earliest stages of embryo development may be enabled by differences in their stiffness. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 168401] Published Fri Apr 25, 2025

Chimpanzee naive pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can now be grown in cellular cultures, reveals a recent study. They successfully created chimpanzee early embryo models, called 'blastoids,' and found that the inhibition of a specific regulatory gene is essential for chimpanzee PSC self-renewal. They also developed a feeder-free culture system, eliminating the need for mouse-derived feeder cells as support. These findings provide valuable insights into primate embryology and could advance stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

It's no secret that our waistlines often expand in middle-age, but the problem isn't strictly cosmetic. Belly fat accelerates aging and slows down metabolism, increasing our risk for developing diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases. Exactly how age transforms a six pack into a softer stomach, however, is murky. New research shows how aging shifts stem cells into overdrive to create more belly fat.

Understanding how cells differentiate during early embryonic development is crucial for advancing regenerative medicine and developmental biology. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been invaluable tools in this field, as they can transform into various cell types in the body and play key roles during early embryonic development. Unfortunately, research on this topic in humans and other primates has long been hampered by ethical constraints and technical limitations.

A small but impactful change to stem cell culture could advance both fertility treatment and regenerative medicine. “Super stem cells” remain healthier in culture and demonstrate an improved ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types. The post Sugar Swap Leads to Sweet Spot in Creating “Super Stem Cells” appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

In a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have successfully created stem cells that are better at developing into other cell types, like a younger, fitter version of themselves—by changing their diet. These stem cells are better than normal stem cells at creating specialized cells like liver, skin or nerve cells, which is a core trait of stem cells.

Scientists at the National Cancer Institute and partnering institutions have discovered that Schmidtea polychroa, a flatworm capable of regenerating lost tissue, develops this ability progressively during early life stages. Whole-body regeneration emerges during specific embryonic and juvenile stages, with head regeneration limited until the organism gains the capacity to reset its body's main axis. Stem-like cells are necessary for tissue growth yet insufficient on their own to trigger full regeneration.

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, have discovered how adult stem cells retain their regenerative power. The researchers demonstrate in a paper published in the journal Genes & Development that these cells rely on a group of helper proteins called histone chaperones—organizers or guides known to help package our two-meter-long genome when cells need to divide or switch on specific genes.

Two early-phase clinical trials demonstrate the safety and potential clinical utility of stem cell therapies to ease motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.

A stem cell–based therapy initially developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) may lead to a new treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease, according to results from a phase 1 clinical trial reported in Nature.