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September 18 2008

Top stories

Smash the (cell) state! <http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hC0Eb>
A new quest for shortcuts between specialized states could lay bare the machinery governing cell fate

What stem cell therapy can learn from gene therapy
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hD0Ec>
Christopher Scott writes about the lessons that stem cell therapy can learn from the trials and tribulations of gene therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells in health and disease
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hE0Ed>
In this review, Antonio Uccelli and colleagues describe how mesenchymal stem cells are being studied in the clinic and explore the effect the cells have on the immune system
Related story: Questioning the self cell
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hF0Ee>

First evaluation of the European hESCreg
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hO0En>
The European human embryonic stem cell registry aims to provide an overview on international developments in the field of human embryonic stem cell research

Three big, long grants for human embryonic stem cell research
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hH0Eg>
Universities in California, Georgia and Wisconsin to get $9 million each over 5 years from The US National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Articles keying off recent publications:

The great stem cell sort <http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hI0Eh>
Pluripotent cells from diverse origins tap into a vast, common network
Müller, F-J. et al. Nature advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nature07213 (24 August 2008).

An intrinsic program of brain development
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hJ0Ei>
Embryonic stem cells don't need cortical signals to differentiate into neurons of the cerebral cortex
Gaspard, N. et al. Nature advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nature07287 (17 August 2008).

Shining a new light on stem cells
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hK0Ej>
Bioluminescence tracks cell fate in live mice
Swijnenburg, R-J. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA doi:10.1073/pnas.0805802105 (published online 18 August 2008).

A niche with no cells <http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hL0Ek>
Reprogrammed cells may offer insight into neurodegenerative disease
O'Reilly, A., Lee, H-H., Simon, M. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200710141 (published online 25 August 2008).

Molecular directors in the timing of neural development
<http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hP0Eo>
Transcription factors serve as switches in the sequential production of different types of brain cells
Naka, H., Nakamura, S., Shimazaki, T. & Okano, H. Nature Neurosci. advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nn.2168 (24 August 2008).

Two of a kind <http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/hna20aNjgP0JEp0B5hQ0Ep>
Cancer stem cells use an embryonic stem cell-like transcriptional program to induce and maintain tumours
Wong, D. J. et al. Cell Stem Cell 2, 333-344 (2008).
Ben-Porath, I. et al. Nature Genet. 40, 499-507 (2008).

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