Signaling molecule crucial to stem cell reprogramming
Posted: November 21, 2014 at 8:45 am
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
20-Nov-2014
Contact: Scott LaFee slafee@ucsd.edu 619-543-5232 University of California - San Diego @UCSanDiego
While investigating a rare genetic disorder, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that a ubiquitous signaling molecule is crucial to cellular reprogramming, a finding with significant implications for stem cell-based regenerative medicine, wound repair therapies and potential cancer treatments.
The findings are published in the Nov. 20 online issue of Cell Reports.
Karl Willert, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and colleagues were attempting to use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to create a "disease-in-a-dish" model for focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), a rare inherited disorder caused by mutations in a gene called PORCN. Study co-authors V. Reid Sutton and Ignatia Van den Veyver at Baylor College of Medicine had published the observation that PORCN mutations underlie FDH in humans in 2007.
FDH is characterized by skin abnormalities such as streaks of very thin skin or different shades, clusters of visible veins and wartlike growths. Many individuals with FDH also suffer from hand and foot abnormalities and distinct facial features. The condition is also known as Goltz syndrome after Robert Goltz, who first described it in the 1960s. Goltz spent the last portion of his career as a professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He retired in 2004 and passed away earlier this year.
To their surprise, Willert and colleagues discovered that attempts to reprogram FDH fibroblasts or skin cells with the requisite PORCN mutation into iPSCs failed using standard methods, but succeeded when they added WNT proteins - a family of highly conserved signaling molecules that regulate cell-to-cell interactions during embryogenesis.
"WNT signaling is ubiquitous," said Willert. "Every cell expresses one or more WNT genes and every cell is able to receive WNT signals. Individual cells in a dish can grow and divide without WNT, but in an organism, WNT is critical for cell-cell communication so that cells distinguish themselves from neighbors and thus generate distinct tissues, organs and body parts."
WNT signaling is also critical in limb regeneration (in some organisms) and tissue repair.
Read more here:
Signaling molecule crucial to stem cell reprogramming
- Macular Degeneration Improved With Stem Cells [Last Updated On: April 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 1st, 2011]
- Cells That Heal Us From Cradle To Grave: A Quantum Leap in Medical Science [Last Updated On: April 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 5th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Patient Richard H. MS Treatment [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- STEM CELLS FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION Sam Smith's story.wmv [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2011]
- Visions Episode 92: Stem Cells Discovery [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2011]
- Doctors Use Stem Cells to Grow New Windpipes [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2011]
- Dr. Janet Rossant, Premier's Summit Award 2010 recipient [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2011]
- Stem Cells Used to Grow Windpipes [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- University of Melbourne announce Stem Cells Discovery [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2011]
- Sims 2 Mafia Story Part 7 - Farewell, Godfather/Stem Cell Medicine [Last Updated On: August 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 28th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research: Huntington's Disease [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Autism Stem Cell Trip [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Regenerative Medicine and Applications of Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Before/After Stem Cell for COPD: From Unable to Walk, to Dancing at My Daughter's Wedding [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Regenerative Medicine with Placenta Extracts and Stem Cell Therapies - Dr. Janethy Balakrishnan [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Stem Cells [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- The Politics and Promise of Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Clinical Advances in Adult Stem Cell Therapy - Dr. Jorge Paz Rodriguez (Miami) [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Advances - Dr. Jorge Paz in San Diego, CA March 2011 [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Geron's Embryonic Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Stem Cells and a Brief Mention of Bacon [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cells/Gene Therapy [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Sucess Stories - Laura Dominguez [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2011]
- 21st Century Stem Cell Scientists: The CIRM Creativity Awards [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2011]
- Stem Cells for Autism: Community Outreach - Victoria - San Diego, CA March 2011 [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Progress and Promise in Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Autism: Community Outreach Miami, Florida - May 2011 [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: Fulfilling the Promise - 2011 CIRM Grantee Meeting [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- The potential of amniotic fluid stem cells [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatments for Autism: Community Outreach Miami, Florida - Juliana Ubinas [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Stem Cells-Iran-08-28-2011 [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- Cells of the Immune System [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- Roman Reed: What all patient advocates at the World Stem Cell Summit should know [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Don Reed: Why we need new stem cell therapies and how you can help [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Cerebral Palsy and Stem Cell Treatments - Tim's Testimonial [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Kerri Kimler: What I'll be telling people back in Texas about the World Stem Cell Summit [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Laural Barchas: The World Stem Cell Summit brings people together to find therapies [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Judy Roberson: Patient advocates drive stem cell scientists [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Jonathan Thomas: What everyone at the World Stem Cell Summit should know about CIRM [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Medical Breakthrough: First Stem Cell Procedure [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Bioproduction - Therapeutics, Vaccines, [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- A Stem Cell Story - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Is stem cell research a growing concern .flv - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Stem_Cell_Therapy_for_ALS.wmv - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Glazer's Edge: Peyton's Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: The Hope The Hype and the Science - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- euronews science - Scientists edge nearer unlimited blood bank - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Thomas Ichim discusses the latest with Stem Cells Lee Buckler and Dr. Amit Patel Part 1 - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Cerebral Palsy [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Preserving Stem Cells: Regenerative Medicine [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- Batten Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Stephen Huhn - Video [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- Professor Dimitrios Karussis: Treating MS - Video [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- Stem Cells Retina and cornea regeneration ACT Dr lanza - Advanced Cell Technology - Video [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- Medical tourism in Croatia - Regenerative medicine-Stem cells in reconstructive surgery - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia: First Choice or Last Ditch? - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: Growing New Parts - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- The CIRM Creativity Awards: Training 21st Century Stem Cell Scientists - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- What Organ Shortage? Just Make Your Own! Stem Cells and Organ Engineering - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- The Human Embryo and Embyronic Stem Cell Biology - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- Stem Cells - Treatment for Autism - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cells - Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2011]
- StemCellTV Daily Report-November 4, 2011 - Video [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatments for Psoriatic Arthritis: A Case Study - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Scientific Rationale - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment Anti Aging - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2011]
- 4th International Symposium on Regenerative Medicine, Tissue and Genetic Engineering - Video [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Storage from Fat | offered by American CryoStem - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2011]
- Alumni Profile: Dr. John Tisdale, NIH Researcher, Stem Cell Transplants and Sickle Cell - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- Blood cells from Embryonic Stem Cells: Cornelis Murre - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Based Therapies for Blindness: David Hinton - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: Treatment for Cerebral Palsy - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- A Fascinating Nexus Linking HIV and Stem Cells: Warner Greene - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- Biotech Perspectives for Stem Cell Research: Don Francis - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- Fat-Derived Stem Cells for Tissue Repair: Michael Longaker - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- So Many Chemicals...So Little Time: Stem Cell Research and Environmental Health - Video [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2011]
- Stem Cells Could Repair Heart [11-14-2011] - Video [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2011]
- Craig Saunders Discusses Stem Cell Education at the Evolution of Fat Workshop in Dallas, TX - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2011]
- StemCellTV Daily Report-November 24, 2011 - Video [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2011]
- Dr. Matt Travato at the Evolution of Fat Workshop Discusses Liposuction Comparison Study - Video [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2011]