Dr. Paul Tesar, an assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University, shares his insights on pluripotent stem cells and enhancer activity. He discusses groundbreaking research, including how stem cell transplants can reverse sickle cell anemia and the role of gut bacteria in transplant success. Tesar also elaborates on the distinctions between naive and primed stem cells, crucial for understanding pluripotency. With a humorous take on life outside the lab, he highlights the balance needed for a fulfilling scientific career.
Dr. Paul Tesar explains how naive enhancers are crucial for regulating pluripotency in stem cells and their epigenetic differences.
Recent studies highlight the significant role of stem cells in treating conditions like sickle cell anemia and multiple sclerosis.
The episode stresses the necessity for open communication among researchers to foster collaboration and accelerate advancements in stem cell science.
Deep dives
Overview of the Episode
The episode introduces the topic of naive enhancers, relating to a recent paper by Dr. Paul Tizar. The hosts, Dr. Christopher Pissano and Dr. Yosef Gannett, kick off the discussion by acknowledging the intriguing title and its implications in stem cell research. They emphasize the importance of staying engaged with their audience by encouraging feedback from previous episodes and mentioning the success from the ISSCR conference. The episode sets a lively tone, focusing on current developments in stem cell science.
Recent Scientific Findings
A significant focus is placed on recent studies, including a JAMA report where a stem cell transplant reversed sickle cell anemia in adults using hematopoietic stem cells from siblings. Another intriguing study highlighted the possibility of producing healthy offspring from frozen and thawed testicular tissue in mice. Additionally, a report from Cell Reports indicates a mechanism by which the binding of amyloid beta to amyloid precursor proteins triggers neuronal hyperactivity in the hippocampus, potentially linking it to Alzheimer's disease. These findings illustrate the diverse ongoing research efforts in stem cells and associated therapies.
The Role of Enhancers in Pluripotency
The core discussion revolves around the role of enhancers in regulating pluripotency in stem cells, particularly in the context of naive and primed states. The analysis conducted by Dr. Tizar's lab reveals that despite similarities in gene expression between mouse embryonic stem cells and epiblast stem cells, the enhancers regulating these genes differ significantly. This indicates a complex epigenetic landscape that underlies the functional differences between these two states, emphasizing how enhancers can impact gene regulation beyond mere transcription levels. Understanding these differences is essential for the advancement of stem cell therapies and their applications.
Implications for Regenerative Medicine
The episode underscores the practical implications of these scientific findings for regenerative medicine. The ability to manipulate and understand the epigenomic features of stem cells could lead to innovations in treating various diseases, particularly those involving nervous system damage. Dr. Tizar discusses his lab's focus on using stem cells to generate oligodendrocytes for treating conditions like multiple sclerosis. This aligns with broader trends in the field, where the creation of specific neural cell types holds promise for potential therapeutic applications.
Encouraging Collaboration and Open Science
Towards the end of the episode, the conversation touches on the importance of open communication and collaboration in the scientific community. The speakers express frustration over the tendency for researchers to withhold unpublished data, suggesting that greater openness could accelerate scientific progress. They advocate for an environment where scientists feel comfortable sharing their work, thereby fostering innovation and collaboration. This sentiment reflects a growing recognition of the value of collective knowledge in addressing complex scientific challenges.
Guest:
This episode presents Dr. Paul Tesar from Case Western Reserve University. Dr Tesar talks about his paper in Cell Stem Cell.
Resources and Links
Bone Marrow Transplant Could Reverse Sickle Cell In Adults
Freezing Testicle Tissue in Mice Offers Fertility Hope for Cancer Survivors
Alzheimer's Linked to Brain Hyperactivity
Obesity Linked To Type 2 Diabetes by an Absent Protein
New Diabetes Drug Could Retrain GI Cells To Produce Insulin By Switching Off One Gene
Not All Stem Cells Created Equal
STAP Retracted
Supermassive Black Hole Obscures Heart of Galaxy with 'Rare and Powerful Stream of Gas'
Virus Kills Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Tumor Cells in Mice
Torsina Hypofunction Causes Abnormal Twisting Movements and Sensorimotor Circuit Neurodegeneration
Destroying Bacterial Cell Walls May End Antibiotic Resistance Forever
If Blocked Endocannabinoids Trigger Dementia Symptoms, Could Cannabis Prevent Alzheimer’s?
Minimal Toolkit for Stem Cell Self-Renewal
Dinosaurs Were Mesothermic Beasts, Neither Warm-Blooded Nor Cold-Blooded
Geron hESC Trial to Resume?
Stem Cells Form Light-Sensitive 3-D Retinal Tissue
Delivering Capsules of Stem Cells Helps Repair Injured Bones
Study Identifies Link Between Gut Bacteria Post SCT Survival
Stem Cells Slow Retinal Degeneration in Dry AMD Clinical Trial
Sustained ERK Activation Underlies Reprogramming in Regeneration-Competent Salamander Cells and Distinguishes Them from Their Mammalian Counterparts
Human ESC-Derived MSCs Outperform Bone Marrow MSCs in the Treatment of an EAE Model of Multiple Sclerosis
An iCRISPR Platform for Rapid, Multiplexable, and Inducible Genome Editing in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Epigenomic Comparison Reveals Activation of “Seed” Enhancers during Transition from Naive to Primed Pluripotency
Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Tesar
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