Nature Reports Stem Cells Contents: January 15 2009

January 15 2009

Top stories Stem cell therapies the old-fashioned way This feature reports on a biotech start-up that sees stem cells as targets, not transplants Stem cell cosmetics, a superficial success This feature explores how the promise of stem cells in reconstructive surgery has prompted a surge in rejuvenating skin creams that claim to stimulate them. But commercial success need not require efficacy. Weighing risks and rewards en route to the clinic Does stem cell therapy contain too many unknowns to move into human clinical trials? Research highlights and news stories about recent publications: A new pluripotency factor can stand in for two others No need for Klf4 and c-Myc when you reprogramme with Esrrb Feng, B. et al. Nature Cell Biol. advance online publication, doi:10.1038/ncb1827 (11 January 2009). Big potential in rat pluripotent stem cells Rat pluripotent stem cells could bring knock-out rats, reprogramming insights, and a larger menagerie of stem cells. Buehr, M. et al. Cell 135, 1287-1298 (2008). Li, P. et al. Cell 135, 1299-1310 (2008). Li, W. et al. Cell Stem Cell doi:10.1016/j.stem.2008.11.014 (published online 18 December 2008). Liao, J. et al. Cell Stem Cell doi:10.1016/j.stem.2008.11.013 (published online 18 December 2008). Stalling cell division keeps leukaemia stem cells going The cell cycle inhibitor p21 gives cancer cells the chance to repair DNA Viale, A. et al. Nature 457, 51-57 (2009). Robust embryonic stem cells may harbor precancerous surprises Particularly easy-to-culture ES cells resist differentiation Werbowetski-Ogilvie, T. E. et al. Nature Biotechnol. 27, 91-97 (2009). How brain activity makes new neurons Transient expression of a single gene has lasting effects on others Ma, D. K. et al. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1166859 (published online 1 January 2009). Tracking cancer to intestinal stem cells Two research teams follow cancer to its source Barker, N. et al. Nature advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nature07602 (17 December 2008). Zhu, L. et al. Nature advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nature07589 (17 December 2008). Reprogrammed skin cells provide testing ground for new drugs Induced pluripotent stem cells from spinal atrophy patients show signs of disease Ebert, A. D. et al. Nature advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nature07677 (21 December 2008). Peeking through bone to blood formation Real-time imaging reveals the previously unseen Lo Celso, C. et al. Nature 457, 92-96 (2008). Xie, Y. et al. Nature 457, 97-101 (2008). How blood forms in an embryo The protein Runx1 matters in endothelial progenitors, but just for a while Chen, M. J. et al. Nature advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nature07619 (7 January 2009). Got an opinion to share? Let us know at theniche@nature.com Nature Reports Stem Cells is an interactive forum for stem cell scientists and other stakeholders to communicate about the research, policy, ethics, business and medicine of stem cell science. And it's all free! Visit Nature Reports Stem Cells You have been sent this table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. You can change or discontinue your e-mail alerts at any time, by modifying your preferences on your nature.com account at: www.nature.com/nams/svc/myaccount (You will need to log in to be recognised as a nature.com registrant). Register Comment on the site For further technical assistance, please contact our registration department For print subscription enquiries, please contact our subscription department For other enquiries, please contact our feedback department Nature Publishing Group | 345 Park Ave South | New York | NY 10010-1707 | USA Nature Publishing Group's worldwide offices: .London - Paris - Munich - New Delhi - Tokyo - Melbourne - San Diego - San Francisco - Washington - New York - Boston