Methyl‐CpG‐binding domain protein 3 (Mbd3) is known to be crucial for the execution of differentiation programs of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The Mbd3 gene locus produces three isoforms in which Mbd3a contains a complete MBD domain, while Mbd3b and Mbd3c partially and completely lack this domain, respectively. This study demonstrates that all three isoforms exert equivalent function for preserving ESC lineage commitment potential. Moreover, a coiled‐coil domain that is common to all isoforms to be essential for preserving this potential is identified. Mechanistically, these analyses reveal its involvement in colocalization of polycomb repressive complex 2 with nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation complex to establish stable repression of a gene subset linked to development/organogenesis.
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Recent reports have been documenting the increase in clinics advertising unproven stem cell (SC) interventions which promise to treat and even cure certain diseases, despite the lack of scientific evidence for their safety and efficacy. This review presents a detailed, up‐to‐date assessment of the available, reported cases receiving such interventions. This assessment is highly significant, as it joins other efforts in shedding new light on the magnitude and pervasiveness of a critical situation which may pose a serious risk to vulnerable patient populations and, at the same time, may dilute the value of ethical and legitimate SC therapies currently being developed for patients through rigorous preclinical and clinical testing.
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The differentiation of urine-derived stem cells may represent as a simple and low-cost method to produce endothelial cells for therapeutic purposes
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