Stem-cell differentiation articles from across Nature Portfolio

Extracellular matrix remodelling and densification are hallmarks of fibrosis that have been challenging to study ex vivo. Visible light-induced dityrosine crosslinking of native matrix proteins in viable lung tissues has now been shown to recapitulate local stiffening that characterizes early lung injury. This stiffening led to aberrant alveolar epithelial cell differentiation, mechanosensing and nascent protein deposition.

A single umbilical cord blood unit of CD34⁺ HSPCs produces a high number of CD19 CAR-iNK cells using a modified cell culture method.

Analyzing Feret diameter is a straightforward way to assess the quality of unguided brain organoids. Low-quality brain organoids show a high Feret diameter, accompanied by a higher proportion of unintended mesenchymal cells.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a significant clinical challenge where less invasive treatment strategies that also address the pathophysiology of SUI are desirable. Here, Fang et al. engineer an injectable, thermo-responsive composite hydrogel incorporated with programmed stem cells that provides structural support to the atrophic urethral sphincter and promotes urethral sphincter regeneration, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis as a treatment strategy for SUI.

Human germ cells are specified during early development and eventually differentiate into sperm and oocytes. Recent studies have revealed key signalling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms of their development, enabling in vitro reconstitution and potential treatments for germ cell-related diseases.

Neural tissue is a key signalling centre for fundic–antral patterning in development of gastric organoids featuring asymmetric PDX1 patterning.

Dehingia, Milewska-Puchała and colleagues find a pervasive lncRNA-mediated increase in interactions between CTCF and RNA-binding proteins during embryonic stem cell differentiation. These interactions reinforce chromatin architecture in neural cells.

Extracellular matrix remodelling and densification are hallmarks of fibrosis that have been challenging to study ex vivo. Visible light-induced dityrosine crosslinking of native matrix proteins in viable lung tissues has now been shown to recapitulate local stiffening that characterizes early lung injury. This stiffening led to aberrant alveolar epithelial cell differentiation, mechanosensing and nascent protein deposition.

To better understand trophoblast development, scientists have long sought stem cells that model the trophectoderm at the early blastocyst stage. Gao, Li et al. now derive trophectoderm stem cells from morula-stage embryos, representing an earlier pre-implantation stage than previously reported trophoblast stem cells.

During early brain development, proper cell fate acquisition requires time-sensitive control of gene expression. New work shows that AIRIM variants disrupt cell fate by altering ribosome abundance and the translation of specific mRNAs. The findings pinpoint regulated ribogenesis as a key factor in early human brain development.

A machine learning model was trained to quantify how closely neurons differentiated in a dish from stem cells resemble those found in the brain.

We provide scalable new tools, which include mosaic models and downstream multiplexing, for longitudinal single-cell profiling of brain organoids derived from multiple individuals. In addition, we benchmark computational methods for cell identity deconvolution and provide guidelines on how to use each multiplexing method for charting neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Biomaterials are revolutionizing organoid development by offering tunable platforms that provide instructive cues, which enhance cell fate transitions, tissue-level functions and reproducibility. These advances are crucial for harnessing the translational potential of organoids.