Human skeletal development depends not only on the differentiation of cartilage-forming cells, but also on their organization within the developing growth plate. The extracellular matrix plays an important role in this process by providing structural support while also influencing cell adhesion and responsiveness to developmental signals. Laminin α5, encoded by LAMA5, is expressed in developing cartilage and surrounding tissues, and pathogenic variants in LAMA5 have been associated with skeletal abnormalities and short stature. However, how laminin α5 contributes to human cartilage development at the cellular and m […]

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have become indispensable tools for studying development, modeling disease, and evaluating new therapeutics. Many of these applications rely on stable expression of transgenes, such as fluorescent reporters and components used for genetic engineering. However, transgenes are frequently silenced as pluripotent stem cells differentiate into mature cell types, limiting long-term genetic studies and reducing the reliability of stem cell-based experimental models. Existing approaches can maintain transgene expression in undifferentiated stem cells but often fail to preserve expression as differentiation progresses.

Three-dimensional (3D) stem cell culture systems play an essential role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by recreating the cellular interactions and tissue architecture found in vivo. However, many existing culture systems rely on Matrigel, a mouse sarcoma-derived extracellular matrix that is poorly defined, exhibits batch-to-batch variability, and presents significant barriers to clinical translation. Although synthetic biomaterials have emerged as potential alternatives, many lack the biological signals required to effectively support human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) culture and differentiation. De […]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately respiratory failure. While induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons have emerged as promising human disease models, reproducing the biology of sporadic ALS, which accounts for approximately 90% of cases, has remained a major challenge. Existing models often fail to consistently capture disease-associated phenotypes or provide the reproducibility required for large-scale therapeutic screening.

The hypothalamus is the central control center for appetite and energy balance, integrating hormonal signals that regulate food intake and metabolism. Although human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived models provide valuable tools for studying these processes, reproducing the cellular complexity and regional organization of the human hypothalamus in vitro remains a significant challenge. More physiologically relevant human models are therefore needed to better understand hypothalamic development and the cellular mechanisms underlying metabolic disease.

Human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) are widely used as in vitro models for studying kidney biology and supporting the development of new therapeutics. However, conventional porous culture membranes, such as polycarbonate Transwells, do not accurately reproduce the structural and biochemical properties of the native basement membrane. As a result, renal epithelial cells often fail to fully differentiate and function, limiting the physiological relevance of these in vitro models.

During the development of the nervous system, growing axons rely on specialized structures known as growth cones to navigate toward their correct targets and establish functional neural circuits. Growth cones continuously respond to extracellular guidance cues that direct their movement, including both soluble growth factors and components of the extracellular matrix. One mechanism underlying this process is local translation, where messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are rapidly translated into proteins directly within the growth cone, enabling precise and localized responses to environmental signals. While neurotrophic factors […]

The spinal cord is composed of both gray and white matter, with white matter containing axonal tracts responsible for transmitting sensory and motor signals throughout the body. Proper white matter development is essential for establishing functioning neural circuits, yet the extracellular matrix mechanisms regulating this process remain incompletely understood. Astrocytes play a fundamental role in supporting neurons and coordinating white matter development, yet the molecular signals directing their maturation remain poorly understood.

Macrophages are essential immune cells that play central roles in maintaining tissue health and coordinating inflammatory responses. Because of these diverse functions, they become valuable models for studying human disease and evaluating new therapeutic approaches. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived macrophages provide a renewable and more consistent alternative to primary cells, making them well suited for large-scale research applications. Despite these advantages, many differentiation protocols still rely on animal-derived culture components, introducing variability that can limit standardization and reproducibility.

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived pancreatic islets show significant promise for cell replacement therapies in type 1 diabetes, but the current differentiation protocols often produce heterogeneous cultures containing immature endocrine cells and unwanted non-endocrine populations. Achieving reproducible differentiation across multiple stem cell lines while maintaining endocrine purity remains a key challenge in the development of clinically relevant stem cell therapies.