Enhancing gene expression for cell culturing

[joachim]

just came across the following article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0430124003.htm

the new discovery shows that both Wnt and Activin have to be present to enhance gene expression when stem cells are differentiated into other specific cells. although it's not directly hair-related, i had to some thoughts on that:

first, it could be another key to more effectively turn iPS cells into DP cells, like it was done some months ago by the sanford-burham researchers. as they stated the iPS route is not yet as efficient as using embryonic stem cells, it still creates fully functional DP cells in some lower quantities. could be that Wnt and Activin boost efficienty there.

second, we know that jahoda, lauster and others could not achieve full gene expression when they tried to multiply the DP cells in a dish. maybe they were missing Wnt and Activin in the right doses.

if anyone has a direct contact to jahoda, lauster, or other researchers, please try to ask them about that discovery. would be interesting to find out if it really could enhance gene expression in those two scenarios. if i recall correctly, the remaining puzzle piece of the whole DP culturing problem is still the incomplete gene expression.

other thoughts on that?