Regulation Of Human Development Research Articles

Application of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Models for Investigating microRNA Regulation in Developmental Processes.

Advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) techniques have opened up new perspectives in research on developmental biology. Compared with other sources of human cellular models, iPSCs present a great advantage in hosting the unique genotype background of donors without ethical concerns. A wide spectrum of cellular and organoid models can be generated from iPSCs under appropriate in vitro conditions. The pluripotency of iPSCs is orchestrated by external signalling and regulated at the epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Recent decades have witnessed the progress of studying tissue-specific expressions and functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) using iPSC-derived models. MiRNAs are a class of short non-coding RNAs with regulatory functions in various biological processes during development, including cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis. MiRNAs are key modulators of gene expression and promising candidates for biomarker in development; hence, research on the regulation of human development by miRNAs is expanding. In this review, we summarize the current progress in the application of iPSC-derived models to studies of the regulatory roles of miRNAs in developmental processes.

The soothing-affiliation system and body appreciation: recollected and present affect

ABSTRACTAttachment and affiliation-related affect has been stated to be a powerful regulator of human development, maturation, well-being and health. Accordingly, as research on positive body image has evolved, data on the association between non-judgmental interpersonal relationships and body appreciation has emerged. The present study sought to explore a model linking memories of early affiliative relationships with body appreciation via higher current social safeness and the experience of positive affect in a sample of Portuguese women aged between 18 and 50 years (N = 286). Online data collection occurred throughout 2017. The multivariate analyses of the hypothesized model revealed good fit to the data, and results showed that early memories of warmth and safeness were associated with body appreciation via higher current social safeness and higher safeness/contentment affect. Safeness/contentment affect was the positive affect revealed as being more strongly related to body appreciation. These results provide strong support for the importance of early and current emotional bonds for women’s body appreciation and suggest that therapists should consider the cultivation of affiliation skills when promoting positive body image.