Cell Therapy News Volume 15.08 | Mar 3 2014

Central Memory CD8⁺ T Lymphocytes Mediate Lung Allograft Acceptance
Using a murine model, researchers found that costimulatory blockade-mediated lung allograft acceptance depended on the rapid infiltration of the graft by central memory CD8⁺ T cells (CD44^hiCD62L^hiCCR7⁺). [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Press Release

Magnetic Field-Induced T Cell Receptor Clustering by Nanoparticles Enhances T Cell Activation and Stimulates Antitumor Activity
To enhance T cell activation, a magnetic field was used to drive aggregation of paramagnetic nano-aAPC, resulting in a doubling of T cell receptor cluster size and increased T cell expansion in vitro and after adoptive transfer in vivo. [ACS Nano] Abstract | Press Release

Local Immunostimulation Leading to Rejection of Accepted Male Skin Grafts by Female Mice as a Model for Cancer Immunotherapy
Scientists showed that local immunostimulation performed by injecting cytokines and Toll-like receptor ligands in close vicinity to the graft causes rejection. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Human Skeletal Muscle Derived CD133+ Form Functional Satellite Cells after Intramuscular Transplantation in Immunodeficient Host Mice
Scientists showed that some CD133+ cells within human muscle are located underneath the basal lamina of muscle fibers, in the position of the muscle satellite cell. [Mol Ther] Abstract

A Comparison of Electrospun Polymers Reveals Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Fiber as a Superior Scaffold for Cardiac Repair
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(e-caprolactone), silk, poly-lactic acid, and polyamide scaffolds were generated by electrospinning, and cell compatibility in vitro, and immune response and cardiac function in vitro and in vivo was compared with a non-crosslinked collagen membrane control material. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract

Cell Therapy Using Retinal Progenitor Cells Shows Therapeutic Effect in a Chemically-Induced Rotenone Mouse Model of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
Given the course of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), it is likely that in many cases prompt administration of treatment may be necessary before widespread cell death. An alternative approach for therapy may be the use of stem cells to protect visual function; this has been evaluated by scientists in a rotenone-induced model of LHON. [Eur J Hum Genet] Abstract

Vaccination with Tumor Cells Expressing IL-15 and IL-15Rα Inhibits Murine Breast and Prostate Cancer
Inhibition of tumor growth led to improved survival when compared with animals receiving cells expressing interleukin (IL)-15 alone or unmodified tumor cells. Animals vaccinated with tumor cells coexpressing IL-15 and IL-15Rα showed greater tumor infiltration with CD8⁺ T and natural killer cells, as well as increased antitumor CD8⁺ T-cell responses. [Gene Ther] Abstract | Press Release

In Vivo Gene Activity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells after Scaffold-Mediated Local Transplantation
Researchers investigated the in vivo gene expression activity of human mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into calvarial defects either directly post-seeding on collagen sponges or after overnight in vitro culturing post-seeding. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Rat Cavernous Nerve Reconstruction with CD133⁺ Cells Derived from Human Bone Marrow
Investigators assessed the effect of endothelial progenitor cells on the regeneration of cavernous nerves in a rat injury model. [J Sex Med] Abstract

Accelerating Immune Reconstitution after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Many groups have investigated adoptive T-cell transfer as a means of hastening immune reconstitution and preventing and treating viral infections. This review discusses the immunotherapeutic strategies that have been explored. [Clin Transl Immunol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cell, gene and immunotherapy research field.

RepliCel to Present RCH-01 Phase I Clinical Data
RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. will be presenting Phase I clinical data for RCH-01. RepliCel Hair-01 (RCH-01) is a cellular treatment for androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness). [Press release from RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 13th Congress of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine, Kyoto] Press Release

Slow Recovery for Embattled Spanish Research Agency
Spain’s largest public research organization released its action plan for 2014 to 2017. As outlined by Spanish National Research Council President Emilio Lora-Tamayo in the prologue, over the next 4 years the council aims to concentrate its efforts on “try[ing] to solve or at least palliate” two major threats to its 125 institutes: an aging and shrinking workforce and limited management flexibility. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Linguist Takes Over as Italy’s Science Minister
A linguist and former university administrator has been appointed to Italy’s top science policy position. Italy’s new prime minister, Matteo Renzi, announced that Stefania Giannini will be his minister of education, universities, and research. Giannini will have the unthankful job of preserving what’s left of Italy’s scientific legacy at a time of shrinking budgets. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

UK Moves to Legalize Controversial IVF Technique
The United Kingdom inched closer to legalizing a controversial method of reproduction, known as mitochondrial replacement, or ‘three-parent IVF’. The Department of Health announced a public consultation of draft legislation that would allow the procedures, which are intended to prevent children from inheriting diseases caused by faulty mitochondria. [Nature News] Editorial

Publishers Withdraw More than 120 Gibberish Papers
The publishers Springer and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers are removing more than 120 papers from their subscription services after a French researcher discovered that the works were computer-generated nonsense. [Nature News] Editorial

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UConn Stem Cell Lines Go Global
The University of Connecticut (UConn) signed an agreement with a global supplier of biological research tools to market stem cells to investigators studying genetic disorders around the world. The partnership with KeraFAST will ease the way for other institutions to obtain the cell lines, resulting in more widespread use in the research community. [University of Connecticut] Press Release

Alnylam Announces Closing of Previously Announced Alliance with Genzyme for Discovery, Development, and Commercialization of RNAi Therapeutics as Genetic Medicines
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the previously announced alliance with Genzyme, a Sanofi company has closed, following the expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period. [Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

BrainStorm Receives Additional $600,000 Non-Dilutive Grant from Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that it was awarded an additional non-dilutive grant from Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist for the year 2014 in the amount of $600,000. The grant is intended to support BrainStorm’s clinical development for its stem cell therapy candidate NurOwn™. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

CEL-SCI Reports 146 Patients Enrolled in Its Phase III Immunotherapy Head and Neck Cancer Trial
CEL-SCI Corporation reported accelerating progress in patient enrollment in the Phase III Head and Neck Cancer clinical trial of its investigational cancer immunotherapy treatment Multikine* (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection). Approximately 146 patients have been enrolled in the Phase III study to date. [CEL-SCI Corporation]
Press Release

Fate Therapeutics Announces Observed Effects of Pharmacologic Modulation on T Cell Compartment from Its Phase Ib Study of PROHEMA(R)
Fate Therapeutics, Inc. announced the release of new data on the observed effects of ex vivo pharmacologic modulation on CD8+ T cells and immune reconstitution from its previously-completed Phase Ib clinical trial of PROHEMA® (16, 16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2, or dmPGE2, modulated cord blood) in adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancy (the ProHema-01 trial). [Fate Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Status for ICT-107 in Glioblastoma in the European Union
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. announced that the European Medicines Agency has granted orphan drug designation for ICT-107 for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma. ICT-107 is an intradermally administered autologous vaccine consisting of the patient’s dendritic cells pulsed with six synthetic tumor-associated antigens: AIM-2, MAGE-1, TRP-2, gp100, HER-2, IL-13Rα2. [ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.] Press Release

Cardio3 BioSciences Strengthens IP Portfolio with New US Patent
Cardio3 BioSciences announced that it has strengthened its IP portfolio following the United States Patent and Trademark Office issuing of a Notice of Allowance for patent application number US 12/994,626. The patent application covers compositions and methods for obtaining cells to treat heart tissue and specific parts of the Cardiopoiesis process by which Cardio3 BioSciences re-programs stem cells into cardiac progenitor cells during manufacturing. [Cardio3 BioSciences] Press Release

Mediware Launches Transtem™ Patient 2014 Software for BMT
Mediware Information Systems, Inc. announced the launch of the new Transtem Patient 2014 software for Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) programs. This single, specialized software solution allows transplant staff to efficiently manage patient, donor and product information all in one place, with the highest level of safety and security. [Mediware Information Systems, Inc.] Press Release

GE Capital Provides Credit Facility to SynGen, Inc.
GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services announced that it has recently provided a $2.5 million senior secured credit facility to SynGen, Inc., a medical device company with a 510(k) approved bench-top system for isolating stem cells from umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood and bone marrow. [GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services] Press Release

2014 Biological Device Application Approvals

Advisory Committees; Filing of Closed Meeting Reports (FR Doc No. 2014-04144)

NEW The 2014 Tissue Engineering Conference
June 2-4, 2014
London, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

NEW Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

NEW Cell Culture Specialist – Manufacturing of Cell Therapy Products (Tisch MS Research Center of New York)

NEW Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Translational Research Scientist – Hematopoietic Cellular Therapy Program (University of Chicago)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Electrophysiology Research Involving Human ESC or iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hemostasis Gene Therapy (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Postdoctoral Fellowships – Tissue Regeneration and Molecular Cell Engineering (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Project Manager – Cell Therapy (University of California, Irvine)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Enzymes in Breast Cancer (University of Wisconsin – Madison)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (RUNMC)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

Stem Cell Manufacturing Scientist (Paramount Recruitment)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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