Meta-Analysis of Cell Therapy Trials for Patients with Heart Failure – An Update Cell-based therapies are a promising intervention for the treatment of heart failure (HF) secondary to ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Investigators assessed the available clinical evidence on the safety and efficacy of cell-based therapies for HF. [Circ Res] Abstract Adoptive T-Cell Therapy with Hexon-Specific THELPER-1 Cells as a Treatment for Refractory Adenovirus Infection after HSCT Scientists analyzed safety and efficacy of ex vivo adoptive T-cell transfer with hexon-specific T cells, predominantly of THELPER-1 phenotype, in 30 patients with adenovirus disease/viremia. [Blood] Abstract Evaluation of the Effect of the Structure of Bacterial Cellulose on Full Thickness Skin Wound Repair on a Microfluidic Chip The hierarchical structure of bacterial cellulose film and their different effects on skin wound healing were studied both in vitro and in vivo. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract Three-Dimensional Functional Human Myocardial Tissues Fabricated from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells were differentiated into cardiomyocytes to fabricate cardiomyocyte sheets. Three-layer human iPS cardiomyocyte sheets were transplanted on subcutaneous tissues of nude rats. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract Inhibition of Human Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Growth by JC Polyomavirus-Like Particles Delivering a Suicide Gene Human B-lymphocytes are susceptible to JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) infection, and JCPyV virus-like particles (VLPs) can effectively deliver exogenous genes to susceptible cells for expression, suggesting the feasibility of using JCPyV VLPs as gene therapy vectors for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Researches packaged JCPyV VLPs with a suicide gene encoding thymidine kinase to inhibit the growth of DLBCL in vitro and in vivo. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article The Dose-Effect Safety Profile of Skeletal Muscle Precursor Cell Therapy in a Dog Model of Intrinsic Urinary Sphincter Deficiency Investigators tested the dose-effect safety profile of skeletal muscle precursor cell (skMPC) therapy in a dog model of intrinsic urinary sphincter deficiency. skMPCs isolated from the hind leg were expanded in culture and injected four weeks later into the sphincter complex. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract Cold-Preservation of Human Adult Hepatocytes for Liver Cell Therapy The authors assessed how cold storage in three clinically safe preservative solutions affects the viability and in vitro functionality of human hepatocytes. Then they evaluated whether such cold-preserved human hepatocytes could engraft and repopulate damaged livers in a mouse model of liver failure. [Cell Transplant] Full Article In Situ Vascularization of Injectable Fibrin/Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogels by Human Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells Investigators utilized fibrin-based hydrogels to serve as a foundation for vascular formation, poly(ethylene glycol) to modify fibrinogen and increase scaffold longevity, and human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (AFSC) as a source of vascular cell types. They hypothesized that subcutaneously injecting these hydrogels in immunodeficient mice would both induce a fibrin-driven angiogenic host response and promote in situ AFSC-derived neovascularization. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Adoptive T-Cell Therapy of Prostate Cancer Targeting the Cancer Stem Cell Antigen EpCAM To investigate the therapeutic capabilities of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) expressing EpCAM-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), scientists used two different tumor models, PC3, the human prostate cancer cell line, which has low expression levels of EpCAM, and PC3M, a highly metastatic clone of PC3 that has high expression levels of EpCAM. They demonstrate that CAR-expressing PBLs can kill PC3M tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. [BMC Immunol] Abstract | Full Article |