Cell Therapy News 20.07 March 4, 2019 | |
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TOP STORYScientists present an automated hybrid bioelectronic system for shock-free termination of atrial fibrillation that enabled the heart to act as an electric current generator for autogenous restoration of sinus rhythm. They showed that local, right atrial delivery of adenoassociated virus vectors encoding a light-gated depolarizing ion channel resulted in efficient and spatially confined transgene expression. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Researchers tracked cholangiocytes using osteopontin-iCreERT2 and hepatocytes with AAV8-TBG-Cre. Mice received carbon tetrachloride for >24weeks to induce chronic liver injury. Livers were collected for reporter proteins, cell proliferation and death, DNA damage, and nuclear ploidy analysis; hepatocytes were isolated for RNAseq. [J Hepatol] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Efficacy of Systemic Temozolomide‐Activated Phage‐Targeted Gene Therapy in Human Glioblastoma The authors investigated systemic combination therapy using temozolomide (TMZ) and targeted suicide gene therapy by the RGD4C/AAVP‐Grp78. In vitro they showed that TMZ increased endogenous Grp78 gene expression and boosted transgene expression from the RGD4C/AAVP‐Grp78 in human glioblastoma multiforme cells. Next, RGD4C/AAVP‐Grp78 targeted intracranial tumors in mice following intravenous administration. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Scientists describe a novel CAR-T cell platform that utilized expression of the toll-like receptor adaptor molecule, MyD88, and tumor-necrosis factor family member, CD40, tethered to the CAR molecule through an intentionally inefficient 2A linker system, providing a constitutive signal that drove CAR-T survival, proliferation, and antitumor activity against CD19+ and CD123+ hematological cancers. [Leukemia] Full Article Hypoxia Mimicking Hydrogels to Regulate the Fate of Transplanted Stem Cells In vivo, dimethyloxalylglycine delivery significantly reduced mineralization of the proteoglycan-rich cartilaginous tissue generated by mesenchymal stem cells within alginate hydrogels loaded with TGF-β3 and BMP-2. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Investigators evaluated the selective ββ2 agonist salmeterol in α-glucosidase (GAA) knockout mice in combination with an adeno-associated virus vector expressing human GAA specifically in the liver. [Hum Gene Ther] Abstract Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was induced with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35‐55 in C57BL/6 mice, and encephalitogenic mononuclear cells were treated with Fasudil in vitro. Mice received 3×106 cells/10 μL per nasal cavity on day 3 and 11 postimmunization, respectively. [CNS Neurosci Ther] Full Article Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Submandibular Salivary Gland Allotransplantation Investigators evaluated the effect of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy on the survival of allotransplanted submandibular salivary glands. [Transplantation] Abstract In vivo, S. typhimurium delivering an shRNA plasmid targeting IDO treatment significantly delayed CT26 and MC38 tumor progression compared to mice treated with scrambled shRNA control or the clinically tested IDO inhibitor epacadostat. [Cancer Gene Ther] Full Article Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Mesenchymal Cell News & ESC & iPSC News. | |
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REVIEWSGene Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Strategies to Select Therapeutic Genes Important strategies used to select effective genes for rheumatoid arthritis gene therapy are outlined. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cell therapy research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSAtara Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced presentations highlighting next-generation CAR T platform and mesothelin-targeted CAR T clinical safety and efficacy results from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. [Press release from Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2019, Atlanta] Press Release Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that it will present novel preclinical data on SNS-723, a first-in-class CAR-T cell therapy and additional Phase I data on the long-term effects of SNS-301, a first-in-class cancer immunotherapy, both targeting a novel tumor specific embryonic antigen, human aspartate β-hydroxylase. [Press release from Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2019, Atlanta] Press Release uniQure Presents New Preclinical Data on AMT-130 uniQure N.V. presented new preclinical data on AMT-130, its gene therapy candidate for the treatment of Huntington’s disease. [Press release from uniQure N.V. discussing research presented at the 14th Annual CHDI Huntington’s Disease Therapeutics Conference, Palm Springs] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSMaxCyte Announces Multi-Drug Clinical & Commercial Agreement with Kite, a Gilead Company MaxCyte announced that it has expanded its relationship with Kite, a Gilead Company, by entering into a multi-drug clinical and commercial agreement. [MaxCyte, Inc.] Press Release Biogen announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Nightstar Therapeutics. [Biogen] Press Release NantKwest, Inc. and ProMab Biotechnologies announced the establishment of a worldwide license to a B-Cell Maturation Antigen targeted antibody sequence for multiple myeloma along with an option for up to five undisclosed targeting sequences for exclusive use in the development of chimeric antigen receptor based natural killer cell therapies. [NantKwest, Inc.] Press Release Kadimastem Announces the Completion of Cell Transplantation of AstroRx® in ALS Patients for Cohort A Kadimastem announced the completion of cell transplantation (AstroRx®) in five patients who were enrolled in cohort A for its clinical trial in ALS. The Phase I/IIa clinical trial is being conducted by the Department of Neurology of the Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center, and it is expected to include a total of 21 patients. [Kadimastem] Press Release Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced positive results from three Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) Type 2E clinical trial participants who received MYO-101. MYO-101 is a novel gene therapy intended to transduce skeletal and cardiac muscle with a gene that codes for the full-length, native beta-SG protein, the lack of which causes LGMD2E. [Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release Hemostemix Announces UC Davis Health Added as a Trial Site for Phase II Clinical Trial Hemostemix Inc. announced that it has received all approvals the UC Davis Health located Sacramento, California to be clinical trial site for the company’s Phase II clinical trial for critical limb ischemia. [Hemostemix Inc.] Press Release CARsgen Therapeutics Receives IND Clearance for BCMA-CAR-T Cells from the NMPA CARsgen Therapeutics announced that one of its leading drug candidates, CT053 fully human BCMA (B-Cell Maturation Antigen)-CAR-T cell for the treatment of patients suffering from relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). [CARsgen Therapeutics (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release Avalon GloboCare Corp. announced that the company and Arbele Limited have jointly filed provisional patent applications covering method and composition of matter claims for AVA-101, a novel multi-targeted, transposon-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cellular immunotherapy. [Avalon GloboCare Corp.] Press Release Cell Medica announced that it has been awarded an $8.7 million research grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The grant will support preclinical and clinical development of the company’s off-the-shelf chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer T cell (CAR-NKT) therapies to treat hematological and solid tumors. [Cell Medica] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSThe CRISPR-baby Scandal: What’s Next for Human Gene-Editing In the three months since He Jiankui announced the birth of twin girls with edited genomes, the questions facing the scientific community have grown knottier. [Nature News] Editorial China Unveils New Rules on Biotech after Gene-Editing Scandal China has unveiled draft regulations on gene editing and other potentially risky biomedical technologies after a Chinese scientist’s claim of helping to create gene-edited babies roiled the global science community. [STAT News] Editorial Peer-Review Experiments Tracked in Online Repository A grass-roots group of biologists has started a website to keep track of the proliferation of experiments in academic peer review — including trials and platforms aimed at making the review process faster, cheaper, and more transparent and interactive. [Nature News] Editorial NIH Letters Asking about Undisclosed Foreign Ties Rattle U.S. Universities The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently sent letters to dozens of major U.S. research universities asking them to provide information about specific faculty members with NIH funding who are believed to have links to foreign governments that the Bethesda, Maryland–based institute did not know about. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW World Advanced Therapies and Regenerative Medicine Congress 2019 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Associate Scientist – Immuno-Oncology (HMH Center for Discovery & Innovation) NEW Stem Cell Podcast Co-Host (Stem Cell Podcast) Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Research Associate – Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Cell Therapy Associate III – Cellular Therapeutics (KBI Biopharma) Postdoctoral Fellow – Single Cell Genomics (BC Cancer Research Center) Cell Manufacturing Scientist (CSL Behring) Postdoctoral Fellowship – Natural Killer Cells, Cancer and Immunotherapy (Dalhousie University) Research Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (Brigham & Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School) Faculty Positions – Hematology and Oncology (University of California, Davis) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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