The Potential Role of Epigenetics on Multipotent Cell Differentiation Capacity of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Investigators were interested in understanding how differences from human bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) might yield insights into MSC biology. They found that human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) exhibited increased telomerase activity and longer telomeres compared with BM-MSCs. They also observed enhanced expression of the pluripotency factors OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG in HUCPVCs. [Stem Cells] Abstract Generating CK19-Positive Cells with Hair-Like Structures from Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Researchers showed for the first time that they can generate cytokeratin 19-positive cells and hair-like structures from Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stromal cells (WJMSCs) in vitro using two separate methodologies that utilize osteogenic media to induce WJMSCs to undergo osteogenic differentiation. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Human Cord Blood Derived Immature Basophils Show Dual Characteristics, Expressing Both Basophil and Eosinophil Associated Proteins In order to obtain transcriptionally active immature basophils for analysis of their transcriptome, umbilical cord blood cells were cultured in the presence of interleukin-3 for nine days and basophils were enriched by removing non-basophils using magnetic cell sorting. [PLoS One] Full Article An Integrative Computational Systems Biology Approach Identifies Differentially Regulated Dynamic Transcriptome Signatures which Drive the Initiation of Human T Helper Cell Differentiation The authors studied transcriptional dynamics of human umbilical cord blood T helper (Th) cells cultured in absence and presence of cytokines promoting Th1 or Th2 differentiation. [BMC Genomics] Abstract | Full Article Contrasting Effects of Vasculogenic Induction Upon Biaxial Bioreactor Stimulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells Cocultures in 3D Scaffolds Under In Vitro and In Vivo Paradigms for Vascularized Bone Tissue Engineering Researchers demonstrated the effect of biomechanical stimulation on vasculogenic and bone-forming capacity of umbilical-cord-blood endothelial progenitor cells and human fetal bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells seeded within macroporous scaffolds and cocultured dynamically in a biaxial bioreactor. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract Rapid and Complete Reconstitution of Autologous Hemopoiesis after Cord Blood Infusion in Treatment-Naive Patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia Receiving High-Dose Cyclophosphamide/ATG Therapy Infusion of cord blood after high-dose cyclophosphamide/ATG resulted in a rapid autologous hematological recovery and a high response rate in treatment-naive patients with severe aplastic anemia. [Eur J Haematol] Abstract Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote a Primitive Phenotype CD34+c-kit+ in Human Cord Blood-Derived Hematopoietic Stem Cells during Ex Vivo Expansion Umbilical cord blood-CD34+ cells were cultured in the presence or absence of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells and/or cytokines for three and seven days. CD34+ cell proliferation was evaluated using the CSFE method and cell phenotype was determined by CD34, c-kit, CD33, CD38, HLA-DR, cyCD22 and cyCD3 detection. Cell clonogenic ability was also assessed. [Cell Mol Biol Lett] Abstract Human Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress T Cell Proliferation and Support the Culture Expansion of Cord Blood CD34+ Cells: A Comparison with Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) efficiently enhanced the expansion of CD34+ cells from umbilical cord blood compared with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, hPMSCs maintained the expression of adhesion molecules in CD34+ cells. [Tissue Cell] Abstract |