Engineering the Human Thymic Microenvironment to Support Thymopoiesis In Vivo Researchers developed an implantable thymic microenvironment composed of two human thymic stroma populations critical for thymopoiesis; thymic epithelial cells and thymic mesenchyme. Cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells previously engrafted into murine bone marrow, migrated to implants and differentiated into human T cells with a broad T cell receptor repertoire. [Stem Cells] Abstract Alterations in Regulatory T Cell Subpopulations Seen in Preterm Infants Scientists aimed to measure the percentages of two different regulatory T cells subpopulations, identified by the presence or absence of CD31 (Recent thymic emigrants and peripherally induced naïve regulatory T cells), in term and preterm infant cord blood. [PLoS One] Full Article Reduced Toxicity, Myeloablative Conditioning with BU, Fludarabine, Alemtuzumab and SCT from Sibling Donors in Children with Sickle Cell Disease The authors investigated in a prospective single institutional study, the safety and efficacy of a reduced-toxicity conditioning regimen of BU 12.8-16 mg/kg, fludarabine 180 mg/m2, alemtuzumab 54 mg/m2 before HLA-matched sibling donor transplantation in pediatric recipients with symptomatic sickle cell disease. Eighteen patients, median age 8.9 years, M/F 15/3, 15 sibling BM and three sibling cord blood were transplanted. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Comparative Analysis of Multilineage Properties of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Derived from Fetal Sources Shows an Advantage of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Isolated from Cord Blood in Chondrogenic Differentiation Potential Researchers showed that cord blood-mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and amniotic fluid-MSCs collected at term differ from each other in their biological and differentiation properties. [Cytotherapy] Abstract γ-Irradiated Cord Blood MNCs: Different Paracrine Effects on Mature and Progenitor Endothelial Cells Investigators tested in vitro pro-angiogenic effects of apoptotic cord blood-derived mononuclear cells (MNCs) and their conditioned medium on mature endothelial cells and peripheral blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells. [Microvasc Res] Abstract Medium Conditioned with MSC-Derived Osteoblasts Improves the Expansion and Engraftment Properties of Cord Blood Progenitors Researchers assessed the growth and engraftment modulatory activities of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived osteoblasts (M-OST) on hematopoietic progenitors. The expansion of cord blood CD34+ cells and myeloid progenitors was highest in cultures supplemented with unfiltered M-OST conditioned medium. [Exp Hematol] Abstract Cord Blood CD34+ Cells Expanded on Wharton’s Jelly Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Improve the Hematopoietic Engraftment in NOD/SCID Mice Scientists investigated the capability of Wharton’s jelly multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells to support the in vitro expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells derived from cord blood in the absence of exogenous cytokines, and the effect on engraftment of the expanded cells in a mouse model. [Eur J Haematol] Abstract Combined Umbilical Cord Blood and Bone Marrow from HLA-Identical Sibling Donors for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Hemoglobinopathies Investigators analyzed the feasibility and outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 13 children with hemoglobinopathies after the co- infusion of cord blood and bone marrow from the same human leucocyte antigen (HLA) identical sibling donor. [Pediatr Blood Cancer] Abstract |