Overexpression of ERG in Cord Blood Progenitors Promotes Expansion and Recapitulates Molecular Signatures of High ERG Leukemias Human CD34+ cells were transduced with retroviral vectors to elevate ERG gene expression to levels detected in high ERG acute myeloid leukemia. RNA sequencing was performed on purified populations of transduced cells to define the effects of high ERG on gene expression in human CD34+ cells. [Leukemia] Abstract Prenatal Arsenic Exposure and the Epigenome: Identifying Sites of 5-Methyl Cytosine Alterations that Predict Functional Changes in Gene Expression in Newborn Cord Blood and Subsequent Birth Outcomes Scientists examined a subset of newborn cord blood leukocyte samples collected from mothers enrolled in the Biomarkers of Exposure to Arsenic pregnancy cohort in Gómez Palacio, Mexico who were exposed to a range of drinking water arsenic concentrations. [Toxicol Sci] Abstract Targeted Transplantation of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Endothelial Progenitor Cells with Immunomagnetic Nanoparticles to Repair Corneal Endothelium Defect Human umbilical cord blood endothelial progenitor cells were labeled with CD34 immunomagnetic nanoparticles. The efficiency of the magnet attraction was evaluated in vitro with a simple device simulating the anterior chamber. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Temporal Studies into Attachment, VE-Cadherin Perturbation and Paracellular Migration of Human Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells across Umbilical Vein Endothelial Monolayers Scientists investigated the dynamic interactions between mesenchymal stem cells from human term umbilical cords (WJ-MSC) and umbilical vein endothelial cells, including attachment, transit times, extravasation pathway and the effects of WJ-MSC on junctional VE-cadherin. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Human Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Stem Cells Display Immunomodulatory Properties and Transiently Improve Rat Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Scientists investigated whether Wharton’s jelly-derived stromal cells possess the required properties to effectively and durably reverse the pathological hallmarks of multiple sclerosis, and whether they survive in an inflammatory environment after transplantation. [Cell Transplant] Full Article Complete Nationwide Survey on Umbilical Cord Blood Freezing Bag Breakage in Japan Although umbilical cord blood (UCB) has now become a common stem cell source, UCB bag breakage is a known risk in UCB transplantation. The authors provide the first comprehensive data on the frequency and causes of UCB bag breakage in Japan. [Cytotherapy] Abstract Transplantation of Human Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice Researchers investigated the intestinal protective effects of Wharton’s jelly derived umbilical mesenchymal stem cells on dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis in mice. [Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol] Abstract Cell Differentiation Mediated by Co-Culture of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells with Murine Hepatic Cells Purified human cord blood stem cells were co-cultivated with murine hepatic alpha mouse liver 12 cells to compare the effect on endodermal stem cell differentiation by either direct cell-cell interaction or by soluble factors in conditioned hepatic cell medium. [In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim] Abstract A Dominant-Negative Isoform of IKAROS Expands Primitive Normal Human Hematopoietic Cells Researchers used lentivirally mediated expression of a dominant-negative isoform of IKAROS to block normal IKAROS activity in primitive human cord blood cells and their progeny. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract |