Cord Blood News Volume 10.03 | Jan 25 2018

TOP STORY

Ontogeny of Human Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells and Related T Cell Subsets

The authors longitudinally studied Vα7.2⁺ CD161^high T cell and related subset levels in infancy and after cord blood transplantation. Among cord blood Vα7.2⁺ CD161^high T cells, the minority recognizing MR1:5-OP-RU displayed a TRAV/TRBV repertoire very similar to adult mucosal-associated invariant T cells. [J Exp Med] Abstract

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Perineurium-Like Sheath Derived from Long-Term Surviving Mesenchymal Stem Cells Confers Nerve Protection to the Injured Spinal Cord

Investigators provide an unambiguous morphological evidence of perineurium-like sheath formed by transplanted MSCs and a novel therapeutic mechanism of MSCs in treating spinal cord injury. [Biomaterials] Abstract

MEIS1 Regulates Hemogenic Endothelial Generation, Megakaryopoiesis, and Thrombopoiesis in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Targeting TAL1 and FLI1

Scientists identified myeloid ectopic viral integration site 1 homolog (MEIS1) as a crucial regulator of human pluripotent stem cell early hematopoietic differentiation. MEIS1 was vital for specification of APLNR⁺ mesoderm progenitors to functional hemogenic endothelial progenitors, thereby controlling formation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Activation of Human CD141⁺ and CD1c⁺ Dendritic Cells In Vivo with Combined TLR 3 and TLR 7/8 Ligation

The authors describe a humanized mouse model in which fully functional human CD141⁺ and CD1c⁺ myeloid and CD123⁺ plasmacytoid dendritic cells developed from human cord blood CD34⁺ cells in immunodeficient mice. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

High-Throughput Immunophenotypic Characterization of Bone Marrow- and Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Reveals Common and Differentially Expressed Markers: Identification of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (CD143) as a Marker Differentially Expressed between Adult and Perinatal Tissue Sources

Scientists provide a 246-antigen immunophenotypic analysis of bone marrow- and cord blood-derived MSCs aimed at identifying common and strongly expressed MSC markers, as well as the existence of discriminating markers between the two sources. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Exosomes Originating from MSCs Stimulated with TGF-β and IFN-γ Promote Treg Differentiation

The authors investigated and analyzed the composition and function of exosomes secreted by MSCs stimulated by different cytokines to obtain exosomes with more potent immunosuppressive activity. Umbilical cord-derived MSCs were treated with PBS, TGF-β, IFN-γ, or TGF-β plus IFN-γ for 72 hours. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Preserve Adult Newborn Neurons and Reduce Neurological Injury after Cerebral Ischemia by Reducing the Number of Hypertrophic Microglia/Macrophages

Intravenous administration of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs at 24 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion reduced neurological injury, decreased the number of hypertrophic microglia/macrophages, and increased the number of newborn neurons in rat brains. [Cell Transplant] Abstract | Full Article

The Biological Changes of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Inflammatory Environment Induced by Different Cytokines

Researchers investigated the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the characteristics of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs). UCMSCs were exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro for three and seven days, and the biological properties were analyzed. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

Loss of ASXL1 in the Bone Marrow Niche Dysregulates Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Fates

Scientists showed that bone marrow stromal cells derived from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia patients had reduced expression of additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1), which impaired the maintaining cord blood CD34⁺ cell colony-forming capacity with a myeloid differentiation bias. [Cell Discov] Full Article

The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche: From Embryo to Adult

The authors summarize and discuss what is known about the heterogeneity of the hematopoietic stem cell niches at distinct stages of their ontogeny, from the embryo to the adult bone marrow, drawing predominantly on data from mouse studies. [Development] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field.

Cerus Reports Positive Top-Line Results from Chronic Anemia Phase III Study Evaluating Intercept Red Blood Cells in Thalassemia Patients

Cerus Corporation reported that the primary efficacy and safety endpoints were successfully achieved in the company’s Phase III transfusion study of chronic anemia evaluating INTERCEPT-treated red blood cells in thalassemia patients, SPARC. [Cerus Corporation] Press Release

Nohla Therapeutics Granted Orphan Drug Designation in the European Union for NLA101 in the Treatment of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Nohla Therapeutics Inc. announced the European Commission has granted Orphan Drug Designation to NLA101 as an orphan medicinal product for the treatment in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Nohla Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

U.S. Scientists Breathe a Sigh of Relief as Government Shutdown to End

It’s over—at least for the moment. The U.S. Senate voted 81–18 to advance legislation funding government activities, essentially ending a partial government shutdown that had moved into its third day. The House of Representatives is expected to follow suit, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

German Scientists Hope for Windfall from Incoming Government

Research budget could rise to 3.5% of gross domestic product if agreement struck during coalition talks holds. [Nature News] Editorial

Nobel Laureate Suggests He Could Fall on Sword over Colleague’s Bogus Paper

Shinya Yamanaka, who won a share of the 2012 Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, has suggested he could resign as director of Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application in Japan over a fraudulent paper published by center researchers. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 6^th Annual German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) Conference
September 19-21, 2018
Heidelberg, Germany

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Scientific Manager – Cell Engineering Lab (Genentech, Inc.)

Research Fellow – Pediatric Cancer and Zebrafish Models (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Postdoctoral Scientists and Research Technologists – Hematopoiesis and Leukemogenesis (City of Hope)

Postdoctoral Associate – Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology (University of Florida Health Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology (University of Colorado, Anschutz)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Atherosclerosis and Fibromuscular Dysplasia (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

PhD Student Position – Leukemia (RWTH Aachen University)

Senior Research Associate – Endothelial Progenitor Cells & Mesenchymal Stem Cells (University of Miami)

Research Assistant – Mouse Handling (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Research Assistant – Flow Cytometry (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

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