Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 5.22 | Jun 11 2013

Adult Renal Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Like Cells Contribute to Juxtaglomerular Cell Recruitment
Scientists isolated renal CD44⁺ mesenchymal stem cell-like cells and found that they differentiated into juxtaglomerular-like renin-expressing cells both in vitro and in vivo. Sodium depletion and captopril led to activation and differentiation of these cells into renin-expressing cells in the adult kidney. [J Am Soc Nephrol] Abstract

HIF-1α Is Upregulated in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Investigators studied human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from three origins, adult and pediatric bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. Surprisingly, pediatric bone marrow and umbilical cord blood MSCs showed normoxic stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) that is normally degraded completely by HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases in the presence of oxygen. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Specification of Chondrocytes and Cartilage Tissues from Embryonic Stem Cells
Investigators demonstrated that mouse embryonic stem cells-derived chondrogenic mesoderm arises from a Flk-1^–/Pdgfrα⁺ (F^–P⁺) population that emerges in a defined temporal pattern following the development of an early cardiogenic F^–P⁺ population. Specification of the late-arising F^–P⁺ population with BMP4 generated a highly enriched population of chondrocytes expressing genes associated with growth plate hypertrophic chondrocytes. [Development] Full Article

Understanding Coupling between Bone Resorption and Formation: Are Reversal Cells the Missing Link?
Researchers combined histomorphometry and IHC on human iliac biopsy specimens, and showed that reversal cells are immunoreactive for factors typically expressed by osteoblasts, but not for monocytic markers. Furthermore, a subpopulation of reversal cells showed several distinctive characteristics suggestive of an arrested physiological status. Their prevalence correlated with decreased trabecular bone volume and osteoid and osteoblast surfaces in postmenopausal osteoporosis. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

Cell Interactions between Human Progenitor-Derived Endothelial Cells and Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Three-Dimensional Macroporous Polysaccharide-Based Scaffold Promote Osteogenesis
Scientists investigated the cell interactions between progenitors derived endothelial cells (PDECs) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) in a porous matrix composed of polysaccharides. This biodegradable scaffold promotes cell interactions by inducing multicellular aggregates composed of HBMSCs surrounded by PDECs. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Age-Related CXC Chemokine Receptor-4-Deficiency Impairs Osteogenic Differentiation Potency of Mouse Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Stem Cells
Scientists determined whether cysteine-X-C chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4)-deficiency in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal stem cells (BMSCs) is an age-related effect in association with impaired osteogenic differentiation potency of aged BMSCs. Using BMSCs derived from C57BL/6 J wild type mice at ages ranging from 3 to 23 months old, they detected decreased CXCR4 mRNA and protein expression as well as stromal cell-derived factor-1 secretion with advancing aging. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract

Awakened by Cellular Stress: Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Population of Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Human Adipose Tissue
Scientists described the isolation and characterization of a new population of adipose tissue derived pluripotent stem cells, termed Multilineage Differentiating Stress-Enduring Cells, which are isolated using severe cellular stress conditions, including long-term exposure to the proteolytic enzyme collagenase, serum deprivation, low temperatures and hypoxia. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

Transplantation of Modified Human Adipose Derived Stromal Cells Expressing VEGF165 Results in More Efficient Angiogenic Response in Ischemic Skeletal Muscle
Human adipose derived stromal cells (ADSCs) were transduced using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) serotype 2 encoding human VEGF165. Scientists obtained AAV-modified ADSC with substantially increased secretion of VEGF. Transduced ADSCs retained their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacities and adhesion properties. [J Transl Med] Abstract

Rapamycin Interacts Synergistically with Idarubicin to Induce T-Leukemia Cell Apoptosis In Vitro and in a Mesenchymal Stem Cell Simulated Drug-Resistant Microenvironment via Akt/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin and Extracellular Signal-Related Kinase Signaling Pathways
Researchers examined the interactions between the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor rapamycin and idarubicin in series of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines Molt-4, Jurkat, CCRF-CEM, and CEM/C1. They played synergistic pro-apoptotic roles in the drug-resistant microenvironment simulated by mesenchymal stem cells as a feeder layer. [Leuk Lymphoma] Abstract

Dynamic Protein Pathway Activation Mapping of Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Differentiation Implicates Novel Regulators of Adipocyte Differentiation
Researchers utilized a high throughput reverse phase protein microarray platform and characterized adult adipose-derived stem cell differentiation through the monitoring of approximately 100 phosphospecific endpoints with 33 distinct time points examined across 14 days. This kinetic-based analysis showed time ordered signal transduction ultimately implicating pathways correlated with adipogenic differentiation. [Mol Cell Prot] Abstract

REVIEWS

Lineage of Bone Marrow-Derived Cells in Atherosclerosis
The authors provide an overview of the current understanding of contributions of bone marrow-derived cells to atherosclerosis. Particular focus is placed on myeloid cells and vascular progenitor cells. [Circ Res] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A New Trend for Cell Therapy
The authors summarize the recent opinions on methods, timing and cell sources for mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) administration in clinical applications, and provide an overview of mechanisms that are significant in MSC-mediated therapies. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the mesenchymal cell research field.

Key Mesenchymal Precursor Cell Patent Granted In Japan
Mesoblast Limited announced that it has been granted a key patent by the Japanese Patent Office. Japanese patent number 5265190 provides Mesoblast with exclusive commercial rights in Japan through to September 2025 to all compositions-of-matter and uses of its Mesenchymal Precursor Cell technology platform, irrespective of the MPC tissue source, including bone marrow, adipose, placenta, umbilical cord and dental pulp. [Mesoblast Limited] Press Release

TiGenix Provides ChondroCelect Update
TiGenix provided an update on the commercial prospects of ChondroCelect, its characterized chondrocyte implantation for symptomatic cartilage lesions in the knee. [TiGenix] Press Release

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NEW American Association for Cancer Research (AACR): Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research
September 18-22, 2013
National Harbor, United States

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NEW Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

PhD Student – Crosstalk between Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Inflammatory Cells (Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica)

Postdoctoral Position – Mesenchymal Progenitor Cell Subsets in Lung Development and Repair (Boston University Pulmonary Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Mesenchymal Stem Cells (National University of Ireland)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Group A Proteins in Cancer, Stem Cells and Normal Development (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Opportunity – Mesenchymal Cells in Pulmonary Fibrosis (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiopulmonary Molecular Biology (Hannover Medical School)

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