Osteogenesis of Heterotopically Transplanted Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Rat Models of Chronic Kidney Disease Scientists based this study on the hypothesis of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) contributing to soft tissue calcification and ectopic osteogenesis in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Rat MSC were transplanted intraperitoneally in an established 3D collagen-based model in healthy control animals and two rat models of CKD and vascular calcification. After 4 and 8 weeks, MSC were still detectable and proliferating in the collagen gels. [J Bone Miner Res] Abstract CXCL12/CXCR4 Signaling in the Osteoblast Regulates the Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Osteoclast Lineage Populations Using Cre-Lox technology to delete CXCR4 in mature osteoblasts in mice, investigators showed a significant decrease in bone mass and alterations in cancellous bone structure. CXCR4 gene ablation increased the number of colony-forming units (CFU), CFU-positive for alkaline phosphatase, and mineralizing nodules in bone marrow stromal cell cultures. [FASEB J] Abstract miR-10a Restores Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation by Repressing KLF4 Researchers hypothesized that the downregulation of miR-10a may be associated with the decreased differentiation capability of human mesenchymal stem cells from aged individuals. Upregulation of miR-10a resulted in increased differentiation to adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages and in reduced cell senescence. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract | Full Article Influence of Ischemic Microenvironment on Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells The authors focused on understanding the influence of ischemic microenvironment on the survival, proliferation, apoptosis, ROS-generation, antioxidant levels, immunophenotypic-expression and neurotrophic factor secretion of Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells. Immunophenotypic analysis showed reduction in mesenchymal-marker expression under ischemic conditions influenced mainly by hypoxia, whereas the decrease in cell-survival under ischemic conditions was mainly a result of nutrition depletion. [Placenta] Abstract Immune Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells from Human Supernumerary Teeth Recently, a novel mesenchymal stem cell population was identified from dental pulp of human supernumerary teeth, and its multipotency characterized. In this study investigators examined the in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory functions of human supernumerary tooth-derived stem cells. [J Dent Res] Abstract Routine Clonal Expansion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Amniotic Fluid for Perinatal Applications Scientists developed a routine isolation, selection and expansion protocol of clonal stem cell lines from redundant clinical amniocentesis samples. 78 Clonal amniotic fluid stem cell populations were successfully isolated by mechanical selection from 21 consecutive amniocentesis samples. They were positive for mesenchymal stem cell CD markers and could be differentiated into the different lineages. [Prenat Diagn] Abstract Innovative Strategy for MicroRNA Delivery in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Magnetic Nanoparticles Researchers aimed to develop a technique to efficiently deliver microRNA into human mesenchymal stem cells with the help of a magnetic non-viral vector based on cationic polymer polyethylenimine bound to iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. They tested different magnetic complex compositions and determined uptake efficiency and cytotoxicity by flow cytometry. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract | Full Article Adipose Tissue-Derived Multipotent Stromal Cells Have a Higher Immunomodulatory Capacity than Their Bone Marrow-Derived Counterparts Scientists found that bone marrow-derived multipotent stromal cells (BM-MSCs) and adipose tissue-derived multipotent stromal cells (AT-MSCs) share a similar immunophenotype and capacity for in vitro multilineage differentiation. BM-MSCs and AT-MSCs showed comparable immunomodulatory effects as they were both able to suppress proliferation of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and to inhibit differentiation of monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release Laser Patterning for the Study of MSC Cardiogenic Differentiation at the Single-Cell Level Researchers explored whether cardiomyocyte alignment is relevant to stem cell cardiogenic differentiation. They report the construction of a laser-patterned, biochip-based, stem cell-cardiomyocyte coculture model with controlled cell alignment. [Light Sci App] Full Article Fibrin Glue Improves the Therapeutic Effect of MSCs by Sustaining Survival and Paracrine Function Scientists investigated the influence of fibrin glue on the paracrine effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs were isolated from human adipose tissue. The effects of fibrin glue on survival, migration, secretion of growth factors, and immune suppression of MSCs were investigated in vitro. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract |