Combinational Effect of Matrix Elasticity and Alendronate Density on Differentiation of Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells The combinational effects of stiffness and alendronate density on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells were studied in terms of ALP activity, collagen type I and osteocalcin expression, and calcium deposition. [Acta Biomater] Abstract Inducible VEGF Expression by Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Reduces the Minimal Islet Mass Required to Reverse Diabetes Researchers hypothesized that co-transplantation of islets with human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cells that conditionally overexpress VEGF may augment islet revascularization and reduce the minimal islet mass required to reverse diabetes in mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article Characterization of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Aplastic Anemia Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) involvement in the functional restriction of hemopoietic stem cells in aplastic anemia (AA) is largely unknown and therefore, the physical and functional properties of AA MSCs were studied in vitro. MSCs were characterized by their phenotype and ability to form adherent stromal layers. [Br J Haematol] Abstract Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Like Cells Set the Balance of Stimulatory and Inhibitory Signals in Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Previous studies revealed that mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-like (MSCl) cells derived from pluripotent human embryonic stem cells resemble bone marrow-derived MSCs in morphology, phenotype and differentiating potential. Scientists investigated the effects of MSCl cells on the phenotype and functions of dendritic cells. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract VEGF Enhances the Migration of MSCs in Neural Differentiation by Regulating Focal Adhesion Turnover Scientists investigated the regulatory roles for focal adhesion kinase and Rac1 in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated migration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in neural differentiation. They found that MSCs in various differentiation states show significant different chemotactic responses to VEGF and cells in 24-hour preinduction state possess the highest migration speed and efficiency. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Co-Transplantation of Autologous MSCs Delays Islet Allograft Rejection and Generates a Local Immunoprivileged Site Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were generated in vitro from C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice bone marrow, and their immunomodulatory properties were tested in vitro. Researchers then tested the effect of a local or systemic administration of heterologous and autologous MSCs on graft survival in a fully allogeneic model of islet transplantation. [Acta Diabetol] Abstract Human Amnion-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Severe Colitis in Rats Scientists investigated the therapeutic effect of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) in rats with severe colitis. The effect of AMSCs on the inflammatory signals was investigated in vitro. [Cell Transplant] Full Article Enhanced Hepatogenic Transdifferentiation of Human Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Gene Engineering with Oct4 and Sox2 Researchers generated Oct4– and Sox2-overexpressing human adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (ATMSCs) by liposomal transfection. They showed that albumin was strongly expressed in hepatogenic differentiated Oct4/Sox2-ATMSCs, whereas the expression level of α-fetoprotein was lower than that of red-fluorescent protein-ATMSCs. [PLoS One] Full Article Human Pericytes Isolated from Adipose Tissue Have Better Differentiation Abilities than Their Mesenchymal Stem Cell Counterparts Researchers performed a detailed analysis of the mesodermal potential of isogenic human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and pericytes (PCs) isolated from white adipose tissue. Although both cell populations expressed known mesodermal markers at similar levels and displayed a comparable growth rate, PCs differentiated towards osteocytes, adipocytes and myocytes more efficiently than their MSC counterparts. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract Long-Term Expandable SOX9+ Chondrogenic Ectomesenchymal Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Scientists report the successful generation and long-term expansion of SOX9-expressing CD271+PDGFRα+CD73+ chondrogenic ectomesenchymal cells from the PAX3/SOX10/FOXD3-expressing MIXL1−CD271hiPDGFRαloCD73− neural crest-like progeny of human pluripotent stem cells in a chemically defined medium supplemented with Nodal/Activin/transforming growth factorβ inhibitor and fibroblast growth factor. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract |