IN VITRO Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit Transmission of α-Synuclein by Modulating Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis in a Parkinsonian Model Using α-synuclein-enriched models, scientists showed that mesenchymal stem cells inhibited α-synuclein transmission by blocking the clathrin-mediated endocytosis of extracellular α-synuclein via modulation of the interaction with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, which led to a prosurvival effect on cortical and dopaminergic neurons with functional improvement of motor deficits in α-synuclein-enriched models. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Comprehensive Proteomic Analysis of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes Reveals Modulation of Angiogenesis via NFkB Signaling Investigators probed the proteome of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSC derived exosomes from cells cultured under expansion conditions and under ischemic tissue simulated conditions to elucidate key angiogenic paracrine effectors present and potentially differentially expressed in these conditions. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Full Article Interferon-Gamma Improves Impaired Dentinogenic and Immunosuppressive Functions of Irreversible Pulpitis-Derived Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Scientists examined the stem cell potency of dental pulp stem cells isolated from diseased teeth with irreversible pulpitis (IP-DPSCs). In comparison with healthy DPSCs, IP-DPSCs expressed lower colony-forming capacity, population-doubling rate, cell proliferation, multipotency, in vivo dentin regeneration, and immunosuppressive activity, suggesting that intact IP-DPSCs may be inadequate for dentin/pulp regeneration. [Sci Rep] Full Article Low Oxygen Tension Modulates the Insulin-Like Growth Factor -1 or -2 Signaling via Both Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor and Insulin Receptor to Maintain Stem Cell Identity in Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells In preterm placental mesenchymal stem cells, low oxygen tension increased the expression of insulin like growth factor (IGF)-2 and reduced IGF-1. IGF-1 stimulated higher phosphorylation of IGF-1Rβ, ERK1/2 and AKT, which was maintained at steady lower levels by low oxygen tension. [Endocrinology] Abstract MicroRNA-23a Inhibits Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Targeting LRP5 The authors investigated the role of microRNA (miR)-23a in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells osteogenesis. They revealed that miR-23a was significantly downregulated during osteogenic differentiation. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract Stroke Serum Priming Modulates Characteristics of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells by Controlling the Expression miRNA-20a The authors investigated microRNA (miR) profiling in stroke serum primed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and tested whether the regulation of certain miRs may affect the proliferation rate of rat MSCs. [Cell Transplant] Full Article Immunomodulatory Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the Immune Response of Macrophages Stimulated by Aspergillus fumigatus Conidia The authors evaluated the effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-related cytokine response and fungal growth. As a results, after conidia stimulation, tumor necrosis factor-α was down-regulated and interleukin-10 was up-regulated in MSC-treated J774A.1 cells when compared to J774A.1 cells alone. [Med Mycol] Abstract IN VIVO Chemokine CCL15 Mediates Migration of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells toward Hepatocellular Carcinoma Orthotopic animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were established to investigate the role of CCL15 in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) migration toward HCC in vivo. Both histological and flow cytometric analysis showed that significantly fewer hMSCs localized within 97H-CCL15-shRNA xenografts compared with 97H-green fluorescent protein xenografts after intravenous delivery. [Stem Cells] Abstract Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Genetically Engineered to Overexpress Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Improve Outcomes in Huntington’s Disease Mouse Models Double-blinded studies were performed to examine the effects of intrastriatally transplanted human mesenchymal stem cell/brain-derived neurotrophic factor on disease progression in two strains of immune suppressed Huntington’s disease transgenic mice. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Full Article Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Inhibited High Salt-Induced Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Renal Medulla in Dahl S Rats Investigators determined the response of the NLRP3 inflammasome to high salt intake and the effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on the NLRP3 inflammasome in the renal medulla in Dahl salt sensitive (S) rats. [Am J Physiol Renal Physiol] Abstract |