Cord Blood News Volume 11.27 | Jul 18 2019

TOP STORY

Cytokine Selection of MSC Clones with Different Functionality

Scientists transduced mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) progenitors in umbilical cord pieces (UCPs) with vectors encoding fluorescent proteins and genetic barcodes. After marked MSC cultures grew out from UCPs, they investigated the influence of cytokines on MSC functionality. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstact

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Novel MRGPRX2 Antagonists Inhibit IgE-Independent Activation of Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mast Cells

Researchers identified two novel MRGPRX2 antagonists, which completely inhibited the degranulation of human cord blood-derived MCs (hCMCs) induced by basic secretagogues and pseudoallergic drug, icatibant, but IgE- or A23187-challenged hCMCs were resistant to MRGPRX2 antagonists. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells Expressing IL-24 Induce Apoptosis in Gliomas

The authors investigated umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (UC-MSCs) as a vehicle for the targeted delivery of IL-24 to tumor sites. UC-MSCs were transduced with lentiviral vectors carrying green fluorescent protein or IL-24 complementary DNA. The results indicated that UC-MSCs could selectively migrate to glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Preconditioning with Interleukin-1beta and Interferon-Gamma Enhances the Efficacy of Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived MSCs-Based Therapy via Enhancing Prostaglandin E2 Secretion and Indoleamine 2, 3-Dioxygenase Activity in DSS-Induced Colitis

Investigators showed that human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) preconditioned with IL-1β and IFN-γ created a statistically significant decrease in peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation, indicating that their immunosuppressive ability was increased. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Immunomodulatory Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells on T Lymphocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Researchers showed that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis in T lymphocytes, downregulated RORγt mRNA and protein expression, decreased Th17 cell ratio, upregulated Foxp3 mRNA and protein expression, and increased Treg cell ratio in the spleen. [Int Immunopharmacol] Full Article

The Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban on Neural Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro

Scientists investigated the effect of a raw extract of Centella asiatica (L.) (RECA) on the neural differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro. The HhMSCs derived from human Wharton’s jelly umbilical cord were treated with RECA at different concentrations. The cytotoxicity of RECA was evaluated via the MTT and cell proliferation assays. [BMC Complement Altern Med] Full Article

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Gene Therapy of Hematological Disorders: Current Challenges

The author discusses tools used in gene therapy for hematological disorders, choices of target cells, and delivery vehicles with emphasis on current hurdles and attempts to solve them, and presents examples of successful clinical trials to give a glimpse of current progress. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Emerging Agents and Regimens for Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

With the deepening of research, new chemotherapy regimens, new small molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapy have been increasingly applied to clinical trials, providing more possibilities for the treatment of relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

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Advancing Leading Edge Cancer Research in a $4.5 Million Collaboration

A three-way $4.5 million collaboration launched between The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, and The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group will drive an innovative new funding initiative to propel cutting-edge research to unleash the next wave of novel cancer therapies. [The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society] Press Release

Omeros Announces Agreement with FDA on Primary Endpoint for Narsoplimab BLA in Stem Cell Transplant-Associated TMA

Omeros Corporation announced agreement with the FDA on the response-based primary endpoint for its pivotal trial to support the biologics license application (BLA) for narsoplimab to treat hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). [Omeros Corporation] Press Release

The Plan to Mine the World’s Research Papers

Carl Malamud is on a crusade to liberate information locked up behind paywalls — and his campaigns have scored many victories. Now, the 60-year-old American technologist is turning his sights on a new objective: freeing paywalled scientific literature. And he thinks he has a legal way to do it. [Nature News] Editorial

US Senators Call for International Guidelines for Germline Editing

Senators Dianne Feinstein, Marco Rubio, and Jack Reed introduced a resolution calling for global collaboration in developing guidelines for the use of gene editing technologies in the context of reproduction. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Cancer Stem Cells: Advances in Biology & Clinical Translation
October 13-17, 2019
Hong Kong, China

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NEW Assitant Director – Cell & Gene Therapy Laboratory (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Faculty Positions – Cancer and Blood Diseases (The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

PhD Positions – Age-Related Changes in Hematopoiesis (University of Milano-Bicocca)

Postdoctoral Position – Bone/Stem Cell Biology (University of California, San Francisco)

Research Associate – Stem Cell Medicine (University of Cambridge)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Development, Regeneration and Cell Fate (Michigan State University)

Tenure-Track Positions – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche in Leukemia (Erasmus Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Next Generation Cell Therapy Process Engineering (University of British Columbia)

Postdoctoral Studies – Normal and Aberrant Hematopoiesis (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Position – Leukemia (University of California, San Francisco)

Research Associate – Oncology and Hematology (University of Manitoba)

Research Fellow – Hematology, Blood Disorders and Stem Cell Biology (New York Blood Center)

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