Cord Blood News Volume 12.14 | Apr 16 2020

TOP STORY

Glutathione Dynamics Determine the Therapeutic Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Graft-versus-Host Disease via CREB1-NRF2 Pathway

Administration of MSCs overexpressing CREB1-NRF2 target genes alleviated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in a humanized mouse model, resulting in improved survival, decreased weight loss, and reduced histopathologic damages in GVHD target organs. [Sci Adv] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

TGF-β Secreted by Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorates Atopic Dermatitis by Inhibiting Secretion of TNF-α and IgE

Scientists investigated the role of transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF-β) in the therapeutic effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs on atopic dermatitis. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Human Regulatory T Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood Display Increased Repertoire Diversity and Lineage Stability Relative to Adult Peripheral Blood

Researchers compared the phenotypic profiles of human regulatory T cells (Tregs) isolated from cord blood (CB) versus the more traditional source, adult peripheral blood (APB). CB Tregs were more diverse in T cell receptor repertoire and homogenous in phenotype, and contained fewer effector-like cells in contrast with APB Tregs. [Front Immunol] Abstract

Prolactin Acts on Myeloid Progenitors to Modulate SMAD7 Expression and Enhance Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation into the NK Cell Lineage

Both mRNA and protein analyses showed that prolactin increased mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (SMAD7) in CD34⁺ prolactin receptor positive myeloid cells, which reduced the production of transforming growth factor beta 1, a cytokine known to inhibit CD56⁺ cell development. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Griscelli Syndrome Type 2: A Single-Center Report on 35 Patients

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with Griscelli syndrome type 2 was potentially curative with long-term disease-free survival. Early HSCT before the development of the accelerated phase was associated with a better outcome. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Cost-Effective Storage Solution for Delivering Umbilical Cord with Efficient Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors demonstrated that a simple solution containing a pH buffering reagent, calcium, magnesium and glucose could be used as a cost-effective storage solution for umbilical cord delivery and efficient MSC isolation. [Biotechniques] Full Article

Collagen Scaffold with Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Remarkably Improves Intrauterine Adhesions in a Rat Model

The collagen scaffold administered with human umbilical cord MSCs (hUCMSCs) markedly increased the number of endometrial glands and reduced the area of fibrosis compared with either the collagen scaffold or hUCMSCs alone. [Gynecol Obstet Invest] Abstract

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Human Wharton’s Jelly—Cellular Specificity, Stemness Potency, Animal Models, and Current Application in Human Clinical Trials

Wharton’s jelly is abundant in MSCs that express CD105, CD73, CD90, Oct-4, Sox-2, and Nanog among others, and have the ability to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and other lineages. Moreover, Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs do not express MHC-II and exhibit immunomodulatory properties, which makes them a good alternative for allogeneic and xenogeneic transplantations in cellular therapies. [J Clin Med] Full Article

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Queen’s University Leading Cell Therapy Clinical Trial to Help Improve Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients

Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast are leading a UK-wide clinical trial, offering an innovative cell therapy treatment for COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. [Queen’s University Belfast] Press Release

Predictive Submits Emergency Use Authorization Application for Treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Secondary to COVID -19 with Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Predictive Biotech announced that it submitted an Emergency Use Authorization application with the FDA for the immediate use of MSCs derived from umbilical cord tissue for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome, secondary to SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [Predictive Biotech] Press Release

‘Short-Sighted.’ Health Experts Decry Trump’s Freeze on US Funding for WHO as World Fights Pandemic

President Donald Trump said he will suspend US funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) pending a 60- to 90-day investigation into how the agency has handled the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

How Scientists Can Volunteer to Help Fight COVID-19

Around the world, bench scientists other than those actively studying the pandemic have largely been forced to scale back or even shut down their experiments out of COVID-19 precautions. But that doesn’t mean their skills and expertise can’t contribute to the worldwide effort to address the disease. [The Scientist] Editorial

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NEW Director – Blood Research Institute (Versiti)

Research Technician – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Positions – Leukemia (Temple University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Lund University)

Faculty Position – Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Hematologic Malignancies (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology (Columbia University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Research (Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Leukemia (Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Stem Cell Biology (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Laboratory Director – Cord Blood Processing (PerkinElmer)

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