Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 12.08 | Mar 3 2020

TOP STORY

Wnt-Mediated Endothelial Transformation into Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Like Cells Induces Chemoresistance in Glioblastoma

Researchers revealed that endothelial cells (ECs) acquired transformation into MSC-like cells in glioblastoma (GBM), driving tumor resistance to cytotoxic treatment. Transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing revealed that ECs underwent mesenchymal transformation and stemness-like activation in GBM microenvironment. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

Hydrogel Cross-Linking-Programmed Release of Nitric Oxide Regulates Source-Dependent Angiogenic Behaviors of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell

Investigators used a gelatin hydrogel that released nitric oxide (NO) upon crosslinking by a transglutaminase reaction (“NO gel”). Then, the source-specific behaviors of bone marrow versus adipose tissue-derived human MSCs were monitored in the NO gels. [Sci Adv] Full Article

Chlorzoxazone, a Small Molecule Drug, Augments Immunosuppressive Capacity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Modulation of FOXO3 Phosphorylation

Researchers screened and identified a classical FDA-approved drug, chlorzoxazone (CZ). Unlike the traditional method of induction by IFN-γ, CZ induced MSCs into MSC2 phenotype and enhanced immunosuppressive capacity without elevation of immunogenicity of MSCs. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Favor the Emergence of ETV6-RUNX1-Positive Pre-Leukemic Cells in a Model of Mesenchymal Niche

Scientists demonstrated that IL6/TNFα/ILβ pro-inflammatory cytokines cooperated with bone marrow (BM)-MSC in promoting the emergence of ETV6-RUNX (E/R)⁺ Ba/F3 over their normal counterparts by differentially affecting their proliferation and survival. Moreover, IL6/TNFα/ILβ-stimulated BM-MSC strongly attracted E/R⁺ Ba/F3 in a CXCR2-dependent manner. [Br J Haematol] Abstract

Robustness of Catalytically-Dead Cas9 Activators in Human Pluripotent and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors compared the ability of the first-generation catalytically-dead Cas9 (dCas9)-VP64 activator and the second-generation systems, dCas9-SAM and dCas9-SunTag, to induce gene expression in human pluripotent stem cells and human MSCs. Several stem cell lines were tested for single and multiplexed gene activation. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

Different Culture Method Changing CD105 Expression in Amniotic Fluid MSCs without Affecting Differentiation Ability or Immune Function

Amniotic fluid MSCs were isolated and cultured on commercial AFC medium and classic MSC medium, and the number and size of colonies were used to evaluate differences in primary and passaged culture. Rate of proliferation, population doubling time, cell morphology, cell surface markers and mRNA expression were measured in subcultured cells. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Pan-HDAC Inhibitor Panobinostat, as a Single Agent or in Combination with PI3K Inhibitor, Induces Apoptosis in APL Cells: An Emerging Approach to Overcome MSC-Induced Resistance

Investigators evaluated the suppressive effect of pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor panobinostat on both NB4 and primary acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients cells, either in the context of mono- or co-culture with MSCs. Panobinostat effectively reduced the survival of APL cells; however, as compared to NB4, the viability of primary cells was inhibited at the higher concentrations. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract

Quantitative Bioimage Analysis of Passaging Effect on the Migratory Behavior of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells during Spheroid Formation

Scientists evaluated the feasibility of quantitative bioimage analysis for monitoring stem cell quality during in vitro culture and to explore the passaging effects on stem cell migration. An image-based analytical tool using cell tracking, cytometric analyses, and gating with time-lapse microscopy was developed to characterize the migratory behavior of human MSCs isolated from human adipose tissue and placenta cultured on chitosan membranes. [Cytometry A] Abstract

IN VIVO

miR-142 Induces Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by Inhibiting Pexophagy in Aged Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Overexpression of miR-142 and subsequent observation revealed that miR-142 involved ROS accumulation through the disruption of selective autophagy for peroxisomes (pexophagy). Mechanistically, attenuation of acetyltransferase Ep300 triggered the upregulation of miR-142 in aged bone marrow MSCs, and miR-142 targeted endothelial PAS domain protein 1 was identified as a regulatory protein of pexophagy. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Therapeutic Effects of Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Combined with Cartilage Acellular Matrix Mediated via Bone Morphogenic Protein 6 in a Rabbit Model of Articular Cruciate Ligament Transection

Investigators determined the role of specific factors generated by the application of extracellular matrix (ECM) and umbilical cord blood-derived (UCB) MSCs in managing osteoarthritis symptoms. Cartilage ECM, which is a cartilage-derived ECM, was used to promote the chondrogenesis of UCB-MSCs. [Stem Cell Rev Rep] Abstract

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Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Derivatives Effectively Promotes Liver Regeneration to Attenuate Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury

The authors comprehensively discuss the mechanisms of acetaminophen (APAP) overdose-induced liver injury and current therapies for treating APAP-induced liver injury. They then comprehensively summarize recent studies about transplantation of MSC and MSC derivatives for treating APAP-induced liver injury. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the mesenchymal cell research field.

Antibe Therapeutics Announces Enrollment of Last Patient in Phase IIB Dose-Ranging, Efficacy Study of Lead Drug, ATB-346

Antibe Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the last patient has been enrolled and is on treatment in the Phase IIB dose-ranging, efficacy study of Antibe’s lead drug, ATB-346. The study is evaluating the effectiveness of ATB-346 in reducing osteoarthritis pain compared to placebo in 360 patients. [Antibe Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Ultragenyx and Kyowa Kirin Announce FDA Acceptance and Priority Review Designation of Supplemental Biologics License Application for Crysvita^® (Burosumab) for Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia (TIO)

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. announced that the FDA has accepted for review the supplemental Biologics License Application for Crysvita^® for the treatment of FGF23-related hypophosphatemia associated with phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors that cannot be curatively resected or localized. [Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.] Press Release

Scientists Grapple with US Restrictions on Fetal Tissue Research

The Trump administration’s changes to policy involving material donated from abortions have led scientists to adjust their research projects or seek alternative sources of funding. [The Scientist] Editorial

China Bans Cash Rewards for Publishing Papers

Chinese institutions have been told to stop paying researchers bonuses for publishing in journals, as part of a new national policy to cut perverse incentives that encourage scientists to publish lots of papers rather than focus on high-impact work. [Nature News] Editorial

UC Santa Cruz Fires Graduate Students Taking Part in Strike

The University of California, Santa Cruz, fired 54 graduate student employees from their teaching positions on February 28, in the latest escalation of a months-long dispute over student pay, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Tissue Plasticity: Preservation and Alteration of Cellular Identity
October 4-7, 2020
Park City, Utah, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Osteoarthritis, Mechanobiology, and Regenerative Medicine (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – IDH Pathways in Sarcomas (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Associate – Stem Cell Research (University of Miami Health System)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Research in Sarcoma (The Ohio State University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Pluripotency, Reprogramming and Cancer Biology (Cancer Research Center of Lyon)

Senior Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Fellow – Sarcoma Biology (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Autism Disease Modeling (Black Family Stem Cell Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stem Cell Niche Biology (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Research (Temple University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cartilage Regeneration (Drexel University)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Corneal Stem Cells (University of California, Los Angeles)

Senior Research Technician – Stem Cell Biology (Columbia University in the City of New York)

PhD Positions – Cell Biology (University of Warwick)

Postdoctoral Positions – Drug Delivery and Therapeutic Development (University of Minnesota)

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