Functional Engraftment of Colon Epithelium Expanded In Vitro from a Single Adult Lgr5+ Stem Cell Here investigators describe methods for long-term expansion of colonic stem cells positive for leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5+ cells) in culture. To test the transplantability of these cells, the researchers reintroduced cultured GFP+ colon organoids into superficially damaged mouse colon. [Nat Med] Abstract Transferred Melanoma-Specific CD8+ T Cells Persist, Mediate Tumor Regression, and Acquire Central Memory Phenotype As a means to enhance persistence of infused T cells in vivo and limit toxicity, 11 patients with refractory, progressive metastatic melanoma received cyclophosphamide alone as conditioning before the infusion of peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived, antigen-specific, CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clones followed by low-dose or high-dose IL-2. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Improvement of Islet Function in a Bioartificial Pancreas by Enhanced Oxygen Supply and Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Agonist Critical shortage of donor organs, gradual loss in graft function over time, and chronic need for immunosuppression limit the indication for islet transplantation to a small group of patients. Here researchers present a promising approach to address these limitations by utilization of a macrochamber specially engineered for islet transplantation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Scanning Probe-Enabled Nanocombinatorics Define the Relationship between Fibronectin Feature Size and Stem Cell Fate In a proof-of-concept investigation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation, combinatorial patterns first enabled a rapid and systematic screening of MSC adhesion, as a function of feature size, while uniform patterns were used to study differentiation with statistically significant sample sizes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release The Cartilage Matrix Molecule Components Produced by Human Fetal Cartilage Rudiment Cells within Scaffolds and the Role of Exogenous Growth Factors This study examined the matrix components elaborated by cultured fetal cartilage rudiment cells, a mixture of chondroblasts/chondroprogenitor cells and committed chondrocytes, in monolayer, cell pellet cultures and in the synthetic scaffolds sodium alginate and polyglycolic acid. The ability of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and FGF-18 to promote chondrogenesis in pellet cultures was also examined. [Biomaterials] Abstract Modulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenesis in a Tunable Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Microenvironment In this study, hyaluronic acid-tyramine hydrogels were explored as biomimetic matrices for caprine mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage tissue engineering. [Biomaterials] Abstract Functional Characterization of TPO-Expanded CD34+ Cord Blood Cells Identifies CD34–CD61– Cells as Platelet Producing Cells Early after Transplantation in NOD/SCID Mice and rCD34+ Cells as CAFC Colony Forming Cells It is unknown which sub-populations of TPO expanded cord blood CD34+ cells mediate accelerated platelet recovery and bone marrow (BM) engraftment. In this study, the contribution of these sub-populations to human platelet appearance in the blood and BM engraftment was studied in NOD/SCID mice. [Stem Cells] Abstract Neonatal Gene Therapy with a Gamma Retroviral Vector in Mucopolysaccharidosis VI Cats Mucopolysaccharidosis VI cats were injected intravenously with a gamma retroviral vector (RV)-expressing feline N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfatase, resulting in 5 ± 3 copies of RV per 100 cells in liver. [Mol Ther] Abstract Long-Term Correction of Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Mice Using AAV9 Gene Therapy Very long-chain acyl-coA dehydrogenase (VLCAD)-deficient mice were treated systemically with 1 × 1012 vector genomes of recombinant adeno-associated virus 9 (rAAV9)-VLCAD. [Mol Ther] Abstract Therapeutic Angiogenesis due to Balanced Single-Vector Delivery of VEGF and PDGF-BB Researchers tested the hypothesis that codelivery of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) could induce normal angiogenesis in skeletal muscle irrespective of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. [FASEB J] Abstract | Press Release Three-Dimensional Multipotent Progenitor Cell Aggregates for Expansion, Osteogenic Differentiation and ‘In Vivo’ Tracing with AAV Vector Serotype 6 In this study, researchers tested whether self-complementary adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) can potentially be used as a gene delivery system in an osteogenically differentiated multipotent adult progenitor cell-based ‘in vivo’ bone formation model in the craniofacial region. [Gene Ther] Abstract Chimerism and Tolerance without GVHD or Engraftment Syndrome in HLA-Mismatched Combined Kidney and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Researchers developed an approach to induce immune tolerance for organ transplants using a bioengineered mobilized cellular product enriched for hematopoietic stem cells and tolerogenic graft facilitating cells combined with nonmyeloablative conditioning; this approach resulted in engraftment, durable chimerism, and tolerance induction in recipients with highly mismatched related and unrelated donors. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release Human Müller Glia with Stem Cell Characteristics Differentiate into Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) Precursors In Vitro and Partially Restore RGC Function In Vivo following Transplantation Researchers’ results suggest that transplanted RGC precursors may be capable of establishing local interneuron synapses and possibly release neurotrophic factors that facilitate recovery of RGC function. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release
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