Cell Therapy News Volume 13.12 | Apr 2 2012

May 12, 2022

Issue 13.12, April 2, 2012

TOP STORY

Editing T Cell Specificity Towards Leukemia by Zinc Finger Nucleases and Lentiviral Gene Transfer
Researchers designed zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) that promoted the disruption of endogenous T cell receptor (TCR) β- and α-chain genes. Lymphocytes treated with ZFNs lacked surface expression of CD3-TCR and expanded with the addition of interleukin-7 (IL-7) and IL-15. [Nat Med] Abstract

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)

Synergistic, Context-Dependent, and Hierarchical Functions of Epithelial Components in Thymic Microenvironments
The surprisingly simple rules determining hematopoietic properties enable the in vivo engineering of artificial environments conducive to the presence of distinct myeloid or T or B lymphoid lineage precursors; moreover, synthetic environments facilitate the procurement of physiological progenitor cell types for analytical purposes and future therapeutic applications. [Cell] Abstract | Press Release

Mutant Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Recapitulate Aspects of TDP-43 Proteinopathies and Reveal Cell-Specific Vulnerability
Researchers report the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells that carry the transactive response DNA-binding (TDP-43) M337V mutation and their differentiation into neurons and functional motor neurons. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Migration Inhibitory Factor Produced by Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages Contributes to Teratoma Progression after Embryonic Stem Cell Transplantation
Scientists investigated the effects of the microenvironment on stem cell growth and teratoma development using undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Spherical Bullet Formation via E-Cadherin Promotes Therapeutic Potency of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Human Umbilical Cord Blood for Myocardial Infarction
Researchers developed the spheroid three dimensional bullet as a delivery method for human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells through the maintenance of cell-cell interactions without additional xenofactors, cytokines, or matrix. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Ex Vivo Adenoviral Vector Gene Delivery Results in Decreased Vector-Associated Inflammation Pre- and Post-Lung Transplantation in the Pig
Researchers compared ex vivo with in vivo intratracheal delivery of an E1-, E3-deleted adenoviral vector encoding either green fluorescent protein or interleukin-10 to porcine lungs. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Autoimmune Epilepsy: Clinical Characteristics and Response to Immunotherapy
Researchers’ objective was to describe clinical characteristics and immunotherapy responses in patients with autoimmune epilepsy. [Arch Neurol] Abstract | Press Release

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Therapy Enhances Infiltration of Macrophages and May Induce Kidney Repair in db/db Mice as a Model of Diabetes
Researchers find hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene therapy enhances renal expression of stromal-cell-derived factor-1 and is subsequently associated with an increased number of bone-marrow-derived cells getting into the injured kidneys. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Effect of Alipogene Tiparvovec (AAV1-LPL^S447X) on Postprandial Chylomicron Metabolism in Lipoprotein Lipase-Deficient Patients
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of intramuscular administration of an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV1) for expression of lipoprotein lipase^S447X (LPL^S447X) in muscle (AAV1-LPL^S447X) on postprandial chylomicron metabolism and on nonesterified fatty acid and glycerol metabolism in lipoprotein lipase-deficient individuals. [J Clin Endocrinol Metab] Abstract | Press Release

Therapeutic Hemoglobin Levels after Gene Transfer in ß-Thalassemia Mice and in Hematopoietic Cells of ß-Thalassemia and Sickle Cells Disease Patients
Researchers generated lentiviral vectors carrying the human ß-globin gene with and without an ankyrin insulator and compared their ability to induce hemoglobin synthesis in vitro and in thalassemic mice. [PLoS One]
Abstract | Press Release

Agonistic Antibody to CD40 Boosts the Antitumor Activity of Adoptively Transferred T Cells In Vivo
The purpose of this study was to determine whether anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody in combination with interleukin-2 could improve the efficacy of in vitro-activated T cells to enhance antitumor activity. [J Immunother] Abstract

SCIENCE NEWS

Treatment with Renal Cancer Therapy MGN1601 Generates Clear Survival Benefit for Patients
In a further evaluation of the phase I/II renal cancer study with MGN1601, researchers have analyzed the survival times of patients enrolled in the study and the first data of the accompanying immunological tests. MGN1601 is a cell-based cancer therapy based on genetically modified tumor cells. [Press release from MOLOGEN AG discussing research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2012, Chicago] Press Release

Transforming Scar Tissue into Beating Hearts
Researchers presented the results of their latest studies using viral vectors to deliver genes directly into the hearts of adult mice that had experienced a myocardial infarction. [Press release from the European Society of Cardiology discussing research presented at the Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology (FCVB) 2012 Meeting, London] Press Release

Allied Healthcare Announces Successful Implant of ADAPT^®-Treated Patch for Pelvic Floor & Hernia Reconstruction Procedures
Allied Healthcare Group announced its tissue engineering and regenerative medicine division Celxcel has achieved successful implantation of its ADAPT^®-treated patch for pelvic floor and hernia reconstruction procedures. [Allied Healthcare Group Ltd] Press Release

UPMC Transplant Hospital in Sicily Performs Its First Pancreatic Islet Transplantation
The Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, operated by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Palermo, Italy, performed its first pancreatic islet-cell transplant on a man suffering from type-1 diabetes to prevent serious complications from the disease. [University of Pittsburgh Medical Center] Press Release

POLICY

Canadian Budget Hits Basic Science
Canada’s latest budget will slash spending on the environment and push for more collaboration between basic researchers and industry. [Canadian Government, Canada] Press Release

House Science Panel Examines Public-Access Policies
The debate over public access got an airing before a House Science Committee panel. Witnesses weighed in on whether the government should require research papers describing federally funded work be freely available. [House Science Committee, United States] Press Release

PhDs Leave the Ivory Tower
Britain’s main physical-sciences funding body, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, has opened more than 50 doctoral training centers, most of them in 2009. This year, for the first time, it has funded more students through centers than through research grants. [Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, United Kingdom] Press Release

BUSINESS

California’s State Stem Cell Agency Extends its Collaborative Research Funding Network to South America
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine signed Memoranda of Understanding with state funding agencies in Brazil and Argentina that will foster collaborations between stem cell researchers in California and those in the two South American countries. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

AlloCure Raises $25 Million Series B Venture Financing
AlloCure, Inc. announced the closing of a $25 million Series B venture financing. The round included the participation of new syndicate member Lundbeckfond Ventures, as well as previous investors SV Life Sciences and Novo A/S. [AlloCure, Inc.] Press Release

Promethera Biosciences Raises EUR 23.6 Million in Series-B Financial Round
Promethera Biosciences completed an exceptional fundraising round that generated EUR 23.6 million, including EUR 17 million in capital. [Promethera Biosciences SA] Press Release

NeoStem Announces Pricing of Public Offering for $6,000,000 in Gross Proceeds
NeoStem, Inc. announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 15,000,000 units at $0.40 per unit. These funds will be used for working capital purposes, including research and development of cell therapeutic product candidates, expansion of business units, strategic transactions and other general corporate purposes. [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

ThermoGenesis Announces AABB Accreditation for Cord Blood Products Customer in China
ThermoGenesis Corp. said that its customer Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has become the first company in China to receive accreditation from the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks). [ThermoGenesis Corp.] Press Release

Provia Labs Expands Its Store-A-Tooth™ Dental Stem Cell Banking Program to Encourage Dentist and Patient Participation
Provia Laboratories, LLC recently expanded its Store-A-Tooth™ offering to dental professionals by making it easier for dentists to provide patients the opportunity to preserve their family’s stem cells. [Provia Laboratories, LLC] Press Release

Cardium Announces U.S. Market Introduction of Excellagen™
Cardium Therapeutics announced market introduction of its Excellagen™ professional-use, syringe-based wound care product for the management of diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and other dermal wounds. [Cardium Therapeutics] Press Release

Biovest Establishes World Class Scientific Advisory Board Comprised of Key Opinion Leaders in the Fields of Cancer Immunotherapy, Bioinformatics and Cell Culture Systems
Biovest International, Inc. announced that Biovest has formally established its Scientific Advisory Board comprised of key opinion leaders from prestigious institutions. [Biovest International, Inc.] Press Release

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Issues CEO Update to Shareholders
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics has issued a CEO update to shareholders and investors, with a review of recent accomplishments. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics] Press Release

Dr. Frances Ligler Elected to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineer’s College of Fellows
Naval Research Laboratory scientist, Dr. Frances Ligler, has been elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s College of Fellows. [United States Naval Research Laboratory] Press Release

Three University of Minnesota Students Named 2012 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars
Three University of Minnesota, Twin Cities undergraduates have been named 2012 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars. The scholarships provide up to $7,500 per year for up to two years of undergraduate study. [University of Minnesota] Press Release

NIH

Senate Panel Questions NIH’s 2013 Budget Plan
A Senate spending panel gently probed National Institutes of Health (NIH) leaders about their budget plan for next year, including how they would find more funding for research on Alzheimer’s disease. Press Release

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research Program (U01) (NOT-HG-12-014)

A Data Resource for Analyzing Blood and Marrow Transplants (Limited Competition U24) (RFA-CA-12-503)

NCI Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (NCI Omnibus R21) (PAR-12-145)

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing (FR Doc No: 2012-7709)

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing (FR Doc No: 2012-7420)

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-7334)