Cell Therapy News Volume 14.38 | Sep 30 2013

RNAi-Mediated Silencing of Myc Transcription Inhibits Stem-Like Cell Maintenance and Tumorigenicity in Prostate Cancer
Scientists investigated the effects of silencing Myc transcription on prostate cancer stem-like cell (CSC) in cell culture and xenograft models of human prostate cancer. Treatment with an effective promoter-targeting siRNA reduced the fraction of CSCs leading to reduced self-renewal, tumor-initiating and metastatic capability. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Hypoxia-Induced Therapeutic Neovascularization in a Mouse Model of an Ischemic Limb Using Cell Aggregates Composed of HUVECs and cbMSCs
Transplantation of hypoxic human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)/cord-blood mesenchymal stem cell (cbMSC) aggregates into a mouse model of an ischemic limb significantly promoted formation of functional vessels, improved regional blood perfusion, and attenuated muscle atrophy and bone losses, thereby rescuing tissue degeneration. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Umbilical Cord and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Seeding on Macroporous Calcium Phosphate for Bone Regeneration in Rat Cranial Defects
The authors investigated human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells seeding on macroporous calcium phosphate cement, and compared their bone regeneration in critical-sized cranial defects in rats. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Serial Transplantation and Long-Term Engraftment of Intraarterially Delivered Clonally-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Injured Bone Marrow
Researchers provide evidence that intraarterially injected mesenchymal stem cells selectively engraft from the circulation as perivascular cells in the bone marrow after a localized radiation injury. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Cardiac Stem Cells with Electrical Stimulation Improve Ischemic Heart Function through Regulation of Connective Tissue Growth Factor and miR-378
Scientists investigated whether pre-conditioning by electrical stimulation induces a cytoprotective effect on cardiac stem cells and determined its underlying molecular mechanisms. [Cardiovasc Res] Abstract

The In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of a Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan on the Osteogenic Capacity of Human Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells
To investigate whether human adipose tissue-derived stem cell (hASC) preconditioning with low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMWF) promoted bone repair, investigators compared the effects of LMWF and low-molecular-weight heparin on hASC phenotype and osteogenic differentiation. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Direct Comparison of Autologous and Allogeneic Transplantation of iPSC-Derived Neural Cells in the Brain of a Nonhuman Primate
Using nonhuman primates, scientists found that the autologous transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons elicited only a minimal immune response in the brain. In contrast, the allografts caused an acquired immune response with the activation of microglia (IBA-1⁺/MHC class II⁺) and the infiltration of leukocytes (CD45⁺/CD3⁺). [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Autologous Transplantation of GDNF-Expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protects against MPTP-Induced Damage in Cynomolgus Monkeys
Researchers investigated the function of autologous mesenchymal stem cells expressing GDNF for protection against MPTP-induced injury in cynomolgus monkeys. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cell, gene and immunotherapy research field.

NIH Swears Off Science Education
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has never been in the business of supporting precollege science education and promoting health literacy to the public, says NIH Principal Deputy Director Lawrence Tabak. And now it’s official NIH policy, too. NIH will shutter its nine-person Office of Science Education and cease to conduct a range of activities designed to foster health science education among elementary and secondary school students and the general public. [National Institutes of Health, United States] Press Release

From our sponsor: Free wallchart from Nature Neuroscience – Neural Stem Cells. Request your copy.

BioLife Solutions and SAVSU Technologies Announce Exclusive Distribution Agreement
BioLife Solutions, Inc. and SAVSU Technologies, Inc. jointly announced an agreement wherein BioLife will exclusively market and distribute SAVSU’s proprietary precision thermal packaging products to the stem cells and regenerative medicine markets. [BioLife Solutions, Inc.] Press Release

Disease-Specific Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Placed on NIH Registry
Scientists from King’s College London have announced that 16 human embryonic stem cell lines have been approved by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and placed on their Stem Cell Registry, making them freely available for federally-funded research in the USA. [King’s College London] Press Release

SpinalCyte, LLC Receives Australian Patent for Spinal Disc Tissue Engineering
SpinalCyte, LLC announced the Australian Patent Office issued a Notice Of Acceptance on its patent application “Methods and Compositions for Repair of Cartilage Using an In Vivo Bioreactor” to regrow the spinal disc, using human dermal fibroblasts. The allowed claims include the use of human dermal fibroblasts from the patient’s own body, to regrow the nucleus of the spinal disc in vivo. [SpinalCyte, LLC] Press Release

Arteriocyte Awarded BARDA Contract Valued up to $101.1 Million for Advanced Development of Arteriocyte’s Magellan^® BioBandage^TM for Thermal Radiation Injury
Arteriocyte, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a contract valued at up to $101.1 million, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded this contract. [Arteriocyte, Inc.] Press Release

National Cancer Institute Awards $48.6 Million Grant to MD Anderson
Broad, deep and outstanding research in cancer science, treatment and prevention have earned The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center a $48.6-million, five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute and an “exceptional” ranking, the highest possible, from the National Cancer Institute’s extensive peer-review process. [The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

McGowan Institute Will Co-Direct $75 Million Second Phase of National Effort to Aid Wounded Warriors
The Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine will continue its efforts to apply the latest in tissue engineering and other regenerative medicine techniques to the treatment of battlefield injuries in a $75 million, five-year second phase. [University of Pittsburgh] Press Release

Canadian Stem Cell Technology Expected to Offer New Options for Blood Stem Cell Transplants
A Canadian technology that has the potential to boost the number of stem cells given to patients undergoing transplants of the blood-forming system has been recognized as the most impactful stem cell research paper authored by a Canadian in the past year. Dr. Peter Zandstra has been given the 2013 Till & McCulloch Award in recognition of this contribution to global stem cell research. [Stem Cell Network] Press Release

Gaharwar Co-Edits Biomedical Textbook
Akhilesh Gaharwar is the lead editor of a new biomedical textbook titled “Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering: Fabrication and Applications.” The book, Gaharwar says, is a standard reference for researchers and tissue engineers with an interest in nanomaterials, laboratories investigating biomaterials, and academics interested in materials science, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and biological sciences. [Texas A&M University] Press Release

National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No. 2013-23210)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No. 2013-22986)

Complex Issues in Developing Drug and Biological Products for Rare Diseases; Public Workshop; Request for Comments (FR Doc No 2013-22959)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research (Bioprocessing Technology Institute)

NEW Manufacturing Manager (StemCells Inc.)

NEW Process Development Manager (StemCells Inc.)

NEW Manufacturing Associate (StemCells Inc.)

NEW PhD Research Project – Neural Stem Cell Research (University of Southampton)

Research Scientist – Stem Cell Research (Approach People Recruitment)

Postdoctoral Position – Development of Cell Delivery Systems in Bone Repair (Fujifilm)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Research (Tsinghua University Graduate School at Shenzhen)

Postdoctoral Position – Leukemia Biology (Northwestern University)

Cellular Therapy Lab Specialist (University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

Postdoctoral Positions – AIDS Vaccine and Human Gene Therapy (GeneCure Biotechnologies)

Scientist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Culture Media & Matrices (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.