Cell Therapy News Volume 15.00 | Jan 6 2014

Intravenous Transplants of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Protect the Brain from Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Neurodegeneration and Motor and Cognitive Impairments: Cell Graft Biodistribution and Soluble Factors in Young and Aged Rats
Investigators examined the beneficial effects of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) in a controlled cortical impact model of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) using young (6 months) and aged (20 months) F344 rats. Animals were transplanted intravenously with 4 × 10⁶ hADSCs, conditioned media, or vehicle (unconditioned media) at 3 hours after TBI. [J Neurosci] Abstract

The Regeneration Potential after Human and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model Can Be Monitored by MRI
Researchers examined the regeneration potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) after transplantation in a non-autogenous setting and compared them with autogenous rat ASCs for early peripheral nerve regeneration. [Cell Transplant] Abstract

Fibroblasts Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Activate Angiogenic Responses In Vitro and In Vivo
Scientists describe a directed differentiation protocol that generates fibroblasts from both human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells that support the repair and regeneration of epithelial tissue in engineered, 3D skin equivalents. [PLoS One] Full Article

Protective Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with CXCR4 Up-Regulation in a Rat Renal Transplantation Model
The authors investigated the short-term tissue homing of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) carrying genetically modified chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in a rat renal transplantation model. They tested the hypothesis that MSCs with CXCR4 over-expression can more efficiently regulate immunological reactions. [PLoS One] Full Article

Transcriptional Targeting of Primary and Metastatic Tumor Neovasculature by an Adenoviral Type 5 Roundabout4 Vector in Mice
Investigators intravenously injected an adenoviral vector containing 3 kb of the human roundabout4 enhancer/promoter transcriptionally regulating an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter into immunodeficient mice bearing 786-O renal cell carcinoma subcutaneous xenografts and kidney orthotopic tumors. [PLoS One]
Full Article | Press Release

Humanized Culture of Periosteal Progenitors in Allogeneic Serum Enhances Osteogenic Differentiation and In Vivo Bone Formation
Although fetal bovine serum (FBS) is widely used, regulatory bodies and safety concerns encourage alternative, xeno-free culturing practices. In an attempt to apply this approach to a bone-forming combination product of human periosteal progenitors (human periosteum derived cells) on a clinically used calcium phosphate carrier, FBS was substituted for human allogeneic serum during cell expansion. [Stem Cell Transl Med] Abstract

Long-Term Stability and Safety of Transgenic Cultured Epidermal Stem Cells in Gene Therapy of Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa
Researchers report a long-term follow-up (6.5 years) of a Phase I/II clinical trial envisaging the use of autologous genetically modified cultured epidermal stem cells for gene therapy of junctional epidermolysis bullosa, a devastating genetic skin disease. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Small Molecules Targeting In Vivo Tissue Regeneration
The authors discuss current progress using small molecules targeting in vivo aspects of regeneration, including adult stem cells, stem cell niches and mechanisms of homing, mobilization and engraftment as well as somatic cell proliferation. [ACS Chem Biol] Abstract

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

Bioheart, Inc. to Present at Vail Symposium’s Winter Program on Cell Therapy
Kristin Comella, Bioheart’s Chief Scientific Officer, will present a summary of data on the use of stem cells to treat a variety of indications. [Press release from Bioheart, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the Vail Symposium Winter Program, Avon] Press Release

Europe Waters Down Transnational ‘Research Buddy’ Plan
Europe’s latest research-funding program includes, for the first time, money for ‘low-performing’ member states to set up research centers in their regions, in partnership with well-established institutions from other countries. But some observers were disappointed when the European Union announced that the host countries will manage the centers – a rule that critics say could be challenging for fledgling institutions and perhaps perpetuate problems, such as nepotism, that have contributed to their poor performance in the first place. [Nature News] Editorial

EmailAddress&u=http://www.stemcell.com/Home/Forms/Wallcharts/Wallchart Neural Stem Cells.aspx?utm_source=ctn%26utm_medium=link%26utm_campaign=NeuralWallchart_645x110-RequestWallchart&t=(Archive)CTN15.00iiitext” style=”text-decoration: none”>From our sponsor: Free wallchart from Nature Neuroscience – Neural Stem Cells. Request your copy.

GE to Expand in Life Sciences with Acquisition of Strategic Assets from Thermo Fisher Scientific
GE and Thermo Fisher Scientific announced that they have entered into an agreement for GE Healthcare to acquire Thermo Fisher’s HyClone™ cell culture media and sera, and gene modulation and magnetic beads businesses for approximately $1.06 billion. [Business Wire] Press Release

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Shares Historic Gift to Fund Immunotherapy Research
Memorial Sloan-Kettering is one of six elite academic institutions to share an unprecedented total of $540 million from Ludwig Cancer Research, on behalf of its founder Daniel K. Ludwig, with Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s funding going to support research that builds on its groundbreaking work in the field of cancer immunotherapy. [Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center] Press Release

TiGenix Secures EUR 10 Million in Financing from Kreos Capital
TiGenix announced that it has signed a structured debt financing agreement of up to EUR 10 million with Kreos Capital. The funds will supplement the EUR 12 million in equity financing TiGenix recently secured from Gri-Cel SA, and will be used for general growth purposes as TiGenix advances the development of its expanding pipeline of cell therapy products. [TiGenix NV] Press Release

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Its Immunotherapy Bavituximab as a Potential Treatment of Second-Line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the company has received Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead investigational immunotherapy bavituximab for the potential treatment of second-line non-small cell lung cancer. [Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

DiaVacs’s Immunotherapy Product for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Receives Orphan Drug Status Designation from the FDA
DiaVacs, Inc. announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for the company’s type 1 diabetes mellitus therapy. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

NeoStem Expands Patent Portfolio With New US and European Patent Allowances
NeoStem, Inc. announced the expansion of intellectual property protection surrounding the company’s lead product candidate, AMR-001, a chemotactic stem cell product enriched for CD34+ cells that treats injury from vascular insufficiency. [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

An Invaluable Research Resource
Coriell Institute was recently awarded a milestone contract extension for its National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke repository, which houses an extensive and diverse collection of biospecimens assembled to facilitate studies aimed at accelerating the discovery of disease-relevant biomarkers for neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease. [Coriell Institute]
Press Release

Cord Blood America, Inc. Earns AABB Accreditation
Cord Blood America, Inc. announced it has achieved AABB accreditation for cell therapy activity associated with cord blood processing, storage and distribution. [Cord Blood America, Inc.] Press Release

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Stem Cell Manufacturing Scientist (Paramount Recruitment)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Bioengineering (Queensland University of Technology/Translational Research Institute)

Clinical MD – Clinical Development Program for Oncology and Autoimmune Diseases (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Chief Medical Officer (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wound Healing (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Liver Tissue Engineering (Harvard Medical School)

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