Cell Therapy News Volume 15.16 | April 28 2014

Crtc1 Activates a Transcriptional Program Deregulated at Early Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Stages
Adeno-associated viral-mediated cAMP-responsive element binding protein-regulated transcription coactivator-1 (Crtc1) overexpression in the hippocampus efficiently reverses Aβ-induced spatial learning and memory deficits by restoring a specific subset of Crtc1 target genes. [J Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

Renal Telocytes Contribute to the Repair of Ischemically Injured Renal Tubules
Researchers investigated the paracrine effect of renal telocytes (TCs) on renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro, the regenerative function of renal TCs in renal tubules after ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo and the possible mechanisms involved. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

In Situ Recruitment of Human BMSCs Using Chemokines for Articular Cartilage Regeneration
The chemotaxis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) toward chemokines, which may give rise to a complete regeneration of the articular cartilage, was investigated. CCR2, CCR4, CCR6, CXCR1, and CXCR2 were expressed in normal BMSCs and were increased significantly upon treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines. [Cell Transplant] Abstract

Adenoviruses Using the Cancer Marker EphA2 as a Receptor In Vitro and In Vivo by Genetic Ligand Insertion into Different Capsid Scaffolds
Investigators established cell type-specific entry of HAdV-5-based vectors by genetic ligand insertion into a chimeric fiber with shaft and knob domains of the short HAdV-41 fiber. This fiber format was reported to ablate transduction in vitro and biodistribution to the liver in vivo. [PLoS One] Full Article

A Preliminary Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
No data are available on the efficacy and safety of allogeneic Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cell (WJ-MSC) transplantation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Investigators performed a non-placebo controlled prospective Phase I/II study to determine efficacy and safety of WJ-MSC transplantation in T2DM. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Long-Term Fate of Grafted Hippocampal Neural Progenitor Cells following Ischemic Injury
Researchers assessed the long-term survival, migration, differentiation, and functional outcome of neural progenitor cells transplanted into the ischemic murine brain. [J Neurosci Res] Abstract

Controlled Release of BMP-2 Using a Heparin-Conjugated Carrier System Reduces In Vivo Adipose Tissue Formation
Investigators evaluated the induction of mineralized/adipose tissue formation and the bone-healing pattern associated with the controlled release of E. coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) by a heparin-conjugated fibrin system using ectopic and orthotopic in vivo models, respectively. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes Improve the Mouse Liver after Acute Acetaminophen Intoxication by Preventing Progress of Injury
Mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow were differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and transplanted into livers of immunodeficient Pfp/Rag2^-/- mice treated with a sublethal dose of acetaminophen (APAP) to induce acute liver injury. APAP induced a time- and dose-dependent damage of perivenous areas of the liver lobule. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract | Download Full Article

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Study Suggests Targeting B Cells May Help with MS
A new study suggests that targeting B cells may be associated with reduced disease activity for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). 231 people with relapsing-remitting MS received either a placebo or one of several low dosages of the drug ofatumumab, which is an anti-B cell antibody, for 24 weeks, with the first 12 weeks making up the placebo-controlled period. [Press release from American Academy of Neurology (AAN) discussing research presented at the AAN’s 66^th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia] Press Release

NSF’s Science Board Criticizes Bill to Alter Agency’s Programs
The presidentially appointed oversight body to the National Science Foundation (NSF) has taken the unprecedented step of publicly criticizing pending legislation that it feels would be harmful to the $7 billion research agency. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Avalanche Biotechnologies Secures $55 Million in Oversubscribed Series B Financing
Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc., a developer of gene therapies for serious eye diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration, announced the successful completion of a $55 million Series B financing. [Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc.] Press Release

Orbsen Therapeutics in €6 Million Research Funding Success
Orbsen Therapeutics is a spin-out from NUI Galway’s Regenerative Medicine Institute. MERLIN (MEsynchymal stem cells to Reduce Liver INflammation) will advance Orbsen’s proprietary cell therapy to a Phase IIa clinical trial in patients with inflammatory liver disease. [Orbsen Therapeutics] Press Release

Athersys Announces Results from Phase II Study of MultiStem^® Cell Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis
Athersys, Inc. announced interim results from the Phase II clinical study of the administration of Athersys’ MultiStem^® cell therapy to treatment refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) patients being conducted by Pfizer, Inc. The cell therapy failed to show meaningful benefit, following a single administration, in patients suffering from chronic, moderate-to-severe UC who have failed other therapies. [Athersys, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Approves Commencement of BrainStorm’s Phase II ALS Clinical Trial in U.S.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved commencement of its Phase II clinical trial with NurOwn™ in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Bioheart Announces Clinical Study for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Bioheart, Inc. announced that it will enroll patients in a new study for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study will enroll up to 100 patients to determine the safety and efficacy of adipose derived stem cells or AdipoCell™ in patients with COPD. [Bioheart, Inc.] Press Release

Pluristem’s Manufacturing Facility Approved by European Auditors for Phase III Trials
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced that its new manufacturing facility has received the European Union’s Qualified Person Declaration. With this declaration, Pluristem is now approved to use cell therapies manufactured at its facility in all phases of its clinical trials conducted in the European Union, including Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Advanced Cell Technology’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Robert Lanza Named One of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced that the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Robert Lanza, MD, has been selected for the 2014 TIME 100 annual list of the hundred most influential people in the world. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.] Press Release

Expedited Access for Premarket Approval Medical Devices Intended for Unmet Medical Need for Life Threatening or Irreversibly Debilitating Disease or Conditions; Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff; Availability (FR Doc. No: 2014-09189)

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