Cell Therapy News Volume 15.19 | May 19 2014

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Characteristics of Dental Pulp and Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells after In Vivo Transplantation
Cells were re-isolated from in vivo-generated dental pulp-like and periodontal ligament (PDL)-like tissues as a result of ectopic transplantation of human dental pulp stem cell and PDL stem cell sheets. The cell characteristics in terms of colony-forming ability, cell surface antigens and multi-differentiation potentials were all evaluated before and after implantation. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Targeting Adipose Tissue via Systemic Gene Therapy
The authors developed an in vivo, systemic method of gene transfer specifically targeting adipose tissue using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. They constructed AAV vectors containing cytomegalovirus promoter-regulated reporter genes, intravenously injected adult mice with vectors using multiple AAV serotypes, and determined that AAV2/8 best targeted adipose tissue. [Gene Ther] Abstract

MicroRNA 142-3p Attenuates Spread of Replicating Retroviral Vector in Hematopoietic-Lineage Derived Cells while Maintaining an Antiviral Immune Response
Scientists investigated whether incorporation of a hematopoietic lineage-specific microRNA target sequence in retroviral replicating vectors further restricts replication in hematopoietic lineage-derived human cells in vitro and in murine lymphoid tissues in vivo. [Hum Gene Ther] Abstract

Genistein Promotes Endothelial Colony-Forming Cell (ECFC) Bioactivities and Cardiac Regeneration in Myocardial Infarction
Several strategies aimed at improving survival and engraftment of stem cells in the ischemic myocardium have been developed, such as cell transplantation in combination with growth factor delivery, genetic modification of stem cells, and/or cell therapy using scaffolds. To improve therapeutic efficacy, researchers investigated the effects of genistein on the engraftment of transplanted ECFCs in an acute myocardial ischemia model. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Administration of BMSCs with Muscone in Rats with Gentamicin-Induced AKI Improves Their Therapeutic Efficacy
Researchers provide evidence that the administration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with muscone in rats with gentamicin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) intravenously, is a feasible strategy to drive BMSCs to damaged tissues and improve the BMSC-based therapeutic effect. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Expansion and Homing of Adoptively Transferred Human NK Cells in Immunodeficient Mice Varies with Product Preparation and In Vivo Cytokine Administration: Implications for Clinical Therapy
NK cell efficacy correlates with in vivo proliferation and scientists hypothesized that NK cell product manipulations may optimize this endpoint. Xenotransplantation was used to compare GMP grade freshly activated NK cells and ex vivo expanded NK cells. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Path to the Clinic: Assessment of iPSC-Based Cell Therapies In Vivo in a Nonhuman Primate Model
Scientists developed a clinically relevant nonhuman primate model to assess the tumorigenic potential and in vivo efficacy of both undifferentiated and differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in autologous settings without immunosuppression. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

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

Sequenta and Collaborators to Present Lymphoma and Immunotherapy Data
Sequenta, Inc. and its academic collaborators will share data gathered with the company’s immune repertoire profiling technology, the LymphoSIGHT™ platform, in two presentations. [Press release from Sequenta, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release

EmailAddress&u=http://www.stemcell.com/Home/Forms/Wallcharts/Wallchart%20Immune%20Response%20to%20HIV.aspx?utm_source=ctn%26utm_medium=link%26utm_campaign=cshivposter&t=(Archive)CTN15.19iiitext” style=”text-decoration: none”>From our sponsor: Free Nature Reviews Immunology poster – Immune Response to HIV. Request a copy.

NIH to Require Sex-Reporting in Preclinical Studies
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) will require grant applicants to report the sex of animals and cells used in preclinical studies. The shift could help to reveal differences in the ways that diseases affect males and females. [Nature News] Editorial

No Patent for Dolly the Cloned Sheep, Court Rules, Adding to Industry Jitters
Dolly the sheep enjoyed a brief and highly publicized life as the first mammal cloned from an adult cell before succumbing to lung disease in 2003 at age 6. But an attempt to patent Dolly, and lay commercial claim to animals produced by cloning, survived much longer. But that nearly 10-year-long saga also appears to have ended last week when a U.S. federal appeals court ruled against giving a patent to Dolly’s creators. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

MedImmune and Incyte Announce Collaboration on Immuno-Oncology Combination Clinical Trial
AstraZeneca announced that MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, has entered into a clinical study collaboration with biopharmaceutical company Incyte Corporation. The Phase I/II oncology study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of MedImmune’s investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, MEDI4736, in combination with Incyte’s oral indoleamine dioxygenase-1 inhibitor, INCB24360. [MedImmune, LLC.] Press Release

Telik and MabVax Therapeutics Announce Definitive Merger Agreement
Telik, Inc. and MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. have entered into a definitive merger agreement. Upon closing of the transaction, MabVax and Telik will be combined into a publicly traded company focused on the development of proprietary immunotherapy-based products to diagnose and treat cancer. [PR Newswire Association LLC]
Press Release

Taxus Cardium’s Excellagen^® Selected for Use with Stem Cells in EU-Funded Human Clinical Study
Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group Inc. announced that the company’s Excellagen^® flowable dermal matrix in combination with Orbsen Therapeutics’ mesenchymal stromal stem cell therapy Cyndacel-M™ has been selected for clinical evaluation in a Phase Ib safety study for the potential treatment of chronic diabetic wounds to be funded by the European Union under EU Framework 7. [Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group Inc.] Press Release

Orbsen Therapeutics Cell Therapy Selected for Diabetic Wound Clinical Trial Led by NUI Galway and Steno Diabetes Center
Orbsen Therapeutics proprietary stromal cell therapy has been selected to be tested in a EU Framework 7 funded safety trial for the treatment of non-healing, ulcerating wounds in patients with diabetes. [Orbsen Therapeutics] Press Release

Alnylam Reports Initial Positive Top-Line Data from Phase I Clinical Trial with ALN-AT3, an RNAi Therapeutic Targeting Antithrombin (AT) in Development for the Treatment of Hemophilia and Rare Bleeding Disorders (RBD)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive top-line results from its ongoing Phase I trial of ALN-AT3, a subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutic targeting AT in development for the treatment of hemophilia and RBD. [Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

NeoStem’s Subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy (PCT), Awarded FACT Re-Accreditation for New Jersey and California Facilities
NeoStem, Inc. and its subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC announced that PCT has been awarded re-accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

Batu Biologics Files Patent Covering New Use of Approved Drug for Decreasing Cancer Immunotherapy Toxicity
Batu Biologics announced filing of US patent #61/990231 covering the use of a commercially available drug, currently in use for other indications, for decreasing toxicity of immunotherapies such as interleukin-2. [Business Wire] Press Release

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing (FR Doc. No: 2014-11146)

Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; BENLYSTA (FR Doc. No: 2014-11176)

NEW Case Western Reserve University Cancer Stem Cell Conference
August 17-20, 2014
Cleveland, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cell Death and Inflammation (Inflammation Research Center – VIB-UGent)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Role of Calreticulin in TGF-Beta Signaling in the Kidney Proximal Tubule under Diabetic Conditions (University of Alabama)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Transgene Immunity in AAV Vector-Based Antiviral and/or Gene Therapeutics (University of Massachusetts)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurophysiology of Addiction (Medical University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Fat Metabolism (Agency for Science, Technology and Research – A*STAR)

Principal Investigator – Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation (Inflammation Research Center – VIB-UGent)

Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoietic Differentiation (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

Developmental-Stem Cell Biologist (Mayo Clinic – Rochester)

Postdoctoral Position – Functional Characterization of Neurons Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (Radboud University Nijmegen)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Hematology, Immunology, Cancer Therapeutics (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Business Development Executive (Research Instruments Ltd)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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