Cell Therapy News Volume 15.26 | Jul 7 2014

Leptin Signaling Is Required for Augmented Therapeutic Properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Conferred by Hypoxia Preconditioning
To characterize the role of leptin in the regulation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) functions by hypoxia and its possible contribution to enhanced therapeutic efficacy, cell therapy using MSCs derived from wild type, ob/ob, or db/db mice was implemented in mouse models of acute myocardial infarction. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Expansion of Murine Periosteal Progenitor Cells with FGF2 Reveals an Intrinsic Endochondral Ossification Program Mediated by BMP2
Researchers report that expansion of murine periosteal cells in the presence of FGF2, a signal present during the early stages of fracture healing, is necessary and sufficient to maintain their ability to organize in vivo into a cartilage template which gives rise to mature bone. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Macroporous Calcium Phosphate Construct for Bone Regeneration in Cranial Defects in Rats
Scientists investigated human embryonic stem cells for bone regeneration in vivo in critical-sized cranial defects in rats and determined the effects of cell seeding and platelets in macroporous calcium phosphate cement on new bone and blood vessel formation. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Overexpression of Human IGF-I via Direct rAAV-Mediated Gene Transfer Improves the Early Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects In Vivo
Researchers tested the ability of an recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) vector to improve the early repair of cartilage lesions in vivo. The vector was administered for three weeks in osteochondral defects created in the knee joints of rabbits compared with control treatment and in cells that participate in the repair processes. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Fetal Heart Attenuate Myocardial Injury after Infarction: An In Vivo Serial Pinhole Gated SPECT-CT Study in Rats
Researchers investigated the therapeutic efficacy of intravenously injected mesenchymal stem cells derived from rat fetal heart in a rat model of myocardial infarction using multi-pinhole gated SPECT-CT system. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Intramyocardial Transplantation of Cardiac Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduces Myocarditis in a Model of Chronic Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy
Scientists evaluated the therapeutic effects of cardiac mesenchymal stem cells (CMSC) in a mouse model of chronic Chagas disease. CMSC demonstrated adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potentials. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Non-Traditional CD4⁺CD25^–CD69⁺ Regulatory T Cells Are Correlated to Leukemia Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Non-traditional CD4⁺CD25^–CD69⁺ T cells were found to be involved in disease progression in tumor-bearing mouse models and cancer patients recently. The authors attempted to define whether this subset of T cells was related to leukemia relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article

Fetal and Adult Fibroblasts Display Intrinsic Differences in Tendon Tissue Engineering and Regeneration
Researchers compared FFs (mouse fetal fibroblasts) and mouse adult fibroblasts as seed cells for the fabrication of scaffold-free engineered tendons. They demonstrate that FFs had more potential for tendon tissue engineering, as shown by higher levels of tendon-related gene expression. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Repairing Quite Swimmingly: Advances in Regenerative Medicine Using Zebrafish
The authors describe the modeling of human disease and tissue repair in zebrafish, through the discovery of disease-causing genes using classical forward-genetic screens and by modulating clinically relevant phenotypes through chemical genetic screening approaches. [Dis Model Mech] Full Article

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

Transgene Announces Presentation of Data on TG1050 Immunotherapy against Chronic Hepatitis B and Provides Update on Its Joint Venture with Tasly Pharmaceuticals in China
Transgene announced that it was invited to present existing preclinical data on its proprietary program against chronic hepatitis B, TG1050 immunotherapy. [Press release discussing research to be presented at the BIT 5^th Annual International Symposium of Hepatitis, Dalian] Press Release

French Research Funding System Is Too ‘Rigid,’ OECD Says
France’s research system is “rigid” and “complex,” according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Sorrento Awarded up to $2.6 Million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Development of New Anti-Bacterial Bispecific Antibodies and Antibody Formulated Drug Conjugates
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has received two NIH small business grants which will fund the development of bispecific antibodies for two of its anti-bacterial immunotherapies. [Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Advanced Cell Technology Secures $30 Million Equity Facility from Lincoln Park Capital
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced that it has entered into a $30 million common stock purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.] Press Release

Genocea Announces Positive Top-Line 12-Month Follow-Up Data from Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial for HSV-2 Immunotherapy GEN-003
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. announced positive top-line 12-month follow-up data from a Phase I/IIa study of GEN-003, the company’s immunotherapy candidate against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). [Genocea Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

European Medicines Agency Renews Marketing Authorization for ChondroCelect
TiGenix NV announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has renewed for an additional five years its marketing authorization for ChondroCelect in all of the 31 countries of the European Union and European Economic Area. [TiGenix NV] Download Press Release

Amgen Receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Investigational BiTE^® Antibody Blinatumomab in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Amgen announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation to investigational bispecific T cell engager (BiTE^®) antibody blinatumomab, for adults with Philadelphia-negative relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. [Amgen Inc.] Press Release

University of Pennsylvania’s Personalized Cellular Therapy for Leukemia Receives FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation
A University of Pennsylvania-developed personalized immunotherapy has been awarded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of relapsed and refractory adult and pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The investigational therapy, known as CTL019, is the first personalized cellular therapy for the treatment of cancer to receive this classification. [Penn Medicine] Press Release

Aratana Therapeutics Files for USDA Product License of AT-014 Canine Osteosarcoma Immunotherapy
Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has filed for a product license from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for AT-014, a novel her2/neu-directed cancer immunotherapy licensed exclusively from Advaxis, Inc. for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma and other cancers. [Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Cytori Receives Notice of Intent to Exercise First Contract Option from BARDA
Cytori Therapeutics has received preliminary written notice of intent to exercise ‘Option 1’ of the company’s contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cytori was awarded a contract with BARDA for the development of Cytori Cell Therapy for thermal burns combined with radiation injury worth up to $106 million. [Cytori Therapeutics] Press Release

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Guidance for Industry: Cooperative Manufacturing Arrangements for Licensed Biologics (FR Doc. No: 2014-15810)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

European Medicines Agency Releases Revised Guidance on Advanced-Therapy Classification for Public Consultation

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NEW Production Manager – Cell Banking Program (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

NEW Senior Scientist – Stem Cell (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

NEW Postdoctoral or Senior Scientist Positions – Molecular Genetics and Gene Therapy (Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg)

NEW PhD Studentship – Effects of Aging on MSC Therapy Activity (Loughborough University)

Cell Therapy Lab Assistant Supervisor (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – AAV Vectors for Gene Therapy of Neurological and Other Disorders (University of Massachusetts Medical School)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Immune Focused In Vitro Analytics (Celentyx Ltd.)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Stem Cell Transplantation Program (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Prostate Cancer Research (Henry Ford Hospital)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurotoxicity and Epigenetics (Thomas Jefferson University)

Research/Review Scientist – Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine (Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research)

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

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

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Liver Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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