Cell Therapy News Volume 16.33 | Aug 31 2015

Nerve Growth Factor Gene Therapy: Activation of Neuronal Responses in Alzheimer Disease
Investigators aimed to determine whether degenerating neurons in Alzheimer disease retain an ability to respond to a nervous system growth factor delivered after disease onset. [JAMA Neurol] Full Article | Press Release

Triggerable Degradation of Polyurethanes for Tissue Engineering Applications
Researchers report a new family of reduction-sensitive biodegradable elastomeric polyurethanes containing various amounts of disulfide bonds, in which degradation can be initiated and accelerated with the supplement of a biological product – antioxidant-glutathione. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

In Vitro-Conditioned Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSC) Promote De Novo Functional Enteric Nerve Regeneration, but Not through Direct-Transdifferentiation
Scientists demonstrated that allogeneically transplanted preconditioned BMSC initiate de novo regeneration of gastric neuronal cells/structures that in turn restore gastric contractility in pylorus-denervated rats. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Epicutaneous Immunotherapy with a Hypoallergenic Bet v 1 Suppresses Allergic Asthma in a Murine Model
Scientists investigated the efficacy of recombinant Bet v 1B2, a hypoallergenic folding variant of Bet v 1, in epicutaneous immunotherapy to suppress asthmatic features using a murine model of birch pollen allergy. [Allergy] Abstract

Insulin-Producing Endocrine Cells Differentiated In Vitro from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Function in Macroencapsulation Devices In Vivo
Enriched islet-like cells, when encapsulated and implanted into mice, functioned similarly to the VC-01 candidate product, demonstrating conclusively that in vitro-produced human embryonic stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells can mature and function in vivo in devices. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Foxp3-Modified Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Liver Allograft Tolerance through the Generation of Regulatory T Cells in Rats
Scientists hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)-based Foxp3 gene therapy would improve immunosuppressive capacity of MSC and induce donor-specific allograft tolerance in rat’s liver allograft model. [J Transl Med] Full Article

HDAC Inhibition Upregulates PD-1 Ligands in Melanoma and Augments Immunotherapy with PD-1 Blockade
Researchers showed that class I histone deacetylase inhibitors upregulated the expression of PD-L1 and, to a lesser degree, PD-L2 in melanomas. Evaluation of human and murine cell lines and patient tumors treated with a variety of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in vitro displayed upregulation of these ligands These results were validated in vivo in a B16F10 syngeneic murine model. [Cancer Immunol Res] Abstract

Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell-Laden Microfibers Promote Transplant Survival in a Mouse Transected Spinal Cord Injury Model
Scientists hypothesized that a neural stem/progenitor cell-microfiber combination would facilitate lesion closure as well as transplant survival in transected spinal cords. [J Neurosci Res] Abstract

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

Cellectis to Present Data on Its CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy Programs during Upcoming Conferences
Cellectis announced that pre-clinical data on its engineered allogeneic CAR T-cells will be featured during several conferences in the coming weeks. [Press release from Cellectis discussing research to be presented at the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Immunotherapy Conference, New York] Press Release

China Announces Stem-Cell Rules
Chinese stem-cell scientists have welcomed long-awaited measures that, state media claim, will rein in rogue use of stem cells in clinics while allowing research. [Nature News] Editorial

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MorphoSys and Immatics Biotechnologies Enter Strategic Alliance in Immuno-Oncology
MorphoSys AG and Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH announced a strategic alliance to generate novel antibody-based therapeutics against multiple proprietary cancer antigens recognized by T cells. [MorphoSys AG] Press Release

Ocata Therapeutics Receives SBIR Grant from NIH to Develop Proprietary Hemangio-Derived Mesenchymal Cell Therapy for Lupus Nephritis
Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to fund further preclinical development of Ocata’s proprietary hemangio-derived mesenchymal cell product for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis. [Ocata Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

NIH Awards Nearly $34 Million to UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Clinical and Translational Science $33.59 million over four years to continue the center’s programs advancing translational research. [University of Alabama at Birmingham] Press Release

TxCell Consortium Granted €1.28 Million for TRUST Project on Process and Clinical Development of Col-Treg for Autoimmune Uveitis Treatment
TxCell SA announced that the French government’s Unique Interministerial Fund (FUI) has granted €1.28 million to the TRUST project (TRegs in Uveitis STudy). The FUI panel awarded the TRUST funding application the highest score, and as a result, the project qualified for the maximum percentage of funding from the French government. [TxCell SA] Press Release

Diabetes Research Institute Successfully Transplants First Patient in Pilot BioHub Trial
The Diabetes Research Institute, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, announced that the first patient in its clinical trial to test for the first time a novel transplant technique for insulin-producing cells was successfully completed. [The Diabetes Research Institute] Press Release

NW Bio Confirms Phase III Trial of DCVax^®-L for GBM Brain Cancer Is Ongoing
Northwest Biotherapeutics confirmed that its Phase III trial of DCVax^®-L for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is ongoing and the patients enrolled in the trial are continuing to be treated per the protocol. [Northwest Biotherapeutics] Press Release

Cell Therapy Catapult Welcomes Planning Decision for Manufacturing Center
The Cell Therapy Catapult has welcomed the decision by Stevenage Borough Council to grant planning permission to construct its £55 million large-scale GMP manufacturing center. [Cell Therapy Catapult] Press Release

Designation of Official Names and Proper Names for Certain Biological Products (FR Doc. No: 2015-21382)

Design and Analysis of Shedding Studies for Virus or Bacteria-Based Gene Therapy and Oncolytic Products; Guidance for Industry; Availability (FR Doc. No: 2015-21235)

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Injury Research (Indiana University-Purdue University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HMGA Chromatin Remodeling Proteins in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Senior Research Technician (Qu Biologics Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Genome Editing, Synthetic Biology, and Cell Evolution and Engineering (University of California – Irvine)

Research Associate – Cell Biology (Editas Medicine)

Senior Research Associate (Editas Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Biotechnology (Qu Biologics Inc.)

Cell Biology Lab Manager (Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology)

Science Writer – Cardiovascular Regeneration (Houston Methodist Research Institute)

PhD Studentship – Veterinary and Animal Sciences (University of Milan)

Aseptic Manufacturing Associate (Lonza Biologics, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (INSERM)

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