Cell Therapy News Volume 17.32 | Aug 29 2016

TOP STORY

Targeted DNA Demethylation In Vivo Using dCas9–Peptide Repeat and ScFv–TET1 Catalytic Domain Fusions

Despite the importance of DNA methylation in health and disease, technologies to readily manipulate methylation of specific sequences for functional analysis and therapeutic purposes are lacking. Researchers adapted the previously described dCas9–SunTag for efficient, targeted demethylation of specific DNA loci. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

An AMP-Activated Protein Kinase–Stabilizing Peptide Ameliorates Adipose Tissue Wasting in Cancer Cachexia in Mice

Scientists developed an AMP-activated protein kinase (Ampk)-stabilizing peptide, ACIP, which was able to ameliorate white adipose tissue wasting in vitro and in vivo by shielding the Cidea-targeted interaction surface on Ampk. [Nat Med] Abstract

Graft-Infiltrating Host Dendritic Cells Play a Key Role in Organ Transplant Rejection

Investigators demonstrated that graft-infiltrating recipient dendritic cells play a key role in driving the rejection of transplanted organs by activated T cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

AAV8-Mediated Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Gene Delivery Prevents Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis by Regulating MAPK, NF-κB and STAT3 Pathways

The authors investigated the hypothesis that enhancing the activity of the protective axis of renin angiotensin system by subretinal delivery of an AAV8-ACE2 vector would protect against the ocular inflammation in experimental autoimmune uveitis mice through regulating the local immune responses. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Promote Osteogenesis and Osseointegration of Porous Titanium Implants in Bone Defect Repair through a Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling-Associated Mechanism

Researchers demonstrated that pulsed electromagnetic fields enhanced cellular attachment and proliferation, and induced well-organized cytoskeleton for in vitro osteoblasts seeded in porous titanium alloys. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Efficient Modification of the CCR5 Locus in Primary Human T Cells with megaTAL Nuclease Establishes HIV-1 Resistance

Investigators developed a megaTAL nuclease targeting the third extracellular loop of CCR5 that they delivered to primary human T cells by mRNA transfection. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Has Better Outcomes than Conventional Therapies in Patients with Rapidly Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

Researchers retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 18 patients with rapidly progressive diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and compared their disease outcomes with those of 36 demographically- and clinically-matched patients treated with conventional therapies. [Bone Marrow Transplantation] Abstract

Hepatocyte Growth Factor-Modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Ischemia Reperfusion-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays important roles in the cell and tissue repairment and regeneration. Scientists investigated the enhanced effects of HGF-modified mesenchymal stem cells on ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute lung injury. [Gene Therapy] Abstract

Prophylactic and Therapeutic Adenoviral Vector-Based Multivirus-Specific T-Cell Immunotherapy for Transplant Patients

Investigators demonstrated that adenoviral antigen presentation platform vector can be successfully used for rapid in vitro expansion of multivirus-specific T-cells from transplant recipients and in vivo priming of antiviral T-cell immunity. [Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev] Full Article

Engineered T Cells: The Promise and Challenges of Cancer Immunotherapy

The authors describe some of the most recent and promising advances in engineered T cell therapy with a particular emphasis on what the next generation of T cell therapy is likely to entail. [Nat Rev Cancer] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cell therapy research field.

After the Heart Attack: Injectable Gels Could Prevent Future Heart Failure

Scientists report they have developed gels that, in animal tests, can be injected into the heart to shore up weakened areas and prevent heart failure. [Press release from American Chemical Society discussing research to be presented at 252^nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Philadelphia] Press Release

Results from Pre-Clinical Study Using CardioCell’s Stem Cells for Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

CardioCell LLC announced data from its pre-clinical study “Mesenchymal stem cells grown under chronic hypoxia traffic to regions of myocardial infarction, suppress splenic natural killer cells, and attenuate adverse remodeling in mice with large acute MI.” [Press release from CardioCell LLC discussing research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress, Rome] Press Release

GE Healthcare Expands Cell Therapy Portfolio with License of STEMCELL Technologies’ T-Cell Reagents

In a further step to build its portfolio for the rapidly-growing cell therapy industry, GE Healthcare announced an agreement with STEMCELL Technologies Inc. of Vancouver, Canada to provide T-Cell reagents for commercial-scale cell therapy production. Under the agreement, GE Healthcare will commercialize cGMP-grade versions of STEMCELL Technologies’ T-Cell reagents for the isolation, activation, and culture of T-cells in clinical applications. [GE Healthcare] Press Release

Cell Medica and UCL Collaborate to Develop Modified T Cell Receptor Products for the Treatment of Cancer

Cell Medica, a leader in developing, marketing and manufacturing cellular therapeutics for cancer and infections, has signed a research collaboration with University College London (UCL) aiming to utilize UCL’s novel T cell receptor (TCR) technology to generate leading-edge modified TCR products for the treatment of cancer. [Cell Medica] Press Release

OvaScience’s AUGMENT Treatment Commercially Available in Japan through Partnership with IVF JAPAN GROUP

OvaScience^SM announced that it has finalized its commercial agreement with the IVF JAPAN GROUP and that the AUGMENTSM treatment is now available to women through the clinic. The AUGMENT treatment is designed to improve the health of a woman’s existing eggs and enhance in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. [OvaScience^SM] Press Release

Nanoscope Technologies Awarded Audacious Goal Initiative Grant by National Eye Institute

NanoScope Technologies has been awarded a National Institutes of Health Audacious Goal Initiative R01 Grant from the National Eye Institute to re-sensitize the photo-degenerated retinal areas with MCO by targeted gene delivery using an infrared ultrafast laser. [Nanoscope Technologies (American Association for the Advancement of Science)] Press Release

Mallinckrodt Receives FDA Fast-Track Designation for Synacthen® Depot IND Application

Mallinckrodt plc announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company’s request for a Fast Track designation for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Synacthen® Depot in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Synacthen Depot is a depot formulation of Synacthen, a synthetic 24 amino acid melanocortin receptor agonist. [Mallinckrodt plc] Press Release

Creative Medical Technology Holdings Expands Adult Stem Cell Therapeutic Platform to Combat Female Infertility Caused by Premature Ovarian Failure

Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. announced the filing of a patent application disclosing means of regenerating failing ovaries through use of a particular type of stem cell extracted from patient’s own tissues. [Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

AllCells-Boston to Serve as Company’s Second US-Based Hematologic Tissue Collection Site, Increasing Assurance of Supply and Accelerating Delivery of Fresh Products to Eastern Region and Global Life Science Researchers

AllCells, LLC, announced signing a Clinical Operations lease agreement, and commencing construction of its new clinical collection facility located in metropolitan Boston, MA. The east coast clinic, expected to be operational November 2016, is optimally situated to enhance service to life science researchers located throughout US east coast, Europe, and rest of world. [AllCells, LLC.] Press Release

Takara Bio Announces the Launch of Human iPSC-Derived Beta Cells for Drug Screening and Diabetes Research

Takara Bio USA, Inc. announced the launch of fully differentiated, Cellartis® hiPS beta cells for research use. These cells are well characterized and can provide physiologically relevant responses that are beneficial for modeling diabetes and beta-cell function, encouraging breakthroughs that advance research in personalized and regenerative medicine. [Takara Bio USA, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

TxCell Appoints Biogen’s Dr. Olivier Danos, Pioneer in Gene Therapy for Neurological Disorders, to Its Scientific Advisory Board

TxCell SA announced the appointment to its Scientific Advisory Board of Olivier Danos, PhD, Senior Vice President of Cell and Gene Therapy at Biogen and a world-leading expert in the field of Gene Therapy for hematological and neurological diseases. [TxCell SA] Press Release

NEW World Stem Cell Summit 2016
December 6-9, 2016
West Palm Beach, United States

NEW TERMIS Americas
December 11-14, 2016
San Diego, United States

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Research Associate – Cellular Therapy (California Institute for Biomedical Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells to Model Neurological Disorder (University of Cambridge)

Research Scientist – Downstream Bioprocess for Vaccine, Gene Therapy and Biosimilars (Univercells)

PhD Studentship – Fibrosis (National University of Ireland, Galway)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor Immunology and Head and Neck Cancer (University of Lausanne)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor Immunology and T Cell Differentiation (University of Lausanne)

Research Fellow – Hematology (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology (University of California Davis)

Associate Member – Stem Cell and Gene Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pathogenic Mechanisms of Rare Bone Disorders (University of Connecticut Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Oxidative Lung Injury (Temple University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lentivirus-Mediated FOXP3 Gene Transfer (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematology/Oncology (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cell Cycle Control and Tumorigenesis (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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