Cell Therapy News Volume 20.36 | Oct 28 2019

TOP STORY

Attacking Latent HIV with convertibleCAR-T Cells, a Highly Adaptable Killing Platform

Researchers designed a universal CAR-T cell platform based on cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) engineered to bind a variety of broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies. They showed that this platform, convertibleCAR-T cells, effectively killed HIV-infected, but not uninfected, CD4 T cells from blood, tonsil, or spleen and only when armed with anti-HIV antibodies. [Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Stem-Cell-Derived Human Microglia Transplanted in Mouse Brain to Study Human Disease

Investigators successfully engrafted human microglia derived from embryonic stem cells in the mouse brain. The cells recapitulated transcriptionally human primary microglia ex vivo and showed expression of human-specific Alzheimer’s disease risk genes. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

A Green Tea-Triggered Genetic Control System for Treating Diabetes in Mice and Monkeys

Scientists developed therapeutically active engineered cells regulated by a control system that was responsive to protocatechuic acid (PCA), a metabolite found in green tea. They constructed multiple genetic control technologies that could toggle a PCA-responsive ON/OFF switch based on a transcriptional repressor from Streptomyces coelicolor. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Editorial

Human iPSC-Derived iMSCs Improve Bone Regeneration in Mini-Pigs

The authors investigated the bone regeneration potential of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) combined with calcium phosphate granules (CPG) in critical-size defects in the proximal tibias of mini-pigs in the early phase of bone healing compared to that of a previously reported autograft treatment and treatment with a composite made of either a combination of autologous bone marrow concentrate and CPG or CPG alone. [Bone Res] Abstract

Does Co-Transplantation of Mesenchymal and Spermatogonial Stem Cells Improve Reproductive Efficiency and Safety in Mice?

Scientists investigated the reproductive efficiency and safety of co-transplanting spermatogonial stem cells and transforming growth factor beta 1-induced mesenchymal stem cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Attract Osteoprogenitor Cells in Bone Healing

Human amniotic fluid stem cells were transduced with lentiviral vector harboring red fluorescent protein to investigate their role in the regeneration of critical-size bone defects in calvarial mouse model. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

A Microfluidic Device to Enhance Viral Transduction Efficiency During Manufacture of Engineered Cellular Therapies

The authors demonstrated that the microfluidic transduction device could improve the efficiency of lentiviral transduction for both T-cell and hematopoietic stem-cell targets by greater than two fold relative to static controls. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Murine Model Demonstrating Reversal of Structural and Functional Correlates of Cirrhosis with Progenitor Cell Transplantation

Investigators demonstrated that Nod-scid gamma-thioacetamide mice could recapitulate the full clinical picture of structural and functional cirrhosis, both of which could be improved by transplantation of human fetal liver cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

In Vitro Induction of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into the Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons and Transplantation in Cynomolgus Monkey

The dopaminergic neurons successfully survived and integrated into the striatum of cynomolgus monkey brain after transplantation. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract

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Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Scientists summarize the current methods of human pluripotent stem cells (HPSCs) myogenic commitment/differentiation, and describe the current status of hPSC-derived myogenic cell transplantation. [Exp Neurol] Full Article

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MaxCyte Advances Phase I Clinical Trial of Lead CARMA^™ mRNA-based Cell Therapy to Third Cohort of Patients

MaxCyte announced that, having completed dosing of the second cohort of patients, clinical investigators have initiated dosing in the third cohort of patients of MaxCyte’s Phase I clinical trial with the next higher cell dose of MCY-M11. [MaxCyte] Press Release

IND Application Submission to FDA for Phase I Trial Of Genetically Modified Autologous Cell Therapy For HIV Announced by American Gene Technologies

American Gene Technologies (AGT) announced the submission of an Investigational New Drug application to the FDA for AGT’s lead HIV program, AGT103-T, which is potentially a single-dose, lentiviral vector-based gene therapy developed for the purpose of eliminating HIV from people infected with the disease. [American Gene Technologies] Press Release

DiscGenics Announces US Clinical Study of Cell Therapy for Disc Degeneration Clears Final Planned Safety Review

DiscGenics, Inc. announced that it has received the go-ahead from an independent data safety monitoring committee to enroll the final 24 patients in its first-in-human US clinical study of IDCT, an allogeneic, injectable disc cell therapy for mild to moderate degenerative disc disease. [DiscGenics, Inc.] Press Release

CARsgen Announces Investigational CAR-T Therapy CT053 Granted RMAT Designation by the US FDA for R/R Multiple Myeloma

CARsgen Therapeutics Co. Ltd. announced that the FDA has granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to its investigational CT053 CAR-T cell therapy. [CARsgen Therapeutics Co. Ltd.] Press Release

UCL to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics, Including Pipette Tips

University College London made a series of pledges to cut down on plastic waste, help mitigate climate change, and make its research and teaching facilities more environmentally sustainable. [The Scientist] Editorial

Some of NIH’s Chimpanzees Will Not Retire to a Sanctuary as Planned

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) will not be retiring all of its chimpanzees to a sanctuary, as it originally pledged to do, agency head Francis Collins announced today. Nearly four dozen chimps at a biomedical primate facility in New Mexico will remain there because they are too old and sick to move, he said, although scientific studies of them have ended. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Argentine Scientists Rally Behind Favorite in Sunday’s Presidential Election

Thousands of Argentine scientists are hoping the man expected to be the country’s next president will reverse deep cuts to research imposed by the conservative government of President Mauricio Macri. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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