Cell Therapy News Volume 21.11 | Mar 30 2020

TOP STORY

CAR T Cells that Target Acute B-Lineage Leukemia Irrespective of CD19 Expression

CD19/20/22CAR T cells formed dense immune synapses with target cells that mediated effective cytolytic complex formation, were efficient serial killers in single-cell tracking studies, and were as efficacious as CD19CAR T cells against primary CD19⁺ disease. [Leukemia] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Peripapillary Intravitreal Injection Improves AAV-Mediated Retinal Transduction

Investigators developed a novel illuminated long-needle attached injection system and injected AAV2-CMV-eGFP in front of the retina in the rabbits’ eyes. [Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev] Abstract | Full Article

Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cells Relieve Neuropathic Pain after Spinal Nerve Injury in Mice

The authors generated a mouse model of neuropathic pain by transecting the spinal nerve and evaluated neuropathic pain by measuring the mechanical threshold in the following 14 days. Mice in the bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells injection group had a higher mechanical threshold than those in the buffer group. [Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Treatment Response, Survival, Safety, and Predictive Factors to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy in Chinese Relapsed or Refractory B Cell Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia Patients

Scientists evaluated treatment response, survival, safety profiles, and predictive factors to CAR T therapy in Chinese patients with relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblast leukemia (R/R B-ALL). 39R/R B-ALL patients who underwent CAR T therapy were included. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Enhanced Transduction of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells by AAV6 Vectors: Implications in Gene Therapy and Genome Editing

Researchers report that up to 12-fold enhancement in the transduction efficiency of AAV6 vectors could be achieved in primary human hematopoietic stem cells with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). They also demonstrated that the improvement in the transduction efficiency was due to PVA-mediated improved entry and intracellular trafficking of AAV6 vectors in human hematopoietic cells in vitro as well as in murine hepatocytes in vivo. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

Generation of Novel Genetically Modified Rats to Reveal the Molecular Mechanisms of Vitamin D Actions

Investigators describe a novel in vivo system using genetically modified rats deficient in the Cyp27b1 or vitamin D receptor (Vdr) genes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Retrievable Implant for the Long-Term Encapsulation and Survival of Therapeutic Xenogeneic Cells

Scientists showed that a retrievable implant comprising a silicone reservoir and a porous polymeric membrane protected human cells encapsulated in it after implant transplantation in the intraperitoneal space of immunocompetent mice. [Nat Biomed Eng] Abstract

Chimeric Cytokine Receptor Enhancing PSMA-CAR T Cell-Mediated Prostate Cancer Regression

In vivo experiments confirmed that the enhanced prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-CAR T cells exhibited significant superior anti-tumor capabilities and could prolong the survival time in the xenograft and PDX models of prostate cancer. [Cancer Biol Ther] Abstract

HSP70/IL-2 Treated NK Cells Effectively Cross the Blood Brain Barrier and Target Tumor Cells in a Rat Model of Induced Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)

Proliferation and cytotoxicity assays were used to assess the functionality of natural killer (NK) cells in vitro, after which treated and naïve NK cells were administrated intracranially and systemically to compare the potential antitumor activities in in vivo rat GBM models. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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Inflammation in Myocardial Injury- Stem Cells as Potential Immunomodulators for Myocardial Regeneration and Restoration

Current implications of using mesenchymal stem cells owing to their immunomodulatory functions and paracrine effects could serve as an effective alternative treatment option for rejuvenating the heart post myocardial infarction. [Life Sci] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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Vycellix and Avectas Announce Collaboration to Advance Next-Generation Solutions for the Optimized Manufacture of Cell & Gene Therapies

Vycellix^™, Inc. and Avectas Limited jointly announced that the companies have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop proprietary approaches for cell-based immunotherapeutic products. [Vycellix^™, Inc.] Press Release

AveXis Receives Positive Chmp Opinion for Zolgensma^®, the Only Gene Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

AveXis announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion recommending conditional marketing authorization of Zolgensma^® for the treatment of patients with 5q SMA with a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene and a clinical diagnosis of SMA Type 1; or for patients with 5q SMA with a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene and up to three copies of the SMN2 gene. [AveXis] Press Release

Tens of Thousands of Scientists Are Redeploying to Fight Coronavirus

As labs shut down around the world, researchers are finding creative ways to donate their time, supplies and expertise. [Nature News] Editorial

Universities Issue Hiring Freezes in Response to COVID-19

Numerous universities have made announcements about the suspension of hiring, including Miami University of Ohio, Wright State University, Villanova University, the University of Nevada, Reno, Indiana University, and the University of Auckland in New Zealand, which cites the travel ban affecting Chinese students as one of the main causes of its freeze. [The Scientist] Editorial

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NEW Scientist/Senior Scientist – Cell Therapy (Zelluna Immunotherapy AS)

Professorship – Biological Therapies of the Inner Ear (Hannover Medical School)

Group leaders – Cancer Biology (Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology)

Scientist – Cancer Immunotherapy (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Immunotherapy (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Sr Associate Scientist – Autoimmunity and Tumor Immunotherapy (Amgen)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (BC Cancer)

Research Assistant – Cancer Research (BC Cancer)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Single Cell Genomics (BC Cancer)

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