Cord Blood News 10.00 January 4, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYA Repurposed Drug Could Open Door to More Stem Cell Transplants A medication used to treat joint and skin conditions might also help people whose only hope of surviving cancer is receiving stem cells from a donor, according to research by a University of British Columbia scientist. [Press release from the University of British Columbia discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)The authors investigated the effects of exosomes from human umbilical cord blood plasma (UCB-Exos) on wound healing and elucidated the underlying mechanism. The local transplantation of UCB-Exos into mouse skin wounds resulted in accelerated re-epithelialization, reduced scar widths, and enhanced angiogenesis. [Theranostics] Full Article Investigators showed that loss of TET2 in bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) increases cell proliferation and self-renewal and enhances osteoblast differentiation potential of BMSCs, which may in turn alter their behavior in supporting hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract In vitro studies demonstrated that human umbilical cord MSCs (HUCMSCs) underwent apoptosis in the serum-free medium. When HUCMSCs were co-cultured with retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE19), however, HUCMSCs exhibited normal growth and morphology in serum-free medium. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article The authors analyzed 1,374 Japanese single cord blood transplant pairs who were retrospectively typed as human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1, and -DPB1. Multivariate analysis revealed a significantly elevated engraftment risk compared with hetero-hetero pairs with HLA 1-2 locus mismatch and comparative risk compared with hetero-hetero pairs with 0 mismatch. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article Scientists used a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (NCL-1) derived under current Good Manufacture Practice-compliant conditions from CD34+ cord blood cells. The cells were differentiated into retinal cells using a small molecule-based retinal induction protocol. They showed that retinal cells including photoreceptors, retinal pigmented epithelial cells and optic cup-like retinal organoids can be generated from the NCL-1 iPSC line. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article Researchers explored the effects of LIPUS-pretreated hAD-MSC transplantation on chemotherapy-induced primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) in rats. Both hAD-MSC and LIPUS-pretreated hAD-MSC transplantation increased the body and reproductive organ weights, improved ovarian function, and reduced reproductive organ injuries in POI rats. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article The effects of human Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells-microvesicles (MVs) on enhancing the proliferation and mitigating the apoptosis of renal cells, abrogating ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced fibrosis, improving renal function, decreasing collagen deposition, and altering the expression levels of epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cell cycle-related proteins in IRI rats were found. [Biochem J] Abstract Researchers defined the best way to isolate MSCs from the Wharton’s jelly of the human umbilical cord (WJ-MSC) and assessed the mesenchymal and immunological phenotype of bone marrow-MSC and WJ-MSC. Moreover, the gene expression profile of established WJ-MSC cultures was compared to two different bone marrow-derived stem cell populations. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) is an important source of stem cells for therapy of hematopoietic disorders and is a potential therapy for various neurological disorders, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). In vitro experiments provided evidence that trauma-related mediators from brain extracts of TBI mice induced release of nerve growth factor from HUCB CD45+ cell cultures. [Cytotherapy] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Scientists investigated whether exosomes secreted by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (hUC-MSC-Exo) affected the sensitivity of K562 cells to imatinib (IM). It was shown that hUC-MSC-Exo alone had no effect on cell viability and apoptosis of K562 cells. However, hUC-MSC-Exo promoted IM-induced cell viability inhibition and apoptosis. [Cytotherapy] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSAssociated Factors of Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Quality The authors examine several variables related to parturient, pregnancy, labor, delivery, collection, the newborn, umbilical cord, and placenta. They aim to understand the biologic mechanisms that can impact cord blood quality. [Transfusion] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSCordlife Group Limited signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire full control of HealthBaby Biotech (Hong Kong) Co., Limited in a move that will expand its presence in the private cord blood banking industry in Hong Kong and Macau. [Cordlife Group Limited] Press Release Cellect Announces Breakthrough Clinical Results Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. announced that it has successfully completed transplantation of the first group of three patients using Cellect’s ApoGraft™ technology in the company’s Phase I/II clinical trial and that after one month follow-up, all three patients have demonstrated complete acceptance of the stem cell transplant with no adverse events related to the study treatment, as determined by the clinical investigator, and no reported serious adverse events or suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions. [Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSGermany vs Elsevier: Universities Win Temporary Journal Access after Refusing to Pay Fees The Dutch publishing giant Elsevier has granted uninterrupted access to its paywalled journals for researchers at around 200 German universities and research institutes that had refused to renew their individual subscriptions at the end of 2017. [Nature News] Editorial Chile Election Reignites Tussle over Science Policy Chile’s new President-elect Sebastián Piñera is poised to reshape science policy in the country. His plans to forge closer ties among science, education and industry have sparked enthusiasm from scientists who hope the plan will bolster support for their work — but also concern about possible changes in research priorities. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW The Stem Cell Niche Conference 2018 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology (University of Colorado, Anschutz) NEW Investigator – Stem Cells (BloodCenter of Wisconsin) NEW Faculty Positions – Hematology (Stanford University) NEW Scientist – Normal & Malignant Hematopoiesis (Karolinska Institutet) NEW PhD Student Position – Leukemia (RWTH Aachen University) Research Assistant – Mouse Handling (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center) Research Assistant – Flow Cytometry (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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