Cord Blood News Volume 10.22 | Jun 7 2018

TOP STORY

Results of Phase I Clinical Trial Evaluating Efficacy of 3^rd Party Cord Blood Regulatory T Cells for Prevention of Graft versus Host Disease

Scientists previously established clinically meaningful expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) from cord blood which prevented graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in a xenogenic mouse model and improved with post-expansion fucosylation. In this study, they hypothesized that adoptive therapy with fucosylated Tregs would prevent GvHD at a lower ratio to infused allo-reactive donor T cells. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Revised Road Map for the Commitment of Human Cord Blood CD34-Negative Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Investigators developed a prospective ultra-high-resolution purification method by applying two positive markers, CD133 and GPI-80. Using this method, they succeeded in purifying single long-term repopulating CD34⁻ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with self-renewing capability residing at the apex of the human HSC hierarchy from cord blood, as evidenced by a single-cell-initiated serial transplantation analysis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Second Remission: A Retrospective Study of the Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Working Group of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (JSHCT)

To evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in second complete remission, scientists retrospectively analyzed the Japanese registration data of 1080 adult AML patients in CR2 who had received allogeneic HCT. [Br J Haematol] Abstract

Human Naive T Cells Express Functional CXCL8 and Promote Tumorigenesis

Investigators studied and compared the phenotype, cytokine profile, and potential function of human naive CD4⁺ T cells in umbilical cord and peripheral blood. They found that naive CD4⁺ T cells, but not memory T cells, expressed high levels of chemokine CXCL8. [J Immunol] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Prevent the Development of Lung Fibrosis in Immunocompetent Mice

Scientists investigated the anti-fibrotic activity in vivo of human mesenchymal stromal cells obtained from whole umbilical cord (hUC-MSC). hUC-MSC possessed strong in vivo anti-fibrotic activity in a mouse model resembling an immunocompetent human subject affected by inflammatory interstial lung diseases. [PLoS One] Full Article

Micro-Computed Tomography Reconstructions of Tibiae of Stem Cell Transplanted Osteogenesis Imperfecta Mice

The authors describe a dataset of micro-computed tomography reconstructed scans of the proximal part of 21 tibiae from wild-type mice, osteogenesis imperfecta mice (homozygous oim/oim) and oim/oim mice transplanted with human amniotic fluid stem cells. [Sci Data] Full Article

Incorporating Placental Tissue in Cord Blood Banking for Stem Cell Transplantation

The authors discuss the possibility to incorporate placental tissue cells in cord blood banking. They discuss clinical trials which are studying safety and efficacy of placenta tissue-derived MSCs in selected diseases, and preclinical studies which have proven their therapeutic properties in other diseases. [Expert Rev Hematol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field.

Cord Blood Banking Leader Cryo-Cell Acquires CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank, Inc.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank, Inc. for a purchase price of $14,000,000 with additional consideration subject to earnouts as set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement. [Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

South Florida Stem Cell Cryobank Earns AABB Re-Accreditation

Stem Cell Cryobank has been granted AABB Re-Accreditation for Human Stem Cell and Human Cord Blood preservation to be used for therapeutic interventions, according to Dipnarine Maharaj, MD, Medical Director. [Stem Cell Cryobank (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Go for Launch: A Former Astronaut Becomes Spain’s Science Minister

Spain has a ministry of science again—and none other than the first Spanish astronaut is leading it. The new transition government led by socialist Pedro Sánchez announced that Pedro Duque, who visited space twice, will be at the helm of the newly created Ministry for Science, Innovation, and Universities. The announcement was cheered by the Spanish scientific community, which has long suffered from declining budgets and bureaucratic hurdles. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Scientists Fare Poorly in Super Tuesday Primary Vote

Science-minded candidates seeking seats in the next U.S. Congress took a drubbing from their Democratic opponents in a raft of primary elections across the country. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Chile, Keen to Become a Knowledge Society, Creates a Ministry of Science

Scientists in Chile have welcomed a decision by Congress to create a science ministry. Many researchers hope that a dedicated ministry will give science more prominence and better-coordinated policies—provided the ministry’s budget matches the government’s ambitions to “bring Chile towards an information and knowledge society,” as Gonzalo Blumel, the country’s minister secretary-general of the presidency, put it in a statement issued after the 31 May vote. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 30^th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium
November 13-16, 2018
Dublin, Ireland

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

NEW Research Associate – Advanced Cell Culture Biology (The University of Manchester)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Myeloid Tumors (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cell Biology (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Assistant, Associate, or Full Member Faculty – Myeloid Malignancies (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – 3D Chromatin Architecture, Epigenetics and Metabolism (Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Scholar – Hematologic Malignancies (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – B-Cell Lymphoma (University of Texas Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoiesis and Leukemia (University of Pennsylvania)

Research Fellow – Hematology, Blood Disorders and Stem Cell Biology (New York Blood Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular and Translational Cancer Biology (Thomas Jefferson University)

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