Cord Blood News Volume 10.29 | Jul 26 2018

TOP STORY

Preterm Umbilical Cord Blood Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Protect Preterm White Matter Brain Development against Hypoxia-Ischemia

Investigators examined the neuroprotective effects of allogeneic MSC, derived from preterm umbilical cord blood, in a preterm sheep model of white matter injury. MSC administration following hypoxia-ischemia preserved myelination, modified microglial activation, and promoted macrophage migration and cell proliferation within cerebral white matter. [Exp Neurol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

The Histone Chaperone NAP1L3 Is Required for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Maintenance and Differentiation

Researchers found that high gene expression levels of mouse Nap1l3 was restricted to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in mice. Downregulation of human Nap1l3 in umbilical cord blood HSCs impaired the maintenance and proliferation of HSCs both in vitro and in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

p53 Is Active in Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells

Scientists showed that undifferentiated human amniotic fluid cells expressed p53 yet at lower levels than in cancer cells. DNA damage lead to an increase in p53 abundance in human amniotic fluid cells and to transcriptional activation of its target genes. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Inhibition of Retinoic Acid Production Expands a Megakaryocyte-Enriched Subpopulation with Islet Supportive Function

Expanded ALDHlo cells from diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB)-treated conditions reduced hyperglycemia, and increased islet number and cell proliferation in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic NOD/SCID mice. DEAB-treated ALDHlo cells were largely committed to a CD41+/CD42+ megakaryocyte phenotype. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Evaluation of BMP-2 Enhances the Osteoblast Differentiation of Human Amnion Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded on Nano-Hydroxyapatite/Collagen/Poly(l-Lactide)

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 significantly increased the osteocalcin and phosphate content, mineral formation, alkaline phosphatase activity, osteogenic biomarkers osteocalcin, and Runx2, and decreased calcium content in human amnion MSCs seeded on the nanohydroxyapatite/collagen/poly(l-lactide) scaffold. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The Fabrication of Biomineralized Fiber-Aligned PLGA Scaffolds and Their Effect on Enhancing Osteogenic Differentiation of UCMSC Cells

The biomineralized fiber-aligned PLGA scaffold with multicycles of mineralization facilitated the cell attachment on the fiber surfaces and then supported better cell adhesion and contact guidance, leading to enhancement in following proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of umbilical cord MSCs (UCMSCs). [J Mater Sci Mater Med] Abstract

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Current Status of Canine Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Veterinary Medicine

The authors investigated canine umbilical cord blood (cUCB) and compared it with UCB from other species by reviewing recent articles published from February 2003 to June 2017 to gain an understanding of the limitations of cUCB in the acquisition of MSCs and to determine other suitable sources for the isolation of MSCs from canine. [Stem Cells Int] Full Article

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

Marcus Foundation $13M Grant Targets Osteoarthritis with Stem Cell Therapies

The Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center, in partnership with Sanford Health, Duke University, Andrews Institute and Georgia Institute of Technology, received a $13 million grant from The Marcus Foundation for a multicenter clinical trial studying various stem cell options to treat osteoarthritis. [Emory University] Press Release

FDA Grants Approval of TIBSOVO^®, the First Oral, Targeted Therapy for Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia and an IDH1 Mutation

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that TIBSOVO^® was granted approval from the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 mutation as detected by an FDA approved test. [Agios, Inc.] Press Release

Omeros’ OMS721 Receives European Orphan Drug Designation Positive Opinion for Treatment in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Omeros Corporation announced that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products issued a positive opinion recommending orphan drug designation of OMS721 for treatment in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Omeros Corporation] Press Release

UK-India Science Ministers Reinforce Strong Research Partnership As Future Collaboration Is Announced

They signaled their commitment to a deeper relationship by jointly announcing four new awards worth £4.8 million under the Civil Nuclear Energy program and seven new awards worth £10.8 million under Phase 2 of the Global research program on health. [GOV.UK] Editorial

New Evidence USCIS Policies Increased Denials of H-1B Visas

New data show that in 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied many more H-1B petitions and issued numerous costly Requests for Evidence to stop highly educated foreign nationals from working in America. [Forbes Media LLC] Editorial

Third Retraction for Harvard Cancer Biologist

Nature has issued a retraction of a cancer study, seven years after its publication, citing issues with two figures and the unavailability of original data for them. The paper, led by Harvard Medical School biologist Sam Lee, is among several publications from his group to be retracted. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 60^th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 1-4, 2018
San Diego, California

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Leukaemia Biology (University of Oxford)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Gene Regulation and/or Cancer Biology (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Stem Cell Transplantation (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Scientific Research Positions – Various Subjects (Shanghai General Hospital)

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair – Precision & Molecular Oncology (University of Calgary – Cumming School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Drug Discovery (University of Michigan)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematology (Uppsala University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer Biology (Trustees of Boston University Medical Campus)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

PhD Student – Cellular Immunotherapy (Glycostem Therapeutics)

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