Functional Crosstalk Between Bmi1 and MLL/Hoxa9 Axis in Establishment of Normal Hematopoietic and Leukemic Stem Cells In this study, scientists investigated whether leukemia-associated fusion proteins could initiate leukemia in the absence of Bmi1. [Cell Stem Cell] Role of Slug Transcription Factor in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Researchers used human mesenchymal stem cells from tibial plateau trabecular bone, iliac crest bone marrow and Wharton’s jelly umbilical cord demonstrating a variability in their mineral matrix deposition, and in the expression levels of transcription factors including Runx2, Sox9, Sox5, Sox6, STAT1 and Slug, all involved in the control of osteochondroprogenitors differentiation program. [J Cell Mol Med] Stem Cell Course in the Middle East: Science Diplomacy and International Collaborations During the Arab Spring In April 2011, an international advanced course and workshop entitled “Frontiers in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells” and an International Congress on Fertility and Genetics was held in Amman Jordan. A major emphasis was placed on the clinical achievements in germ cell and umbilical cord stem cell transplantation issues, and on the potential of fast and successful prenatal and pre-implantation molecular genetics diagnostics. [Stem Cell Rev] Size-Sieved Subpopulations of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Intervascular and Perivascular Equine Umbilical Cord Matrix Umbilical cord matrix (UCM) has been recently proposed as an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize presumptive stem cells from intervascular and perivascular equine UCM and to obtain homogeneous subpopulations from both sites. [Cell Prolif] Keratinocyte Growth Factor Enhanced Immune Reconstitution in Murine Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Blood Cell Transplant Researchers hypothesized that keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) pre-administration would improve post-allogeneic umbilical cord blood transplant (allo-UCBT) thymopoiesis. To test this hypothesis, allo-UCBT recipient mice were given KGF or control saline prior to UCBT. [Leuk Lymphoma] Characterization and Comparison of Telomere Length, Telomerase and Reverse Transcriptase Activity and Gene Expression in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Cancer Cells of Various Origins Rsearchers have characterized and compared the telomere length, telomerase, reverse transcriptase activity and expression of genes implicated in cancer and in pluripotency, in human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental papilla tissue, umbilical cord matrix and adipose tissue and in cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, U-87 MG, and MCF-7). [Cell Tissue Res] Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) Promotes the Differentiation of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Cardiomyocytes Under the Designated Culturing Conditions This study for the first time demonstrates that S1P potentiates differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells towards functional cardiomyocytes under the designated culture conditions. [J Biomed Sci] Investigation of the Effective Action Distance Between Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells and Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells During Their In Vitro Co-culture The in vitro suitable action distance between umbilical cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and its feeder cell, human adipose-derived stem cells, during their co-culture, was investigated through a novel transwell co-culture protocol, in which the distance between the two culture chambers where each cell type is growing can be adjusted from 10 to 450 μm. [Appl Biochem Biotechnol] Transplantation of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Survival Rates in a Rat Model of Acute Hepatic Necrosis Human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell (HUCBMSC) transplantation can significantly improve the survival of rats with acute hepatic necrosis. The underlying mechanisms involved may include the transdifferentiation of HUCBMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells and targeted migration of these cells to liver lesion sites. [Am J Med Sci] |