Cord Blood News Volume 4.01 | Jan 12 2012

A Novel Therapeutic Cytomegalovirus DNA Vaccine in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase II Trial
To reduce the potential for disease and subsequent need for antiviral drugs, researchers aimed to assess safety and efficacy of a cytomegalovirus therapeutic DNA vaccine compared with placebo. [Lancet Infect Dis] Abstract | Press Release

Reversal of Type 1 Diabetes via Islet Beta Cell Regeneration following Immune Modulation by Cord Blood-Derived Multipotent Stem Cells
Researchers developed a procedure for Stem Cell Educator therapy in which a patient’s blood is circulated through a closed-loop system that separates lymphocytes from the whole blood and briefly co-cultures them with adherent cord blood-derived multipotent stem cells before returning them to the patient’s circulation. [BMC Med] Abstract | Press Release

Bmi1 Is Critical to Prevent Ikaros-Mediated Lymphoid Priming in Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Researchers’ results indicate that Ikaros is a critical Bmi1 target in vivo that prevents premature lineage specification of hematopoietic stem cells. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Omission of In Vivo T-Cell Depletion Promotes Rapid Expansion of Naïve CD4⁺ Cord Blood Lymphocytes and Restores Adaptive Immunity within 2 Months after Unrelated Cord Blood Transplant
Researchers studied the pattern of early immune reconstitution and the clinical outcome of children undergoing unrelated umbilical cord blood transplant when in vivo T-cell depletion was omitted. [Br J Haematol] Abstract

Erythroid-Specific Expression of β-Globin from Sleeping Beauty-Transduced Human Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells
In this study scientists utilized the non-viral Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system using the SB100X hyperactive transposase to transduce human cord blood CD34⁺ cells with DsRed and a hybrid IHK–β-globin transgene. [PLoS One] Abstract

Co-Transplantation of Ex Vivo Expanded and Unexpanded Cord Blood Units in Immunodeficient Mice Using IGFBP2-Augmented Mesenchymal Cell Co-Cultures
Here investigators demonstrate an immunodeficient mouse model for co-transplantation of ex vivo expanded and unexpanded human cord blood (CB), showing enhanced CB engraftment and provide proof of concept for this transplantation strategy as a means of overcoming the limiting cell numbers in each CB unit. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

In Vitro Evaluation of Graft-Versus-Graft Alloreactivity as a Tool to Identify the Predominant Cord Blood Unit Prior to Double Cord Blood Transplantation
Researchers investigated the mechanisms underlying single-donor predominance in double-cord blood transplantation by studying in vitro the role of the graft-versus-graft cell-mediated immune effect in two-way mixed lymphocyte culture, and the contribution of differential hematopoietic progenitor (HP)-potency in HP mixed-cultures. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells Do Not Transform to Tumor-Associated Fibroblasts in the Presence of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cells Unlike Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The common origin of the Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells (hWJMSCs) and the finally homed human bone marrow MSCs prompted researchers to evaluate whether hWJSCs are also involved in tumor-associated fibroblast transformation. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

First FDA-Approved Study of Stem Cells to Treat Hearing Loss Begins at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Cord Blood Registry^®, are launching the first FDA-approved, Phase I safety study of the use of cord blood stem cells to treat children with sensorineural hearing loss. [Cord Blood Registry] Press Release

Cryo-Save India Receives the AABB Accreditation
Cryo-Save India has proved its quality assurance by receiving the prestigious American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) accreditation. [Cryo-Save Group N.V.] Press Release

Cord Blood America in Brazil
Cord Blood America, Inc. announced that Biocordcell Argentina S.A. is opening a new franchise headquartered in Campinas, Brazil. [Cord Blood America, Inc.] Press Release

Plasticell to Collaborate with Pfizer, Cellzome and University of Sheffield in a £1.4 Million Technology Strategy Board-Funded Stem Cell Project
The project will develop methods of characterizing stem cells through protein fingerprints predictive of changes in stem cell behavior. [Plasticell] Press Release

FDA Warns About Stem Cell Claims
FDA cautions consumers to make sure that any stem cell treatment they are considering has been approved by FDA or is being studied under a clinical investigation that has been submitted to and allowed to proceed by FDA. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States] Press Release

China Stops Unapproved Stem Cell Treatments
China has ordered a halt to all unapproved stem cell treatments and clinical trials as Beijing seeks to rein in the largely untested stem cell therapies now on offer across the country. [The Ministry of Health, China] Press Release

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference
February 19-23, 2012
San Francisco, United States

NEW Cell Culture World Congress
February 28-March 1, 2012
Munich, Germany

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

Research and Development Technologist, hPSC Media (STEMCELL Technologies) 

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research Technologist, Manufacturing Sciences (STEMCELL Technologies)

Business Analyst – Product Management (STEMSOFT Software)

Laboratory Supervisor – Cellular Therapy (NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital)

Cell Therapy Technician (Kelly Scientific Resources)

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