Cord Blood News Volume 4.40 | Oct 11 2012

Treatment of Relapsed Myelodysplastic Syndrome following Double Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation with Interferon Alpha and 5-Azacytidine
Researchers reported the effective treatment of relapsed myelodysplastic syndrome following unrelated double umbilical cord blood allograft with 5-azacytidine and interferon alpha in a patient who was unsuitable for a further hematopoietic stem cell transplantation procedure. [Br J Haematol] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Contribute to Endogenous FVIIIc Production
Scientists investigated whether human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), ubiquitously present in different organs, could contribute to human FVIII:c (FVIII) production. Using an antibody specific for FVIII, confocal microscopy, and umbilical cord-derived endothelial cells as a negative control, they demonstrated that, in MSC, FVIII protein was not stored in granules; rather, it localized to the perinuclear region. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Double Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation: A Study of Early Engraftment Kinetics in Leukocyte Subsets Using HLA-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies
To investigate whether a differential engraftment might reveal a specific subset that could play a key role in the mechanism of graft predominance, the authors studied early engraftment kinetics of different leukocyte subpopulations by flowcytometry using human monoclonal antigen-specific HLA-antibodies, directed against mismatched HLA-A- or B-antigens between recipient and cord blood units. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Impact of the Direction of HLA Mismatch on Transplant Outcome in Single Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation
The impact of the direction of HLA mismatch on the transplant outcome in unrelated cord blood (UCB) transplantation has not yet been clarified. Therefore, researchers conducted a retrospective study using national registry data on 2,977 patients who underwent transplantation using a single UCB for leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Combination Treatment of Stroke with Sub-Therapeutic Doses of Simvastatin and Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Enhances Vascular Remodeling and Improves Functional Outcome
Scientists investigated whether transplantation of sub-therapeutic doses of human umbilical cord blood cells and Simvastatin enhances cerebral vascular remodeling after stroke. [Neuroscience] Abstract

Radiolabeling of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for In Vivo Tracking
Investigators isolated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord tissue, characterized them, and attempted to radiolabel them with ⁵¹Cr for mapping the fate of transplanted MSCs after an intravenous injection via the tail vein in small animals. [Cancer Biother Radiopharm] Abstract

Functional Stability (at +4°C) of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Amplified Ex Vivo from Cord Blood CD34+ Cells
In order to test the possibility of using expanded cells in distant transplantation centers, investigators studied the functional stability at +4°C (usual temperature of transportation) of hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells 48 hours after expansion. [Cell Transplant] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Perivascular Cells Exhibit Enhanced Cardiomyocyte Reprogramming and Cardiac Function after Experimental Acute Myocardial Infarction
Results indicated that human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) exhibit a greater degree of cardiomyocyte reprogramming but that differentiation for both cell types is partial. The authors concluded that HUCPVCs may be preferable to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in the cell therapy of acute myocardial infarction. [Cell Transplant] Abstract

FDA Approves DUCORD Product from Duke for Stem Cell Transplants
Duke University School of Medicine has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market DUCORD, a stem cell product derived from umbilical cord blood, for use in transplants between unrelated donors and recipients. [Duke University Health System] Press Release

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012: Sir John B. Gurdon, Shinya Yamanaka
Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has decided to award The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 jointly to John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. [Nobel Media AB] Press Release

Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Hosts Fifth Annual Maryland Stem Cell Research Symposium in Annapolis
The Fifth Annual Maryland Stem Cell Research Symposium will be presented by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission (Commission) and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. The Commission also announced its four research funding programs for 2013. Requests for Applications include: Investigator-Initiated Grants, Exploratory Grants, Post-Doctoral Fellowships, and Pre-Clinical and Clinical Grants, a new funding mechanism designed to support for-profit companies. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund] 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)

Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Product Manager – Hematopoietic (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Clinical Lab Scientist – Cord Blood (Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center)

Research Associate – Quality Assurance (University of California)

Postdoctoral Position in Mouse Stem Cell Biology (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Fellow in Stem Cells and Cancer (Tsinghua University)

Research Associate I – The Stem Cell Therapeutics and Vascular Biology Lab (Blood Systems Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Transcription Factors in Blood Cell Development (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)


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