Cord Blood News Volume 5.05 | Feb 7 2013

Interleukin-10 Controls the Protective Effects of Circulating Microparticles from Septic Shock Patients on Tissue-Engineered Vascular Media
Scientists investigated the effects of septic microparticles on the contractile response of tissue-engineered vascular media (TEVM). TEVMs composed of only a media were produced by tissue engineering from human arterial smooth muscle cells isolated from umbilical cord. [Clin Sci] Abstract

Direct Head-to-Head Comparison of Cationic Liposome-Mediated Gene Delivery to Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells of Different Human Sources: A Comprehensive Study
Investigators performed a comprehensive comparison of liposome-mediated gene transfer efficiencies to mesenchymal stem/stromal cells derived from different human sources – bone marrow, adipose tissue-derived cells and umbilical cord matrix. [Hum Gene Ther Methods] Abstract

Pre-Engraftment Syndrome after Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation: A Predictor of Engraftment and Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease
Pre-engraftment syndrome (PES) is poorly characterized and its clinical significance and the prognostic impact after unrelated cord blood transplantation (CBT) are unclear. To address these issues, researchers analyzed retrospectively the incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of PES in unrelated CBT recipients. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Toll-Like Receptor Mediated Eosinophil-Basophil Differentiation: Autocrine Signaling by GM-CSF in Cord Blood Hematopoietic Progenitors
Since they have previously demonstrated that cord blood progenitors induce eosinophil/basophil (Eo/B) colony forming units after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, the authors sought to investigate the intracellular mechanisms by which LPS induces Eo/B differentiation. [Immunology] Abstract

Novel Alginate Three-Dimensional Static and Rotating Culture Systems for Effective Ex Vivo Amplification of Human Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells and In Vivo Functional Analysis of Amplified Cells in NOD/SCID Mice
The authors investigated two novel three-dimensional culture systems (static and rotating) for ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood. [Transfusion] Abstract

Stem Cell Transplantation after Reduced Intensity Conditioning for Sickle Cell Disease
In order to reduce transplant associated late effects, the feasibility of a highly immunosuppressive reduced intensity conditioning regimen was explored in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and a matched sibling donor. Eight patients and symptomatic SCD were included. The conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine, melphalan and either thiotepa or total lymphoid irradiation plus ATG or alemtuzumab. The graft was bone marrow in seven and cord blood in one case. [Eur J Haematol] Abstract

Adenovector-Mediated Gene Delivery to Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Induces Inner Ear Cell Phenotype
Investigators evaluated the potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (hUCMSCs) as a possible source for regenerating inner ear hair cells. The expression of Atoh1 induced the differentiation of hUCMSCs into cells that resembled inner ear hair cells morphologically and immunocytochemically, evidenced by the expression of hair cell-specific markers. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Induces VEGF-C Expression through a MMP-2/FGF-1/FGFR-1-Dependent Pathway in Endothelial Cells In Vitro
Researchers investigated whether sphingosine-1-phosphate, a potent angiogenic factor, induced vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression in endothelial cells in vitro and examined its underlying mechanisms. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Full Article

Gamida Cell’s StemEx® Achieves Primary Endpoint in Phase II/III Clinical Study
Gamida Cell announced that its flagship product, StemEx, reached its primary endpoint of improving overall survival in a Phase II/III study which compared the use of StemEx as part of a transplantation regimen to historical controls in the treatment of patients with hematological malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma. [Gamida Cell] Press Release

Insception Biosciences Inc. Offers New Expertise to CCRM’s Industry Consortium
Canada’s largest and most established stem cell bank is the newest member of the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine’s (CCRM) industry consortium. Insception Lifebank Cord Blood Program, a FACT‐accredited family cord blood bank, has extensive experience working with hematopoietic stem cells that CCRM will soon require to advance its therapeutic product pipeline. [Insception Biosciences Inc.] Press Release

Pioneering Research to Manufacture Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood
A new project to develop tools for the manufacture of large quantities of medically valuable cells from umbilical cord blood has been launched by Loughborough University. Dr. Rob Thomas from the University’s School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering has been awarded a £1.3 million research fellowship by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for the study. [Loughborough University]
Press Release

SVI Puts Cord Blood under the Microscope
Associate Professor Louise Purton from St Vincent’s Institute (SVI) in Melbourne hopes her new project will lead to the first treatments in Australia using expanded umbilical cord blood stem cells. The research aims to increase the number of stem cells derived from cord blood and accelerate the rate at which the cells develop into mature blood cells. [St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research] 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)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Mount Sinai Medical Center)

Early Stage Researcher PhD Posts – DECIDE ITN (The University of Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Position – mRNA Processing & Gene Expression in Stem Cells (University of California, Irvine)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Regulation in the Hematopoietic and Immune Systems (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow (University of Michigan)


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