Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induce Granulocytic Differentiation of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemic Cells via IL-6 and MEK/ERK Pathways Researchers report that human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells are capable of inducing granulocytic differentiation of the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)-derived NB4 cell line as well as primary APL cells and also cooperate with all-trans retinoic acid in an additive manner. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract Infusion of Megakaryocytic Progenitor Products Generated from Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells: Results of the Phase I Study Megakaryocytic progenitor cells (MPs) were produced and characterized from cord blood mononuclear cells under a serum free medium with cytokines. Researchers investigated the feasibility of expansion and infusion of cord blood-derived MPs in 24 patients with advanced hematological malignancies. [PLoS One] Full Article Defining Incidence, Risk Factors, and Impact on Survival of Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome Researchers conducted a retrospective study of all acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT), identifying both original and modified central line-associated blood stream infections incidence. The median age at transplantation was 52 years; 34 had a high HCT comorbidity index; 34 received bone marrow, 24 received peripheral stem cells, and 15 received umbilical cord blood cells. [Biol Bone Marrow Transpl] Abstract Co-Transplantation of Third-Party Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived MSCs Promotes Engraftment in Children Undergoing Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation It has been postulated that MSCs have hematopoiesis-supportive properties. Therefore, to overcome the limitation of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), third-party UCB-derived MSCs were co-transplanted in recipients receiving unrelated UCBT. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Transplantation-Potential-Related Biological Properties of Decidua Basalis Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Maternal Human Term Placenta Scientists obtained decidua-basalis-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DBMSCs) through enzymatic digestion and density gradient centrifugation and confirmed their capacity to differentiate into cell types of the mesodermal lineage, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. Karyotype analysis showed that the isolated DBMSCs maintained chromosomal stability after long-term culture in vitro. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract The Plasma Levels of Soluble HLA-G Molecules Correlate Directly with CD34+ Cell Concentration and HLA-G 14bp Insertion/Insertion Polymorphism in Cord Blood Donors The authors tried to identify the largest producer of soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA)-G among 85 healthy cord blood donors at Pavia Cord Blood Bank, correlating the sHLA-G concentration with the HLA-G 14bp insertion/deletion genotype and CD34+ cell concentration. [Blood Transf] Abstract |