Cord Blood News Volume 5.18 | May 9 2013

Human White Adipose Tissue Vasculature Contains Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells with Robust In Vivo Vasculogenic Potential
The authors aimed to determine whether endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) reside in the vasculature of human white adipose tissue (WAT) and to evaluate if WAT-derived ECFCs have equal clinical potential to blood-derived ECFCs. They extensively compared WAT-derived endothelial cell phenotype and functionality to bonafide ECFCs derived from both umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood. [Angiogenesis] Abstract

Formation of Functional Gap Junctions in Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells Induced by Transmembrane Co-Culture with Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes
Researchers investigated whether or not culture of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells on the opposite side of a Transwell membrane from neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, allowing for contact and communication without confounding factors such as cell fusion, could direct cardiac differentiation and enhance gap junction formation. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Suppression of Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Growth by Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Possible Role of Wnt and Akt Signaling
Investigators observed the effects of human mesenchymal stem cells on the human cholangiocarcinoma cell line, HCCC-9810, using an animal transplantation model, and conditioned media from human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Impaired Lipopolysaccharide Responsiveness of Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells and the Risk of Asthma: A Longitudinal Study
Researchers previously demonstrated that the proliferative response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in cord blood mononuclear cells is negatively correlated to the induced expression of interleukein-4. They examined whether an impaired cellular response to LPS in infancy, is associated with the risk for asthma. [Pediatr Res] Abstract

In Vitro Biological and Mechanical Evaluation of Various Scaffold Materials for Myocardial Tissue Engineering
To identify the best scaffold for cardiac patch construction researchers compared polyurethane, Collagen Cell Carriers, ePTFE and ePTFE SSP1-RGD regarding their receptiveness to seeding with mesenchymal stem cells isolated from umbilical cord tissue. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Importance of Donor Ethnicity/Race Matching in Unrelated Adult and Cord Blood Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Donor race matching (both recipients and donors belonging to the same race) might be a factor in outcomes of donor allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). A total of 858 patients who underwent umbilical cord blood or unrelated donor alloHCT were studied. [Leuk Lymphoma] Abstract

Comparative Characteristics of Endothelial-Like Cells Derived from Human Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells
Scientists investigated the phenotype of cells obtained by culturing adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the presence of endothelial growth supplements compared to endothelial cells obtained from umbilical cord blood. [Clin Exp Med] Abstract

Vectofusin-1, a New Viral Entry Enhancer, Strongly Promotes Lentiviral Transduction of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Researchers described a new transduction enhancer called Vectofusin-1, which is a short cationic peptide, active on several lentiviral vector pseudotypes. Vectofusin-1 is used as a soluble additive to safely increase the frequency of transduced hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and to augment the level of transduction to one or two copies of vector per cell in a vector dose-dependent manner. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

ThermoGenesis Announces Registration Approval of AXP in China
ThermoGenesis Corp. said it has received registration approval for its AXP® AutoXpress® (AXP) product from China’s State Food & Drug Administration. The product is used to concentrate stem cells from cord blood and, with this approval, the Company will immediately initiate commercial distribution of the product in China, one of the world’s fastest growing cord blood markets. [ThermoGenesis Corp.] Press Release

Loyola Opens New Unit for Cancer Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplants
Loyola University Medical Center has opened a new 20-bed unit for patients undergoing stem cell transplants for cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The unit treats patients with hematologic cancers. Patients receive high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation to kill cancer cells. Because these treatments also destroy immune system cells, patients are infused with stem cells derived from bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. [Loyola University Health System] Press Release

From our sponsor: Free mouse hematopoietic progenitors wallchart. Request your copy.

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 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR): Stem Cells in Translation
September 15-18, 2013
Florence, Italy

NEW International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR): Stem Cells in Science & Medicine
October 14-17, 2013
Suzhou, China

NEW SELECTBIO CellTech 2014
January 28-29, 2014
San Diego, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist (Anthony Nolan)

Research Associate (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas)

Postdoctoral Position – Novel Gene Discovery (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Cord Blood Laboratory Manager (Puget Sound Blood Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Technology Manager (GE Healthcare)

Development/Senior Development Scientist (GE Healthcare)


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