Cord Blood News Volume 5.22 | Jun 6 2013

Human Herpesvirus-6 Reactivation and HHV-6 Encephalitis after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Multicenter, Prospective Study
This prospective, multicenter study of 230 allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients investigated the epidemiology of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 reactivation and HHV-6 encephalitis. Multivariate analysis identified myeloablative conditioning, umbilical cord blood transplantation and male sex as risk factors for displaying high-level HHV-6 reactivation. [Clin Infect Dis] Abstract

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Is Upregulated in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
In order to characterize regulation of the oxygen sensing pathway in these cells, the authors studied human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from three origins, adult and pediatric bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide Nanoparticles as Novel Non-Viral Carriers for Gene Delivery to Mesenchymal Stem Cells
This study centers on the use of a nanoparticle based on the polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis (ASP) as an efficient and safe non-viral gene vector. After modification with branched low molecular weight polyethylenimine, the cationized ASP was combined with the plasmid encoding transforming growth factor-beta 1 to form a spherical nano-scaled particle. This nanoparticle was applied to transfect rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. [Nanomedicine] Abstract

Reasons for Exclusion of 6820 Umbilical Cord Blood Donations in a Public Cord Blood Bank
To provide information for umbilical cord blood (UCB) banks to adopt optimal collection strategies and to make UCB banks operate efficiently, researchers investigated the reasons for exclusion of UCB units in a three-year recruitment period. [Transfusion] Abstract

IL-27 Suppresses the Production of IL-22 in Human CD4⁺ T Cells by Inducing the Expression of SOCS1
Researchers demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-27 inhibits the production of IL-22 and induces the expression of IFN-γ in CD4⁺ T cells from human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 in dose-dependent manner. [Immunol Lett] Abstract

Regulation of IgE-Dependent Zinc Release from Human Mast Cells
Scientists used cord-blood-derived mast cells and LAD2 cells. Extracellular Zinc (Zn) levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry or based on the fluorescence intensity of a Zn indicator. [Int Arch Allergy Immunol] Abstract

Differentiation of hUC-MSC into Dopaminergic-Like Cells after Transduction with Hepatocyte Growth Factor
Investigators successfully isolated and facilitated the transduction of an adenoviral vector expressing hepatocyte growth factor into isolated mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord (hUC-MSCs). Following transduction, the hUC-MSCs can differentiate into dopaminergic neuron-like cells secreting dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase, and dopamine transporter. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Can Secret Insulin In Vitro and In Vivo
Results demonstrated that human umbilical cord derived stem cells (hUDSCs) are able to differentiate into insulin producing cells by transduction with non-integrated lentivirus harboring PDX1. These hUDSCs^PDX1+ have the potential to be used as a viable resource in cell-based gene therapy of type 1 diabetes. [Biotechnol Appl Biochem] Abstract

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Arteriocyte Announces Launch of Compass Biomedical
Arteriocyte, Inc. announced the launch of Compass Biomedical, the commercial tools division of Arteriocyte that supplies novel cell culturing products and technologies for translational research. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

Pluristem to Receive Clinical-Hold Notice from the U.S. FDA
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that its United States phase II Intermittent Claudication study (IND 15038) has been placed on clinical hold due to a serious allergic reaction in a case which required hospitalization. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.] 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)

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Basic and Translational Hemato-Oncology (Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute)

NEW Laboratory Manager – Basic and Translational Hemato-Oncology (Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position –  Hematopoiesis Research (Sanquin)

PhD Student Position – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell Transplantation (Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School)

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

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


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