Cord Blood News Volume 5.23 | Jun 13 2013

Effect of Graft Source on Mismatched Unrelated Donor Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation after Reduced Intensity Conditioning
This retrospective report compared the results of graft source on outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen. 152 patients received either a RIC allo-SCT using a 9/10 mismatched unrelated donor or a double unrelated umbilical cord blood graft. [Leukemia] Abstract

Allogeneic Lethally Irradiated Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells in No-Option Critical Limb Ischemia: A “Box of Rain”
Investigators report the first-in-human injection of lethally-irradiated non HLA-matched cord blood-derived mononuclear cells in a no-option critical limb ischemia patient, to induce therapeutic neo-angiogenesis, with evidence of successful outcome supported by clinical findings, instrumental assessment and histological demonstration of muscular tissue repair and capillary network expansion. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Natural Killer Cells Generated from Cord Blood Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Efficiently Target Bone Marrow-Residing Human Leukemia Cells in NOD/SCID/IL2Rg^null Mice
Recently, researchers reported a clinical-grade, cytokine-based culture method for the generation of natural killer (NK) cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34⁺ hematopoietic progenitor cells with high yield, purity and in vitro functionality. Here they evaluated the in vivo anti-leukemic potential of UCB-NK cells generated with their GMP-compliant culture system in terms of biodistribution, survival and cytolytic activity following adoptive transfer in immunodeficient NOD/SCID/IL2Rg^null mice. [PLoS One] Full Article

Risk Factors for Invasive Fungal Disease after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single Center Experience
Investigators performed a retrospective review of 271 adults with hematologic malignancy receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants to determine the incidence and risk factors to develop invasive fungal disease and its impact on non relapse mortality and overall survival. The donors were HLA matched sibling, matched unrelated donor, haploidentical and cord blood. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Evaluating the Association between Histological Manifestations of Cord Colitis Syndrome with GvHD
Cord colitis syndrome (CCS) is histologically characterized by chronic active colitis with granulomatous inflammation and Paneth cell metaplasia suggesting chronicity. However, the specificity of these pathological features to CCS remains to be validated. Researchers conducted a retrospective study of 49 patients who had diarrhea and underwent diagnostic colonoscopy with biopsy following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Reduced-Intensity Conditioning followed by Allogeneic Transplantation in Pediatric Malignancies: A Report from the Société Française des Cancers de l’Enfant and the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle et de Thérapie Cellulaire
The authors report French prospective experience with reduced-intensity conditioning-allo-SCT in 46 patients presenting high-risk AL, Hodgkin’s lymphoma or solid tumors. Graft sources were BM, PBSC and cord blood from related or unrelated donors. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Hematopoietic Stem Cells Improve Dopaminergic Neuron in the MPTP-Mice
Scientists investigated whether nanofiber-expanded human umbilical cord hematopoietic stem cells are capable of neural differentiation in vitro, and whether they could improve dopaminergic neuron morphology in the caudate/putamen and substantia nigra pars compacta of the MPTP-mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. [Front Biosci] Abstract

Generation of Mouse Models for Type 1 Diabetes by Selective Depletion of Pancreatic Beta Cells Using Toxin Receptor-Mediated Cell Knockout
By using the toxin receptor-mediated cell knockout (TRECK) method, researchers generated two transgenic (Tg) murine lines that model type 1 diabetes. The first strain, C.B-17/Icr-Prkdc^scid/Prkdc^scid-INS-TRECK-Tg, carries the diphtheria toxin receptor (hDTR) driven by the human insulin gene promoter, while the other strain, C57BL/6-ins2(BAC)-TRECK-Tg, expresses hDTR cDNA under the control of the mouse insulin II gene promoter. Using the C.B-17/Icr-Prkdc^scid/Prkdc^scid-INS-TRECK-Tg model, they tried to perform regenerative therapeutic approaches: allogeneic transplantation of pancreatic islet cells from C57BL/6 and xenogeneic transplantation of CD34⁺ human umbilical cord blood cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Mayo Clinic First in US to Test Stem Cells in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Patients
Mayo Clinic has announced the first U.S. stem cell clinical trial for pediatric congenital heart disease. The trial aims to determine how stem cells from autologous umbilical cord blood can help children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare defect in which the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped. [Mayo Clinic] Press Release

Federal and State Governments Lend Support to Cord Blood Banking
As researchers continue to discover groundbreaking medical therapies using stem cells from umbilical cord blood, Federal and State governments in the United States are ramping up their efforts to support the cord blood industry and educate parents-to-be about banking their babies’ stem cells. The most recent development happened when the New York State Senate introduced a bill to create a public umbilical cord blood banking program within the New York State Department of Health to promote public awareness of the potential benefits of public cord blood banking. [PR Newswire Association LLC] 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)

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