Cord Blood News Volume 5.30 | Aug 1 2013

Induction of Dopaminergic Neurons from Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell by Forskolin
Researchers investigated the Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells (hWJMSC) differentiation ability toward neuronal fate. The trans-differentiation of hWJMSC into neural lineage was investigated in presence of forskolin, an agent known to increase the intracellular levels of cAMP. Abstract

A Simple Model System Enabling Human CD34⁺ Cells to Undertake Differentiation Towards T Cells
Researchers provided direct evidence for the capacity of human cord blood CD34⁺ cells to differentiate along the T lineage in a simple human model system. Productive commitment of the CD34⁺ cells to generate T cells was found to be dependent on a three-dimensional matrix which induced the up-regulation of the Notch delta-like ligand 4 by epithelial cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Fucosyltransferase VII Improves the Function of Selectin Ligands on Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Scientists determined whether surface fucosylation with α1,3 fucosyltransferase VII, which is primarily expressed by hematopoietic cells, improves the function of selectin ligands on cord blood-hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in comparison with α1,3 fucosyltransferase VI. [Glycobiology] Abstract

The Stimulation of Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and VEGF Secretion of Endothelial Cells by β-CaSiO₃/β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ Scaffolds
Investigators recreated an extracellular environment using extracts of β-CaSiO₃/β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ composites developed in their previous in vivo study, and investigated the effects of the extracts on osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and its related mechanisms. The angiogenic potential of the extracts was also evaluated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

In Vitro Fabrication of Autologous Living Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts Based on Prenatally Harvested Ovine Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells
Researchers investigated the isolation and use of autologous ovine amniotic fluid cells as cell source for cardiovascular tissue engineering applications. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Placenta Mesenchymal Stem Cell Accelerates Wound Healing by Enhancing Angiogenesis in Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki(GK) Rats
Investigators examined the potential biological function of human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells in wound healing in diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Characteristics of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Wharton’s Jelly of Human Umbilical Cord and for Fabrication of Non-Scaffold Tissue-Engineered Cartilage
The authors isolated mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton’s jelly of human umbilical cord, which expressed CD44, CD105 and CD271 but not CD34 and CD45 with flow cytometry analysis. RT-PCR showed not only positive expression of CD90, c-kit, Sca1, SH2 and SH3 but also positive expression of the chondrocyte markers Sox-9 and Col-2A1. [J Biosci Bioeng] Abstract

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Stem Cell Research Initiative to Benefit Irish Patients
Certain stem cell-based therapies could be available to Irish patients within a couple of years, as part of a new €2.5 million research partnership between the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and research centers in Galway, Dublin and Cork. The project will involve the researching, manufacturing and for the first time transplanting of adult human stem cells for the treatment of arthritis, burns and diabetic foot ulcers. [RTE News] Press Release

Stem Cell Agency’s Board Approves $70 Million Plan to Develop Innovative Alpha Clinics
A $70 million plan to create a new statewide network of sites that will act as a hub for stem cell clinical trials was approved by the governing Board of California’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The goal of the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics Network is to support and accelerate clinical trials for programs funded by the agency, as well as those developed elsewhere by academic researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Associates – Stem Cell Biology (University of Illinois at Chicago)

NEW Assistant/Associate Researcher – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (UW Madison – Wisconsin National Primate Research Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Fate Decisions (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position (Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III)

PhD Students – Molecular Cell Biology and Hematopoiesis (Sanquin)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (The University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

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

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