Cord Blood News Volume 5.33 | Aug 22 2013

Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein 1 in Vascular Endothelial Cell Autophagy and Atherosclerosis
To investigate the mechanism of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) action, the authors initially identified phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 1 (PEBP1) as a binding partner of PC-PLC by using mass spectrometry. They found that PEBP1 positively regulated PC-PLC activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and inhibition of PC-PLC by its inhibitor D609 suppressed PEBP1 expression dramatically. [J Physiol] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Safety and Efficacy
Scientists assessed the safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this ongoing cohort, 172 patients with active RA who had inadequate responses to traditional medication were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups for different treatment: Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) plus medium without UC-MSCs, or DMARDs plus UC-MSCs group via intravenous injection. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Impact of HLA Mismatch Direction on Outcomes after Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Hematological Malignant Disorders: A Retrospective Eurocord-EBMT Analysis
Scientists focused on confirming, using an independent population, whether transplantation outcomes would be different when HLA mismatch direction was considered. They analyzed 1565 patients who received a single-unit umbilical cord blood transplantation for malignant disease. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Hydrostatic Pressure and Shear Stress Affect Endothelin-1 and Nitric Oxide Release by Endothelial Cells in Bioreactors
Using the bioreactor systems, endothelin-1 and nitric oxide release from human umbilical vein endothelial cells were measured in varying conditions of shear stress and pressure. [Biotechnol J] Abstract

Hyperbaric Oxygen Improves Engraftment of Ex-Vivo Expanded and Gene Transduced Human CD34⁺ Cells in a Murine Model of Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Researchers evaluated the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an intervention to improve human umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem/progenitor cell engraftment in an immune deficient mouse model. Six- to eight-week old NSG mice were sublethally irradiated 24 hours prior to CD34⁺ UCB cell transplant. [Blood Cells Mol Dis] Abstract

B-Cell Function after Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Using a Minimal-Intensity Conditioning Regimen in Patients with X-SCID
Scientists performed reduced-intensity conditioning, consisting of fludarabine 125 mg/m² and melphalan 80 mg/m², prior to unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation for five patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID), none of them had an HLA-identical donor. [Int J Hematol] Abstract

Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Followed by Cord Blood Transplantation in a Patient with Refractory Folliculotropic Mycosis Fungoides
Cord blood has been used as an alternative stem cell source; however, there are few reports of mycosis fungoides (MF) patients treated using cord blood transplantation. Researchers report a rare case of refractory folliculotropic MF, which was treated with reduced-intensity conditioning followed by cord blood transplantation. [Int J Hematol] Abstract

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Stem Cell Research Lab to Open at Tehnopol
A stem cell research lab was opened at Tehnopol, a science park in Tallinn. In cooperation with the Cell Therapy Cluster, the Enterprise Estonia and EU-funded lab will be used to develop high-quality cell treatment products. [Estonian Public Broadcasting] Press Release

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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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Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

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

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

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

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

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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