Cord Blood News Volume 6.01 | Jan 16 2014

Membrane Culture and Reduced Oxygen Tension Enhances Cartilage Matrix Formation from Equine Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stromal Cells In Vitro
The authors evaluated and compared the effect of reduced oxygen and membrane culture during in vitro chondrogenesis of equine cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells. [Osteoarthritis Cartilage] Abstract

Long Term Immune Reconstitution and Infection Burden after Mismatched Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD) or umbilical cord blood (UCB) can be chosen as alternative donors for allogeneic stem cell transplantation but might be associated with long lasting immune deficiency. Sixty-six patients who underwent a first transplantation from either UCB or 9/10 MMUD (n= 36) and who survived beyond 3 months were evaluated. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Attenuate Remodeling Following Myocardial Infarction by Pro-Angiogenic, Anti-Apoptotic and Endogenous Cell Activation Mechanisms
Investigators report on the effect of umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal stromal cells transplantation to the infarcted murine heart, seconded by the dissection of the molecular mechanisms at play. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Characterization and Profiling of Immunomodulatory Genes of Equine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Non-Invasive Sources
Although bone marrow is the best known source for isolating equine mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), non-invasive alternative sources such as umbilical cord blood (UCB), umbilical cord matrix (UCM) and peripheral blood (PB) have been reported also. Equine MSC from 3 non-invasive alternative sources were isolated from 6 individual mares (PB) and their foals (UCB & UCM) at parturition. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Optimization of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in an NSG Mouse Xenograft Model of Graft-versus-Host Disease
Scientists attempted to evaluate whether human umbilical cord blood-mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) could either prevent or treat graft-versus-host disease in an NSG mouse xenograft model by injection of MSCs before or after in vivo clearance. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Transcription Factor SCL/TAL1 Mediates the Phosphorylation of MEK/ERK Pathway in Umbilical Cord Blood CD34⁺ Stem Cells during Hematopoietic Differentiation
Transcription factor stem cell leukemia (SCL), also known as the T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia 1 (TAL1), plays a key role in the regulation of hematopoiesis, but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Researchers aimed to elucidate the effects of the epidermal growth factor receptor signal pathways underlying the biologic activity of SCL/TAL1 on normal hematopoietic development. Lentiviral vectors with up or down-regulation of SCL/TAL1 were transfected into umbilical cord blood CD34 stem cells. [Blood Cells Mol Dis] Abstract

Effect of Human Endothelial Progenitor Cell (EPC)- or Mouse Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Derived Vessel Formation on the Survival of Vitrified/Warmed Mouse Ovarian Grafts
Investigators evaluated the effectiveness of improving angiogenesis at graft sites on the survival of follicles in transplanted ovarian tissue. Matrigel containing 5 × 10⁵ of cord blood-derived EPCs or 200 ng of mouse vascular endothelial growth factor was injected subcutaneously into BALB/c-Nu mice. [Reprod Sci] Abstract

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FDA-Regulated Study of Cord Blood Stem Cells to Treat Acquired Hearing Loss Launches
Cord Blood Registry® announced the start of a U.S. Food and Drug (FDA)-regulated study being conducted at Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando to investigate the use of a child’s stem cells from their own stored umbilical cord blood as a treatment for acquired sensorineural hearing loss. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

Panama’s First Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Rheumatoid Arthritis Approved by Comité Nacional de Bioética de la Investigación Institutional Review Board
Translational Biosciences, a subsidiary of Medistem Panama has received the county’s first clinical trial approval for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells from the Comité Nacional de Bioética de la Investigación Institutional Review Board. [Translational Biosciences]
Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)

PhD Candidates – Stem Cells and Biomedical Engineering (Queensland University of Technology – Translational Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Lineage Specific Cellular Differentiation Models Utilizing Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Bioengineering (Queensland University of Technology/Translational Research Institute)

Clinical MD – Clinical Development Program for Oncology and Autoimmune Diseases (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Chief Medical Officer – Novel Therapeutics in Oncology and Autoimmune Disease (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Associate – Graft-vs.-Host Disease and Graft-vs.-Leukemia in Mouse Models (Yale University School of Medicine)

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