Cord Blood News Volume 6.02 | Jan 23 2014

Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Adult and Neonatal Sources: A Comparative In Vitro Analysis of Their Immunosuppressive Properties against T Cells
Investigators compared mesenchymal stromal cells from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and placenta in terms of their immunosuppressive properties against lymphoid cell populations enriched for CD3+ T cells. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

An Expanded Population of CD34+ Cells from Frozen Banked Umbilical Cord Blood Demonstrate Tissue Repair Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Circulating Angiogenic Cells in an Ischemic Hind Limb Model
The authors reported that culturing CD34+/CD45+ blood cells from frozen umbilical cord blood units in a medium supplemented with FGF4, SCF and FLT3-ligand produced a population of cells that remain CD34+/CD45+ but have an increased capacity for tissue healing. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

Towards an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Based on Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Isolated from the Umbilical Cord Tissue: Quality and Safety Data
Investigators described the adaptation of a proprietary method for isolation of a specific umbilical cord tissue-derived population of mesenchymal stromal cells, herein designated by its registered trademark as UCX^®, towards the production of an advanced therapy medicinal product. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

The Hollow Fiber Bioreactor as a Stroma-Supported, Serum-Free Ex Vivo Expansion Platform for Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells
Scientists developed a bio-mimetic co-culture platform using the hollow fiber bioreactor for ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells. [Biotechnol J] Abstract

Effects of Intravenous Administration of Umbilical Cord Blood CD34⁺ Cells in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Stroke
The intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood CD34⁺ cells modestly reduced histological ischemic brain damage after neonatal stroke in mice, with a transient augmentation of cerebral blood flow in the peri-infarct area. [Neuroscience] Abstract

Wharton’s Jelly Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Contact Guidance by Noisy Nanotopographies
Researchers studied Wharton’s jelly human mesenchymal stem cells interacting with nanogratings having a controlled amount of nanotopographical noise. They argue that highly anisotropic nanopatterned scaffolds can be successfully exploited to drive stem cell migration in regenerative medicine protocols and discuss the impact of scaffold alterations or wear. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Gene Therapy of Ovarian Cancer Using IL-21-Secreting Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Nude Mice
The authors investigated effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells as vehicles for a constant source of transgenic interleukin-21 (IL-21) on ovarian cancer in vivo. [J Ovarian Res] Abstract | Full Article

Effect of Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell Paracrine Signaling on Keloid Fibroblasts
Researchers investigated paracrine signaling effects of human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells on keloid fibroblasts in vitro. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

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Pluristem’s Cell Manufacturing Facility Marks Major Milestone with German Regulatory Approval of New Scaled-Up 3D Manufacturing Process
Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has received approval from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Germany’s health authority, to supply cells from its advanced, fully automated, and proprietary 3D cell expansion manufacturing platform implemented at its new state-of-the-art GMP facility. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.]
Press Release

Pluristem’s Phase I/II Muscle Injury Trial Successfully Meets Primary Safety & Efficacy Endpoints
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced top-line results from its Phase I/II clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of PLacental eXpanded (PLX-PAD) cells in the treatment of muscle injury. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

The HUB Foundation for Organoid Technology and STEMCELL Technologies Sign Agreement on the Manufacturing of Cell Culture Media for Organoids
The HUB Foundation for Organoid Technology announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with STEMCELL Technologies Inc. for the manufacturing and worldwide distribution of cell culture media for growing Organoids. Organoids are mini-organs grown in tissue culture from small pieces of tissue derived from patients with cancer and other diseases, and represent an exciting new tool for scientific research and drug discovery and validation. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Blood Research Program (University of Edinburgh)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Biology (Yale University School of Medicine)

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 – 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.)

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