The Role of Fucosylation in the Promotion of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Neovascularization and Bone Repair Researchers showed that human cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells expressed little sialyl Lewis X antigen that is necessary for selectin-mediated cell-cell interactions. [Biomaterials] Abstract Galectin-1 Stimulates Motility of Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Downregulation of Smad2/3-Dependent Collagen 3/5 and Upregulation of NF-κB-Dependent Fibronectin/Laminin 5 Expression Results demonstrate that Galectin-1 stimulated human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell motility by decreasing COL3A1/COL5A1 expression and increasing fibronectin/laminin 5 expression through a protein kinase C-dependent nuclear factor (NF)-κB and c-Src/caveolin-1-dependent smad2/3 pathway that was critical for governing the activation of focal adhesion kinase, Akt, Erk, integrins, and matrix metalloproteinase-2. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Engineering of Pre-Vascularized Urethral Patch with Muscle Flaps and Hypoxia-Activated hUCMSCs Improves Its Therapeutic Outcome With the assistance of hypoxia-activated human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs), pedicled muscle flaps were used as materials and pre-incubated in ventral penile subcutaneous cavity of rabbit for three weeks to prepare a pre-vascularized urethral construct. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article Molecular and Stimulus-Response Profiles Illustrate Heterogeneity between Peripheral and Cord Blood-Derived Human Mast Cells Different protocols exist for in vitro development of HuMCs from hematopoietic stem cells, which results in distinct mast cells regarding molecular markers and activation patterns. Researchers introduced a SR profile using immunological, neurogenic, and pharmacological stimuli to characterize cellular functionality. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract Attached Segment Has Higher CD34+ Cells and CFU-GM than the Main Bag after Thawing Little is known regarding the characteristics of contiguous segments in comparison to main bag units, due to the difficulty experienced in accessing a large number of cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs). Researchers used 245 nonconforming CBU that had sufficient cell numbers for transplantation but showed inappropriate safe testing results. [Cell Transplant] Abstract Frozen Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells Differentiate into Higher Numbers of Functional Natural Killer Cells In Vitro than Mobilized Hematopoietic Stem Cells or Freshly Isolated Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells Researchers compared the capacity of frozen or freshly isolated umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells and frozen mobilized peripheral blood to generate natural killer cells in vitro. [PLoS One] Full Article IL-12 Directs Further Maturation of Ex Vivo Differentiated NK Cells with Improved Therapeutic Potential Investigators showed that addition of a specific low dose of IL-12 to an ex vivo NK cell differentiation system from cord blood CD34+ stem cells will result in significantly increased proportions of cells with expression of CD62L as well as KIRs and CD16 which are preferentially expressed on mature CD56dim peripheral blood NK cells. [PLoS One] Full Article High Burden of BK Virus-Associated Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Scientists investigated the incidence, risk factors and outcome of BK virus (BKV)-hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in 323 consecutive adult patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic SCT over a 5-year period. In multivariate analysis, patients receiving cord blood units and peripheral blood stem cells represented high-risk subgroups for developing BKV-HC. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Decreased Intracellular pH Induced by Cariporide Differentially Contributes to Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation Investigators explored whether inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger 1 could induce differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs were obtained from human umbilical cord and both the surface phenotype and functional characteristics were analyzed. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article Biocompatibility and Hemocompatibility of Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Used for Vascular Grafting – In Vitro and In Vivo Studies Researchers assessed the biocompatibility and hemocompatibility of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA) based membranes in order to get some insight into its potential use as a vascular graft. The effects of the mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly in the improvement of PVA biocompatibility and in the vascular regeneration were also assessed. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Connexon Creative is evaluating reader interest in a new social media platform. Fill out this quick survey for your chance to win 1 of 4 $25 gift cards! Take survey here |