Cord Blood News Volume 6.21 | Jun 5 2014

A Motif in LILRB2 Critical for Angptl2 Binding and Activation
Scientists demonstrated that Angptl2 expressed in mammalian cells forms high molecular weight species, and ligand multimerization is required for activation of LILRB2 for downstream signaling. Immobilized anti-LILRB2 antibodies induce a more potent activation of LILRB2 than Angptl2, and they developed a serum-free culture containing defined cytokines and immobilized anti-LILRB2 that supports a net expansion of repopulating human cord blood hematopoietic stem cells. [Blood] Abstract

Low Dose Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins 1 and 2 and Angiopoietin Like Protein 3 Coordinately Stimulate Ex Vivo Expansion of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells as Assayed in NOD/SCID Gamma Null Mice
In order to determine the optimal dose and combination of insulin like growth factors (IGFs), IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) and angiopoietin like proteins (ANGPTLs), serial dilution and full permutation of IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGF2 and ANGPTL3 were applied on cryopreserved umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells ex vivo expansion system. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation and Unmanipulated Haploidentical Hematopoietic SCT for Pediatric Hematologic Malignances
Investigators aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of single umbilical cord blood transplantation and unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic SCT in childhood hematologic malignances. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Autoimmune Cytopenias after Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Adults with Hematological Malignancies: A Single-Center Experience
Scientists described incidence, clinical features, serological data, response to therapy and outcome of autoimmune cytopenias, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia and autoimmune thrombocytopenia in a series of 281 consecutive adults with hematological malignancies that received single-unit umbilical cord blood transplantation at a single institution. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Optimizing Isolation Culture and Freezing Methods to Preserve Wharton’s Jelly’s Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Properties: An MSC Banking Protocol Validation for the Hellenic Cord Blood Bank
Investigators aimed to assess the optimal isolation and cryopreservation procedures to facilitate Wharton’s jelly (WJ) MSC banking. Cells were isolated from umbilical cord-WJ using enzymatic digestion or plastic adhesion methods. Their isolation efficacy, growth kinetics, immunophenotype, and differentiation potential were studied, as well as the effects of freezing. [Transfusion] Abstract

Stem Cell Treatment after Cerebral Ischemia Regulates the Gene Expression of Apoptotic Molecules
Researchers hypothesized that intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells after focal cerebral ischemia would reduce brain damage by inhibiting apoptosis and downregulating the upregulated apoptotic pathway molecules. [Neurochem Res] Abstract

Multicolor Staining of Globin Subtypes Reveals Impaired Globin Switching during Erythropoiesis in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
To examine the mechanism of impaired globin switching, the authors optimized multicolor flow cytometry to simultaneously follow expression of different globin subtypes using different immunofluorescent probes. This enabled them to detect upregulation of β-globin and the corresponding silencing of γ-globin at the single-cell level during cord blood CD34⁺ cell-derived erythropoiesis, examined as an endogenous control. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

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UCLA Stem Cell Researcher Receives $5.1 Million Award from State Agency
California’s state stem cell agency has given UCLA’s Dr. John Chute a Research Leadership Award worth $5.1 million to support his research aimed at creating new stem cell therapies for use in medical practice. His groundbreaking research focuses on hematopoietic stem cells, the cells that become blood cells, and how they grow. [UCLA] Press Release

William Gerber, MD. Appointed CEO at SynGen Inc.
SynGen Inc., a company focused on the development and commercialization of instrument systems that harvest stem and progenitor cells from umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cell culture, announced that Dr. William Gerber has been appointed CEO to replace co-founder and lead inventor Philip Coelho. [SynGen Inc.] Press Release

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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Postdoctoral Researcher – Hematopoietic Stem Cells & iPSCs (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Therapy with Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells (University of Cincinnati)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Immunotherapy (The Anthony Nolan Trust)

Associate Member – Translational Hematopoietic Cell Gene Therapy and Engineering (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Hematology, Immunology, Cancer Therapeutics (The Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine (University of Virginia Health System)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mammalian Hematopoietic and Erythroid Development (The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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