Cord Blood News Volume 6.36 | Sep 18 2014

Improved Explant Method to Isolate Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Immunosuppressive Properties
To overcome low cell recovery rates, the authors demonstrate an improved explant method for umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells isolation, which involves the use of a stainless steel mesh to protect the tissue from floating after the minced fragments are aligned at regular intervals in culture dishes. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods] Abstract

Heterogeneous Functions of Perinatal Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Require a Pre-Selection before Their Banking for Clinical Use
Researchers compared adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with MSCs from perinatal tissues (cord blood, umbilical cord, amnion and chorion) on their in vitro immunological and stromacytic efficiencies under different priming conditions. Their results showed that perinatal-MSCs had a potential to modulate the in vitro immune response as well as be useful to hematopoietic progenitor cell ex vivo expansion. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Molecular and Functional Analyses of Motor Neurons Generated from Human Cord-Blood-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers present for the first time the differentiation of human cord-blood-derived iPSCs (hCBiPSCs) into motor neurons, the cell type primarily affected in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In contrast to induced pluripotent stem cells generated from adult tissue, the hCBiPSCs hold the promise of lower genetic mutation burden or epigenetic alterations, which makes them ideal candidates for transplantation studies. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Clinical Observation of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Treatment for Sequelae of Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Injury
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have a considerable advantage and potential in treating for central nervous system diseases and have become a novel alternative treatment for spinal cord injury. Investigators compared the neurological function outcome of stem cell transplantation, rehabilitation therapy, and self-healing for sequelae of spinal cord injury. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article

mTORC1 Is Essential for Early Steps during Schwann Cell Differentiation of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells and Regulates Lipogenic Gene Expression
Scientists used amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells and focused on the mechanisms occurring during early steps of differentiation along the Schwann cell lineage. They initiated Schwann cell differentiation in AFS cells and monitored as well as modulated the activity of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, the major regulator of anabolic processes. [PLoS One] Full Article

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Nasal Mucosa Radiation Damage in a Guinea Pig Model
The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in a guinea pig model of nasal mucosa radiation damage and explored its therapeutic mechanism. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Comparative Analysis of Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation and HLA-Matched Sibling Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with High-Risk or Advanced Acute Leukemia
Scientists present a clinical comparison of unrelated cord blood transplantation and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation in children with high-risk or advanced acute leukemia. [Ann Hematol] Abstract

Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Neural Stem Cells Using Cerebrospinal Fluid
Researchers optimized a methodology for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation into neural stem cells using cerebrospinal fluid. MSCs were extracted from umbilical cord blood from healthy, full-term, newborn infants and from the bone marrow of patients. [Cell Biochem Biophys] Abstract

Characterization of Combinatorial Histone Modifications on Lineage-Affiliated Genes during Hematopoietic Stem Cell Myeloid Commitment
Scientists observed the role of combinatorial histone modification pattern in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) pluripotency and differentiation. HSCs were collected from human umbilical cord blood and induced to differentiate to committed cells in vitro. [Acta Biochim Biophys Sin] Abstract

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MEDIPOST America Clears Phase I/II IND for the U.S. Clinical Trial on Stem Cell Drug for Lung
MEDIPOST America Inc. announced the US FDA approval of Phase I/II clinical trial for PNEUMOSTEM^®. PNEUMOSTEM^® is made from allogeneic human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and is expected to have effect on regenerating the lung tissue and improving inflammatory responses in premature infants. [MEDIPOST America Inc. (Business Wire)] Press Release

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PhD Positions – Stem Cells and Transplantation (University of Geneva)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Signaling Transduction (University of Pennsylvania)

Research Assistant – Ex Vivo Cord Blood Expansion (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Hematopoietic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (Indiana University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy (Duke University Department of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Developing Applications of Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Positions – Reprogramming and Genetic Engineering Technologies to Develop New Models of Hematopoiesis and Hematopoietic Disorders (Icahn School of Medicine)

Cord Tissue Processing Technician (Cord Blood Registry)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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