A Peculiar Molecular Profile of Umbilical Cord-Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Drives Their Inhibitory Effects on Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth and Tumor Progression Investigators explored whether mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from sources other than bone marrow, such as adipose tissue and umbilical cord, affect multiple myeloma cell growth in comparison to either normal or myelomatous marrow MSCs. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Detecting Primitive Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Total Nucleated and Mononuclear Cell Fractions from Umbilical Cord Blood Segments and Units 63 umbilical cord blood (UCB) segments and ten UCB units plus segments were analyzed for the response of both primitive lympho-hematopoietic and primitive hematopoietic stem cells in both the total nucleated cell and mononuclear cell fractions. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mononuclear Cells Exhibit Pericyte-Like Phenotype and Support Network Formation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells In Vitro Researchers identified a population of highly proliferative mononuclear cells that phenotypically resembled human vascular pericytes as assessed by expression of PDGFR-β, NG2, α-SMA, and ephrin-B2. [Ann Biomed Eng] Abstract Preclinical Characterization of DUOC-01, a Cell Therapy Product Derived from Banked Umbilical Cord Blood for Use as an Adjuvant to Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Treatment of Inherited Metabolic Diseases Scientists developed the cell product DUOC-01 to provide therapeutic effects in the early post-transplant period. DUOC-01 cultures initiated from banked cord blood units were characterized by use of time-lapse photomicroscopy during the 21-day manufacturing process. [Cytotherapy] Abstract Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells Demonstrate Limited Cardiac Differentiation following Small Molecule-Based Modulation of Wnt Signaling Pathway Investigators tested a small molecule-based modulation of Wnt signaling for directed cardiac differentiation of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells. Cells were treated with inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3 and Wnt production and secretion in a time-dependent and sequential manner, as has been demonstrated successful for cardiac differentiation of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. [Biomed Mater] Abstract Evaluation of the Efficiency of Human Immune System Reconstitution in NSG Mice and NSG Mice Containing a Human HLA.A2 Transgene Using Hematopoietic Stem Cells Purified from Different Sources In an effort to develop a better mouse model for human infectious pathogen infection and possible immune resolution, investigators compared the human immune system reconstitution of NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull (NSG) mice following injection with human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells purified from either fetal liver or umbilical cord blood. [J Immunol Methods] Abstract Overexpression of COX-2 but Not Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 Enhances the Immunosuppressive Ability of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells To strengthen the immunomodulatory ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were overexpressed in umbilical cord progenitor cell-derived MSCs using recombinant plasmids and electroporation. [Int J Mol Med] Abstract Effects of Hypoxia on Proliferation of Human Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Investigators examined the influence of hypoxia on proliferation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The mononuclear cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation from human umbilical cord blood and then, respectively, cultured under hypoxia or normoxia. [Cytotechnology] Abstract |