Cord Blood News Volume 7.20 | May 28 2015

Umbilical Cord Blood Plasma Contains Soluble NKG2D Ligands That Mediate Loss of Natural Killer Cell Function and Cytotoxicity
Investigators found that soluble NKG2D ligands are present in cord blood plasma and associated with adult NK cell hyporesponsiveness demonstrated by reduced CD107a expression and secretion of IFN-γ upon stimulation. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

Downregulation of Umbilical Cord Blood Levels of miR-374a in Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Researchers showed a significant step-wise downregulation of hsa-miR-374a expression in cord blood of infants with perinatal asphyxia and subsequent hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. [J Pediatr] Abstract

Hepatic Differentiation of Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells and In Vivo Therapeutic Effect on Animal Model of Cirrhosis
With hepatic differentiation, human amniotic epithelial cells assumed a hepatocytic polygonal morphology with up regulation of transcription factors responsible for liver specification. [J Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

Microarray Expression Profile Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Umbilical Cord Plasma Reveals their Potential Role in Gestational Diabetes-Induced Macrosomia
The authors investigated the umbilical cord long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) profiles in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) macrosomia. A microarray identified 8814 lncRNAs that were expressed in the umbilical cord blood, of which 349 were significantly upregulated and 892 were significantly downregulated in the GDM group. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Complement-Binding Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies and Risk of Primary Graft Failure in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Researchers hypothesized that complement-binding donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) are associated with engraftment failure in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and analyzed 122 haploidentical transplant recipients tested prospectively for DSA. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Second Allogeneic Transplantation Using Unrelated Cord Blood for Relapsed Hematological Malignancies after Allogeneic Transplantation
Researchers analyzed the results of second allogeneic stem cell transplantation using a single-unit of unrelated cord blood in 34 adult patients with relapsed hematological malignancies after second allogeneic stem cell transplantation. [Leuk Lymphoma] Abstract

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BMO Announces $1 Million Donation to Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research
BMO Financial Group announced a $1 million donation to support ongoing stem cell and regenerative medicine research in Canada. [BMO] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Indiana University)

Principal Scientist – Hematopoietic Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Head of Cellular Therapies Laboratory (NHS Blood and Transplant)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Regulation of Hematopoiesis and Leukemia (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Position – Genetic Engineering and Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (University of California, San Francisco)

Research Associate – Leukemia, Stem Cells and Development (Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Physiology and Pathophysiology (International Research Center for Medical Sciences)

Postdoctoral Associate – Epigenetic Regulation of Normal and Leukemic Stem Cells (Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute)

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