Cord Blood News Volume 7.27 | Jul 16 2015

GDF-15 Secreted from Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delivered via CSF Promote Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Synaptic Activity in an Alzheimer’s Disease Model
Investigators showed that repeated cisterna magna injections of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells activated endogenous hippocampal neurogenesis and significantly reduced Aβ42 levels. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Poor-Risk CLL: Dissecting Immune-Modulating Strategies for Disease Eradication and Treatment of Relapse
To elucidate factors contributing to the effectiveness of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in high-risk CLL, immune interventions, GvHD and clinical outcome of 77 consecutive patients allografted for CLL were analyzed. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Plasma Derived from Human Umbilical Cord Blood Modulates Mitogen-Induced Proliferation Of Mononuclear Cells Isolated from the Peripheral Blood of ALS Patients
Scientists investigated the effects of human umbilical cord blood plasma on the mitogen-induced proliferation of mononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from the peripheral blood of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, and apoptotic activity by detection of caspase 3/7 expression of the isolated MNCs in vitro. [Cell Transplant] Abstract

MicroRNA-223 Dose-Levels Fine-Tune Proliferation and Differentiation in Human Cord Blood Progenitors and Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Investigators knocked down or ectopically expressed miR-223 in cord blood CD34⁺ cells using lentiviral vectors. While miR-223 knockdown delayed myelo-erythroid precursor differentiation in vitro, it increased myeloid progenitors in vivo following serial xenotransplantation. Ectopic miR-223 expression increased erythropoiesis, T and early B lymphopoiesis in vivo. [Exp Hematol] Abstract

Gene Delivery with IFN-γ-Expression Plasmids Enhances the Therapeutic Effects of MSCs on DSS-Induced Mouse Colitis
Scientists reconstructed pcDNA3.1-IFNγ plasmids, transfected them to human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and detected the basic characters of MSCs including immune phenotype, cell vitality, proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle progression after transfection. Subsequently, they analyzed the inhibition effect of IFN-γ-MSCs on T cell proliferation in vitro. [Inflamm Res] Abstract

Isolation, Purification and In Vitro Differentiation of Cytotrophoblast Cells from Human Term Placenta
Researchers present an efficient and reliable method for isolation of cytotrophoblast cells with high purity and complete differentiation into syncytiotrophoblast in vitro. [Reprod Biol Endocrinol] Full Article

Bone and Cartilage Regeneration with the Use of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells
To date, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical cords seem to be an attractive alternative to bone marrow-derived (BM)-MSCs. However, further research with suitable scaffolds and growth factors as well as with novel scaffold fabrication and culture technology should be conducted before they are introduced to clinical practice and replace BM-MSCs. [Expert Opin Biol Ther] Abstract 

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UC San Diego and GSK Collaborate to Eradicate Cancer Stem Cells, Treat Leukemia
Researchers at the University of California (UC), San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center are working with GSK on a bench-to-bedside project to treat leukemia and other diseases by eliminating cancer stem cells. [UC San Diego] Press Release

St. Jude to Receive $12 Million in Grants from NIH
Investigators at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have received grants totaling more than $12 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Pharmacogenomics Research Network for a new Center for Precision Medicine in Leukemia and for the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium. [St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital] Press Release

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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)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Principal Scientist – Hematopoietic Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Data Coordinator – Hematological Malignancies (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Clinical Research Coordinator – Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Director of Stem Cell Transplantation (University of Virginia)

Regulatory Coordinator – Leukemia Research (Weill Cornell College of Medicine)

PhD Position – Drug Releasing, Nanostructured Biomaterials for Adult Stem Cells (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology (Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Reconstitution in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Stanford University)

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

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