Cord Blood News Volume 7.35 | Sep 10 2015

In Vitro Cardiomyocyte Differentiation of Umbilical Cord Blood Cells: Crucial Role for C-Kit⁺ Cells
Researchers showed that umbilical cord blood contains progenitors endowed with differentiation potential into cardiomyocytes: these cells reside in the c-kit⁺ fraction and require the presence of abundant accessory cells to accomplish the differentiation. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Migrational Changes of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Response to Cytokines, Growth Factors, Hypoxia, and Aging
Researchers showed that the inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors TNF-α, SDF-1, PDGF, and bFGF enhance migration of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under normoxic conditions, while TNF-α, IFN-γ, PDGF, and bFGF promote MSC migration under hypoxic conditions. Migration in MSCs from aged, human donors did not statistically differ compared to migration in MSCs derived from human umbilical cord tissue or younger donors. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

The Impact of Fetal and Maternal Physiologic Factors on Umbilical Cord Blood Quality as a Source of Stem Cells in Egyptian Population
Scientists measured the expression of hematopoietic stem cells in umbilical cord blood (UCB) and its relation to certain maternal and neonatal physiologic factors to establish optimum criteria for UCB donor selection. [Transfusion] Abstract

Comparative Studies of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Different Cord Tissue Compartments – the Influence of Cryopreservation and Growth Media
The authors performed comparative studies with respect to the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from different compartments of the same umbilical cord tissue such as Wharton’s jelly, vein, arteries, before cryopreservation and after cryopreservation. [Placenta] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Functional Recovery through Thrombospondin1, Pantraxin3, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Ischemic Rat Brain
Human umbilical cord blood (hUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were directly administered ipsilaterally into an ischemic zone induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. They found that the neurobehavioral performance of the hUCB-MSC group was significantly improved compared with that of the vehicle-injected control group. [J Neurosci Res] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field.

Seattle Genetics Completes Enrollment in Phase III ALCANZA Clinical Trial Evaluating ADCETRIS^® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in CD30-Expressing Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL)
Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced that the company and its collaborator, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, completed patient enrollment in the Phase III ALCANZA clinical trial. ALCANZA is a randomized trial evaluating ADCETRIS versus investigator’s choice of methotrexate or bexarotene in 132 patients with CD30-expressing CTCL who received prior systemic therapy. [Seattle Genetics, Inc.] 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)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cord blood community.

Principal Scientist – Hematopoietic Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Director of Research – Oncology and Hematology (CancerCare Manitoba)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HMGA Chromatin Remodeling Proteins in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Assistant Member – Cord Blood (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Laboratory Technologist – Cord Blood and Cord Tissue Bank (Texas Stem Cell)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Assays (Weill Cornell Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Regeneration and Myeloid Malignancies (Weill-Cornell Medical College)

Research Associate – Cell Biology (Editas Medicine)

Independent Junior Group Leader – Lymphopoiesis or Gene Regulation/Nuclear Architecture in the Hematopoietic System (Max-Planck-Institute)

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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