Cord Blood News Volume 9.08 | Mar 2 2017

TOP STORY

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as Vehicles of Tetravalent Bispecific Tandab (CD3/CD19) for the Treatment of B Cell Lymphoma Combined with IDO Pathway Inhibitor D-1-Methyl-Tryptophan

Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were genetically modified to secrete Tandab, a tetravalent bispecific tandem diabody with two binding sites for CD3 and two for CD19. The purified Tandab was functional with high-binding capability both for CD3-positive cells and CD19-positive cells and was able to induce specific lysis of CD19-positive cell lines in the presence of T cells. [J Hematol Oncol] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Netrin-1 Acts as a Non-Canonical Angiogenic Factor Produced by Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJ-MSC)

Scientists characterized the possible secretion of Netrin ligands by WJ-MSC. They found that the paracrine angiogenic effect of the WJ-MSC-conditioned media is mediated at least in part by Netrin-1 given that pharmacological blockage of Netrin-1 in WJ-MSC resulted in diminished angiogenesis on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Exploiting Decellularized Cochleae as Scaffolds for Inner Ear Tissue Engineering

As a proof-of-concept study, human Wharton’s jelly cells were perfused into decellularized cochleae isolated from C57BL/6 mice to determine if human Wharton’s jelly cells could implant into decellularized cochlear tissue. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Steady State Peripheral Blood Provides Cells with Functional and Metabolic Characteristics of Real Hematopoietic Stem Cells

The authors characterized and selected hematopoietic stem cells from steady state peripheral blood (SSPB) by a direct approach with a view to delineate their main functional and metabolic properties and the mechanisms responsible for their maintenance. They showed that side population (SP) cells from SSPB exhibited a higher proliferative capacity and generated more clonogenic progenitors than non-SP cells in vitro. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) Induce Ex Vivo Proliferation and Erythroid Commitment of Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells (CB-CD34⁺ Cells)

A human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSCs) and cord blood-derived CD34⁺ stem cell co-culture system was set up in order to evaluate the proliferative and differentiative effects induced by MSCs on CD34⁺ stem cells, and the reciprocal influences on gene expression profiles. After ten days of co-culture, non-adherent (SN-fraction) and adherent CD34⁺ stem cells were collected and analyzed separately. In the presence of MSCs, a significant increase in CD34⁺ cell number was observed, mostly in the SN fraction. [PLoS One] Full Article

GLP-Preclinical Safety Studies for GSK2696273 (MLV Vector-Based Ex Vivo Gene Therapy for Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) in NSG mice

Scientists transduced human umbilical cord blood-derived (UCB) CD34⁺ cells with gamma-retroviral vector used in the production of GSK2696273. Groups of ten male and ten female NOD-severe combined immune-deficiency gamma mice were injected intravenously with a single dose of transduced- or mock-transduced UCB CD34⁺ cells, and observed for four months. Engraftment and multi-lineage differentiation of blood cells was observed in the majority of animals in both groups. [Hum Gene Ther Clin Dev] Abstract

Spheroid Co-Culture of HSPC and Monolayer Expanded MSC in PDMS Microwells Modestly Improves In Vitro HSPC Expansion

Investigators evaluated co-culture spheroids, each containing 25-to-400 mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) and ten umbilical cord blood-derived CD34⁺ progenitor cells. At low exogenous cytokine concentrations, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional MSC co-culture modestly improved overall hematopoietic cell and CD34⁺ cell expansion outcomes. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods] Abstract

Umbilical Cord Stem Cells in the Treatment of Corneal Disease

The authors appraise the potential benefits of human umbilical cord derived stem cell therapy and consider current approaches to utilize these stem cells in corneal epithelial, stromal, and endothelial disorders. [Surv Ophthalmol] Abstract

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

Viera BioScience to Present Clinical Data on Limb Ischemia Patients Treated with AngioMune Cord Blood T Regulatory Cell Product

Viera BioScience Inc. announced it will be presenting a talk, entitled, “Stimulation of Angiogenesis by Angiostem T Regulatory Cell”, given by Thomas Ichim, Ph.D, President and CEO of Viera BioScience. In the presentation, preclinical efficacy and safety data of the AngioMune cord blood derived product will be discussed, as well as outcomes in the first five patients treated. [Press release from Viera BioScience Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.) discussing research presented at the 2017 Academy of Regenerative Practices Conference, Fort Lauderdale] Press Release

Gamida Cell Announces First Patient Transplanted in Phase III Registration Study of NiCord for Blood Cancers

Gamida Cell announced that the first patient has been transplanted in the company’s Phase III study of NiCord^®, in development as a cure for patients with blood cancer who do not have a fully matched donor required for bone marrow transplantation. [Gamida Cell] Press Release

Natera, Inc. Announces Launch of Evercord™ Cord Blood and Tissue Banking Service

Natera announced the upcoming launch of Evercord; a new offering being made commercially available in the second quarter of 2017 that enables expectant parents to collect, store and potentially retrieve their newborn’s cord blood and tissue for therapeutic use in transplantation and regenerative medicine applications. [Natera, Inc.] Press Release

Peer-Review Activists Push Psychology Journals towards Open Data

An editor on the board of a journal published by the prestigious American Psychological Association has been asked to resign in a controversy over data sharing in peer review. Gert Storms — who says he won’t step down — is one of a few hundred scientists who have vowed that, from the start of this year, they will begin rejecting papers if authors won’t publicly share the underlying data, or explain why they can’t. [Nature News] Editorial

Senior Republican Lawmaker Has Some Advice for U.S. Science Marchers

The chairman of a congressional spending panel that oversees a wide swath of U.S. science agencies has some unusual advice for scientists planning to march on 22 April: Don’t talk about research. Instead, demand that Congress find a way to cut mandatory spending programs. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) 2017
May 3-6, 2017
London, United Kingdom

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Biology (University of Oslo)

Assistant and Associate Professors – Regenerative & Cancer Cell Biology (Albany Medical College)

Staff Scientist/Assistant Professor – Nonmalignant Hematology (New York Blood Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Biology (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Proteomics (University of British Columbia)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation and/or Gene Therapy (Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center)

Research Associate – Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research (University of Virginia)

Research Group Leader – Leukemia Research (University Hospital Basel)

Full Member Faculty – Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Program (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Principle Scientist – Translational Development (Celgene Corporation)

Assistant Associate or Full Member Faculty Position – Myeloid Malignancies (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Assistant Member Faculty – Platinum/Immunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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