Cord Blood News Volume 9.14 | Apr 13 2017

TOP STORY

Feasibility of Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Tool for Studying Pregnancy-Related Disorders

The authors investigated the feasibility of using placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a tool to study pregnancy-related disorders. The placenta-specific C19MC microRNAs were clearly expressed in chorionic plate-MSCs and chorionic villi-MSCs of fetal origin, but were barely expressed in decidua basalis-MSCs of maternal origin. [Sci Rep] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

MicroRNAs Can Effectively Induce Formation of Insulin-Producing Cells from Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The function of microRNAs in the formation of insulin-producing cells from adult stem cells is poorly understood. Scientists examined the microRNA expression profile in nestin-positive umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and nestin-positive pancreatic mesenchymal stem cells using a deep sequencing approach. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Pre-Incubation with hucMSC-Exosomes Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity by Activating Autophagy

Investigators demonstrated that the pretreatment of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hucMSC-Ex) can prevent the development of cisplatin-induced renal toxicity by activation of autophagy in vitro and in vivo. HucMSC-Ex inhibited cisplatin-induced mitochondrial apoptosis and secretion of inflammatory cytokines in renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Autologous Cord Blood Infusions Are Safe and Feasible in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results of a Single-Center Phase I Open-Label Trial

Scientists hypothesized that umbilical cord blood-derived cell therapies may have potential in alleviating autism spectrum disorder symptoms by modulating inflammatory processes in the brain. Significant improvements in children’s behavior were observed on parent-report measures of social communication skills and autism symptoms, clinician ratings of overall autism symptom severity and degree of improvement, standardized measures of expressive vocabulary, and objective eye-tracking measures of children’s attention to social stimuli. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Transplantation of Ex Vivo Expanded Umbilical Cord Blood (NiCord) Decreases Early Infection and Hospitalization

In a Phase I study, adult recipients of umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells cultured ex vivo for three weeks with nicotinamide (NiCord) had earlier median neutrophil recovery compared to historical controls. To evaluate the impact of faster neutrophil recovery on clinically relevant early outcomes, the authors reviewed infection episodes and hospitalization during the first 100 days in an enlarged cohort of 18 NiCord recipients compared to 86 standard UCB recipients at their institution. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexanoic Acid Enhance Platelet Formation from Human Apheresis-Derived CD34⁺ Cells

Blood banks frequently face a shortage of platelets. Therefore, methods to generate platelets on a large scale are strongly desirable. However, to generate megakaryocytes and platelets (PLTs) in numbers sufficient for clinical application, it is essential to understand the mechanism of platelet production and explore efficient strategies accordingly. Researchers found a significant enhancement in cell numbers, surface marker expression, cellular ploidy and expression of cytoskeletal components during PLT biogenesis in cultures exposed to media containing arachidonic acid/docosahexanoic acid than control cultures that were not exposed to these poly-unsaturated fatty acids. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Improve Survival and Bacterial Clearance in Neonatal Sepsis in Rats

Investigators hypothesized that human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) improve survival in experimental neonatal sepsis. Treatment with either hUC-MSCs or preconditioned hUC-MSCs significantly increased survival. Both hUC-MSCs and preconditioned hUC-MSCs enhanced bacterial clearance. Lung neutrophil influx was decreased with preconditioned hUC-MSCs. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Gene Products Promoting Remyelination Are Up-Regulated in a Cell Therapy Product Manufactured from Banked Human Cord Blood

DUOC-01, a cell product being developed to treat demyelinating conditions, is composed of macrophages that arise from CD14⁺ monocytes in the mononuclear cell (MNC) population of banked cord blood (CB). The authors demonstrated that expression of multiple gene products that promote remyelination is rapidly up-regulated during manufacturing of DUOC-01 from either MNC or purified CB CD14⁺ monocytes. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Taurine Promotes the Cartilaginous Differentiation of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro

Researchers investigated the effect of taurine on the proliferation and chondrogenesis of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) by analyzing cell proliferation, accumulation of glycosaminoglycans and expression of cartilage specific mRNA. The results showed that taurine did not affect the proliferation of hUC-MSCs. [Neurochem Res] Abstract

Immunomodulatory Properties of Human Placental Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

Placental mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), the main focus of this review, are relatively new MSC types that are not as intensively studied compared with bone marrow-derived MSCs. The authors review the current knowledge of the immunosuppressive properties of placental MSCs. [Placenta] Abstract

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

UK’s Innovation Agency Backs Plasticell to Produce Red Blood Cell Substitute from Pluripotent Stem Cells

Plasticell announced it has secured Biomedical Catalyst funding of over £920,000 from Innovate UK to create a safe, effective red blood cell substitute for human clinical transfusion, in collaboration with stem cell scientists at the University of Edinburgh. The project is part of Plasticell’s hematopoietic cell therapy portfolio, which includes the expansion of umbilical cord- and bone- derived hematopoietic stem cells, and the manufacture of blood platelets and immune cells for oncology applications. [Plasticell Limited] Press Release

China Cord Blood Corporation Announces Termination of Evaluation and Negotiation Regarding “Going Private” Proposal

China Cord Blood Corporation announced that relating to the acquisition of all of the outstanding ordinary shares of the company not already owned by Golden Meditech in a “going private” transaction, the board has adopted the recommendation of the special committee of independent directors formed to evaluate such proposal to terminate any further evaluation and negotiation regarding such proposal. [China Cord Blood Corporation] Press Release

Deal Agreed to Share Umbilical Cord Stem-Cell Research on Platform

A national health institute inked an agreement with a cell and gene engineering firm on a new sharing platform to support umbilical cord stem-cell research. The umbilical cord blood bank in North China’s Tianjin Municipality will upload the information. The blood bank is affiliated to VCANBIO Cell & Gene Engineering, which has the largest cell-resource storage network in the country with more than 300,000 copies. [VCANBIO Cell & Gene Engineering (Global Times – Xinhua)] Press Release

Joining the European Union Leads to Less Cross-Border Collaboration

When the European Union expanded in the 2000s, it had a negative impact on scientific collaborations between researchers in new member countries and elsewhere, a study has found. [Nature News] Editorial

U.S. Report Calls for Research Integrity Board

The U.S. research community needs to do a better job of both investigating misconduct allegations and promoting ethical conduct—or the government might act unilaterally in ways that scientists won’t like. That’s the implicit message sent by a new report out from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine entitled Fostering Integrity in Research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 22^nd European Hematology Association Congress
June 22-25, 2017
Madrid, Spain

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Regulation of HSCs by Niche Cells (Technical University Dresden)

Full Professor – Stem Cell Transplantation (Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Research (Helmholtz Association)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Leukemia Research (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)

Research Group Leader – Leukemia Research (University Hospital Basel)

Principle Scientist – Translational Development (Celgene Corporation)

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

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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