Cord Blood News 9.23 June 15, 2017 | |
| |
TOP STORYNaïve T cells were immunomagnetically isolated from umbilical cord blood and activated with anti-human CD2/CD3/CD28 beads in the presence of IL-2 alone (CD4Med) or with the addition of TGF-β and atRA (CD4TGF/atRA). As compared to CD4Med, the CD4TGF/atRA condition allowed the generation of highly suppressive CD4+CD25hiCD127−FOXP3hi iTregs. [Sci Rep] Full Article | |
| |
PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Researchers found that placenta-derived multipotent cells (PDMCs) significantly reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and reactive oxygen species production through the paracrine factors GRO-α, HGF and IL-8. The enhancement of PDMC paracrine function by laminin was mediated through αvβ3 integrin, with involvement of the signaling pathways of JNK, for GRO-α and IL-8 secretion, and PI3K/AKT, for HGF secretion. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article The authors compared the relative therapeutic potential of pooled, adult human bone marrow (BM)- and neonatal Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to treat CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats. BM-MSCs treatment showed a marked reduction in liver fibrosis as determined by Masson’s trichrome and Sirius red staining as compared to those treated with the vehicle. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article Mesenchymal stromal cells derived from human umbilical cords (ucMSCs) were treated for three days in vitro with various inflammatory factors, interleukins, vitamins and serum deprivation. IFN-γ and a multiple cytokine cocktail consisting of IFN-γ, TGFβ and retinoic acid upregulated the expression of immunomodulatory factor PD-L1 and IDO activity. Subsequently, both treatments enhanced the capacity of ucMSCs to inhibit CD4 and CD8 T cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article The authors sought to generate a clinically-translatable, allogeneic cell population for vessel regenerative therapies, via ex vivo expansion of umbilical cord blood (UCB) high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDHhi) cells without loss of pro-angiogenic potency. Compared to fresh UCB cells, expansion increased the total number of ALDHhi cells, CD34+/CD133+ cells, and hematopoietic colony forming cells. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article Large-Scale Ex Vivo Generation of Human Red Blood Cells from Cord Blood CD34+ Cells The ex vivo generation of human red blood cells on a large scale from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells has been considered as a potential method to overcome blood supply shortages. Scientists report that functional human erythrocytes can be efficiently produced from cord blood CD34+ cells using a bottle turning device culture system. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article SEMA3A Partially Reverses VEGF Effects through Binding to Neuropilin-1 Studying bone marrow of myelodysplasia patients, a pre-leukemic condition, investigators found mRNA overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). They found higher VEGFA expression in de novo acute myeloid leukemia patients group and higher SEMA3A expression in all BMSCs patient’s samples compared to control group. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article To investigate better GvHD prophylaxis in reduced intensity conditioning umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), researchers compared transplant outcomes after UCBT among GvHD prophylaxes using the registry data. In disease-specific analyses of AML, the risk of relapse of high-risk disease was significantly lower in the mycophenolate mofetil+ group, whereas no significant difference was observed in the risk of relapse-free and overall survival in high-risk disease. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Scientists revisited the impact of cryopreservation on mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) functionality and addressed the possibility that warming events on frozen cells rather than cryopreservation per se could impact MSC functionality. They demonstrated that freshly harvested MSCs as well as cryopreserved MSCs that were left on dry ice following step-down freezing have comparable viability, functionality and integrity. [Cytotherapy] Abstract Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Ameliorate Bladder Dysfunction Induced by Chronic Bladder Ischemia in Rat Researchers investigated the protective effect of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (hAFSCs) against bladder overactivity in rat model of atherosclerosis-induced chronic bladder ischemia. Bladder overactivity with decreased voided volumes and intercontraction intervals and increased residual volumes was seen in the arterial balloon endothelial injury only group, but improved after hAFSCs treatment for 1, 3, and 7 days. [Neurourol Urodyn] Abstract Investigators examined the effects of interleukin 27 (IL-27) upon adherence, migration, and proliferation as well as the immunomodulatory effects of human placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hPMSCs). The results showed that the IL-27 receptor α chain was expressed in hPMSCs. [Immunol Res] Full Article | |
| |
REVIEWSThe introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) into the treatment of patients with Ph or BCR-ABL1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia has revolutionized the treatment of this poor prognosis acute leukemia. The combination of TKI with chemotherapy has improved response rates and allowed more patients to proceed to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field. | |
| |
INDUSTRY NEWSMerck provided an update on two combination studies of KEYTRUDA®, the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in the blood cancer multiple myeloma. Merck has accepted the external Data Monitoring Committee recommendation to pause new enrollment on KEYNOTE-183 and KEYNOTE-185, two studies exploring KEYTRUDA treatment in combination with other therapies in multiple myeloma. The pause is to allow for additional information to be collected to better understand more reports of death in the KEYTRUDA groups. [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release Feinstein Institute Scientist Recognized for Innovative Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Instructor Shih-Shih Chen, PhD, is continuing the institute’s tradition of innovating the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) through the recognition of her research that identifies a potential new therapy target for CLL. The award was presented at the recent International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for her abstract titled: “IL-4R – IL-4 axis Disruption by Ibrutinib Therapy Contributes to the Greater Vulnerability of U-CLL Clones to Loss of Microenvironmental Input.” [Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release | |
| |
POLICY NEWSTexas Has Sanctioned Unapproved Stem Cell Therapies. Will It Change Anything? Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill allowing clinics and companies in the state to offer people unproven stem cell interventions without the testing and approval required under federal law. Like the “right to try” laws that have sprung up in more than 30 states, the measure is meant to give desperately ill patients access to experimental treatments without oversight from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Empty Rhetoric over Data Sharing Slows Science Government agencies lack the funds to build platforms for data sharing and resist taking responsibility for such infrastructure. They may hope that universities will host data, but the development of institutional repositories is patchy, and to rely on them is effectively to discourage common data standards and curation. [Nature News] Editorial
| |
EVENTSNEW 11th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)-Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) Joint Conference Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
| |
JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW PhD Research Program – Childhood Leukemia (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine) NEW Collector – Cord Blood (Anthony Nolan) NEW Lab Assistant – Cord Blood and/or Cord Tissue Stem Cell Banking (Cryo-Cell International, Inc.) Postdoctoral Fellow – Prenatally Transplanted Stem Cells (Northwestern University Medical) Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Sleeping Beauty (Moffitt Cancer Center) Postdoctoral Research Position – Lymphoma (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) Postdoctoral Position – Acute Myeloid Leukemia (LMU Munich) Postdoctoral Position – Mesenchymal Stem Cell (Longboats Explorers Inc.) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
| |
Have we missed an important article or publication in Cord Blood News? Click here to submit! Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here. | |
|