Cord Blood News Volume 9.23 | Jun 15 2017

TOP STORY

TGF-Beta/atRA-Induced Tregs Express a Selected Set of MicroRNAs Involved in the Repression of Transcripts Related to Th17 Differentiation

Naïve 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 (CD4_Med) or with the addition of TGF-β and atRA (CD4_TGF/atRA). As compared to CD4_Med, the CD4_TGF/atRA condition allowed the generation of highly suppressive CD4⁺CD25^hiCD127−FOXP3^hi iTregs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Extracellular Matrix Protein Laminin Enhances Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Paracrine Function through αvβ3/CD61 Integrin to Reduce Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis

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

Transplantation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Reduces Liver Fibrosis More Effectively than Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

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

Cytokine Treatment Optimizes the Immunotherapeutic Effects of Umbilical Cord-Derived MSC for Treatment of Inflammatory Liver Disease

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

Expansion of Umbilical Cord Blood Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Expressing Cells Generates Myeloid Progenitor Cells that Stimulate Limb Revascularization

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 (ALDH^hi) cells without loss of pro-angiogenic potency. Compared to fresh UCB cells, expansion increased the total number of ALDH^hi 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

GvHD Prophylaxis after Single-Unit Reduced Intensity Conditioning Cord Blood Transplantation in Adults with Acute Leukemia

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

Transient Warming Events Occurring after Freezing Impairs Umbilical Cord–Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Functionality

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

IL-27 Regulates the Adherence, Proliferation, and Migration of MSCs and Enhances Their Regulatory Effects on Th1 and Th2 Subset Generations

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

The Evolving Role of Chemotherapy and Hematopoietic Cell Transplants in Ph-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adults

The 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.

Merck Provides Update on Multiple Myeloma Studies KEYNOTE-183 and 185 of KEYTRUDA^® (Pembrolizumab) in Combination with Other Therapies

Merck 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

Texas 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

NEW 11^th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)-Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) Joint Conference
February 8-12, 2019
Maui, Hawaii, United States

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

NEW 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.)

Assistant, Associate or Full Professors – Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)

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

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