Cord Blood News Volume 9.24 | Jun 22 2017

TOP STORY

Base Excision Repair Proteins Couple Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase and Endonuclease G during Replication Stress-Induced MLL Destabilization

Researchers performed an siRNA screen for new factors involved in replication stress-induced MLL rearrangements employing an EGFP-based reporter system. They identified ten factors acting in line with endonuclease G in MLLbcr breakage or further downstream in the repair of the MLLbcr breaks, including activation-induced cytidine deaminase, previously proposed to initiate MLLbcr rearrangements in an RNA transcription-dependent mechanism. [Leukemia] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

HTLV-1-Induced Leukotriene B4 Secretion by T Cells Promotes T Cell Recruitment and Virus Propagation

Scientists demonstrated that human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected CD4 T cells secrete a potent chemoattractant, leukotriene B4 (LTB4). LTB4 secretion is dependent on Tax-induced transactivation of the pla2g4c gene, which encodes the cytosolic phospholipase A2 gamma. Inhibition of LTB4 secretion or LTB4 receptor knockdown on target cells reduced T-cell recruitment, cellular contact formation and virus propagation in vitro. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Strontium- and Cobalt-Substituted Bioactive Glasses Seeded with Human Umbilical Cord Perivascular Cells to Promote Bone Regeneration via Enhanced Osteogenic and Angiogenic Activities

Investigators attempted to promote osteogenesis using strontium- and cobalt-substituted bioactive glasses (BGs) seeded with human umbilical cord perivascular cells in a critical size defect in the distal femur of rabbit animal model. The best in vitro and in vivo results were associated to the BGs containing both strontium and cobalt ions. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Progesterone Prevents Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells and Enhances Their Immunomodulatory Properties

The authors provide molecular evidences of progesterone role in preventing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ovine amniotic epithelial cells (oAECs). oAECs amplified under standard conditions spontaneously acquired mesenchymal properties through the up-regulation of EMT-transcription factors. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Allele-Level HLA Matching for Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Non-Malignant Diseases in Children: A Retrospective Analysis

Researchers studied the effects of allele-level matching at a higher resolution—HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, and HLA-DRB1, which is the standard used for adult unrelated volunteer donor transplantation for non-malignant diseases—for umbilical cord blood transplantation. Compared with HLA-matched transplantations, mortality was higher with transplantations mismatched at two, three, and four or more alleles. [Lancet Haematol] Abstract

Amniotic Membrane Stimulates Cell Migration by Modulating Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling

Investigators used a scratch assay of Mv1Lu and HaCaT cells to examine the influence of amniotic membrane (AM) application on the underlying signaling during scratch closure. AM-application induced c-Jun phosphorylation at the leading-edge of scratch wounds in a process dependent on MAPK and JNK signaling. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

MiR-495 Promotes Senescence of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Targeting Bmi-1

The authors analyzed the expression of miR-495 in MSCs and umbilical cords derived from healthy pregnancies (NC) and pre-eclampsia (PE), then they upregulated or downregulated the expression of miR-495 in MSCs derived from NC and tested the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, tube formation and senescence. They found that the expression of miR-495 was significantly increased in both umbilical cord tissues and MSCs in patients with severe PE. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

P53 Mutation and Epigenetic Imprinted IGF2/H19 Gene Analysis in Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Amniotic Fluid, Amnion, Endometrium and Wharton’s Jelly

Scientists monitored P53 and epigenetic changes in MSCs derived from amniotic fluid, amnion, endometrium and Wharton’s jelly via the missense mutation analysis of the P53 gene and the expression levels of P53 and epigenetically IGF2 and H19 imprinted genes. Their work demonstrates a variation of P53 expression among different MSC types. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Disease-Specific Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

The authors report hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in 24 children with Fanconi anemia (FA), Diamond–Blackfan anemia (DBA), and dyskeratosis congenita (DC) from a single HSCT center. The graft source was peripheral blood stem cells or cord blood stem cells. FA and DC patients received reduced-intensity conditioning, while DBA patients had myeloablative conditioning. [Ann Hematol] Abstract

PlGF Enhances TLR-Dependent Inflammatory Responses in Human Mononuclear Phagocytes

Scientists hypothesized placental growth factor (PlGF) might contribute to an exaggerated inflammatory response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. Primary human adult and cord blood CD14⁺ cells were cultured in the presence of TLR ligands and/or PlGF. PlGF significantly enhanced the magnitude and duration of TNF messenger RNA and protein production by TLR-7/8-activated monocytes, and increased subsequent production of TNF-independent inflammatory cytokines. [Am J Reprod Immunol] Abstract

Hypoxia Primed Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Wound Healing

Researchers investigated how placental MSCs would adapt themselves and survive under hypoxic conditions which are prevalent in most injury sites. They showed that insulin secretion is not hampered under hypoxia. They found an upregulation of glucose transporters under hypoxia indicating enhanced glucose uptake needed to cater to metabolic demands of proliferating cells. [Life Sci] Abstract

Amniotic Fluid Cells: Current Progress and Emerging Challenges in Renal Regeneration

The authors examine the different methodologies used for the derivation of amniotic fluid stem cells and renal progenitors, and their application in renal repair and regeneration. They discuss the recent achievements and newly emerging challenges in the understanding of their biology, their immunoregulatory characteristics, and their paracrine-mediated therapeutic potential for the treatment of acute and chronic kidney diseases. [Pediatr Nephrol] Abstract

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

Center to Advance Tissue Regeneration, Stem Cell Discoveries

The College of Medicine launched a new center that focuses on understanding tissue regeneration and pioneering future developments in stem cell biology as a means to repair diseased organs and tissues. [University of Illinois] Press Release

Inquiring Minds Rewarded

Harvard scientists are known for pushing boundaries, but the projects funded through the 2017 Star Family Challenge for Promising Scientific Research are poised to take that reputation to new heights. The notion that many age-related diseases may share a common driver was inspired in part by the discovery of mutations in circulating blood cells that accumulate with age and lead to clonal hematopoiesis — problems in the formation of blood. Wagers and colleagues hope to investigate a new hypothesis — that those mutations, and the problems they cause, may be a common driver of age-associated dysfunction across organ systems. [Harvard Gazette] Press Release

University of Tokyo Scientist Hit by Anonymous Allegations Fights Back

Last September, anonymous allegations of questionable data and images in 22 papers by six prominent groups at the prestigious University of Tokyo prompted the school to set up an investigating committee. Now, even before the panel completes its investigation, one of the accused researchers has mounted a staunch defense of his work, with a point-by-point rebuttal of the allegations and an apology for mistakes confirmed in several of the questioned papers. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

China Cracks Down on Fake Peer Reviews

The Chinese government is going on the offensive against scientists who dupe journals by creating fraudulent reviews of submitted papers. A coalition of agencies led by the science ministry announced that the government would suspend the grants of researchers involved in such fraud, which surfaced earlier this year when a cancer journal retracted 107 research papers from Chinese authors. [Nature News] Editorial

Strengthened US Sanctions on Cuba Disappoint Scientists

US President Donald Trump announced that he would strengthen travel and trade restrictions against Cuba, reversing his predecessor’s attempts to normalize relations with the country. The move is a blow to scientists who hoped that former president Barack Obama’s push to relax US restrictions on Cuba would make it easier for researchers there to travel and to collaborate with colleagues in the United States. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 6^th Annual International Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation
November 1-3, 2017
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Leukemia (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

PhD Research Program – Childhood Leukemia (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine)

Collector – Cord Blood (Anthony Nolan)

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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