Cord Blood News Volume 9.26 | Jul 6 2017

TOP STORY

Imipramine Blue Sensitively and Selectively Targets FLT3-ITD Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Researchers tested a potent new drug called imipramine blue (IB), which is a chimeric molecule with a dual mechanism of action. IB potently inhibited survival of primary human FLT3/ITD⁺ acute myeloid leukemia cells compared to FLT3/ITD^neg cells and spared normal umbilical cord blood cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Bone Marrow-on-a-Chip: Long-Term Culture of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells in a 3D Microfluidic Environment

The authors present a novel 3D co-culture model, based on a hydroxyapatite coated zirconium oxide scaffold, comprising of human mesenchymal stromal cells and cord blood derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), enabling successful HSPC culture for a time span of 28 days within the microfluidic Multi-Organ-Chip. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Predictive Obstetric Factors for Cell Proliferation and Chondrogenic Differentiation

Investigators evaluated the correlation between a large number of obstetric factors collected during pregnancy and until peripartum with Wharton’s jelly (WJ)-MSC proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation parameters. They concluded that WJ-MSCs from healthy, full-term infants exhibit greater proliferation capacity. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

PG2, a Botanically Derived Drug Extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, Promotes Proliferation and Immunosuppression of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors investigated the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UCMSCs), including morphology, surface marker expression, proliferation, differentiation, and in vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive capacities. They demonstrated that PG2 can enhance UCMSC proliferation and their in vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive effects. [J Ethnopharmacol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Impressive Tissue Regeneration of Severe Oral Mucositis Post Stem Cell Transplantation Using Cord Blood Platelet Gel

A patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who was undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation developed severe oral and esophageal mucositis with severe bacterial sepsis and cytomegalovirus infection, causing prolonged neutropenia. Cord blood platelet gel was topically administered daily to the oral cavity. After eight consecutive days of administration, the patient’s oral mucosa markedly improved, showing restitutio ad integrum, and the patient’s clinical status progressively improved. [Transfusion] Abstract

A New Strategy for Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Developed at the First Colombian Public Cord Blood Bank Increases Total Nucleated Cell Content

Data from 2933 collected and 759 cryopreserved cord blood units between 2014 and 2015 were analyzed. The correlation of donor and collection variables with cellularity was evaluated. The new collection method increased total nucleated cell content in approximately 26% and did not alter pre-cryopreservation and post-thaw cell recovery, viability, or clonogenic ability. [Transfusion] Abstract | Full Article

Azacitidine Successfully Maintained the Second Remission in an Infant with KMT2A-Rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Who Relapsed after Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation

Scientists report an infant KMT2A (MLL)-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia case with post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) relapse. After achieving a second remission, which was maintained for ten months using only the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, azacitidine, the patient successfully received the second HSCT. [Pediatr Blood Cancer] Abstract

Valproic Acid Enforces the Priming Effect of Sphingosine-1 Phosphate on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Researchers showed that valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, enforced the priming effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) at a low dosage for human umbilical cord-derived (UC)-MSCs. VPA+S1P priming of UC-MSCs potentiated the proliferation, colony forming unit-fibroblast, and anti-inflammatory activities, which were severely inhibited in the case of 5-azacytidine treatment. [Int J Mol Med] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protect against SCA3 by Modulating the Level of 70 kD Heat Shock Protein

Scientists investigated the effects of human umbilical cord (HUC)-MSCs on spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3) mice and the underlying mechanisms. Their results exhibited that HUC-MSC transplantation significantly alleviated motor impairments, corresponding to a reduction of cerebellar atrophy, preservation of neurons, decreased expression of mutant ataxin-3, and increased expression of heat shock protein 70. [Cell Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

Lung Regeneration Using Amniotic Fluid Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors give an update on the use of amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells as an optimal source for lungs scaffold re-cellularization, due to their limitless accessibility and possibility for proliferation and differentiation. [Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol] Abstract

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Stem Cell Agency Invests More than $44 Million in Treatments for Stroke and Fixing Blood Disorders in the Womb

Two projects aimed at helping people who have had a stroke, plus a therapy that hopes to correct a fatal blood disorder by operating on a baby in the womb, are among the programs approved by the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

California Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program Funded at UC Davis

AB 114, a budget trailer bill, passed the State Senate. Included in AB 114 is a five-year extension of funding for the University of California (UC)’s Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program. The current funding of this lifesaving cancer treatment effort is set to sunset on January 1, 2018. [California State Senate] Press Release

Sanpower Group Completes the Acquisition of Dendreon from Valeant

Sanpower Group announced the completion of its 100% acquisition of Dendreon, from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. This acquisition represents the first time a Chinese enterprise has ever acquired an American-made, innovative biotechnology. [Sanpower Group (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

French Scientist Fined for Failure to Disclose Industry Ties

In an unprecedented court case in Paris, an eminent French lung specialist has been fined €50,000 and given a six-month suspended jail sentence because he didn’t disclose his ties to the oil industry during a Senate air-pollution inquiry. [Nature News] Editorial

House Lawmakers Balk at Most Trump Science Cuts in Early Bills

No. That’s the first official answer from lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to President Donald Trump’s request to make deep budget cuts at several key science funding agencies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Europe’s Next Big Science-Funding Program Urged to Double Its Budget

Midway through the European Union’s sprawling seven-year, €75-billion research-funding program known as Horizon 2020, scientists are already angling for more money and less red tape in its successor. [Nature News] Editorial

Germany and Poland Launch Research ‘Twinning’ Effort

Germany and Poland are to jointly fund top scientists to start research groups at Polish institutes, in a scheme that could provide a new blueprint for east–west research collaboration in the European Union. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Towards Transformative Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease
October 24, 2017
New York, New York, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Acute Myeloid Leukemia (University Hospital Heidelberg)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Ohio State University)

NEW Senior/Principal Scientist – Stem Cell Research (Plasticell Ltd)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Epigenetics (University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Lymphoid Progenitors from Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Stanford University/Weinberg Laboratory)

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

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)

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

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