Cord Blood News Volume 9.28 | Jul 20 2017

TOP STORY

Genetically Enhanced, Cord-Blood Derived Immune Cells Strike B-Cell Cancers

Preclinical research showed that natural killer cells derived from donated umbilical cords could be modified to seek and destroy some types of leukemia and lymphoma. Genetic engineering also boosted their persistence and embedded a suicide gene that allowed the modified cells to be shut down if they caused a severe inflammatory response. [Press release from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in Leukemia] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Platelet-Derived Mitochondria Display Embryonic Stem Cell Markers and Improve Pancreatic Islet β-cell Function in Humans

Stem Cell Educator (SCE) therapy—which uses only autologous blood immune cells that are externally exposed to cord blood stem cells adhering to the SCE device, has previously been proven safe and effective in Chinese and Spanish subjects for the improvement of type 1 diabetes (T1D) , type 2 diabetes (T2D), and other autoimmune diseases. Four-year follow-up studies demonstrated the long-term safety and clinical efficacy of SCE therapy for the treatment of T1D and T2D. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Effects of Human Blood Levels of Two PAH Mixtures on the AHR Signaling Activation Pathway and CYP1A1 and COMT Target Genes in Granulosa Non-Tumor and Granulosa Tumor Cell Lines

Researchers measured the concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in maternal and cord blood. They explored the mechanism of the effects of PAH mixtures on nonluteinized granulosa cells and granulosa tumor cells, as well as cell proliferation and apoptosis. [Toxicology] Abstract

Amniotic Fluid Cells Show Higher Pluripotency-Related Gene Expression than Allantoic Fluid Cells

Investigators showed the isolation of cells from the amniotic (oAFCs) and allantoic fluid (oALCs) in a strictly paired fashion with oAFCs and oALCs derived from the same fetus. Both cell types showed cellular phenotypes comparable to standard mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with trilineage differentiation potential and expression of common ovine MSC markers. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Isolation and Characterization of Canine Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Treatment of Neurological Disorders in Dogs

The authors established a protocol to isolate fetal placental mesenchymal stromal cells (PMSCs) from canine placentas and characterized their paracrine secretion profile and ability to stimulate neurons in vitro to assess their potential as a treatment option for neurological disorders in dogs. Canine PMSCs (cPMSCs) were plastic adherent and capable of trilineage differentiation. cPMSCs expressed typical MSC markers and did not express hematopoietic or endothelial cell markers. [Cytometry A] Abstract

Herbal Pre-Conditioning Induces Proliferation and Delays Senescence in Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Scientists investigated the effect of Tinospora cordifolia and Withania somnifera on proliferation and senescence of Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) in vitro. Culture medium supplemented with T. cordifolia leaf and W. somnifera root extracts exhibited significant increase in proliferation of WJMSCs as evidenced by cell count and MTT assay. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Blood on the Tracks: Hematopoietic Stem Cell-Endothelial Cell Interactions in Homing and Engraftment

Each day, humans require the production of about one hundred billion new blood cells for proper function. There is, however, an incomplete understanding of the molecular and physical properties that regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) migration, homing, engraftment, and maintenance in the niche. Recent studies have dissected the unique molecular and physical properties of the endothelial cells in the HSC vascular niche and their role in HSC biology, which may be manipulated to enhance hematopoietic stem cell transplantation therapies. [J Mol Med (Berl)] Abstract

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

New York Blood Center joins Blood Centers of America

Blood Centers of America (BCA) announced that New York Blood Center (NYBC) has joined its network of blood and source plasma collection centers. As one of the largest independent community-based blood centers in the world, NYBC will expand BCA’s share of the total U.S. blood supply to nearly 40 percent. [Blood Centers of America] Press Release

Novartis CAR-T Cell Therapy CTL019 Unanimously (10-0) Recommended for Approval by FDA Advisory Committee to Treat Pediatric, Young Adult r/r B-Cell ALL

Novartis announced that the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of CTL019, an investigational CAR-T therapy, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory pediatric and young adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). [Novartis AG] Press Release | Editorial

ISSCR Opposes U.S. Ban on Federal Funding for Fetal Tissue Research

The ISSCR opposes a provision of the U.S. House of Representatives Labor-HHS-Education FY18 Appropriations bill that would ban federal funding for fetal tissue research. If enacted, this legislation would severely impede research that is necessary for the development of new treatments for a wide range of serious and incurable diseases. It would have a devastating effect on the future of biomedical advances and regenerative medicine. [International Society for Stem Cell Research] Editorial

Cord Blood Attached Segment: Is This a Relevant Quality Control to Predict a Good Hematopoietic Stem Cell Graft?

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a source of hematopoietic stem cells used for allogeneic transplantation of patients with hematological diseases. Public cord blood banks have been established worldwide to collect, cryopreserve and store UCB units for future transplantation. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Editorial

Some Scientists Hate NIH’s New Definition of a Clinical Trial. Here’s Why

Scientists in behavioral research fields — from cognitive psychology to vision science — were dismayed to learn that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, could soon deem their studies to be clinical trials. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Salk Institute under Fire for ‘Smear’ on Women Suing It for Discrimination

Alleging decades of gender discrimination, two senior female scientists sued the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, sparking a public relations debacle that has engulfed the venerable institution and could threaten its appeal to donors and new researchers. Leaders of the San Diego, California, research center have strenuously denied the allegations made by biologists Vicki Lundblad and Katherine Jones, and publicly questioned their productivity and the quality of their scientific work. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Annual Congress on Tissue Engineering and Bio-Banking
November 1-2, 2017
Toronto, Canada

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

NEW Assistant Professor – Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (Harvard University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cell Biology (The Scripps Research Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic & Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Loma Linda University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Normal & Malignant Hematopoiesis (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Position – Acute Myeloid Leukemia (University Hospital Heidelberg)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Ohio State University)

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

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

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

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