Hematopoiesis News Volume 3.49 | Dec 11 2012

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Epigenetic Silencing of MicroRNA-193a Contributes to Leukemogenesis in t(8;21) Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Activating the PTEN/PI3K Signal Pathway
Researchers showed that acute myeloid leukemia-1 (AML1)/ETO triggers the heterochromatic silencing of microRNA-193a by binding at AML1-binding sites and recruiting chromatin-remodeling enzymes. [Blood] Abstract

Human Macrophage and Dendritic Cell-Specific Silencing of High-Mobility Group Protein B1 Ameliorates Sepsis in a Humanized Mouse Model
The authors showed that human hematopoietic cells are required to induce sepsis-induced mortality following cecal ligation and puncture in the severely immunodeficient nonobese diabetic SCID/IL2Rγ^−/− mice, and siRNA treatment to inhibit HMGB1 release by human macrophages and dendritic cells dramatically reduces sepsis-induced mortality. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Activation of Evi1 Inhibits Cell Cycle Progression and Differentiation of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells
To study the molecular and functional response of primary murine hematopoietic progenitor cells to the activation of Evi1, researchers established an inducible lentiviral expression system. Evi1 had a biphasic effect with initial growth inhibition and retarded myeloid differentiation linked to enhanced survival of myeloblasts in long-term cultures. [Leukemia] Abstract

An Efficient Non-Viral Method to Generate Integration-Free Human iPS Cells from Cord Blood and Peripheral Blood Cells
The authors recently reported the efficient generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from adult fibroblasts using a combination of plasmids encoding OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, L-MYC, LIN28 and shRNA for TP53. They herein report a modified protocol enabling efficient iPSC induction from CD34⁺ cord blood cells and from peripheral blood isolated from healthy donors using these plasmid vectors. [Stem Cells] Abstract

BMS-936564/MDX-1338: A Fully Human Anti-CXCR4 Antibody Induces Apoptosis In Vitro and Shows Anti Tumor Activity In Vivo in Hematologic Malignancies
Investigators describe the development and characterization of a fully human antibody to CXCR4 and its application for therapy of acute myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphoid leukemia, and multiple myeloma. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Assessment of Human Multi-Potent Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cell Potential Using a Single In Vitro Screening System
Scientists developed a conditional tetracycline inducible system controlling the expression of the human NOTCH ligand Delta-like 1 in the murine stromal MS5 cells. They cultured hematopoietic immature cells enriched in progenitor/stem cells in contact with MS5 cells that conditionally express Delta-like 1, in conditions designed to generate multipotential lineage differentiation. [PLoS One] Full Article

cFos Mediates cAMP-Dependent Generation of ROS and Rescue of Maturation Program in Retinoid-Resistant Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Cell Line NB4-LR1
Scientists identified cFos as a critical cAMP effector, able to regulate the re-expression and splicing of epigenetically silenced genes associated with maturation in retinoid-resistant NB4-LR1 leukemia cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Double Unit Grafts Successfully Extend the Application of Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Adults with Acute Leukemia
The transplantation of two partially HLA-matched umbilical cord blood (UCB) units has been adopted as a simple approach for increasing the total nucleated cells. Researchers sought to determine whether the relative safety and efficacy of this approach was comparable to a single UCB transplant. Included were adults with acute leukemia transplanted with one or two UCB units. [Blood] Abstract

Unrelated SCT Induces Long-Term Remission in Patients with Blastic Plasmacytoid DC Neoplasm
Blastic plasmacytoid DC neoplasm is a rare hematopoietic malignancy with an aggressive behavior. The authors evaluated five patients allografted as consolidative treatment with an unrelated donor in first or subsequent remission. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Temple Scientists Target DNA Repair to Eradicate Leukemia Stem Cells
In a series of experiments in mice with cancer and in cancer cells, they have shown that they can block the process by which leukemia stem cells repair themselves by targeting a particular protein, RAD52, which the cells depend on to fix genetic mistakes. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing research presented at the 54^th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, Atlanta] Press Release

Reduced Intensity Regimen Prior to Marrow Transplant Better for Older Leukemia Patients
A new study led by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute shows that preparing older acute myeloid leukemia patients for bone marrow transplants with a reduced intensity conditioning regimen appears to be associated with higher rates of disease-free survival relative to the more typical treatments usually given to such patients. [Press release from The Ohio State University discussing research presented at the 54^th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, Atlanta] Press Release

Pre-Clinical Data Shows Angiocidin Effective against Leukemia
Angiocidin, a novel tumor-inhibiting protein, has been shown to reduce acute myeloid leukemia cells in vivo by almost two-thirds in pre-clinical experiments. [Press release from Temple University discussing research presented at the 54^th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, Atlanta]
Press Release

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Announces Positive Interim Results in Phase II Leukemia Trial
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that preliminary results of a Phase II clinical trial to treat leukemia with a WT1 DNA vaccine delivered with Inovio’s proprietary electroporation delivery system showed robust vaccine-specific antibody responses in all vaccinated subjects evaluated to date. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Boehringer Ingelheim to Initiate Phase III Study in Leukemia with Its Compound Volasertib Based on Positive Phase II Results
Boehringer Ingelheim intends to begin recruitment of a Phase III study to assess the efficacy and safety of volasertib in combination with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) compared with LDAC alone in early 2013. [Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH] Press Release

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)
 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)
 
European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW Gordon Research Conference: Stem Cells & Cancer
April 21-26, 2013
Les Diablerets, Switzerland

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

Product Quality Scientist (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Endothelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Stem Cells (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Senior Lecturer – Cancer Stem Cells (The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Leukemia Research (City of Hope Beckman Research Institute) 

Assistant Professor – Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Cancer (Tsinghua University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Donor/Recipient Matching for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Cleveland Clinic Transplant Center)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 55,000 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 Hematopoiesis News? Click here to submit!

Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.