Hematopoiesis News Volume 6.34 | Sep 1 2015

CD9, a Key Actor in the Dissemination of Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Modulating CXCR4-Mediated Migration via RAC1 Signaling
Researchers demonstrated that CD9 enhanced RAC1 activation, in both REH cells and blasts from patients. Conversely, the overexpression of a competing CD9 C-terminal tail peptide in REH cytoplasm decreased RAC1 activation and cytoplasmic extension formation in response to CXCL12. [Blood] Abstract

MLL Leukemia Induction by Genome Editing of Human CD34⁺ Hematopoietic Cells
Scientists applied TALEN-mediated genome editing to generate endogenous mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-AF9 and MLL-ENL oncogenes through insertional mutagenesis in primary human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells derived from human umbilical cord blood. [Blood] Abstract

NOX4-Driven ROS Formation Mediates PTP Inactivation and Cell Transformation in FLT3ITD Positive AML Cells
NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) mRNA and protein expression was found to be elevated in FLT3ITD-positive cells and to depend on FLT3ITD signaling and STAT5-mediated activation of the NOX4 promoter. NOX4 knockdown reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, restored DEP-1 PTP activity, and attenuated FLT3ITD-driven transformation. [Leukemia] Abstract

Three-Dimensional Environment Sustains Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation into Platelet-Producing Megakaryocytes
Porous hydrogel scaffolds were used to study megakaryocyte differentiation from hematopoietic stem cells as well as platelet production. Flow cytometry, qPCR and perfusion studies showed that 3D was suitable for longer kinetics of CD34⁺ cell proliferation and for delayed megakaryocytic differentiation far beyond the limited shelf-life observed in liquid culture but also increased production of functional platelets. [PLoS One] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Is There a Stronger Graft-Versus-Leukemia Effect Using HLA-Haploidentical Donors than with HLA-Identical Siblings?
Scientists analyzed 10,679 acute leukemia patients who underwent HSCT from an HLA-matched sibling donor or a haploidentical donor between 2007 and 2012 [Leukemia] Abstract

Long-Term Follow-Up of a Phase II Study of Chemotherapy plus Dasatinib for the Initial Treatment of Patients with Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
A combination of chemotherapy with dasatinib was effective in achieving long-term remission for patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [Cancer] Abstract

Incidence and Risk Factors for Ocular GvHD after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
The authors analyzed the incidence and risk factors for ocular GvHD in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Korea. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

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NIH Awards Nearly $34 Million to UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Clinical and Translational Science $33.59 million over four years to continue the center’s programs advancing translational research. [University of Alabama at Birmingham] Press Release

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Principal Scientist – Hematopoietic Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HMGA Chromatin Remodeling Proteins in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Regulatory Coordinator – Leukemia (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematologic Malignancies (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Pharmacogenomics (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Regeneration and Myeloid Malignancies (Weill-Cornell Medical College)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Assays (Weill Cornell Medical School)

Research Associate – Cell Biology (Editas Medicine)

Clinical Research Coordinator – Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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