Hematopoiesis News Volume 7.07 | Feb 23 2016

Ezh2 Controls an Early Hematopoietic Program and Growth and Survival Signaling in Early T Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Scientists studied the involvement of Ezh2 in a murine model of NRASQ61K-driven leukemia that recapitulates phenotypic and transcriptional features of early T cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

β-Globin-Expressing Definitive Erythroid Progenitor Cells Generated from Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Sacs
Researchers hypothesized that embryonic stem (ES) sacs serve as hemangioblast-like progenitors capable to generate definitive erythroid cells that express β-globin. With the ES sac-derived erythroid differentiation protocol, they obtained ∼120 erythroid cells per single ES cell. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Genetic Editing of HLA Expression in Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Broaden Their Human Application
Researchers sought to broaden the existing pool of registered unrelated donors based on analysis that eliminating the expression of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-A increases the chance for finding a donor matched at HLA-B, -C, and -DRB1 regardless of a patient’s race. Elimination of HLA-A expression in HSC was achieved using artificial zinc finger nucleases designed to target HLA-A alleles. [Sci Rep] Full Article

GATA Factor-G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Circuit Suppresses Hematopoiesis
Scientists demonstrated that GATA-2 rescued hematopoiesis in +9.5^−/− aorta-gonad-mesonephros. As G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most common targets for FDA-approved drugs, they analyzed the GPCR gene ensemble to identify GATA-2-regulated GPCRs. [Stem Cell Reports]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Synergism between the mTOR Inhibitor Rapamycin and FAK Down-Regulation in the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Researchers investigated whether the effect of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin is synergistic with the effect of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) down-regulation in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [J Hematol Oncol] Full Article

Cis-Vaccenic Acid Induces Differentiation and Up-Regulates Gamma Globin Synthesis in K562, JK1 and Transgenic Mice Erythroid Progenitor Stem Cells
The authors assayed the γ-globin inducing capacity of cis-vaccenic acid (CVA). CVA induced differentiation of K562, JK1 and transgenic mice primary bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor stem cells. [Eur J Pharmacol] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

TGF- α and IL-6 Plasma Levels Selectively Identify CML Patients That Fail to Achieve an Early Molecular Response or Progress in the First Year of Therapy
Researchers employed multiplex cytokine profiling of plasma samples to test newly diagnosed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients who subsequently received imatinib treatment. [Leukemia] Abstract

High Melphalan Exposure Is Associated with Improved Overall Survival in Myeloma Patients Receiving High Dose Melphalan and Autologous Transplantation
The authors determined whether high dose melphalan exposure is significantly associated with transplant outcomes. They demonstrated that high melphalan exposure is associated with improved survival, with an acceptable increase in transplant toxicity.[Br J Clin Pharmacol] Abstract

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CIRM Invests in Treatment Focused on High Risk Blood Cancers, Leukemia and Lymphoma
Cord blood transplants can be life saving for people battling deadly blood cancers, but they can also cause complications that are life-threatening. That’s why the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved almost $3.5 million to fund a program to find a more effective, efficient and safer way to deliver those transplants. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

Cutting Edge Medical Research Ideas Receive £23.2 Million Boost
The Medical Research Council is accelerating innovative medical research with £23.2 million in new funding to take ground-breaking ideas from UK universities into industry and out to patients. [Medical Research Council] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Cell Fate and Gene Expression Control (University of Birmingham)

Lead Scientist – Translational Therapy (NHS Blood and Transplant)

PhD Position – Leukemogenesis and Treatment Resistance (Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy)

Translational Research Scientist – Hematology/Oncology (University of Chicago)

Postdoctoral Associate – Epigenetic Regulation of Normal and Leukemic Stem Cells (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Pre-Leukemic Stem Cells in the Thymus (Ghent University)

Laboratory Technician – Molecular Biology (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Scholarship – Cancer Biology (Lund University)

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

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