Hematopoiesis News 7.32 August 16, 2016 | |
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TOP STORYResearchers Find New Functions of Blood Cell Protein in Transplantation Scientists have found exciting, new functions of the protein angiogenin that play a significant role in the regulation of blood cell formation, important in bone marrow transplantation and recovery from radiation-induced bone marrow failure. [Press release from Tufts Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Investigators modeled an insufficient dose cord blood transplantation setting in lethally irradiated mice and then added hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells derived from four mouse allogeneic strains. [J Exp Med] Abstract Exogenous TNFR2 Activation Protects from Acute GvHD via Host Treg Cell Expansion Researchers present a novel strategy for inhibiting graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) that is based on the in vivo expansion of recipient regulatory T cells (Treg cells) before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, exploiting the crucial role of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) in Treg cell biology. [J Exp Med] Abstract | Press Release MEF2C Protects Bone Marrow B-Lymphoid Progenitors during Stress Hematopoiesis Scientists showed that MEF2C enhances the expression of DNA repair and recombination factors in B-cell progenitors, promoting double strand break repair, V(D)J recombination and cell survival. Although Mef2c-deficient mice maintained relatively intact peripheral B-lymphoid cellularity during homeostasis, they exhibited poor B-lymphoid recovery after sub-lethal irradiation and 5-fluorouracil injection. [Nat Commun] Full Article The authors investigated the cellular and functional state of bone marrow (BM) in cirrhosis patients. They studied the histological, cellular and molecular changes in BM of cirrhosis patients and controls. [Hepatology] Abstract EKLF/KLF1-Regulated Cell Cycle Exit Is Essential for Erythroblast Enucleation Although erythroid krüppel like factor (EKLF)’s function during early erythropoiesis is well studied, its role during terminal differentiation has been difficult to functionally investigate due to the impaired expression of relevant cell surface markers in Eklf-/- erythroid cells. Researchers circumvented this problem by an innovative use of imaging flow cytometry to investigate the role of EKLF in vivo, and have performed functional studies using an ex vivo culture system that enriches for terminally differentiating cells. [Blood] Abstract Researchers investigated the role of the Fanconi anemia pathway in oncogenic stress response by employing an in vivo stress-response model expressing the Gadd45β-luciferase transgene. [Oncotarget] Full Article Immortalization of Human AE Pre-Leukemia Cells by hTERT Allows Leukemic Transformation Scientists investigated the cooperativity of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic subunit of telomerase, and AML1-ETO (AE) in disease progression. [Oncotarget] Full Article Quantitative Trait Gene Slit2 Positively Regulates Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cell Numbers The authors previously identified a gene whose differential expression underlies the natural variation of hematopoietic stem cell numbers in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice. They report the finding of another gene, Slit2, on chromosome 5 that also accounts for variation in hematopoietic stem cell number. [Sci Rep] Full Article Investigators showed that B cell leukemia causes T cells to become activated and hyporesponsive with increased PD-1 and TIM3 expression similar to exhausted T cells and that T cells from leukemic hosts become metabolically impaired. [J Immunol] Abstract CLINICAL RESEARCHHematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Immunocompetent Hosts without Radiation or Chemotherapy Researchers showed that host hematopoietic stem cell clearance is dependent on Fc-mediated antibody effector functions, and enhancing effector activity through blockade of CD47, a myeloid-specific immune checkpoint, extends anti–c-Kit conditioning to fully immunocompetent mice. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release Hematological engraftment was assessed in 804 autologous transplants. Neutrophil recovery occurred in over 99% within 14 day but platelet recovery was delayed beyond this time in 14.8%. [Br J Haematol] Abstract Researchers present 12 cases with sex chromosome loss (SCL) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT); nine patients developed isolated SCL after alloHSCT, and three patients had a SCL before undergoing alloHSCT after which SCL disappeared. [Mol Cytogenet] Full Article | |
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REVIEWSThe Vascular Adventitia: An Endogenous, Omnipresent Source of Stem Cells in the Body The authors discuss strategies for how vascular wall-resident stem and progenitor cells could be manipulated in order to activate and expand them, ideally within their niche at sites of tissue damage and subsequently differentiate them into a desired cell type, e.g. an endothelial cell, a macrophage or a muscle cell. [Pharmacol Ther] Abstract Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease The reviewers summarized results from trials of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for children or adults with sickle cell disease using a variety of graft sources as well as conditioning and graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis regimens, and discuss the unique challenges that arise in these patients. [Curr Opin Hematol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the hematopoiesis research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSBellicum Announces BPX-501 European Regulatory Updates Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the European Commission has granted orphan drug designations for both its lead T-cell therapy product candidate BPX-501 for treatment in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and for activator agent rimiducid for the treatment of graft vs. host disease. [Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. and Editas Medicine, Inc. announced a collaboration to explore the delivery of genome editing medicines to treat up to five inherited retinal diseases. This collaboration brings together Adverum’s next-generation adeno-associated viral vectors for use with Editas’ leading genome editing technologies to create a series of novel therapies for debilitating eye diseases that have poor therapeutic options. [Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSNIH Sets New Postdoc Stipend Levels In response to a new rule governing overtime pay in the United States, the National Institutes of Health announced its new, increased postdoc stipend levels, which will go into effect December 1st 2016. [Science Careers] Editorial | Notice Clinical trials in dogs and cats are booming. Over the past decade, researchers have conducted hundreds of studies on pets to discover new therapies and medicines. But despite some moderate successes, the field has yet to have a dramatic impact on human medicine—and some critics wonder whether it ever will. [Science] Editorial US Grants for Zebrafish Studies on the Rise A team at the NIH Office of Portfolio Analysis assessed trends in the agency’s funding of model-organism research between 2008 and 2015, through its R01 awards, the largest NIH grant program for individual investigators. Using a text-mining algorithm and manual searches, they studied grant data for four animal models. The analysis revealed that grants for zebrafish studies accounted for 0.8% of all R01 awards in 2008, but for 1.27% in 2015 — a rise of almost 60%. [Nature News] Editorial UK Government Gives Brexit Science Funding Guarantee British scientists say they’re relieved by a government promise to guarantee them funding for existing EU research projects, even after the country leaves the European Union. But the reassurance only partly allays concerns about Brexit’s effect on UK science. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 4th International Oncology Conference NEW European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Stipend – Development of Immune System (Lund University) Technical Sales Representative (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Research Scientist (National Taiwan University) Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Immunology (Roswell Park Cancer Institute) Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (University of Pennsylvania) Assistant Member Faculty – Platinum/Immunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Cytogenetics Laboratory Supervisor (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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Home Hematopoiesis News Volume 7.32 | Aug 16 2016