Hematopoiesis News Volume 9.03 | Jan 23 2018

TOP STORY

Regulation of Embryonic Hematopoietic Multipotency by EZH1

Researchers showed that reduced expression of the Polycomb group protein EZH1 enhances multi-lymphoid output from human pluripotent stem cells. In addition, Ezh1 deficiency in mouse embryos results in precocious emergence of functional definitive HSCs in vivo. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release 1 | Press Release 2

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Hif-1α and Hif-2α Regulate Hemogenic Endothelium and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Formation in Zebrafish

Scientists showed that in zebrafish hypoxia inducible factor-2α (Hif-2α) positively modulates HSC formation. Specifically, HSC marker gene expression was strongly decreased in hif-1aa;hif-1ab and in hif-2aa;hif-2ab zebrafish mutants and morphants. [Blood] Abstract

Hsp90 Chaperones Hemoglobin Maturation in Erythroid and Nonerythroid Cells

Researchers investigated a role for heat-shock protein 90 (hsp90) in hemoglobin (Hb) maturation in erythroid precursor cells that naturally express Hb-α with either Hb-γ or Hb-β and in nonerythroid cell lines that either endogenously express Hb-αβ or that they transfected to express the globins. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

MEIS1 Regulates Hemogenic Endothelial Generation, Megakaryopoiesis, and Thrombopoiesis in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Targeting TAL1 and FLI1

Investigators identified myeloid ectopic viral integration site 1 homolog (MEIS1) as a crucial regulator of human pluripotent stem cell early hematopoietic differentiation. MEIS1 was vital for specification of APLNR⁺ mesoderm progenitors to functional hemogenic endothelial progenitors, thereby controlling formation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Efficient Non-Viral Gene Delivery into Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells by Minicircle Sleeping Beauty Transposon Vectors

The authors set out to improve Sleeping Beauty (SB) gene transfer into hard-to-transfect human CD34⁺ cells by vectorizing the SB system components in the form of minicircles that are devoid of plasmid backbone sequences and are therefore significantly reduced in size. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Mammalian Sterile 20 Kinase 1 and 2 Are Important Regulators of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Stress Condition

The authors report that mice with a conditional deletion of mammalian sterile-20 kinase 1 and 2 exhibit impaired hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function under stress condition. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Icraiin Improves Fanconi Anemia Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function through SIRT6-Mediated NF-Kappa B Inhibition

Scientists examined the role of icraiin on HSCs using the cancer-prone disease model of Fanconi anemia, an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome with extremely high risk of leukemic predisposition. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Loss of ASXL1 in the Bone Marrow Niche Dysregulates Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Fates

Researchers showed that bone marrow stromal cells derived from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia patients had reduced expression of Additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1), which impaired the maintaining cord blood CD34⁺ cell colony-forming capacity with a myeloid differentiation bias. [Cell Discov] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Bortezomib-Based Immunosuppression after Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Randomized Phase II Results

Scientists performed an open-label 3-arm 1:1:1 Phase II randomized-controlled-trial comparing grade II-IV acute graft versus host disease between conventional tacrolimus/methotrexate versus bortezomib/tacrolimus/methotrexate; and versus bortezomib/sirolimus/tacrolimus, in reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic transplantation recipients lacking HLA-matched related donors. [Haematologica] Abstract | Full Article

The Possible Importance of β3 Integrins for Leukemogenesis and Chemoresistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The authors review the experimental and clinical evidence for a role of β3 integrins for leukemogenesis and chemosensitivity in acute myeloid leukemia. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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

Astellas and Vical Announce Top-Line Results for Phase III Trial of Cytomegalovirus Vaccine ASP0113 in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Astellas Pharma Inc. and Vical Incorporated announced that ASP0113, an investigational DNA vaccine being developed for cytomegalovirus-seropositive hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, did not meet its primary or secondary endpoints in the Phase III HELIOS clinical trial. [Astellas Pharma Inc.] Press Release

Astellas Receives Orphan Designation from the European Commission for Gilteritinib for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Astellas Pharma Inc. announced that the European Commission has issued Orphan Designation to gilteritinib for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. [Astellas Pharma Inc.] Press Release

Kite Announces Clinical Collaboration to Evaluate Investigational Combination of Yescarta™ (Axicabtagene Ciloleucel) and Pfizer’s Utomilumab in Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Kite announced it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Pfizer, Inc. to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the investigational combination of Yescarta™ and Pfizer’s utomilumab, a fully humanized 4-1BB agonist monoclonal antibody, in patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma. [Gilead Sciences] Press Release

Emmaus Life Sciences Announces Availability of Endari™ (L-glutamine Oral Powder) for Sickle Cell Disease in the United States

Emmaus Life Sciences announced that Endari is now available by prescription in the United States. Endari was approved by the FDA to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older. [Emmaus Life Sciences] Press Release

German Scientists Hope for Windfall from Incoming Government

Research budget could rise to 3.5% of gross domestic product if agreement struck during coalition talks holds. [Nature News] Editorial

Nobel Laureate Suggests He Could Fall on Sword over Colleague’s Bogus Paper

Shinya Yamanaka, who won a share of the 2012 Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, has suggested he could resign as director of Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application in Japan over a fraudulent paper published by center researchers. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

U.S. Scientists Breathe a Sigh of Relief as Government Shutdown to End

It’s over—at least for the moment. The U.S. Senate voted 81–18 to advance legislation funding government activities, essentially ending a partial government shutdown that had moved into its third day. The House of Representatives is expected to follow suit, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Aegean Conferences: 7^th International Conference on Osteoimmunology: Interactions of the Immune and Skeletal Systems
June 3-8, 2018
Crete, Greece

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

NEW PhD Position – Bioinformatics (German Institute of Human Nutrition)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoiesis (University of Liege)

Postdoctoral Associate – Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology (University of Florida Health Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Scholarship – Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Position – Hematology and Cancer Biology (University of Florida)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology (University of Colorado/Anschutz Medical Campus)

Research Data Analyst – Hematology (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Suppression of Fetal Hemoglobin in Adult Red Cells (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Scholarship – Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (Lund University)

Staff Clinician – Hematology (National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute)

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