Hematopoiesis News Volume 9.48 | Dec 4 2018

TOP STORY

Human Intestinal Allografts Contain Functional Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells that Are Maintained by a Circulating Pool

Scientists demonstrated the existence of functioning hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in human intestines with implications for promoting tolerance in transplant recipients. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

BCAS2 Is Essential for Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Maintenance during Zebrafish Embryogenesis

Investigators established a bcas2 knockout zebrafish model by using transcription activator-like effector nucleases. The bcas2^-/- zebrafish showed severe impairment of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and their derivatives during definitive hematopoiesis. [Blood] Abstract

Accumulation of JAK Activation Loop Phosphorylation Is Linked to Type I JAK Inhibitor Withdrawal Syndrome in Myelofibrosis

Researchers developed a time-dependent assay to mimic ruxolitinib withdrawal in primary JAK2^V617F and CALR mutant myelofibrosis patient samples and observed notable activation of spontaneous STAT signaling in JAK2^V617F samples after drug washout. [Sci Adv] Full Article

Cooperative Transcription Factor Induction Mediates Hemogenic Reprogramming

The authors demonstrated that human fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into hemogenic cells by the same transcription factors. Induced cells displayed dynamic endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition transcriptional programs, generated hematopoietic progeny, possessed hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell surface phenotype, and repopulated immunodeficient mice for three months. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Effects of VEGFR1⁺ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells on Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation and In Vivo Metastasis of Breast Cancer Cells

Scientists successfully established a mouse model of lung metastasis using luciferase-expressing MDA-MB-435s cells. In this model, recruitment of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR1)⁺CD133⁺ hematopoietic progenitor cells was gradually increased in lung but gradually decreased after the formation of tumor colonies in lung. [J Cancer Res Clin Oncol] Abstract

Resveratrol Improves Ex Vivo Expansion of CB‐CD34⁺ Cells via Downregulating Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Level

Resveratrol stimulated the ex vivo expansion of CD34⁺ cells, preserved more primitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and maintained better biological function by alleviating intracellular reactive oxygen species level and cell apoptosis in cultures. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Virus-Free and Oncogene-Free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Reprogramming in Cord Blood and Peripheral Blood in Patients with Lung Disease

A virus- and oncogene-free induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming method was developed with cord blood-derived mononuclear cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with genetic lung diseases. [Regen Med] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Myeloablative Haploidentical Transplantation Is Superior to Chemotherapy for Patients with Intermediate-Risk Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in First Complete Remission

Researchers showed that myeloablative haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with ATG + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was superior to chemotherapy as a postremission treatment in patients with int-risk AML during first complete remission. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Prognostic Performance of the Augmented Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity/Age Index in Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation from Alternative Graft Sources

The authors investigated the discriminative capacity of an augmented comorbidity/age index among 724 recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation from HLA-mismatched, haploidentical, and umbilical cord blood grafts between 2000 and 2013. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Clinical Impact of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Receiving Allogeneic Transplantation

Scientists analyzed samples from 113 acute myeloid leukemia patients in complete remission prior to HSC transplantation for the presence of clonal hematopoiesis-associated mutations. The results were correlated with clinical and biological data. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

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Arterial Identity Of Hemogenic Endothelium: A Key to Unlock Definitive Hematopoietic Commitment in hPSC Cultures

The authors review how the link between arterialization and subsequent definitive multilineage hematopoietic program can be exploited to identify hemogenic endothelium enriched in lymphoid progenitors and aid in in vitro approaches to enhance the production of lymphoid cells and potentially HSCs from human pluripotent stem cells. [Exp Hematol] Abstract

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

Magenta Therapeutics Presents New Data from Phase II Study of MGTA-456 Cell Therapy in Patients with Inherited Metabolic Disorders

Magenta Therapeutics announced that the company presented initial Phase II clinical data and preclinical research on its MGTA-456 program. MGTA-456 is a cell therapy providing a high dose of HSCs that are well-matched to the patient, administered through a transplant procedure. [Press release from Magenta Therapeutics discussing research presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Diego] Press Release

Actinium Pharmaceuticals Highlights Analysis of Pivotal Iomab-B Phase III SIERRA Trial

Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that additional data from an updated analysis of the pivotal Iomab-B Phase III SIERRA trial were highlighted. The SIERRA trial is the only ongoing Phase III trial offering a bone marrow transplant to patients 55 years of age or older with active, relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. [Press release from Actinium Pharmaceuticals discussing research presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Diego] Press Release

Gamida Cell Announces New Translational Data for Nicord^®

Gamida Cell Ltd. presented translational data for NiCord^®, an investigational cell therapy in Phase III clinical development for allogeneic stem cell, or bone marrow, transplant. [Press release from Gamida Cell Ltd. discussing research presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Diego] Press Release

Pluristem Presents Data from First Cohort in Ongoing Phase I Hematological Study

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced that the company presented data from the first cohort of patients in its ongoing Phase I clinical trial of PLX-R18 for the treatment of incomplete hematopoietic recovery following hematopoietic cell transplantation. [Press release from Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. discussing research presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Diego] Press Release

Editas Medicine Announces Pre-Clinical Data Supporting Novel Approach for Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease and Beta-Thalassemia

Editas Medicine, Inc. announced results from experiments to demonstrate expanded CRISPR genome editing strategies in HSCs for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. [Press release from Editas Medicine, Inc. discussing research presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Diego] Press Release

Early Clinical Trial Data Show Gene Therapy Reversing Sickle Cell Anemia

Preliminary data from a pilot Phase I-II clinical trial testing the gene-addition therapy were presented by principal investigator Punam Malik, MD. She is a physician-scientist at the Cincinnati Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute and director of its Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. [Press release from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center discussing research presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Diego] Press Release

Dana-Farber Scientists to Present New Research on Improving Outcomes in Stem Cell Transplantation for Myeloid Cancers

The research points to new opportunities for preventing relapse after transplantation and determining which patients should be considered for lower-intensity chemotherapy in preparation for transplant. [Press release from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discussing research presented at the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Diego] Press Release

Roivant Launches Aruvant Sciences and Roivant Foundation in Partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Roivant Sciences and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center announced the launch of Aruvant Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative gene therapies for hematological conditions, and the formation of a new nonprofit foundation with the mission of improving access to medical care for patients with sickle cell disease in the developing world. [Roivant Sciences (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Weill Cornell Medicine Awarded $9M Grant for Lymphoma Research

Weill Cornell Medicine has been awarded a five-year, $9 million Program Project Grant from the National Cancer Institute to better understand how and why patients with an aggressive and incurable form of lymphoma initially respond to treatment, only to relapse over time. [Weill Cornell Medicine] Press Release

FDA Approves New Targeted Drug for Leukemia Tested at University of Pennsylvania

FDA has approved the first ever inhibitor drug specifically approved for treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a mutation in the Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene. [Perelman School of Medicine] Press Release

GBT Announces U.S. FDA Agrees with Its Proposal Relating to Accelerated Approval Pathway for Voxelotor for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease and GBT Plans to Submit New Drug Application (NDA)

Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), Inc. announced that the FDA has informed GBT through discussions and written correspondence that the agency agrees with the company’s proposal relating to use of an accelerated approval pathway for voxelotor for the treatment of sickle cell disease. [Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Roche’s Hemlibra Provided Sustained Bleed Control in the Largest Pivotal Study to Date of Children with Hemophilia A with Factor VIII Inhibitors

Roche announced data from the primary analysis of the Phase III HAVEN 2 study evaluating Hemlibra^® prophylaxis in children younger than 12 years of age with haemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors, including longer follow-up for once-weekly dosing and new data for less frequent dosing schedules. [Roche] Press Release

Researchers Sign Petition Backing Plans to End Paywalls

More than 1,400 researchers have signed an online letter backing the principles of Plan S, the bold open-access initiative led by research agencies who say that, by 2020, papers resulting from their funding should be immediately free to read on publication. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Emphasizes Workforce Training in New Vision for Stem Education

The U.S. government needs to partner with industry and community organizations to train more Americans for jobs in an increasingly high-tech work environment. That’s the key message in a new 5-year strategic plan for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education released by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Data Sharing in Action: When Drug Companies Open Their Trial Vaults

Clinical trials generate tons of data that never see the light of day, but an initiative spearheaded by researchers at Yale University is trying to change that. Since 2011, the Yale University Open Data Access Project has developed a platform that allows external researchers to gain access to clinical trials data from pharmaceutical companies. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 2019 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASBMT and CIBMTR
February 20-24, 2019
Houston, Texas, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Development (University of Southern California)

NEW Research Officer – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (The University of Queensland)

Research Technologist – Hematopoietic (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Bioengineering (Igenomix Foundation)

Staff Scientist – Hematology (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Assistant Project Scientist – Hematology and Oncology (University of California, Davis)

Research Scientist – Hematological Malignancies (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Modification in HSCs (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Faculty Positions – Hematology and Oncology (UC Davis)

Postdoctoral Position or PhD Student – Bioinformatics in Leukemia (RWTH Aachen Medical School)

Assistant, Associate or Full Professors – Malignant Hematopoiesis (Cincinnati Children’s Research Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Hematopoiesis and Blood Disorders (Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute)

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