Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 10.06 | Feb 13 2018

TOP STORY

Cell-Geometry-Dependent Changes in Plasma Membrane Order Direct Stem Cell Signaling and Fate

Using a variety of innovative materials techniques, the authors demonstrated that the nanostructure and lipid assembly within the cell plasma membrane are regulated by cell geometry in a ligand-independent manner. These biophysical changes trigger signaling events involving the serine/threonine kinase Akt/protein kinase B that direct cell-geometry-dependent mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. [Nat Mater] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

Calcium-MicroRNA Complexes Functionalized Nanotubular Implant Surface for Highly Efficient Transfection and Enhanced Osteogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Controlling MSC differentiation by RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising approach for next-generation regenerative medicine. However, efficient delivery of RNAi therapeutics is still a limiting factor. Researchers developed a simple, biocompatible and highly effective delivery method of small RNA therapeutics into human MSCs from an implant surface by calcium ions. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Results in Downregulation of c-Myc and DNA Replication Pathways with Immunomodulation toward CD4 and CD8 Cells

Using MSCs differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed using diverse cell types and protocols, and in comparison to human embryonic stem cell-MSCs and bone marrow-MSCs, scientists performed transcriptome analyses and assessed for functional immunomodulatory properties. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Ablation of Protein Phosphatase 5 (PP5) Leads to Enhanced Both Bone and Cartilage Development in Mice

Researchers investigated the role of PP5 on bone and cartilage development using both in vivo and in vitro approaches. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from bone marrow were used to examine the effects of PP5 on osteogenesis in vitro. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Inhibit NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in a Model of Coxsackievirus B3-Induced Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy

Investigators demonstrated that MSCs are cardioprotective in Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced myocarditis. In this study, MSCs markedly inhibited left ventricular NOD2, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 mRNA expression in CVB3-infected mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Exosome-Rich Fractionated Secretome Confers a Hepatoprotective Effect in Liver Injury

Investigators hypothesized that fractionating the MSC secretome would enrich exosomes containing soluble bioactive molecules, improving its therapeutic potential for liver failure. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Isolation and Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Fetus Heart

To evaluate their potential as a new cell type for clinical cardiovascular cell therapy, the authors isolated and characterized human fetal cardiac MSCs. [PLoS One] Full Article

IN VIVO

Inhibition of Overactive TGF-β Attenuates Progression of Heterotopic Ossification in Mice

Scientists found that calcified cartilage and newly formed bone resorb osteoclasts after onset of heterotopic ossification (HO), which leads to high levels of active TGF-β that recruit mesenchymal stromal/progenitor cells in the HO microenvironment. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Regenerative Potential of Tonsil Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Surgical Cutaneous Defect

Researchers evaluated the regenerative efficacy of tonsil-derived MSCs in the wound healing process. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Engineered Humanized Bone Organs Maintain Human Hematopoiesis In Vivo

Investigators found that the human MSC-derived ossicles function as a hematopoietic niche and may potentially serve as a re-engineerable platform to study normal and diseased human hematopoiesis in a physiologically optimized environment. [Exp Hematol] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for Liver Diseases

Scientists summarize the safety, efficacy, potential transplantation routes and therapeutic effects of MSC in patients with liver fibrosis. [J Hepatol] Abstract

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

Texas A&M Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Celltex Therapeutics Enter Agreement for Alzheimer’s Research

Celltex Therapeutics Corporation, and Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine Institute for Regenerative Medicine announced an intellectual property license acquisition and research agreement. The announcement signals the first year of a multi-year research study investigating potential therapies for Alzheimer’s disease using autologous MSC-derived exosomes. [Texas A&M University Health Science Center] Press Release

Cytobank and the FDA Collaborate to Improve Immunotherapy Development

Cytobank and the FDA are collaborating to develop machine learning-based methods for characterizing the morphology of multipotent MSCs. These methods could be used in cellular manufacturing processes to characterize cellular preparations with desired immunotherapeutic properties. [Cytobank] Press Release

Researchers Debate Whether Journals Should Publish Signed Peer Reviews

Scientific journals should start routinely publishing the text of peer reviews for each paper they accept, said attendees at a meeting last week of scientists, academic publishers, and funding organizations. But there was little consensus on whether reviewers should have to publicly sign their critiques, which traditionally are accessible only to editors and authors. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NIH Stays Flat, Absorbs Three Institutes in President’s 2019 Budget Proposal

Biomedical research funding was one of the budget lines saved from cuts by last-minute adjustments to President Donald Trump’s administration’s 2019 budget proposal. Still, advocates say they had hoped for more. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Few UK Universities Have Adopted Rules against Impact-Factor Abuse

A survey of British institutions reveals that few have taken concrete steps to stop the much-criticized misuse of research metrics in the evaluation of academics’ work. The results offer an early insight into global efforts to clamp down on such practices. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Stem Cells in Disease Modelling and Drug Discovery (SCDMDD) 2018
June 17-18, 2018
Melbourne, Australia

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

NEW Lectureship – Stem Cell Biology (University of Edinburgh)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cardiac Tissue Homeostasis and Regeneration Mechanisms (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares)

Scientist – Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, (Moderna Therapeutics)

Research Scientists/Postdoctoral Fellows – Biomaterial and Stem Cell Engineering (Brigham & Women’s Hospital)

Principal Investigator – Cardiac Cell Repair (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Program Director – Translational Bone Research (Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine)

PhD Studentship – Regenerative Sciences (Hannover Biomedical Research School)

Tenure Track Assistant Professor – Cell Biology and Anatomy (University of South Carolina School of Medicine)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (University of Washington)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Bone and Stem Cells Biology (Stanford University)

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