Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 10.31 | Aug 7 2018

TOP STORY

Time-Phase Sequential Utilization of ADSCs on Mesoporous Bioactive Glass for Restoration of Critical Size Bone Defects

Compared to nonvascularized mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) carrying osteogenic-induced adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (OI-ADSCs) and non-cell-seeded MBG scaffolds, the prevascularized MBG carrying OI-ADSCs showed enhanced angiogenesis on the surface and interior of the scaffolds. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

Regulation of PKCβ Levels and Autophagy by PML Is Essential for High-Glucose-Dependent Mesenchymal Stem Cell Adipogenesis

Increased promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) expression enabled the upregulation of protein kinase Cβ (PKCβ), which, in turn, by controlling autophagy levels permitted an increase in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ that lead adipogenic differentiation. [Int J Obes] Abstract

Interrupted Reprogramming into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Does Not Rejuvenate Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Researchers followed the hypothesis that overexpression of pluripotency factors under culture conditions that do not allow full reprogramming might reset senescence-associated changes without entering a pluripotent state. Overexpression of pluripotency factors without reprogramming did neither prolong culture expansion nor ameliorate molecular and epigenetic hallmarks of senescence. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Vinexin Family (SORBS) Proteins Regulate Mechanotransduction in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Investigators showed that both vinexin α and c-Cbl-associated proteins were necessary for the association of vinculin with the cytoskeleton and the promotion of Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with a PDZ-binding motif nuclear localization in MSCs grown on rigid substrates. [Sci Rep] Full Article

In Vitro Comparison of 2D-Cell Culture and 3D-Cell Sheets of Scleraxis-Programmed Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Primary Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells for Tendon Repair

Human tendon stem/progenitors cells exceeded scleraxis-programmed human MSCs in several characteristics, namely clonogenicity, multipotentiality, gene expression profile and rates of tendon-like sheet formation, whilst in three-dimensional cell sheets, both cell types had comparable in vitro healing potential and collagenous composition of their three-dimensional cell sheets. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Reversibly Immortalized Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSCs) Are Responsive to BMP9-Induced Osteogenic and Adipogenic Differentiation

Scientists used the piggyBac transposon-based simian virus 40 T antigen immortalization system and effectively immortalized umbilical cord-MSCs, yielding the iUC-MSCs. Upon bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) stimulation, the iUC-MSCs effectively differentiated into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages both in vitro and in vivo, which were indistinguishable from that of primary UC-MSCs. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

IN VIVO

Impact of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Overexpressing Hepatocyte Growth Factor after Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats

The use of unmodified dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and DPSCs overexpressing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was associated with improved motor function compared to that with administration of vehicle at 7 days post-transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. DPSCs overexpressing HGF significantly inhibited microglial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production along with suppression of neuronal degeneration. [Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev] Abstract | Full Article

Knockdown of FOXA2 Enhances the Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Partly via Activation of the ERK Signaling Pathway

Forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) knockdown significantly increased osteoblast-specific gene expression, the number of mineral deposits and alkaline phosphatase activity, whereas FOXA2 overexpression inhibited osteogenesis-specific activities. The enhanced osteogenesis due to FOXA2 knockdown was partially rescued by an extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) inhibitor. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Hyperglycemia-Induced Endothelial Injury through Modulation of Mitophagy

In aortas of diabetic rats, defective mitophagy was observed, which coincided with marked mitochondrial dysfunction. The infusion of MSCs restored Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction and attenuated apoptosis in endothelial cells in diabetic rats. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Splenic Involvement in Umbilical Cord Matrix-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Mediated Effects following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

While the infusion of human umbilical cord matrix cells (HUCMCs) reduced spinal cord hemorrhage and increased systemic levels of IL-10 in the presence of a spleen, these effects were lost with splenectomy. HUCMC infusion was shown to alter the expression levels of splenic cytokines, suggesting that the spleen is an important target and site of MSC effects. [J Neuroinflammation] Full Article

Transplanted Interleukin-4–Secreting Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Show Extended Survival and Increased Bone Mineral Density in the Murine Femur

Reporter MSCs survived up to 4 weeks post-implantation. Injection of 2.5 × 10⁶ reporter MSCs increased local bone mineral density at 4 weeks post-implantation. Injection of 0.5 × 10⁶ constitutive interleukin (IL)-4 or nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell-sensing IL-4-secreting MSCs increased bone mineral density at 2 weeks post-implantation. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

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Concise Review: Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Drug Delivery: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Promise

The authors provide a concise review of active and passive MSC homing mechanisms and biodistribution postinfusion; in addition to in vivo cell tracking methodologies and strategies to enhance tumor targeting with a focus on MSC-based drug delivery strategies for cancer therapy. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

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

Stanford Medicine Receives $10 Million Pledge from the Blavatnik Family Foundation to Fuel the Next Generation of Biomedical Innovation

The Blavatnik Family Foundation has pledged $10 million to Stanford Medicine for the training of graduate students in the biomedical sciences, powering the innovation and independence of talented young researchers. [Stanford University] Press Release

Athersys Announces Enrollment of First Patient in Masters-2 Phase III Study of Multistem^® Treatment for Ischemic Stroke

Athersys, Inc. announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its Phase III study entitled, MultiStem Administration for Stroke Treatment and Enhanced Recovery Study-2 (“MASTERS-2”) to evaluate MultiStem^® cell therapy treatment of patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke. [Athersys, Inc.] Press Release

Japanese University Investigates Claim that It Downgraded Female Test Scores

A prominent Japanese medical school is investigating reports that staff allegedly altered test scores to reduce the number of female students accepted onto its degree course. [Nature News] Editorial

Australian Universities Condemn Romantic Supervisor-Student Relationships

Academics should be removed from their supervisory, teaching or assessment roles if they develop a romantic relationship with one of their students, say organizations that represent Australian universities and students. [Nature News] Editorial

Novartis and Sanofi Stockpile Meds in Preparation for Brexit

Novartis, Sanofi, and other drug companies are preparing for Brexit by stockpiling their medicines. Sanofi, the world’s lead supplier of insulin, will soon have a 14-week supply of its drugs stored in the UK. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW The Tumor Cell: Plasticity, Progression and Therapy
March 3-6, 2019
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NEW Assistant Professorship – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Keck School of Medicine of USC)

Postdoctoral Position – Pluripotent Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (University of Alabama at Brimingham)

Associate Professors/Assistant Professors – Biomedical Sciences (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Associate Professorships – Systems Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Biology (University of Pavia)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis)

PhD Student Positions – Regenerative Medicine (University Medical Center Utrecht)

Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Biology (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health)

Senior Lecturer – Stromal Immunology (University of Aberdeen)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – DNA Damage Repair and Pediatric Sarcoma Therapy (UT Health Science Center at San Antonio)

Faculty Position – Cellular Physiology and Engineering (Mayo Clinic)

Research Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Engineering (New York Blood Center)

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