Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 10.32 | Aug 14 2018

TOP STORY

Thy-1 (CD90) Promotes Bone Formation and Protects against Obesity

MSCs from Thy-1-deficient mice had decreased osteoblast differentiation and increased adipogenic differentiation compared to MSCs from wild-type mice. Consistently, Thy-1-deficient mice exhibited decreased bone volume and bone formation rate with elevated cortical porosity, resulting in lower bone strength. In parallel, body weight, subcutaneous/epigonadal fat mass, and bone fat volume were increased. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

Endothelin-1 Differentially Directs Lineage Specification of Adipose- and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Scientists showed that adipogenesis of endothelin-1 (ET1)-pretreated adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and osteogenesis of ET1-pretreated bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) were increased compared to those of control cells. [FASEB J] Abstract

Polycaprolactone Nanofibers Containing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Encapsulated Gelatin Particles Enhance Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation and Angiogenesis of Endothelial Cells

A releasing scaffold platform, consisting of polycaprolactone nanofibers and vascular endothelial growth factor-encapsulated gelatin particles, was developed to extend the influence of growth factors on MSCs and endothelial cells (ECs). This kind of scaffold could direct the differentiation of MSCs to ECs and maintained the stability of the tubular structure, an indicator of the angiogenesis ability of ECs, for an extended period of time. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

Histone Demethylase JMJD6 Regulates Cellular Migration and Proliferation in Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors demonstrated that the histone demethylase JMJD6 played a critical role in regulating the proliferation and migration of adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs) by removing H4R3me2a at the promoter regions of PDEC1 and suppressing PDEC1 expression. The depletion of JMJD6 in ADSCs significantly increased cellular proliferation and motility, which was associated with increases in PDE1C expression and decreases in the levels of both cAMP and cGMP. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Comparing Atmospheric and Hypoxic Cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transcriptome: Implication for Stem Cell Therapies Targeting Intervertebral Discs

Hypoxic culturing of human bone marrow MSCs had positive effects on cell fitness, as evidenced by an increased clonogenicity and improved differentiation potential towards adipocyte and chondrocyte lineages. No difference in osteoblast differentiation or in cell surface markers were observed. [J Transl Med] Full Article

Detecting Senescent Fate in Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Combined Cytofluorimetric and Ultrastructural Approach

Senescence-associated morphofunctional changes in periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDPCs) from old and young individuals were investigated by combining cytofluorimetry, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated a large number of G0/G1 phase cells in PDPCs from old subjects and a progressive accumulation of G0/G1 cells during passaging in cultures from young subjects. [Biogerontology] Abstract

Non-Ionizing Radiation for Cardiac Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Commitment: A Physical Strategy in Regenerative Medicine

Investigators isolated and characterized at the molecular and cellular level human amniotic MSCs (hAMSCs) and exposed them to a physical extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) stimulus and to a chemical nitric oxide treatment. Their data, for the first time, provided evidence that physical ELF-EMF stimulus, similarly to the chemical treatment, was able to trigger hAMSC cardiac commitment. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Effect of Culture Duration on Chondrogenic Preconditioning of Equine Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogel

Three days of preconditioning was sufficient to produce chondrogenic MSCs that accumulated ~75% more cartilaginous extracellular matrix than positive controls by day 17. Potential induction of immunogenicity with preconditioning culture was indicated by expression of major histocompatibility complex class II, which was nearly absent in undifferentiated MSCs, and ~7% positive for preconditioned cells. [J Orthop Res] Abstract

IN VIVO

R-Spondin-2 Is a Wnt Agonist that Regulates Osteoblast Activity and Bone Mass

Researchers showed that limb-bud progenitor cells from R-spondin-2 (Rspo2) knockout mice underwent reduced mineralization during osteoblastogenesis in vitro and had a corresponding alteration in their osteogenic gene expression profile. Serum osteocalcin in 3-month-old Ocn-Cre + Rspo2^f/f was reduced, and bone marrow-MSCs from Ocn-Cre + Rspo2^f/f mice underwent less mineralization in vitro. [Bone Res] Full Article

Cell Therapy Induced Regeneration of Severely Atrophied Mandibular Bone in a Clinical Trial

Investigators evaluated bone regeneration using bone marrow-derived MSCs in a clinical trial, a less invasive approach than autologous bone grafting. The bone marrow cells, expanded in vitro and inserted into the defect together with biphasic calcium phosphate granules, induced significant new bone formation. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

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Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell-Based Therapy for Heart Failure – What Is the Best Source?

The authors summarize the current information available from preclinical and clinical studies, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each MSC type. This provides an insight into consideration of the best MSC source for the treatment of heart failure. [Circ J] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Migration during Bone Formation and Bone Diseases Therapy

As multipotent stem cells, MSCs were used to treat bone diseases during the past several decades. Recently, researchers have paid more and more attention to two critical points. One is how to apply MSC migration to bone disease therapy. The other is how to enhance MSC migration to improve the therapeutic efficacy of bone diseases. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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Cellect and Cell2in Launch Collaboration to Significantly Improve Stem Cell Selection and Expansion

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. announced that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Cell2in. According to the agreement, the companies will conduct scientific evaluations combining Cellect’s technology platform ApoGraft^™ with Cell2in’s proprietary identification technology FreSHtracer^™ which monitors stem cell quality by utilizing a fluorescent dye to characterize their oxidative stress state. [Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. [PR Newswire Association LLC.]] Press Release

Clinical Benefits of TPX-100 in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients are Associated with Improvements in Knee Cartilage Structure Modification

OrthoTrophix, Inc. announced results of a post-hoc responder analysis of the Phase II clinical study with TPX-100, the company’s osteoarthritis drug candidate. [OrthoTrophix, Inc.] Press Release

Cellectar’s CLR 131 Receives FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for the Treatment of Ewing’s Sarcoma

Cellectar Biosciences announced that the FDA has granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to CLR 131, the company’s lead Phospholipid Drug Conjugate^™ product candidate, for the treatment of Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare pediatric cancer. [Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

To Lower State Drug Costs, the National Governors Association Is Promoting Several Ideas

As cash-strapped states across America struggle with their drug spending, the National Governors Association has suggested several ways to address the problem, from bulk purchasing and alternative payment plans to the use of metrics for assessing the value of medicines. [STAT News] Editorial

Survey of U.S. Government Scientists Finds Range of Attitudes toward Trump Policies

It’s widely assumed that many U.S. government scientists disagree with President Donald Trump on several of his controversial science appointments, his proposed deep cuts to research, and a spate of executive actions aimed at overturning current government policies to combat climate change. Some have publicly voiced their concerns. But what do the rank-and-file really think of working for this president? [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2019 Annual Meeting
June 26-29, 2019
Los Angeles, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Spinal Fusion (Hopkins Spinal Fusion Laboratory)

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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