Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 11.18 | May 14 2019

TOP STORY

Preclinical Safety Study of a Combined Therapeutic Bone Wound Dressing for Osteoarticular Regeneration

Investigators tested the preclinical safety of the innovative implant ARTiCAR for the treatment of osteoarticular lesions. Thanks to the combination of two advanced therapy medicinal products, a polymeric nanofibrous bone wound dressing and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, the ARTiCAR promoted both subchondral bone and cartilage regeneration. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

TRAF4 Positively Regulates the Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Acting as an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase to Degrade Smurf2

Researchers demonstrated that TNF receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) positively regulated the osteogenic process of MSCs both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, they further demonstrated that TRAF4 modulates the osteogenic process of MSCs by acting as an E3 ubiquitin ligase to mediate the K48-linked ubiquitination of Smurf2 at the K119 site and cause degradation. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Molecular Signatures Identify Immature Mesenchymal Progenitors in Early Mouse Limb Buds That Respond Differentially to Morphogen Signaling

Investigators combined flow cytometric and transcriptome analyses to identify the molecular signatures of several distinct mesenchymal progenitor cell populations present in early mouse forelimb buds. In particular, JAGGED1-positive cells located in the posterior-distal mesenchyme were identified as the most immature limb bud mesenchymal progenitors, which critically depend on SHH and FGF signaling in culture. [Development] Abstract

Characterization of the Effects of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Mouse and Human Islet Function

The authors assessed the effects of MSCs on mouse and human islets by investigating the importance of tissue source for MSCs, the coculture protocol configuration and length, the effect of activated MSCs, and different β-cell secretory stimuli. MSCs derived from adipose tissue were the most effective at supporting β-cell insulin secretion in both mouse and human islets, in a direct contact coculture configuration. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Systemic Sclerosis Patients, Derived from Different Sources, Show a Profibrotic microRNA Profiling

Scientists performed comparison between bone marrow-MSCs and adipose-MSCs, by the miRs expression profile, to identify the gene modulation in these two MSC sources. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Heparin Differentially Impacts Gene Expression of Stromal Cells from Various Tissues

Researchers investigated cellular uptake of heparin by fluoresceinamine-labeling and its impact on expression of genes, proteins and function of human stromal cells derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord and white adipose tissue. Cells were isolated and propagated using various pooled human platelet lysate-supplemented media with or without heparin. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Lin28B Regulates the Fate of Grafted Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Enhances Their Protective Effects sgainst Alzheimer’s Disease by Upregulating IGF-2

Scientists explored whether lin28B might influence the functions of implanted MSCs and strengthen their neuroprotective potential in Alzheimer’s disease. A gain-of-function assay was used to upregulate lin28B expression in MSCs by lentiviral transfection. Their in vitro results indicated that lin28B promoted MSCs proliferation and migration, and protected MSCs against Aβ1-42-induced cell death by upregulating insulin-like growth factor-2. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Proper Mechanical Stimulation Improve the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Improve the Viscoelasticity and Chondrogenic Phenotype

Rabbit bone mesenchymal stem cells were subjected to cyclic dynamic square wave tensile mechanical loading using the FX-4000 tension system. The viscoelasticity of cells was investigated using the micropipette aspiration technique combined with the Kelvin standard linear viscoelastic solid model. [Biomed Pharmacother] Full Article

IN VIVO

Hippo Signaling Controls NLRP3 Activation and Governs Immunoregulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mouse Liver Injury

In a mouse model of ischemia/reperfusion-induced liver sterile inflammatory injury, the authors found that adoptive transfer of MSCs reduced hepatocellular damage, shifted macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype, and diminished inflammatory mediators. MSC treatment reduced MST1/2 and LATS1 phosphorylation but augmented YAP and β-catenin expression with increased PGE2 production in ischemic livers. [Hepatology] Abstract

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in a Rabbit Model Using a Decellularized Allogenic Semitendinous Tendon Combined with Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The application of bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs), as well as a decellularized free tendon allograft developed by the investigators was proven to be effective in improving anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction results. Scientists investigated the efficacy and feasibility of decellularized allogenic semitendinous tendon combined with autologous BMSCs used as a substitute to free tendon allograft in a rabbit model. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Optimization of Photocrosslinked Gelatin/Hyaluronic Acid Hybrid Scaffold for the Repair of Cartilage Defect

Hybrid scaffolds consisting of methacrylated gelatin and methacrylated hyaluronic acid at different weight ratios were fabricated with human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBMSCs) encapsulated at 20×10⁶ cells/mL and maintained in a chondrogenesis-promoting medium. The chondrogenic differentiation of hBMSCs within different scaffolds was estimated after eight weeks of culture. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

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Direct Conversion of Fibroblasts to Osteoblasts as a Novel Strategy for Bone Regeneration in Elderly Individuals

As osteoblasts play a central role in the process of bone formation, the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into osteoblasts may hence be a new way to treat bone fractures in elderly individuals. The authors review recent developments regarding the therapeutic potential of the direct reprogramming of cells for bone regeneration. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Stem Cell Therapy for Preventing Neonatal Diseases in the 21^st Century: Current Understanding and Challenges

Investigators focus predominantly on the use of mesenchymal stromal cells for neonatal diseases, highlighting the promises and challenges in clinical translation towards preventing neonatal diseases in the 21^st century. [Pediatr Res] Full Article

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

ExCellThera Enters into a Manufacturing and Collaboration Agreement with New York Blood Center

ExCellThera Inc. announced that it has entered into a manufacturing and collaboration agreement with Comprehensive Cell Solutions, a division of New York Blood Center for the clinical grade production of ExCellThera’s lead cell therapy product, ECT-001. [ExCellThera Inc.] Press Release

BioTime Awarded $2.5 Million Grant from the Israel Innovation Authority for Continued Development of OpRegen^®

BioTime, Inc. has been awarded a new research & development grant for 2019 of up to nine million Israeli New Shekels from the Israel Innovation Authority. The grant provides funding for the continued development of OpRegen^®, the company’s retinal pigment epithelium transplant therapy currently in Phase I/IIa development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. [BioTime, Inc.] Press Release

New EU Research Funding Head Stresses ‘Superdisciplinarity’

Nanomedicine pioneer Mauro Ferrari will be the next president of the European Research Council, the funding organization announced. He will come to the job in Brussels with limited European policy experience, after almost 40 years in the United States, where he worked at the University of California; the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda; and the Houston Methodist Research Institute in Texas. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NIH Fears Good-Government Bill Would Hamper Peer Review

The much-admired system to review grant proposals at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, has become the latest flashpoint in a long-running battle between Congress and the executive branch over how the US government manages advisory bodies. NIH’s parent body, the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., opposes legislation moving rapidly through Congress that is aimed at making those committees more transparent. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Artificial Intelligence Is Selecting Grant Reviewers in China

China’s largest funder of basic science is piloting an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that selects researchers to review grant applications, in an attempt to make the process more efficient, faster and fairer. Some researchers say the approach by the National Natural Science Foundation of China is world-leading, but others are sceptical about whether AI can improve the process. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 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 Fellowship – Regenerative Medicine & Developmental Genetics (Medical School of Chonnam National University)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Scaffolding and Drug Delivery in Regenerative Medicine (IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza)

Postdoctoral Associate – Inflammation and Aging in Adipose, Liver, and Muscle (Case Western Reserve University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cancer and Regenerative Medicine (University of Bristol)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (University Health Network)

Associate Professor – Endocrinology and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Interactions (University of Southern Denmark)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Sarcoma Image Processing (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral – Stem Cell & Biochemical Pharmacology (Genetech)

Senior Research Fellow – Stem Cell & Cancer Research (Gillies McIndoe Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Molecular Oncology (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)

Assistant Professor – Sarcoma or Skeletal Related Malignancies (University of California at Davis)

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