Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 11.28 | Jul 23 2019

TOP STORY

Molecular Dissection of the Oncogenic Role of ETS1 in the Mesenchymal Subtypes of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Researchers utilized an integrated approach to characterize the molecular function of ETS1, an oncogenic transcription factor specifically enriched in mesenchymal tumors. To identify the global ETS1 cistrome, they performed integrated analysis of RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq and epigenomic datasets in SCC25, a representative ETS1^high mesenchymal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line. [PLoS Genet] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

MicroRNA-92b-5p Modulates Melatonin-Mediated Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Targeting ICAM-1

The authors’ data showed that melatonin exhibited the capacity of regulating osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow (B)MSCs, which was blocked by its membrane receptor inhibitor luzindole. Further study demonstrated that the expression of miR-92b-5p was up-regulated in BMSCs after administration of melatonin, and transfection of miR-92b-5p accelerated osteogenesis of BMSCs. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Adenosine Triphosphate Enhances Osteoblast Differentiation of Rat Dental Pulp Stem Cells via the PLC-IP3 Pathway and Intracellular Ca²⁺ Signaling

Utilizing rat dental pulp stem cells, investigators examined the effect of ATP on osteoblast differentiation and characterized its mechanism of action using real-time Ca²⁺imaging analysis. Results revealed that ATP enhanced osteogenesis as indicated by Ca²⁺ deposition in the extracellular matrix via Alizarin Red S staining. This was consistent with upregulation of osteoblast genes BMP2, Mmp13, Col3a1, Ctsk, Flt1, and Bgn. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Enhanced Cardiac Repair by Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Over-Expression in Human Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

The authors characterized platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRα)/CD90-expressing cardiac MSCs and used human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) over-expression to increase cardiac MSCs’ ability to repair the heart after induced myocardial infarction. hTERT over-expression in PDGFRα⁺ cardiac MSCs modulated cell differentiation, proliferation, survival and angiogenesis related genes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Bovine Pericardium Membrane as New Tool for Mesenchymal Stem Cells Commitment

The interaction between a bovine pericardium membrane and human adult stem cells was investigated by microscopy analysis and gene expression analysis. Parallel cell cultures were prepared on the pericardium membrane or tissue culture plate. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Targeting HMGB1 by Ethyl Pyruvate Ameliorates Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Reverses the Senescent Phenotype of Bone Marrow-Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Senescence associated-β-galactosidase staining, F-actin staining and flow cytometry were used to detect the senescence of cells. After stimulation of HMGB1 in normal MSCs, the ratio of SA-β-gal positive in bone-marrow-derived-MSCs was increased, the organization of cytoskeleton was disordered, and TLR4-NF-κB signaling was activated. [Aging (Albany NY)] Full Article

Differences in the Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) between Non-Differentiating and Adipogenically Differentiating Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells from Human Adipose Tissue

Adipose tissue-derived MSCs were cultivated under nondifferentiating and adipogenically differentiating conditions for up to 21 days. At different time points headspace samples were preconcentrated by needle trap micro extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. [Cells] Full Article

IN VIVO

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Corneal Fibrosis and Inflammation via Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Delivery of miRNA

Mesenchymal stem cells from corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs) produced extracellular vesicles (EVs) 130-150 nm in diameter with surface proteins that included CD63, CD81, and CD9. EVs from CSSCs reduced visual scarring in murine corneal wounds as effectively as did live cells, but EVs from human embryonic kidney 293T cells had no regenerative properties. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Overexpressing FGF21 Facilitates Cognitive Recovery and Enhances Neurogenesis in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury

MSCs were genetically engineered to overexpress fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in order to improve their efficacy in traumatic brain injury (TBI). MSCs overexpressing FGF21 were transplanted into mouse brains by intracerebroventricular injection 24 hours after TBI was induced by controlled cortical impact. [J Neurotrauma] Abstract

Enhancement of MicroRNA-200c on Osteogenic Differentiation and Bone Regeneration by Targeting SOX2-Mediated Wnt Signaling and KLF4

Inhibition of endogenous miR-200c resulted in downregulated osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow (hB) MSCs and reduced bone volume in the maxilla and mandible of a transgenic mouse model. Overexpression of miR-200c by transfection of naked plasmid DNA encoding miR-200c significantly promoted the biomarkers of osteogenic differentiation in hBMSCs, including ALP, RUNX-2, OCN, and mineral deposition. [Hum Gene Ther] Abstract

Enhanced Bone Tissue Regeneration of a Biomimetic Cellular Scaffold with Co-Cultured MSCs-Derived Osteogenic and Angiogenic Cells

MSCs were dually induced to differentiate into osteogenic cells and endothelial cells; both cell types were co-cultured at different ratios to investigate their effects and underlying mechanisms through ELISA, RT-qPCR and MTT assays. The selected cell mixture was transplanted onto a nano-hydroxyapatite/polyurethane scaffold to form a cell-scaffold construct that was implanted in rat femoral condyles. [Cell Prolif] Full Article

Intra-Articularly Injected Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Cartilage Regeneration, but Do Not Permanently Engraft in Distant Organs

Bone marrow-derived MSCs isolated from donor rats were injected into the synovial cavity of recipients, and cell tracking was performed in distant organs and knees over six months post-injection. A few donor MSCs were observed in the lung of one of the recipients, one day post-injection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Secretome for Lung Regeneration: The Long Way through “Pharmaceuticalization” for the Best Formulation

Scientists summarize the recent findings related to the efficacy and safety of MSC-derived products in pre-clinical models of lung diseases, pointing out the biologically active substances contained into MSC-secretome and their mechanisms involved in tissue regeneration. [J Control Release] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Concise Review: Application of Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration

Several studies have determined that tonsil-derived MSCs (TMSCs) have differentiation potentials not only into the mesoderm lineage but also into the endodermal as well as ectodermal lineages, expanding their potential usage and placing them as an appealing option to consider for future studies in regenerative medicine. The authors address the differentiation capacities of TMSCs and their therapeutic competencies from past studies. [Stem Cells] Abstract

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

Salarius Pharmaceuticals Enrolls First Patient in a Phase I Clinical Study of Its Novel Inhibitor Targeting Epigenetics in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it has enrolled the first patient in a Phase I clinical study of the company’s lead compound, Seclidemstat, in patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to standard-of-care therapies. Seclidemstat is a differentiated reversible inhibitor of the widely studied epigenetic enzyme lysine-specific demethylase 1. [Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Grants Fellowship Awards to 15 Young Scientists

The recipients of this prestigious, four-year award are outstanding post-doctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators across the country. Damon Runyon encourages the nation’s most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($231,000 total) to work on creative high-risk projects. [Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation] Press Release

What Boris Johnson’s Leadership Could Mean for Science

Boris Johnson has been selected as the United Kingdom’s new prime minister — and is poised to lead the country out of the European Union. At the forefront of many scientists’ minds are questions about how Johnson’s leadership, including his support for a ‘no deal’ Brexit, will affect research. They fear that British science has much to lose from a messy departure from the EU. [Nature News] Editorial

Fight for Coveted CRISPR Patents Gets Knottier, as MilliporeSigma Makes New Claims

After nearly seven years of failing to win fundamental patents on the genome-editing technology CRISPR, a unit of one of the world’s largest life sciences companies has thrown a Hail Mary: Late last Friday, MilliporeSigma petitioned the US Patent and Trademark office to open an interference proceeding between CRISPR-Cas9 patents that it applied for way back in 2012 and patents that the University of California has applied for or been awarded. [STAT News] Editorial

Budget Deal Raises Hopes for US Research Agencies

A new budget deal between the White House and congressional leaders means US research agencies could receive increases on the order of the 4% to 5% that Democrats have already proposed for next year. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

University of Adelaide Investigates Ancient DNA Lab

The University of Adelaide has launched an investigation in to the work environment of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA. The lab is run by an evolutionary molecular biologist Alan Cooper; it’s the second time a university has investigated allegations of misconduct in a lab he has led. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Wnt Signaling Networks in Development, Disease and Regeneration
August 11-16, 2019
West Dover, Vermont, United States

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NEW Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Research Fellow – Regenerative Medicine (ROHTO Advanced Research)

Assitant Director – Cell & Gene Therapy Laboratory (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Associate Professor – Stem Cell Science (University College London)

Tenure-Track Position – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mesenchymal Tumor Invasion Research (Luxembourg Institute of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology & Respiratory Disease Research with MSCs (Boehringer Ingelheim)

Development Scientist – Cell Therapy (GE)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Cardiometabolic Diseases (Columbia University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – MSCs in Skeletal Development (University of Pennsylvania)

Assistant Professor – Musculoseketal Biology (Keck School of Medicine of USC)

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