Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 12.19 | May 19 2020

TOP STORY

Cas9-AAV6-Engineered Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Improved Cutaneous Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice

Investigators describe an optimized Cas9-AAV6-based genome editing tool platform for site-specific mutagenesis and integration of up to more than three kilobases of exogenous DNA in the genome of human MSCs derived from the bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood without altering their ex vivo characteristics. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome Exhibits a Neuroprotective Effect over In Vitro Retinal Photoreceptor Degeneration

Researchers evaluated the neuroprotective in vitro potential of a secretome of human bone marrow MSCs for retinal photoreceptors in vitro. They analyzed the photoreceptor morphologic changes and the paracrine factors secreted by human bone marrow MSCs in a physically-separated co-culture with degenerated neuroretinas, using organotypic neuroretinal cultures. [Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Extracellular Matrix Mechanics Regulate Transfection and SOX9-Directed Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors investigated whether the mechanical properties of the hydrogel containing the gene delivery systems could enhance transfection and chondrogenic programming of primary human bone marrow-derived MSCs. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

A Circular RNA Derived from DAB1 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of BMSCs via RBPJ/DAB1 Axis

Scientists found that circ-DAB1 was significantly up-regulated during osteogenic differentiation in human BMSCs. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Hydrogel to Guide Chondrogenesis versus Osteogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Fabrication of Cartilaginous Tissues

The heparin had greater potential to induce chondrogenesis by bone marrow derived MSCs in vivo compared to the methacrylated gelatin hydrogel as evidenced by elevated gene expression of chondrogenic markers, supporting its potential for stable cartilage engineering. [Biomed Mater] Full Article

IN VIVO

Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Transfer of miR-21-5p from Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Neurons Alleviates Early Brain Injury to Improve Cognitive Function via the PTEN/Akt Pathway after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Investigators observed that MSC-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorated early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) by reducing the apoptosis of neurons and that SAH induced an increase in the expression level of miR-21 in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Exosomal miRNA-320a Is Released from Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Regulates SIRT4 to Prevent Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

Human amniotic MSC-derived exosomes improved proliferation, inhibited apoptosis and decreased the expression of SIRT4 and relative genes in premature ovarian insufficiency human granulosa cells and ovaries. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Induced Recovery in Spinal Cord Injured Rats

The conditioned medium from bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) was able to promote the neural stem cell differentiation into neurons in vitro and the neurite outgrowth in the scar boundary of spinal cord injury rats by inhibiting the BMP/Smad signaling pathway as well as reduces the secondary damage through the modulation of the inflammatory process. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Epigenetic Modifier Trichostatin a Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Inhibiting NF-κB (p65) DNA Binding and Promoted Periodontal Repair in Rats

Trichostatin A (TSA) promoted osteogenic differentiation by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB DNA binding in MSCs. In rats with experimental periodontitis, seven weeks after local injections of chitosan-scaffold-encapsulated TSA, histology and microcomputed tomography showed a significant increase in alveolar bone volume and less inflammatory infiltration compared with vehicle-treated rats. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Intraovarian Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Oocyte Yield and In Vitro Embryo Production in a Bovine Model of Fertility Loss

Researchers investigated whether a local injection of MSCs would reduce the negative effects of repeated ovum pick-up under acute and chronic scenarios in bovines. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Genetically Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Targeted Delivery of Immunomodulatory Agents for Tumor Eradication

Scientists highlight the recent findings on the cytokine gene therapy for human malignancies by focusing on MSCs application in cancer immunotherapy. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

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

NantKwest Announces FDA Authorization of IND Application for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Product for the Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Patients

NantKwest, Inc. announced it has received authorization from the FDA for an Investigational New Drug application to treat patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19 with BM-Allo.MSC, an allogeneic MSC product derived from human bone marrow. [NantKwest, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Approves COVID-19 Trial after Successful Emergency Use of Umbilical Stem Cells from RESTEM

RESTEM announced it has received approval from the FDA for a 60-patient Phase I/IIa study using umbilical cord MSCs to treat patients with severe cases of COVID-19. [RESTEM (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Open-Access Science Funders Announce Price Transparency Rules for Publishers

Science journals will have to disclose the costs of publishing articles in order for them to be paid for by a coalition of research funders pushing for open access. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Some Scientists Bring the Bench Home

While some scientists have turned to writing manuscripts and grants and making inventories of their freezers to keep busy while away from the bench, others have brought experiments home, turning bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens into makeshift labs-sometimes seeing an opportunity to explore new questions, other times trying out of desperation to prevent projects from moving backwards. [The Scientist] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Bone Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Biology (Tulane University School of Medicine)

Research Group Leaders – Structural Biology Research Centre (Fondazione Human Technopole)

Principal Investigators and Postdoctoral Fellows – Cell Biology (Fudan University)

Senior Research Scientist – Regenerative Medicine (NYU Grossman School of Medicine)

Principal Investigator/Professor Positions – Stem Cell Research (Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health)

PhD Student – Bioprinting of Tissues (Uppsala University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Systems Biology and Metabolism (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Biomaterials and Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Medical University)

Assistant Professor – Sarcoma (McGill University)

Faculty Position – Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cartilage Regeneration (Drexel University)

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