Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 2.01 | Jan 12 2010

TOP STORY

MyoD Helps Stem Cells Proliferate in Response to Muscle Injury
The master regulator of muscle differentiation, MyoD, functions early in myogenesis to help stem cells proliferate in response to muscle injury, according to researchers. [Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland]

SPECIAL FEATURE

VIDEO: Organ Factory
It may be possible in the very near future to clone your own organs. Sound impossible? Find out how it all works!

SCIENCE NEWS

Biologists Develop Efficient Genetic Modification of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Biologists have developed an efficient way to genetically modify human embryonic stem cells. Their approach, which uses bacterial artificial chromosomes to swap in defective copies of genes, will make possible the rapid development of stem cell lines that can both serve as models for human genetic diseases and as testbeds on which to screen potential treatments. [University of California, San Diego]

Study Shows that Delivering Stem Cells Improves Repair of Major Bone Injuries in Rats
By delivering stem cells on a polymer scaffold to treat large areas of missing bone, bone formation and mechanical properties were improved compared to treatment with the scaffold alone. [Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta]

Growing Blood Vessels: Bioengineered Materials Promote the Growth of Functional Vasculature
Using synthetic polymers called hydrogels, researchers have been able to induce significant vasculature growth in areas of damaged tissue. [Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta]

Researcher Links Diabetic Complication, Nerve Damage in Bone Marrow
A research team led by a Michigan State University professor has discovered a link between diabetes and bone marrow nerve damage that may help treat one of the disease’s most common and potentially blindness-causing complications. [Michigan State University, East Lansing]

China Surpasses Canada in Stem Cell Advances
Scientists in China, many of them trained at North American and European universities, published 1,116 articles on stem cells in international peer-reviewed journals in 2008, up from just 37 papers in 2000, says a team at the University of Toronto documenting China’s aggressive bid to become a major player in regenerative medicine.

		MethoCult® The most published medium for hematopoietic CFC assays by STEMCELL Technologies
		TEST YOUR COLONY IDENTIFICATION SKILLS

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Wnt11 Enhances Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mediated Angiogenesis via Paracrine Signaling
The mechanism of cardioprotection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transfected with Wnt11 remains unknown. Here, researchers hypothesize that Wnt11 may enhance MSC mediated angiogenesis via the paracrine effects. [Circulation]

Preadipocyte Factor-1 Is Associated with Marrow Adiposity and Bone Mineral Density in Women with Anorexia Nervosa
Despite having low visceral and subcutaneous fat depots, women with anorexia nervosa (AN) have elevated marrow fat mass, which is inversely associated with bone mineral density. Adipocytes and osteoblasts differentiate from a common progenitor cell, the human mesenchymal stem cell. Therefore, understanding factors that regulate this differentiation process may provide insight into bone loss in AN. [J Clin Endocrinol Metab]

Hepatocyte Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Adipose Tissue In Vitro Promotes Hepatic Integration In Vivo
The hepatic integration of human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells in vivo with or without prior differentiation to hepatocyte-like cells in vitro was investigated. [Gut]

TNF-(Alpha) Modulates the Migratory Response of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to TRAIL
Researchers found that in vitro exposure to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-(alpha) enhanced the migration of mesenchymal stem cells in response to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and significantly increased the release of osteoprotegerin (OCG) by endothelial cells. On the contrary, OPG dose-dependently neutralized the in vitro pro-migratory activity of TRAIL. [J Mol Cell Cardiol]

Proteomic Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Like Populations Derived from Ovine Periodontal Ligament, Dental Pulp and Bone Marrow: Analysis of Differentially Expressed Proteins
This is the first study to compare the differential proteomic expression profiles of ex vivo -expanded ovine periodontal ligament stem cells, dental pulp stem cells and bone marrow stromal cells derived from an individual donor. [Stem Cells Dev]

HPMA-RGD Hydrogels Seeded with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Functional Outcome in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Researchers studied whether it was possible to bridge a chronic spinal cord lesion by implantation of a newly developed hydrogel based on 2-hydroxypropylmethacrylamide, either alone or seeded with mesenchymal stem cells, and whether this treatment leads to functional improvement. [Stem Cells Dev]

Delayed Enrichment of Mesenchymal Cells Promotes Cardiac Lineage and Calcium Transient Development
This study set to determine whether cardiac lineage development in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are related to cell passage, culture milieu, and enrichment for specific cell subtypes before and during differentiation. [J Mol Cell Cardiol]

Mesenchymal Stem Cells. A Potential Source for Skeletal Repair
Recently, techniques have become available to isolate and grow mesenchymal progenitors and to manipulate their growth under defined in vitro culture conditions. Here, the role of mesenchymal stem cells for repair of bone and cartilage is discussed. [Ann Rheum Dis]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Athersys Enters Into Global Agreement with Pfizer to Develop and Market MultiStem^® for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Athersys, Inc. announced recently that it has entered into an agreement with Pfizer Inc. to develop and commercialize MultiStem^®, an investigational stem cell therapy, for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. [Athersys, Inc., Cleveland]

Cell Medica announces R&D Framework Agreement with the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine
Cell Medica announced the signing of an R&D agreement with the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, a joint program of Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.

Buck Institute Commits to $41 Million Stem Cell Research Building in Novato
The Buck Institute for Age Research will build a $41 million building in which to conduct stem cell research at its Novato headquarters, even if it fails to get a cent of the $15 million in federal stimulus funds for which it has applied.

Buck Institute Awarded $1.5 Million for Stem Cell Training Program
The Buck Institute for Age Research has been awarded $1,571,229 from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine for a research training program in stems cells and aging.

Beike Biotechnology, Jiangsu University and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Receive $1.8 Million for Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell R&D and Clinical Trials
The Jiangsu Government’s Science and Technology Department has announced a $1.8 million grant – the Jiangsu Technological Achievements Transformational Grant – to support the research and development of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell technologies.

POLICY NEWS

Frozen Embryos ‘Have No Right to Life’
In a landmark decision, Mr. Justice Brian McGovern found the term “unborn” refers only to a fetus or a fertilized egg implanted in the womb. The judge insisted it was not the role of the courts to decide when life begins. [High Court, Ireland]

£70 Million Boost for United Kingdom Manufacturing
Under a new £70M Government investment, three new Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council centers will focus research efforts in the fields of photonics, regenerative medicine and liquid metals. [Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, England]

Japan’s Science Budget Not as Bad as Feared
Japan’s researchers let loose a sigh of relief on December 25 when the new administration’s first budget revealed only minor changes in science and technology priorities. [Liberal Democratic Party, Japan]

French Research Wins Huge Cash Boost
Universities in France are set to receive an 11 billion Euro windfall from a government initiative intended to create an ‘Ivy League’ of research centers. [Union for a Popular Movement, France]

Post-Election Budget Squeeze May Bring About Cuts in Health Research
Entire fields of health research are likely to be shut down if the next government cuts spending on medical science to reduce Britain’s £178 billion budget deficit. [Labour Party, United Kingdom]

UK National Stem Cell Network Small Awards Scheme 2009/2010 [UK National Stem Cell Network, United Kingdom]

EuroSyStem Innovative Project Awards: Open Funding Call [Eurosystem, United Kingdom]

Advisory Committees; Tentative Schedule of Meetings for 2010 [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

IACUC 101 and 201 PLUS Workshops: February 24-25, 2010 in Lafayette, Louisiana (NOT-OD-10-044) [National Institute of Health, United States]

NIH Broadens Eligibility for NIH Diversity and Re-Entry Supplements (NOT-OD-10-045) [National Institute of Health, United States]

Salary Limitation on FY2010 AHRQ Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts (NOT-HS-10-012) [National Institute of Health, United States]

Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10) (PAR-10-082) [National Institute of Health, United States]

Events

Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine World Congress
January 20-21, 2010
San Francisco, United States

CHI’s Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2010
February 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

2010 Bone Marrow Transplant Tandem Meetings
February 24-28, 2010
Orlando, United States

36^th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

9th Transgenic Technology Meeting
March 22-24, 2010
Berlin, Germany

4th UK Mesenchymal Stem Cell Meeting
April 14, 2010
Leeds, United Kingdom

16th Annual ISCT meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting
June 4-8, 2010
Chicago, United States

5^th World Congress on Preventative and Regenerative Medicine
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, Germany

2010 American Society for Matrix Biology Meeting
October 24-27, 2010
Charleston, United States

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Business Development Europe – Cell Therapy Products (PALL Corporation)

Research & Development Scientist – Pancreatic Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Endothelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research & Development Scientist – Epithelial Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies)

Data Entry Assistant – Marketing (STEMCELL Technologies)

Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities with Cell Therapy News.

Visit here to post your career opportunities.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Mesenchymal Cell News? Click here to submit!