Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 2.05 | Feb 9 2010

TOP STORY

Virus-Free Technique Enables Scientists to Easily Make Stem Cells Pluripotent, Moving Closer to Possible Human Therapies
Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine. [Press release from Stanford University School of Medicine discussing the online prepublication in Nature Methods]

SCIENCE NEWS

Engineer Creates Unique Software that Predicts Stem Cell Fate
An assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is creating software that offers a completely novel approach to analyzing time-lapse images capturing live stem cell behaviors. [Press release from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee discussing the online prepublication in Nature Methods]

3-D Scaffold Provides Clean, Biodegradable Structure for Stem Cell Growth
Material scientists have built a three-dimensional scaffold out of a natural material that mimics the binding sites for stem cells, allowing the cells to reproduce on a clean, biodegradable structure. [Press release from the University of Washington discussing the online prepublication in Biomaterials]

Animal Protein-Free Feeder-Independent Maintenance Medium for hESCs & hiPSCs by STEMCELL Technologies     WATCH THE TeSR™2 VIDEO

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

A Nonviral Minicircle Vector for Deriving Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers use a single minicircle vector to generate transgene-free induced pluripotent stem cells from adult human adipose stem cells. [Nat Methods]

Adipose Tissue is an Extramedullary Reservoir for Functional Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Results provide compelling evidence that adipose tissue is a novel extramedullary tissue possessing phenotypic and functional hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. [Blood]

Human and Mouse Adipose-Derived Cells Support Feeder-Independent Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells
Adult human and mouse adipose-derived stem cells can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells with substantially higher efficiencies than those reported for human and mouse fibroblasts. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

In Vitro High-Capacity Assay to Quantify the Clonal Heterogeneity in Trilineage Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reveals a Complex Hierarchy of Lineage Commitment
This research addresses a basic prerequisite to realize the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by developing a novel high-capacity assay to quantify the clonal heterogeneity in potency that is inherent to MSC preparations. [Stem Cells]

The Performance of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell – Implant Complexes Prepared by Cell Sheet Engineering Techniques
Mesenchymal stem cell-implants possessing osteogenic and vascularization abilities can be produced using cell sheet engineering techniques in conjunction with routine implant materials, which provide a novel technology to modify the implant surface. [Biomaterials] 

A 3-D Cardiac Muscle Construct for Exploring Adult Marrow Stem Cell Based Myocardial Regeneration
In order to overcome the inadequate and inconsistent differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and to explore adult stem cell based myocardial regeneration, researchers have developed an in vitro model of three-dimensional cardiac muscle using rat ventricular embryonic cardiomyocytes and BMSCs. [Biomaterials]

The Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Binding Protein Acid-Labile Subunit Alters Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Fate
To determine the relationship between IGF-1, the binding proteins that stabilize IGF-1 and bone marrow adiposity, researchers evaluated the adipogenic potential of marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells from mice with decreased serum IGF-1 due to knockdown of IGF-1 production by the liver or knock-out of the binding proteins. [J Biol Chem]

Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Matrix and Amniotic Membrane Mesenchymal Cells
Researchers report the efficient nuclear reprogramming using exogenous factors of mesenchymal cells from placental chorionic and amniotic membranes and the umbilical cord. [J Biol Chem]

Chondrogenic Pre-Induction of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Phase-Pure (Beta)-Tricalcium-Phosphate: Enhanced Bone Quality by Endochondral Heterotopic Bone Formation
The aim of this study was to investigate whether resorbable phase-pure (beta)-tricalcium-phosphate can support heterotopic bone formation by mesenchymal stem cells comparable to partially resorbable hydroxyapatite/tricalcium-phosphate. [ Acta Biomater]

Effects Of High Dose Chemotherapy On Bone Marrow Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Isolated From Lymphoma Patients
The results suggest that high-dose chemotherapy applied to lymphoma patients damaged mesenchymal stromal cells, which was demonstrated by their reduced clonogenic potential, doubling time and cell expansion rates when compared to controls. [Exp Hematol]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Bioheart Launches First US FDA Approved Clinical Trial that Tests Gene-Modified Stem Cell Therapy in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
Bioheart, Inc. announced that the company has commenced work on its REGEN trial, a Phase I Clinical Trial to test genetically modified MyoCell^® in patients suffering from Congestive Heart Failure. [Bioheart, Inc. Press Release]

Fate Therapeutics Receives Allowance of First U.S. Patent for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology
Fate Therapeutics, Inc. received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for U.S. Patent Application Number 10/997,146 entitled “Methods for Reprogramming Somatic Cells.” [Fate Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

Roche Allies with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard to Develop Stem Cell-Derived Cell Lines for Drug Discovery
Roche is teaming up with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University to develop new stem cell-based cell lines as disease models for early drug candidate testing. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News]

Living Cell Technologies Receives 10% of US Based Wound Healing Company in Supply and License Agreement
Living Cell Technologies Limited announced that it has received 10% ownership of CytoSolv Inc. in exchange for restricted supply of choroid plexus cell clusters from its designated pathogen free pig herd and granting CytoSolv a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use its broad choroid plexus patents solely for the purpose of wound healing. [Living Cell Technologies Limited Press Release]

Angel Announces Contract with Progenteq
Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc recently announced the signing of a contract with Progenteq Limited. Progenteq is developing a novel cell therapy for the treatment of acute knee injuries. [Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc Press Release]

‘Clique’ of Scientists Skewing Stem Cell Research by Influencing High-Profile Journals
A small clique of scientists are skewing stem cell research by unduly influencing which breakthroughs get published in high-profile journals, experts have warned. [Telegraph]

Private, Public Research Under One Roof at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
When it opens in December, the $205 million Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will be a showcase of high-tech design and model of collaboration. [Journal Sentinel]

University of Colorado Applies for Federal Grants to Help Finish Biotechnology Hub
The University of Colorado has applied for multi-million dollar federal grants to help finish the construction of its biotechnology building since the cash-strapped state is rejecting the school’s funding requests. [Daily Camera]

POLICY NEWS

Senate Rejects Stem Cell Legislation
By a vote of 21 to 12, the South Dakota Senate shot down a bill that could have repealed South Dakota’s ban on embryonic stem cell treatments. [South Dakota Senate, United States]

Impersonation of MHRA Staff [Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

Waivers for Conflicts of Interest for the February 22, 2010 Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Recovery Act Limited Competition: Program to Enhance National Institutes of Health-Supported Global Health Research Involving Human Subjects (S07) (RFA-OD-10-006) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54) (RFA-RM-10-001) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

IACUC 101 Workshop and PRIM&R 2010 IACUC Conference: March 21-23, 2010 in Baltimore, MD (NOT-OD-10-059) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Delays in Grant Application Submission Due to Blizzard (NOT-OD-10-060) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Intent to Establish a New National Institutes of Health Common Fund Program: Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) (NOT-RM-10-002) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Investigator Initiated Multi-Site Clinical Trials (Collaborative R01) (PAR-10-096) [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States]

EVENTS

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

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

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

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

16th International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

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

2010 American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB) 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)

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