Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 2.11 | Mar 23 2010

TOP STORY

Newly-Identified Growth Factor Promotes Stem Cell Growth, Regeneration
Scientists have identified a new growth factor that stimulates the expansion and regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells in culture and in laboratory animals. [Press release from the Duke University Medical Center discussing the online prepublication in Nature Medicine]

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SCIENCE NEWS

Mechanism Guides Cells to Form Heart Tissue
Researchers have identified a key cellular mechanism that guides embryonic heart tissue formation. [Press release from the Keck School of Medicine discussing the online prepublication in Developmental Cell]

Stem Cells are Latest Weapon Against Asthma
Mice that developed Asthma by being exposed to pollen were protected against attacks after the cells obtained from bone marrow were injected into them. [Press release from the Telegraph discussing the online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]

Stem Cells Build New Blood Vessels to Treat Peripheral Arterial Disease
Bone marrow stem cells suspended in X-ray-visible microbubbles dramatically improve the body’s ability to build new blood vessels in the upper leg – providing a potential future treatment for those with peripheral arterial disease. [PR Newswire Press Release]

“Good” Cells can Go “Bad” in a “Bad Neighborhood”
A new study by Harvard researchers indicates that “good” cells can become cancerous because of exposure to a “bad” environment within the body. [Press release from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute discussing the online prepublication in Nature]

Stem Cells Used to Treat Gum Disease Patients
A Japanese research team announced recently that it has been successful in regenerating gum and parodontal tissue by using gum disease patients’ own stem cells that can develop into any type of body tissue. [Japan Today Press Release]

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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Bone Progenitor Dysfunction Induces Myelodysplasia and Secondary Leukaemia
By examining how mesenchymal osteolineage cells modulate hematopoiesis, researchers show that deletion of Dicer1 specifically in mouse osteoprogenitors, but not in mature osteoblasts, disrupts the integrity of hematopoiesis. [Nature]

Pleiotrophin Regulates the Expansion and Regeneration of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Researchers show that pleiotrophin, a neurite outgrowth factor with no known function in hematopoiesis, efficiently promotes hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) expansion in vitro and HSC regeneration in vivo. [Nat Med]

Retinoic Acid Regulates Differentiation of the Secondary Heart Field and TGF(Beta)-Mediated Outflow Tract Septation
Reduction of TGF(beta)2 gene dosage in the retinoic acid receptor-deficient background restores septation but does not rescue alignment defects, indicating that excess TGF(beta) causes septation defects. [Dev Cell]

A Proto-Oncogene Bcl-6 is Upregulated in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in Multiple Myeloma Cells
Bcl-6 expression in multiple myeloma (MM) cells is modulated, at least in part, via JAK/STAT3 and canonical NF-(kappa)B pathways; and that targeting Bcl-6, either directly or via these cascades, inhibits MM cell growth in the bone marrow milieu. [Blood]

Genetic Variations in the Heparanase Gene Associate with Increased Risk of Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Effect of Discrepancy Between Recipients and Donors
The present study indicates a highly significant correlation of HPSE gene SNPs rs4693608 and rs4364254 and their combination with the risk of developing acute graft-versus-host disease. [Blood]

Bone Marrow Stromal Cells use TGF(beta) to Suppress Allergic Responses in a Mouse Model of Ragweed-Induced Asthma
In this study, using a ragweed induced mouse asthma model, researchers studied if bone marrow stromal cells could be beneficial in an allergic, Th2-dominant environment. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Large-Scale Extraction and Characterization of CD271⁺ Multipotential Stromal Cells from Trabecular Bone in Health and Osteoarthritis: Implications for Bone Regeneration Strategies Based on Minimally-Cultured Multipotential Stromal Cells
CD45^lowCD271⁺ multipotential stromal cells (MSCs) are abundant in the trabecular bone cavity and indistinguishable from aspirated CD45^lowCD271⁺ MSCs. [Arthritis Rheum]

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Overexpression in Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocytes Increases Their Beating Frequency
Researchers demonstrate that the amplification of mineralocorticoid receptor signaling in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes has a major impact on cardiomyocyte contractile properties through an important remodeling of ion channel expression contributing to arrhythmias. [Cardiovasc Res]

Derivation of Functional Smooth Muscle Cells from Multipotent Human Hair Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Researchers investigated the potential of human hair follicle cells for multi-lineage differentiation and as a source of functional smooth muscle cells. [Tissue Eng Part A]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Stemedica Files Investigative New Drug Application with Food and Drug Administration for Treatment of Stroke with Adult Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The trial will assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Stemedica’s high potency proprietary allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow-derived stem cells as a treatment for ischemic stroke. [Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. Press Release]

Trillium Expands Immunology Pipeline and Enters Stem Cell Field Through In-Licensing of Two New Programs
Trillium Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has entered into two definitive license agreements with University Health Network and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, granting Trillium exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize two immunology programs in the areas of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cancer. [Trillium Therapeutics Inc. Press Release]

Robertson Foundation Donates $10.2 Million for Duke Cell Therapy Center
A $10.2 million commitment from the Robertson Foundation to create a state-of-the-art Translational Cell Therapy Center will advance Duke Medicine’s pioneering cell therapy research and treatment programs for children and adults with cancer, cerebral palsy, stroke and brain injuries suffered at birth. [Duke University Press Release]

Regional Stem Cell Center Launched by University of Colorado School of Medicine 
A new center at the University of Colorado School of Medicine promises to expand one of the frontiers of medicine – stem cell research and treatment. [University of Colorado Denver Press Release]

Organovo Names Marie Csete Executive Vice President of Research and Development
Organovo, Inc. announced the appointment of Marie Csete, M.D., Ph.D., as Executive Vice President of Research and Development. [Organovo, Inc. Press Release]

POLICY NEWS

Japan Maps Out Big Science Plans
For the first time ever, Japanese scientists have produced a roadmap of where they see major research programs heading in the mid-term – about 10 years out – and a list of large-scale facilities they will need to get there. [Science Council of Japan, Japan]

Blood Products Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Instructions for Completion and Peer Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section in NIH Grant Applications and Cooperative Agreements (NOT-OD-10-027)[National Institutes of Health, United States]

Recovery Act: Update on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Quarterly Reporting Requirements for Non-Competing Continuation Awards and Relinquished Projects; and Guidance to Avoid Common Errors (NOT-OD-10-065) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Recovery Act: Reminders on Annual Reporting Requirements and Notice of Revised Financial Closeout Requirements for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded Administrative Supplements and Competitive Revisions (NOT-OD-10-066) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Recovery Act: Notice on the Proper Management of Recovery Act Spending to Promote Job Creation and Increase the Pace of Scientific Research; and Policy Limiting Second No-Cost Extensions to Recovery Act Grants (NOT-OD-10-067) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Request for Comments on Proposed NIH, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Center of Disease Control Process Change for Electronic Submission of Grant Applications (NOT-OD-10-068) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Amended NIH Policy on Submission of Late Grant Application Materials Prior to Initial Peer Review (NOT-OD-10-070) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Modification: This Notice modifies RFA-RM-10-001 (NOT-RM-10-005) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Modification to RFA-RM-09-019: Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54) (NOT-RM-10-006) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Tissue Reference Group: TRG Annual Report FY 2009 Update [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

April 12, 2010: Blood Products Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

EVENTS

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

World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
May 11-13, 2010
London, United Kingdom

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

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – European Union 2010
June 13-17, 2010
Galway, Ireland

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 (WCRM) 2010
October 5-7, 2010
Hannover, Germany

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

52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 4-7, 2010
Orlando, United States

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North American 2010 Conference
December 5-8, 2010
Orlando, United States

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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