Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 3.01 | Jan 11 2011

Microcomputed Tomography-Based Structural Analysis of Various Bone Tissue Regeneration Models
Researchers have developed a unique procedure for analyzing data from microCT scans to evaluate bone structure and repair. This protocol describes the procedures for microCT analysis of three main types of mouse bone regeneration models (ectopic administration of bone-forming mesenchymal stem cells, and administration of cells after both long bone defects and cranial segmental bone defects) that can be easily adapted for a variety of other models. [Nat Protoc]

Biosafety Assessment of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Engineered by Hybrid Baculovirus Vectors
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promise for cell therapy, and implantation of MSCs engineered with a baculovirus transiently expressing the growth factor can augment the bone repair. To prolong the baculovirus-mediated transgene expression, researchers developed hybrid baculovirus vectors exploiting the FLP/Frt-mediated recombination for circular episome formation. [Mol Pharm]

Gene Delivery into Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Biomimetic Approach Using RGD Nanoclusters Based on Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers
Poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (generations 5 and 6) with amine termini were conjugated with peptides containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence having in view their application as gene delivery vectors. The idea behind the work was to take advantage of the cationic nature of dendrimers and of the integrin targeting capabilities of the RGD motif to improve gene delivery. [Biomacromolecules]

Efficient Generation of Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood in Stroma-Free Liquid Culture
Here researchers describe a novel, robust stroma-free dual cell culture system for long-term expansion of primitive umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. [PLoS ONE]

Effects of Donor Age, Gender and In Vitro Cellular Aging on the Phenotype, Functional and Molecular Characteristics of Mouse Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
In the present study, researchers examined the effect of gender, age and in vitro culture on the basic properties (proliferation, differentiation and immunosuppressive potential) of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Researchers found a decline in the progenitor frequencies from the BM of adult mice, lower MSC frequencies in all female donors and an increase in the BM-MSC proliferation rate upon in vitro propagation. [Stem Cells Dev]

Behaviour of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Fibroblasts and Osteoblasts on Smooth Surfaces
This study aimed to compare the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblast cell-line (MC3T3-E1) and gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) on tissue culture polystyrene, glass and titanium. [Acta Biomater]

Self-Assembled Composite Matrix in a Hierarchical 3D Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering
It is of high clinical relevance in bone tissue engineering that scaffolds promote a high seeding efficiency of cells capable of osteogenic differentiation, such as human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Researchers evaluated the effects of a novel polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold on hMSC seeding efficiency, proliferation, distribution, and differentiation. [Acta Biomater]

Induction of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation into Neural-Like Cells Using Cerebrospinal Fluid
The purpose of the study was to optimize a technique that induces bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiation into neural-like cells, using cerebrospinal fluid from the patient. [Cell Biochem Biophys]

Wnt Inhibitors Enhance Chondrogenesis of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Long-Term Pellet Culture
The long-term effects (~3 weeks) of two Wnt inhibitors (dickkopf [DKK]-1 and secreted frizzled-related protein [sFRP]-1), on the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells was determined. [Biotechnol Lett]

Bioheart Reports Positive Results for Adipose Derived Stem Cells in Critical Limb Ischemia
Bioheart, Inc. announced positive efficacy data has been reported from the registry study of bone marrow and adipose derived stem cells for the treatment of end stage critical limb ischemia with wounds. [GlobeNewswire]

Interim Results from Mesoblast’s Phase 2 Heart Failure Trial Shows “Off-the-Shelf” Proprietary Adult Stem Cell Revascor Reduces Cardiac Events, Mortality, and Hospitalization
Cephalon, Inc. and Mesoblast Limited announced positive interim results from Mesoblast’s ongoing multi-center Phase 2 trial of its “off-the-shelf” proprietary adult stem cell product Revascor™ for patients with congestive heart failure. [Mesoblast Limited Press Release]