Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 3.04 | Feb 1 2011

Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in the Treatment of Fistulising Crohn’s Disease
Stem cell therapy is a novel and promising approach for treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. Researchers therefore investigated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of serial intrafistular injections of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the treatment of fistulising Crohn’s disease. [Gut]

Mesenchymal Lineage Stem Cells Have Pronounced Anti-Inflammatory Effects in the Twitcher Mouse Model of Krabbe’s Disease
This study evaluates the effect of intracerebroventricular administration of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow on the pathology of Krabbe’s Disease. [Stem Cells]

Spatially Directed Guidance of Stem Cell Population Migration by Immobilized Patterns of Growth Factors
Researchers investigated how engineered gradients of exogenous growth factors, immobilized to an extracellular matrix material, influence collective guidance of stem cell populations over extended time (>1 day) and length (>1 mm) scales in vitro. [Biomaterials]

Transcription Factor Rational Design Improves Directed Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Into Skeletal Myocytes
Here, researchers investigated the principle of combining domains from different lineage-specific transcription factors to improve directed cellular differentiation. [Mol Ther]

Functionalized Scaffold-Mediated Interleukin 10 Gene Delivery Significantly Improves Survival Rates of Stem Cells In Vivo
While stem cell transplantation could potentially treat a variety of disorders, clinical studies have not yet demonstrated conclusive benefits. This may be partly because transplanted stem cells have low survival rates, potentially due to host inflammation. The system described herein used two different gene therapy techniques to improve retention of rat mesenchymal stem cells. [Mol Ther]

Co-Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Maintains Islet organisation and Morphology in Mice
Researchers co-transplanted mesenchymal stem cells with islets to determine their effects on the remodelling process and studied graft function in a mouse model of minimal islet mass. [Diabetologia]

Characterization and In Vivo Testing of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived From Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Researchers have derived mesenchymal stem cells from the human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line H9 (H9-MSC). They expressed CD105, CD90, CD73 and CD146, and lacked expression of CD45, CD34, CD14, CD31, and HLA-DR, the hESC pluripotency markers SSEA-4 and Tra-1-81, and the hESC early differentiation marker SSEA-1. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Proteomic Analysis of Mesenchymal Stem-Like Cells Derived from Ovarian Teratoma: Potential Role of Glutathione S-Transferase M2 in Ovarian Teratoma
To understand the molecular mechanisms of ovarian teratoma growth, a comparative proteomic analysis was undertaken using mesenchymal stem cell-like cells isolated from normal human ovarian or teratoma tissues. [Proteomics]

HIF-1alpha is Essential for Hypoxia-Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mobilization into the Peripheral Blood
Researchers found that mesenchymal stem cells could be mobilized into peripheral blood of rats exposed to short-term hypoxia (2 days) and the mobilization efficiency increased in a time-dependent manner (2-14 days). Hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) was upregulated during hypoxic exposure, and was expressed continuously in bone marrow. [Stem Cells Dev]

Mesoblast Reports Strong Cash Position After Angioblast Acquisition
Global regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited, reported its quarterly cash position for the period ended 31 December 2010, with cash reserves of $140.6 million. [Mesoblast Limited Press Release]

Arteriocyte Receives FDA Approval to Move Forward with Critical Limb Ischemia Trial
Arteriocyte®, a leading clinical stage biotechnology company with offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Hopkinton, Massachusetts that develops proprietary stem cell and tissue engineering based therapies announced approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase I clinical trial using its Magellan MAR01(TM) technology in the treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI). [Ateriocyte Press Release]