Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 3.13 | Apr 5 2011

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem and Progenitor Cells Induce Monocyte Emigration in Response to Circulating Toll-like Receptor Ligands
Researchers demonstrated that low concentrations of Toll-like receptor ligands in the bloodstream drive CCR2-dependent emigration of monocytes from bone marrow. [Immunity]

Potent Inhibition of Heterotopic Ossification by Nuclear Retinoic Acid Receptor-γ Agonists
Here researchers show that heterotopic ossification was essentially prevented in mice receiving a nuclear retinoic acid receptor-γ (RAR-γ) agonist. Side effects were minimal, and there was no significant rebound effect. To uncover the mechanisms of these responses, researchers treated mouse mesenchymal stem cells with an RAR-γ agonist and transplanted them into nude mice. [Nat Med]

pH-Controlled Recovery of Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sheets
In this study a novel polyelectrolyte-based platform for the engineering and controllable detachment of human mesenchymal stem cell sheets is presented. [Biomaterials] 

AAV-Mediated Gene Targeting Methods for Human Cells
Here researchers provide a detailed protocol for gene targeting in human cells with AAV vectors. Researchers describe methods for vector design, stock preparation and titration. Optimized transduction protocols are provided for human pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts and transformed cell lines, as well as a method for identifying targeted clones by Southern blots. [Nat Protoc]

Comparative Assessment of the Effects of Gender-Specific Heparan Sulfates on Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The present study demonstrates the potential usefulness of gender-specific liver heparan sulfate for the manipulation of human mesenchymal cell properties, including expansion, multipotentiality and subsequent matrix mineralization. [J Biol Chem]

Artificial Niche Combining Elastomeric Substrate and Platelets Guides Vascular Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells
In this study, researchers hypothesize that an elastomeric scaffold with adsorbed plasma proteins and platelets will induce differentiation of bone marrow mononuclear cells to vascular cells and promote vascular tissue formation by combining soft tissue mechanical properties with platelet-mediated tissue repairing signals. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Release of Bioactive Adeno-Associated Virus from Fibrin Scaffolds: Effects of Fibrin Glue Concentration
This study showing improved release, transduction efficiency and chondrogenic effect on human mesenchymal stem cells of bioactive AAV-TGF-ß1 released from dilute-fibrin glue provides information important to optimization of this clinically available scaffold for therapeutic gene-delivery, both in cartilage regeneration and for other tissue-engineering applications. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Expansion of the Human Adipose-derived Stromal Vascular Cell Fraction Yields a Population of Smooth Muscle-like Cells with Markedly Distinct Phenotypic and Functional Properties Relative to Mesenchymal Stem Cells
In this study, researchers expanded the stromal vascular fraction of human adipose tissue and characterized the resulting adherent primary cell cultures by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, antigen expression, protein fingerprinting, growth kinetics, in vitro tri-lineage differentiation bioactivity and functional responses to small molecules modulating smooth muscle cell related developmental pathways and compared the results to those obtained with functionally validated mesenchymal stem cell cultures. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods]

Mesenchymal-Like Stem Cells Derived from Human Parthenogenetic Embryonic Stem Cells
The aim of this study was to determine whether human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells could be differentiated into multipotent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cells in vitro, and then compare these cells with those derived from human embryonic stem cells. [Stem Cells Dev]

Tumoricidal Bystander Effect in the Suicide Gene Therapy Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells Does Not Injure Normal Brain Tissues
In the present study, effect of the “bystander effect” associated with the MSCtk/GCV strategy on the background normal brain tissues was examined in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. [Cancer Lett]

Gas7 Mediates the Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Osteoblasts by Enhancing Runx2-Dependent Gene Expression
In the present study, researchers found that growth-arrest specific gene 7b (Gas7b) was up-regulated during dexamethasone-induced differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts. [J Orthop Res]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW Bio International Convention
June 27-30, 2011
Washington, United States

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the mesenchymal cell community.

Lab Technologist – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Assistant Professor (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering)

Field Applications Specialist – Cell Therapy (Pall Corporation) 

Implementation Coordinator – Maternity Leave Contract (STEMSOFT Software Inc.)

Assistant Professor/Tissue Engineer (The University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

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