Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 5 Is a Coreceptor for Multiple Fibrogenic Signaling Pathways in Pericytes and Myofibroblasts that Are Inhibited by Dickkopf-Related Protein 1 Mesenchymal cells including microvascular mural cells (pericytes) are major progenitors of scar-forming myofibroblasts in kidney and other organs. Scientists showed pericytes in healthy kidneys have active WNT/β-catenin signaling responses that are markedly up-regulated following kidney injury. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract The Homing of Bone Marrow MSCs to Non-Osseous Sites for Ectopic Bone Formation Induced by Osteoinductive Calcium Phosphate Researchers used a sex-mismatched beagle dog model to investigate bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) homing via blood circulation to participate in ectopic bone formation via osteoinductive biomaterial. [Biomaterials] Abstract Pharmacologically Active Microcarriers Influence VEGF-A Effects on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Survival Vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-A (VEGF-A) or fibronectin-coated pharmacologically-active-microcarriers (FN-PAM-VEGF) could differently enhance cell proliferation, and/or resistance to hypoxia/reoxygenation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). To test this hypothesis, MSCs were incubated for six-days with VEGF-A alone or with FN-PAM-VEGF. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract Effect of Labeling with Iron Oxide Particles or Nanodiamonds on the Functionality of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells The authors examined the effects of cell labeling on the in vitro functionality of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article Intranasal Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment for Neonatal Brain Damage: Long-Term Cognitive and Sensorimotor Improvement Scientists analyzed long-term effects of intranasal mesenchymal stem cell treatment on lesion size, sensorimotor and cognitive behavior, and determined the therapeutic window and dose response relationships. [PLoS One] Full Article Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB Accelerates Prostate Cancer Growth by Promoting the Proliferation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Investigators found that mesenchymal stem cells promoted prostate cancer (PCa) tumor growth in vivo and cell proliferation in vitro by using PCa cell strain RM-1. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract Intra-Arterial Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Critical Limb Ischemia Are Safe and Efficacious: Report of a Phase I Study Researchers evaluated 13 patients for a Phase I trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial mesenchymal stem cells in critical limb ischemia patients. [World J Surg] Abstract Selective Isolation of Nanog-Positive Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Cells and Differentiation into Cardiomyocytes Human amniotic mesenchymal cells (hAMCs) have the potential to be a useful cell source for cardiac regeneration therapy. Scientists attempted to isolate stem cells from hAMCs and differentiate them into cardiomyocytes. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract Biomimetic Three-Dimensional Anisotropic Geometries by Uniaxial Stretch of Poly(ɛ-Caprolactone) Films for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation, Alignment, and Myogenic Differentiation Investigators present a novel simple, solvent-free, and reproducible method via uniaxial stretching for incorporating anisotropic topographies on bioresorbable films with ambitions to realize stem cell alignment control. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods] Full Article | Press Release |