Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 5.02 | Jan 22 2013

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 Signaling Acts as a Molecular Switch between Syngenic Differentiation and Neural Transdifferentiation in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Researchers unexpectedly found that treatment of human adipose- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor, in particular CDK4 inhibitor, selectively led to transdifferentiation into neural cells with a high frequency. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta Mediates All-trans Retinoic Acid Facilitation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Neuronal Differentiation
Scientists investigated the biological effects of all-trans retinoic acid on the neuronal differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and the signaling pathways that mediated these effects. [Int J Biochem Cell] Abstract

Dexamethasone-Induced Lipolysis Increases the Adverse Effect of Adipocytes on Osteoblasts Using Cells Derived from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Recent studies have suggested that bone marrow adipocytes are secretory cells and that they may release substances that have an inhibitory effect on the differentiation and function of osteoblasts. The authors hypothesized that exposure of bone-marrow-derived adipocytes to corticosteroids exacerbates their deleterious effects on osteoblast metabolism and function. [Bone] Abstract

Decreased Pool of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is Associated with Altered Chemokines Serum Levels in Atrophic Nonunion Fractures
Scientists assessed the pools and biological functions of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and circulating endothelial progenitor cells in atrophic nonunion patients compared to healthy subjects, and the systemic levels of growth factors involved in the recruitment, proliferation and differentiation of these cells. [Bone] Abstract

Pre-Culturing Islets with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using a Direct Contact Configuration Is Beneficial for Transplantation Outcome in Diabetic Mice
Researchers investigated the capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to improve islet cell survival or β-cell function in vitro using direct and indirect contact islet-MSC configurations. They also investigated whether pre-culturing islets with MSCs improves islet transplantation outcome. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Co-Transplantation of Islets with Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Microcapsules Demonstrates Graft Outcome Can Be Improved in an Isolated-Graft Model of Islet Transplantation in Mice
The authors investigated whether mesenchymal stem cells could improve graft outcome in a microencapsulated/isolated-graft model of islet transplantation. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Cytotoxicity of Local Anesthetics on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Previous studies have shown that the commonly used drugs lidocaine, ropivacaine, and bupivacaine can be toxic to human chondrocytes. Researchers aimed to determine whether the toxic effects of local anesthetics on human chondrocytes also extend to human mesenchymal stem cells. [J Bone Joint Surg Am] Abstract

Acellular Spinal Cord Scaffold Seeded with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Long-Distance Axon Regeneration and Functional Recovery in Spinal Cord Injured Rats
The authors investigated whether the spinal cord lesion gap could be bridged by implantation of bionic-designed acellular spinal cord scaffold alone and seeded with human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells respectively, and their effects on functional improvement. [J Neurol Sci] Abstract

Human Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Acquire Neural Phenotype under the Appropriate Niche Conditions
Scientists investigated the ability of human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into a neural phenotype in coculture assays with astrocytes obtained from neonatal rats. [DNA Cell Biol] Abstract

REVIEWS

DSM Announces License Agreement with Amgen for Use of DSM’s XD® Cell Culture Patents
DSM Pharmaceutical Products announced that it has signed a non-exclusive license agreement with Amgen Inc. for access to DSM’s proprietary XD^® high cell density process patents. [DSM Pharmaceutical Products] Press Release

Northwestern Medicine Plans $1 Billion Research Investment
Leaders of Northwestern Medicine, comprising Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation and Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, announced they have made a transformational commitment of more than $1 billion toward creating a leading medical research enterprise on Northwestern’s campus in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. [Northwestern University] Press Release

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 Gordon Research Conference – Cartilage Biology & Pathology
April 7-12, 2013
Les Diablerets, Switzerland

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

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumorigenicity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Weizmann Institute of Science)

PhD Student – Stem Cells in Tooth Regeneration (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Position – Mouse Developmental Biology (Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Stem Cell Engineering (University of Wisconsin – Madison)

Postdoctoral Position – Mesenchymal Cell Function in Chronic Lung Disease (German Research Center for Environmental Health)

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