Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 5.13 | Apr 9 2013

Alterations in the Cellular Immune Compartment of Patients Treated with Third-Party Mesenchymal Stromal Cells following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation
Investigators assessed immune alterations in the T-cell, B-cell, NK-cell, dendritic cell, and monocytic compartments of steroid-refractory GVHD patients 30, 90, and 180 days after mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) or placebo infusion respectively. Infused MSCs were bioactive as suggested by the significant reduction of epithelial cell death, which represents a biomarker for acute GVHD. [Stem Cells] Abstract

IFN-γ and TNF-α Synergistically Induce Mesenchymal Stem Cell Impairment and Tumorigenesis via NFκB Signaling
Researchers showed that the proinflammatory cytokines interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) synergistically impair self-renewal and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells via nuclear factor κB -mediated activation of Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 in ovariectomized mice. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Liposome Delivery of MicroRNA-145 to Mesenchymal Stem Cells Leads to Immunological Off-Target Effects Mediated by RIG-I
Scientists report on the immunological off-target effects observed following liposome transfection of synthetic microRNA-145 into human mesenchymal stem cells and human articular chondrocytes. The immune response was independent on endosome delivery and toll-like receptors but was mediated by retinoic acid inducible-gene 1 (RIG-I). [Mol Ther] Abstract

Passage-Dependent Cancerous Transformation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells under Carcinogenic Hypoxia
Researchers have utilized extreme hypoxia and concurrent treatment with metal carcinogen (nickel) to evaluate the passage-dependent response of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) toward cancerous transformation. The behavior of late passage hMSCs in a carcinogenic hypoxia environment follows a profile similar to that of transformed cancer cells, but this effect was not observed in earlier passage control cells. [FASEB J] Abstract

The Sonic Hedgehog Pathway Mediates Brain Plasticity and Subsequent Functional Recovery after Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Treatment of Stroke in Mice
Researchers examined whether in vivo blockage of the endogenous sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway affects grafted marrow stromal cell (MSC)-induced neurologic benefits. Marrow stromal cell treatment significantly enhanced functional recovery after ischemia, concurrent with increases of synaptophysin, synapse density, and myelinated axons along the ischemic boundary zone, and significantly increased tissue plasminogen activator and Shh expression in astrocytes and neurons compared with control. [J Cerebr Blood F Met]
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Characteristics of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Isolated from Bone Marrow of Giant Panda
Investigators report on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells that were isolated from giant pandas. Cells were collected from the bone marrow of two stillborn giant pandas. The isolated cells exhibited a fibroblast-like morphology, expressed mesenchymal specific markers such as CD73, SOX-2, GNL3 and SCFR, and could be differentiated into osteocytes and adipocytes that were characterized by Alizarin Red and Oil Red O staining. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Fibroblast Growth Factor -1 Is a Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Secreted Factor Stimulating Proliferation of Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes in Co-Culture
The authors demonstrated that mesenchymal stromal cells increase fibroblast growth factor-1 secretion upon co-culture with chondrocytes, which in turn is responsible for increased chondrocyte proliferation in pellet co-cultures. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Agonism of Wnt-β-Catenin Signaling Promotes Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Expansion
Scientists demonstrated that 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) increases mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) β-catenin activity 106-fold and stem cell-associated gene expression ~33-fold, respectively, over untreated controls. Subsequently, BIO treatment increases MSC populations 1.8-fold in typical 2D culture conditions, as well as 1.3-fold when encapsulated within hydrogels compared to untreated cells. [J Tissue Eng Regen M] Abstract

The Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Controlled Cell-Cell Interaction on Micropatterned Surfaces
Scientists report that four types of micropatterned surfaces were prepared by ultraviolet photolithography to investigate the effect of cell-cell interaction on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Single MSCs adhered on the micropatterned surfaces following the micropatterns. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Hydrogel Containing Nacre Powder
Investigators report on the capability of nacre to induce differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and the production of extracellular matrix. In the presence of nacre powder, a significant increase in matrix synthesis from D21 in comparison with pure alginate was observed. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

REVIEWS

Cell-Based Therapeutics: The Next Pillar of Medicine
Two decades ago, the pharmaceutical industry – long dominated by small-molecule drugs – was revolutionized by the the advent of biologics. Today, biomedicine sits on the cusp of a new revolution: the use of microbial and human cells as versatile therapeutic engines. In this review, researchers discuss the promise of this “third pillar” of therapeutics in the context of current scientific, regulatory, economic, and perceptual challenges. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the mesenchymal cell research field.

Cellular Biomedicine Group Marks the Launch of Clinical Trial for Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA)
Cellular Biomedicine Group held a ceremony to mark the launch of their clinical trial for human adipose-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis. The trial, already in progress, is being conducted by Shanghai’s Renji Hospital, which is a tertiary level Class A hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

UW Stem Cell Pioneer Thomson Earns Innovation Award
Thomson, who first derived human embryonic stem cells in 1998 and reprogrammed human skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells in 2007, has earned the McEwen Award for Innovation from the International Society for Stem Cell Research. He is being honored for his work in isolating human pluripotent stem cells, which revealed new possibilities for basic biology, drug discovery and cell-based therapies. [University of Wisconsin-Madison] Press Release

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Tenure-Track Investigator(s) – Musculoskeletal Biology or Diseases of Bone, Cartilage, or Muscle (National Institutes of Health)

Fellowship – Angiogenic and Mesenchymal Transdifferentiation Potential of Cancers Stem Cells  (Università degli Studi di Genova)

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Postdoctoral Positions – Angiogenesis and Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Biology (Boston University)

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