Inhibitory Effects of Hypoxia on Metabolic Switch and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Scientists investigated the effects of oxygen tension on metabolism and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. They found that hypoxia impaired osteogenic differentiation as indicated by attenuation of alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of osteogenic markers core binding factor a-1 and osteopontin. [Stem Cells] Abstract BMP4 and BMP7 Induce the White-to-Brown Transition of Primary Human Adipose Stem Cells Scientists compared the effect of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)4 and BMP7 on white-to-brown transition in primary human adipose stem cells (hASCs) from subcutaneous adipose tissue. Long-term exposure of hASCs to recombinant BMP4 or BMP7 during differentiation increased adipogenesis, as determined by lipid accumulation and PPARγ expression. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract Identification of Rat Respiratory Mucosa Stem Cells and Comparison of the Early Neural Differentiation Potential with the Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro Researchers identified rat nasal septum respiratory mucosa-derived mesenchyme stem cells and to compare its neural lineage differentiation capacity with bone marrow-derived mesenchyme stem cells after a short period of neural induction culture in vitro. [Cell Mol Neurobiol] Abstract Administration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Ziprasidone Enhanced Amelioration of Ischemic Brain Damage in Rats Scientists investigated whether the transplantation of neural progenitor cells derived from adipose mesenchymal stem cells combined with ziprasidone enhances neuroprotective effects in an animal model of focal cerebral ischemia. [Mol Cells] Abstract Application of Bone Marrow and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Testing the Biocompatibility of Metal-Based Biomaterials Functionalized with Ascorbic Acid Metal-based biomaterials were functionalized with ascorbic acid (LAA). Researchers indicated that silica coatings doped with 0.4 M LAA had a positive effect on the proliferation rate of investigated cells, and in some cases on the growth pattern of culture. [Biomed Mater] Abstract CD90- (Thy-1-) High Selection Enhances Reprogramming Capacity of Murine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Researchers assessed the reprogramming capacity of murine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and found that CD90 (Thy-1), originally discovered as a thymocyte antigen, could be a useful marker for cell therapy. [Dis Markers] Full Article Engineering Superficial Zone Chondrocytes from Mesenchymal Stem Cells Researchers evaluated the potential of coculture of bovine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and zonal explants of bovine cartilage tissue to drive MSC differentiation to chondrocytes with the superficial zone phenotype. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods] Abstract Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen 4 in Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is Not a Marker for Proliferation and Multipotency Scientists studied stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)4+ cells in Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells. SSEA4 was expressed for a long-term culture. In contrast, SSEA3+ disappeared rapidly in early passages of the culture. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract Cultivation of Human Bone-Like Tissue from Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Osteogenic Progenitors in Perfusion Bioreactors Researchers describe a stepwise procedure for the induction of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells into mesenchymal-like progenitors, and their subsequent cultivation on decellularized bovine bone scaffolds in perfusion bioreactors, to support the development of viable, stable bone-like tissue in defined geometries. [Methods Mol Biol] Abstract Donor Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) Undergo Variable Cardiac Reprogramming In Vivo and Predominantly Co-Express Cardiac and Stromal Determinants after Experimental Acute Myocardial Infarction To determine whether a similar phenotype is detectable in vivo in ischemic myocardium, scientists infused green fluorescence protein-marked MSCs intravenously into wild-type mice in an acute myocardial infarction model generated by ischemia/reperfusion or fixed coronary artery ligation. They found that infused green fluorescence protein+ cells were confined strictly to ischemic areas and represented approximately 10% of total cellularity. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract |