Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 6.00 | Jan 7 2014

Nanotubular Crosstalk with Distressed Cardiomyocytes Stimulates the Paracrine Repair Function of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Researchers addressed whether cell-to-cell communication processes between mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and suffering cardiomyocytes and more particularly those involving tunneling nanotubes control the MSC paracrine regenerative function. [Stem Cells]
Abstract | Full Article

Rescue of Proinflammatory Cytokine-Inhibited Chondrogenesis by the Antiarthritic Effect of Melatonin in Synovium Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Suppression of Reactive Oxygen Species and Matrix Metalloproteinases
Scientists investigated the anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects of melatonin on human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a proinflammatory cytokine-induced arthritic environment. MSCs were induced toward chondrogenesis in the presence of interleukin-1ß or tumor necrosis factor a with or without melatonin. [Free Radic Biol Med] Abstract

Semaphorin 3A Induces Mesenchymal Stem-Like Properties in Human Periodontal Ligament Cells
Researchers showed that Semaphorin 3A can induce mesenchymal stem-like properties in human periodontal ligament cells. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Tumor Necrosis Factor-a/CD40 Ligand Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells Greatly Enhanced the Anti-Tumor Immune Response and Lifespan in Mice
Both dendritic cells (DCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from BALB/c mice. DCs were then co-cultured with (tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and/or CD40 Ligand (CD40L))-transduced MSCs. The longest mice survival was observed in mice groups that were administred with DCs plus (TNF-a/CD40L)-MSCs.[Human Gene Ther] Abstract

Protective Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with CXCR4 Up-Regulation in a Rat Renal Transplantation Model
Scientists investigated chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) expression in MSCs and to validate both its role in mediating migration to transplanted kidneys and its immunoregulatory effects in renal protection. [PLoS One] Full Article

Retinoic Acid Remodels Extracellular Matrix (ECM) of Cultured Human Fetal Palate Mesenchymal Cells (hFPMCs) through Down-Regulation of TGF-ß/Smad Signaling
Researchers explored the effect of retinoic acid (RA) overexposure on ECM and the probable mechanisms in hFPMCs. RA dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation and mRNA and protein levels of ECM components fibronectin, tenascin C and fibrillin-2. [Toxicol Lett] Abstract

Mesenchymal Derivatives of Genetically Unstable Human Embryonic Stem Cells Are Maintained Unstable but Undergo Senescence in Culture as Do Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Scientists report that the human embryonic stem cell lines HUES-7 and -9 carrying multiple chromosomal alterations produce in vitro mesenchymal stem cells that show progressive growth arrest and enter senescence after 15 and 16 passages, respectively. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract

Humanized Culture of Periosteal Progenitors in Allogeneic Serum Enhances Osteogenic Differentiation and In Vivo Bone Formation
STAT3 phosphorylation was enhanced in human allogeneic serum (hAS)-cultured human periosteum derived cells, inhibition of which ablated the proliferative effect of hAS. Furthermore, following in vivo implantation of hAS-cultured cells on NuOss scaffolds, enhanced bone formation was observed compared with fetal bovine serum. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Manipulation of Cell Sorting within Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Islet Cell Multicellular Spheroids
Scientists attempted to co-localize mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with islets by creating single-celled suspensions of MSCs and cells from dissociated islets on top of arrays of round bottom wells. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

The Challenge of Pancreatic Cancer Therapy and Novel Treatment Strategy Using Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells
This review provides a comprehensive overview of current challenges in pancreatic cancer therapy, and the authors propose a novel strategy for using mesenchymal stem cells as means of delivering anticancer genes to the site of pancreas. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

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

TiGenix Secures EUR 10 Million in Financing from Kreos Capital
TiGenix announced that it has signed a structured debt financing agreement of up to EUR 10 million with Kreos Capital. The funds will supplement the EUR 12 million in equity financing TiGenix recently secured from Gri-Cel SA, and will be used for general growth purposes as TiGenix advances the development of its expanding pipeline of cell therapy products. [TiGenix NV] Press Release

GE to Expand in Life Sciences with Acquisition of Strategic Assets from Thermo Fisher Scientific
GE and Thermo Fisher Scientific announced that they have entered into an agreement for GE Healthcare to acquire Thermo Fisher’s HyClone™ cell culture media and sera, and gene modulation and magnetic beads businesses for approximately $1.06 billion. [Business Wire] Press Release

New wallchart from our sponsor: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (a Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology collaboration). Request your free copy.

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)

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

NEW PhD Scholarship – Real-Time Determination of Human Stem Cells Differentiation upon Mechanical Stimulation (Queen Mary University of London)

Associate Scientist – Respiratory, Autoimmunity and Inflammation Research (MedImmune)

PhD Position – Human Cell Isolation and Controlled Expansion for Tuned Drug Release in Bone Repair (Medicyte)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (RUNMC)

PhD Studentship – Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Endogenous Regulators of Inflammation (University of Birmingham)

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.