Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 6.03 | Jan 28 2014

The Interaction between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Steroids during Inflammation
Scientists applied different concentrations of dexamethasone (Dex) to anti-CD3-activated splenocyte cultured with or without mesenchymal stem cells. As expected, Dex exhibited a classical dose-dependent inhibition of T-cell proliferation. Surprisingly, although MSCs also blocked T-cell proliferation, the presence of Dex unexpectedly showed a dose-dependent reversion of T-cell proliferation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

TRAIL-Secreting Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Apoptosis in Heat-Shock-Treated Liver Cancer Cells and Inhibit Tumor Growth in Nude Mice
The therapeutic potential of secretable form of trimeric human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (stTRAIL)-based gene therapy was evaluated in hepatocellular carcinoma subjected to radiofrequency ablation. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding stTRAIL. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Angiopoietin-Like 4 Confers Resistance to Hypoxia/Serum Deprivation-Induced Apoptosis through PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Scientists examined the protective effect of angiopoietin-like 4 on hypoxia/serum deprivation-induced apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells, as well as the possible mechanisms. [PLoS One] Full Article

Primary Cilia Mediate Sonic Hedgehog Signaling to Regulate Neuronal-Like Differentiation of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Resveratrol Induction In Vitro
Researchers showed that primary cilia, harboring patched 1, are present in growth-arrested mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and that smoothened and Gli1 are present in cytoplasm of MSCs, which are important components of the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. [J Neurosci Res] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Gelatin Microparticle Encapsulation in Thermally and Chemically Gelling Injectable Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering
Researchers investigated the viability and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated with gelatin microparticles in an injectable, chemically and thermally gelling hydrogel system combining poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based thermogelling macromers containing pendant epoxy rings with polyamidoamine-based hydrophilic and degradable diamine crosslinking macromers. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract

Conditioned Medium of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mediates Protection in Neurons following Glutamate Excitotoxicity by Regulating Energy Metabolism and GAP-43 Expression
Researchers investigated the neuroprotective effects of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on cortical neurons using models of glutamate excitotoxicity. [Metab Brain Dis] Full Article

Boron Increases the Cell Viability of Mesenchymal Stem Cells after Long-Term Cryopreservation
The impacts of various boron concentrations (sodium pentaborate pentahydrate (NaB)) were tested on characterized human tooth germ stem cells (hTGSCs) viability for different time intervals. 20 µg/ml NaB with lower Me₂SO concentration was found to display positive effects on hTGSCs during repeated freezing and defrosting cycles, and long-term cryopreservation. [Cryobiology] Abstract

Wharton’s Jelly Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Contact Guidance by Noisy Nanotopographies
Scientists studied Wharton’s jelly human mesenchymal stem cells interacting with nanogratings (NGs) having a controlled amount of nanotopographical noise. Their data demonstrated that unperturbed NGs induce cell polarization, alignment and migration along NG lines. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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apceth’s Ground-Breaking First-in-Man, First-in-Class Clinical Trial in Oncology with Genetically Modified Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Is Now Enrolling
apceth announced that the TREAT ME Phase I/II clinical trial for patients suffering from advanced adenocarcinoma of the gastro-intestinal tract has commenced. This is the first clinical trial world-wide with genetically-modified mesenchymal stromal cells. [apceth GmbH & Co. KG] Press Release

Pluristem’s Cell Manufacturing Facility Marks Major Milestone with German Regulatory Approval of New Scaled-Up 3D Manufacturing Process
Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has received approval from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Germany’s health authority, to supply cells from its advanced, fully automated, and proprietary 3D cell expansion manufacturing platform implemented at its new state-of-the-art GMP facility. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.]
Press Release

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Senior Scientist – Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (Universidad de Los Andes)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Viral Gene Therapy for Ocular Diseases (University of Alberta)

Postdoctoral Researcher Position – Role of Muscle Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration after Radiation Injury (IRSN [French Nuclear Safety Institute])

PhD Fellowship – Regenerative Medicine (UKSH)

Postdoctoral Position – Regenerative Medicine (Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiopulmonary Molecular Biology (Hannover Medical School)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (RUNMC)

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