Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 6.04 | Feb 4 2014

Engineering of Pre-Vascularized Urethral Patch with Muscle Flaps and Hypoxia-Activated hUCMSCs Improves Its Therapeutic Outcome
In this study, with the assistance of hypoxia-activated human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs), pedicled muscle flaps were used as materials and pre-incubated in ventral penile subcutaneous cavity of rabbit for 3 weeks to prepare a pre-vascularized urethral construct. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract

Mouse Flk-1+Sca-1- Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Functional Plasticity In Vitro and Immunoregulation In Vivo
Researchers isolated Flk-1+Sca-1 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and studied their biological characteristics and immunologic functions. They also investigated their effects on graft-versus-host disease associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice. [Transplantation] Abstract

Heterogeneity of Baseline Neural Marker Expression by Undifferentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells May Be Correlated to Donor Age
Researchers showed that amongst a mixed group of primary adipose and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(12–50 years), the observed variability in baseline neural marker expression may be correlated to donor age. [J Biotechnol] Abstract

Overexpression of Wnt11 Promotes Chondrogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Synergism with TGF-β
Scientists investigated the role of Wnt11, a member of noncanonical Wnts, in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during chondrogenic differentiation. They observed that overexpression of Wnt11 inhibited proliferation of MSCs and caused a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Support Hepatocyte Function in Engineered Liver Grafts
The authors describe enhanced hepatic function achieved using a strategy of sequential infusion of cells and illustrate the advantages of co-cultivating bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells with primary hepatocytes in the engineered whole-liver scaffold. [Organogenesis] Abstract

A Combinatorial Cell-Laden Gel Microarray for Inducing Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Development of three dimensional (3D) microenvironments that direct stem cell differentiation into functional cell types remains a major challenge in the field of regenerative medicine. Investigators describe a new platform to address this challenge by utilizing a robotic microarray spotter for testing stem cell fates inside various miniaturized cell-laden gels in a systematic manner. To demonstrate the feasibility of their platform, they evaluated the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells within combinatorial 3D niches. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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BrainStorm Receives US Notice of Allowance for Its Key Stem Cell Technology Patent
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent Office for its “Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of CNS Diseases” patent application. This patent relates to BrainStorm’s proprietary stem cells induced to secrete large quantities of neurotrophic factors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Positive Spinal Disc Repair Trial Results Using Mesoblast Adult Stem Cells
Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited announced positive 12 month outcome results from the 100-patient Phase II clinical trial of its proprietary allogeneic, or “off-the-shelf”, Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs) in patients with chronic moderate to severe discogenic low back pain. [Mesoblast Limited] Press Release

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