Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 6.22 | Jun 10 2014

Substrate-Dependent Modulation of 3D Spheroid Morphology Self-Assembled in Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Endothelial Progenitor Cell Coculture
The structural evolution of three-dimensional spheroids self-assembled from two different types of cells on selective biomaterials were demonstrated. The two types of cells involved in the self-assembly were human mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Destabilizes the Multi-Potent State of Uncommitted Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Scientists investigated whether manipulation of epigenetic events by the clinically relevant histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid alters differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AMSCs). The multipotency of AMSCs was validated by their ability to differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Inhibition of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Promotes Epithelial Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Repairs Bleomycin-Induced Lung Injury
In vitro experiments demonstrated that XAV939 could promote the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into an epithelium-like phenotype in a co-culture system. [Am J Physiol Cell Physiol] Abstract

Cell-Mediated Degradation Regulates Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenesis and Hypertrophy in MMP-Sensitive Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels
Researchers found that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) encapsulated in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive hydrogels switched to a more spreaded morphology while cells in the MMP-insensitive hydrogels remained in round shape. Furthermore, hMSCs in the MMP-sensitive hydrogels expressed higher level of chondrogenic marker genes but lower level of hypertrophic genes compared to cells in the MMP-insensitive hydrogels. [PLoS One] Full Article

Substrate and Strain Alter the Muscle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome to Promote Myogenesis
Murine skeletal muscle mesenchymal stem cell (mMSC) proliferation was not directly affected by substrate or strain; however, gene expression of growth and inflammatory factors and extracellular matrix proteins was downregulated in mMSCs grown on collagen-1 in a manner independent of strain. [Stem Cells Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Generation of a Biomimetic Human Artificial Cornea Model Using Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Scientists demonstrate for the first time the capability of human Wharton’s jelly stem cells to differentiate in vitro into cornea epithelial-like cells using a three dimensional model based on fibrin-agarose human bioengineered corneas. [Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci] Abstract

High-Resolution Molecular Validation of Self-Renewal and Spontaneous Differentiation in Adipose-Tissue Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured in Human Platelet Lysate
Researchers investigated the molecular phenotype of adipose-tissue derived human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (AMSCs) that were either actively proliferating in platelet lysate or in a basal non-proliferative state. Flow cytometry combined with high-throughput RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR analyses validate that AMSCs express classic mesenchymal cell surface markers. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Rewiring Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lineage Specification by Switching the Biophysical Microenvironment
Researchers asked whether changing the biophysical aspects of the substrate could modulate the degree of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) lineage specification. They explored two diverse differentiation outcomes: MSC osteogenesis and trans-differentiation to neuron-like cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Human ESC-Derived MSCs Outperform Bone Marrow MSCs in the Treatment of an EAE Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Researchers showed that mesenchymal stem cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hES-MSCs) significantly reduce clinical symptoms and prevent neuronal demyelination in a mouse experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) model of MS, and that the EAE disease-modifying effect of hES-MSCs is significantly greater than that of human bone-marrow-derived MSCs. [Stem Cells Rep] Full Article | Press Release

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New Hope: Stem Cell Trial for ALS Patients
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord progressively degenerate and eventually die, leaving the brain unable to control muscle movement. Scientists take cells from fat tissue and re-engineer them into stem cells. They then enhance the ability of these cells – technically known as mesenchymal stem cells – to promote nerve health. [Mayo Clinic] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Research Scholar – The Role of Mesenchymal Factors in Cancer Progression (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology (Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms that Regulate Physiological and Pathological Bone Metabolism, Skeletal Development and Diseases (University of Michigan Ann Arbor)

PhD Position – The Role of Chromatin in Alternative Splicing Regulation during Cell Fate Decision (Institute of Molecular Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Therapy with Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells (University of Cincinnati)

Developmental-Stem Cell Biologist (Mayo Clinic – Rochester)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Hematology, Immunology, Cancer Therapeutics (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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