IN VITRO Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Induce Peculiar Alternatively Activated Macrophages Capable of Dampening Both Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Researchers showed that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) supported the survival of monocytes that underwent differentiation into macrophages, in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor. However, MSCs skewed their polarization towards a peculiar M2-like functional phenotype, through a prostaglandin E2-dependent mechanism. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Full Article Hedgehog Associated to Microparticles Inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation via a Non-Canonical Pathway Investigators showed that Hedgehog-enriched microparticles inhibit adipocyte differentiation and orientate mesenchymal stem cells towards a pro-osteogenic program. [Sci Rep] Full Article NAP-2 Secreted by Human NK Cells Can Stimulate Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Recruitment Strategies for improved homing of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to a place of injury are being sought and it has been shown that natural killer (NK) cells can stimulate MSC recruitment. Researchers studied the chemokines behind this recruitment. Assays were performed with bone marrow human MSCs and NK cells freshly isolated from healthy donor buffy coats. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Wnt/β-Catenin Stimulation and Laminins Support Cardiovascular Cell Progenitor Expansion from Human Fetal Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Scientists demonstrated that they can expand cells with characteristics of cardiovascular progenitor cells from the mesenchymal stromal cell population of human fetal hearts. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Soft Elasticity-Associated Signaling and Bone Morphogenic Protein 2 Are Key Regulators of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Spheroidal Aggregates Researchers hypothesized that bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) signaling triggers interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling in mesenchymal stem cell spheroids. Contrary to expectations, BMP2 signaling decreased expression of IL1B and downstream genes in a SMAD6-dependent manner. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Response to Biomimetic Octacalcium Phosphate Containing Strontium Scientists demonstrated the effects of Sr2+ on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells when introduced as either a dissolved salt, or incorporated into biomimetic calcium phosphate coatings. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Chondrogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Glycosaminoglycan-Mimetic Peptide Nanofibers Mesenchymal stem cells cultured on glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-mimetic peptide nanofibers formed cartilage-like nodules and deposited cartilage-specific matrix components by day seven, suggesting that the GAG-mimetic peptide nanofibers effectively facilitated their commitment into the chondrogenic lineage. [ACS Biomater Sci Eng] Abstract IN VIVO Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Genetically Engineered to Overexpress Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Improve Outcomes in Huntington’s Disease Mouse Models Previous studies have shown efficacy of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using murine MSCs, and here scientists used human MSCs to advance the therapeutic potential of the MSC/BDNF platform for clinical application. [Mol Ther] Full Article | Press Release Muscle Tissue Engineering Using Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cells Encapsulated in Alginate Hydrogels Containing Multiple Growth Factors The authors developed an injectable 3D RGD-coupled alginate scaffold with multiple growth factor delivery capacity for encapsulating gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs), evaluated the capacity of encapsulated GMSCs to differentiate into myogenic tissue in vitro and in vivo where encapsulated GMSCs were transplanted subcutaneously into immunocompromised mice. [Ann Biomed Eng] Full Article |