Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 8.42 | Oct 25 2016

TOP STORY

Injectable Polypeptide Hydrogels with Tunable Microenvironment for 3D Spreading and Chondrogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

An injectable hydrogel comprising poly(L-glutamic acid)-graft-tyramine (PLG-g-TA) with tunable microenvironment was developed via enzyme-catalyzed crosslinking, and used as artificial extracellular matrix to explore the behaviors of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells during three dimensional (3D) culture. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

Stretching Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Stiffness-Customized Collagen Type I Generates a Smooth Muscle Marker Profile without Growth Factor Addition

Investigators found lineage-specific stiffness and cyclic stretch can be applied together for inducing mesenchymal stromal cell differentiation towards smooth muscle cells without the addition of recombinant growth factors or other soluble factors. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2 Alpha Promotes the Proliferation of Human Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells through the MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway

Researchers showed that human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) cultured in hypoxic conditions exhibited a more naïve morphology and had a higher proliferative capability and higher hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha expression than hPMSCs cultured in normoxic conditions. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Novel 3D Mesenchymal Stem Cell Model of the Multiple Myeloma Bone Marrow Niche: Biologic and Clinical Applications

To mimic the multiple myeloma (MM) niche, the authors describe a new 3D co-culture ex-vivo model in which primary MM patient bone marrow cells are co-cultured with mesenchymal stem cells in a hydrogel 3D system. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Resistance to Neoplastic Transformation of Ex-Vivo Expanded Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells after Exposure to Supramaximal Physical and Chemical Stress

The authors established an experimental in vitro model to induce supramaximal physical (ionizing radiation) and chemical (starvation) stress on ex-vivo expanded bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and investigated their propensity to undergo malignant transformation. To this aim, they examined MSC morphology, proliferative capacity, immune-phenotype, differentiation potential, immunomodulatory properties and genetic profile before and after stressor exposure. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Preclinical Study of Mouse Pluripotent Parthenogenetic Embryonic Stem Cell Derivatives for the Construction of Tissue-Engineered Skin Equivalent

The authors tested stemness marker expression and the pluripotent differentiation ability of parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells. After embryoid body formation and adherence culture, mesenchymal stem cells were enriched and directed to differentiate into fibroblastic lineage. Characteristics of derived fibroblasts were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA. Functional ability of the constructed tissue-engineered skin equivalents was tested by a mouse skin defects repair model. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Responses to Altered Oxygen Tension Are Distinct between Human Stem Cells of High and Low Chondrogenic Capacity

Investigators showed mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) preparations and articular cartilage progenitor clones had a wide range of chondrogenicity between donors. Physioxia significantly enhanced the chondrogenic potential of both articular cartilage progenitors and MSCs compared with hyperoxia, but the magnitude of response was inversely related to intrinsic chondrogenic potential. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

MicroRNA-Mediated Down-Regulation of Apoptosis Signal-Regulating Kinase 1 (ASK1) Attenuates the Apoptosis of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) Transplanted into Infarcted Heart

Scientists hypothesized that down-regulation of ASK1 in human MSCs might attenuate the post-transplantation death of MSCs. To test this hypothesis, researchers screened microRNAs (miRNAs) based on a miRNA-target prediction database and empirical data and investigated the anti-apoptotic effect of selected miRNAs on human adipose-derived stem cells and on rat myocardial infarction models. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

IN VIVO

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Ferumoxytol-Labeled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Mouse Brain

The major objectives of this study were to demonstrate the feasibility of labeling human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) with ferumoxytol and to observe, through magnetic resonance imaging, the engraftment of ferumoxytol-labeled hUCB-MSCs delivered via stereotactic injection into the hippocampi of a transgenic mouse model of familial Alzheimer’s disease. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

In Vivo Evaluation of Stem Cell Aggregates on Osteochondral Regeneration

Researchers evaluated the performance of a novel stem cell-based aggregate approach in a fibrin carrier to regenerate osteochondral defects in the Sprague-Dawley rat trochlear groove model. Two different densities of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell aggregates were fabricated by the hanging drop technique. [J Orthop Res] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells in Drug Therapy: New Perspective

This review discusses effects of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) in an inflammatory microenvironment and explains how these properties could be important to the overall application of MSC in cell therapy. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

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

Feng Zhang Receives 2016 New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Stem Cell Prize

The New York Stem Cell Foundation announced that Feng Zhang, PhD, is the 2016 recipient of the NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Prize for his pioneering advances to edit human and plant genomes using CRISPR-Cas9. [The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF)] Press Release

CSUN Receives $2.77 Million to Build ‘Bridges’ to Regenerative Medicine

Fifty undergraduate students from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) will get the chance of a lifetime to conduct stem cell research alongside some of the top scientists in the country as part of a $2.77-million grant to the university. The grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine continues a stem cell research and regenerative medicine “Bridges” program between CSUN and UCLA. [California State University Northridge] Press Release

Review Finds Misconduct in Events Surrounding WHO Fetal Growth Study

For the first time in its 68-year history, the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that researchers are guilty of research misconduct. An independent review commissioned by WHO has found that “research ethics misconduct occurred” in a multimillion-dollar global study on fetal growth led by researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Two Major California Research Institutes Will Merge

One of the biggest nonprofit biomedical research outfits in the world is getting a new translational medicine research arm, aimed at speeding the conversion of basic research insights into novel medicines. Officials at the Scripps Research Institute announced that it will merge with the California Institute for Biomedical Research, which was launched in 2012 as a nonprofit version of a drug development company. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

To Save Money, NSF Requires University Cost-Sharing for Rotators

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has decided that universities should pay 10% of the salaries of faculty members working temporarily at the agency. NSF hopes the new policy will demonstrate its commitment to saving taxpayer dollars without alienating the academic community that it relies upon to stay on the cutting edge of basic science. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW The Biology of Regenerative Medicine
April 25-27, 2017
Hinxton, United Kingdom

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

NEW Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cell Scientist (UHN Arthritis Program)

Research Associate – Mesenchymal (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells & Cartilage Development/Disease (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

Staff Scientist/Research Assistant II – Musculoskeletal Tissue Development (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellowship(s) – Multiple Laboratories (Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Therapy (UC Davis)

Faculty Position – Pluripotent Stem Cell Research (Stanford University)

Early Stage Researchers – Controlling Cartilage to Bone Transitions for Improved Treatment of Bone Defects and Osteoarthritis (Various Employers)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Role of Stromal Mesenchymal Cells in Tissue Injury/Repair (Institut Pasteur)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Subpopulations of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the Bone Marrow and Adipose Tissue Sources (University of Miami)

Faculty Positions – Various Areas (Jackson Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Scientist – Osteoblast Biology (Michigan State University)

Postdoctoral Position – Bone and Stem Cell Research (University of Connecticut Health)

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