Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 9.02 | Jan 17 2017

TOP STORY

CD34⁺ Mesenchymal Cells Are a Major Component of the Intestinal Stem Cells Niche at Homeostasis and after Injury

Investigators identified pericryptal CD34⁺ Gp38⁺ αSMA^– mesenchymal cells closely associated with Lgr5⁺ intestinal epithelial stem cells. They further showed that pericryptal CD34⁺gp38⁺ cells are rapidly activated by intestinal injury, up-regulating niche factors Gremlin1 and R-spondin1 as well as chemokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and growth factors with key roles in gut immunity and tissue repair, including IL-7, Ccl2, Ptgs2, and Amphiregulin. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IN VITRO

Minocycline Enhances the Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cell Pro-Healing Phenotype in Triple Antimicrobial-Loaded Hydrogels

Antimicrobials loaded concurrently in the hydrogels with mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) could reduce microbial bioburden and promote healing, but the antimicrobial effect on the MSC wound healing capacity and the antibacterial efficacy of the hydrogels is unknown. Researchers demonstrated that minocycline specifically induces a favorable change in MSC migration capacity, proliferation, gene expression, extracellular matrix attachment, and adhesion molecule and growth factor release with subsequent increased angiogenesis. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Enhanced Articular Cartilage by Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Enzymatically Mediated Transiently RGDS-Functionalized Collagen-Mimetic Hydrogels

Recapitulation of the articular cartilage microenvironment for regenerative medicine applications faces significant challenges due to the complex and dynamic biochemical and biomechanical nature of native tissue. The authors first modified the backbone of streptococcal collagen-like 2 (Scl2) with glycosaminoglycan-binding peptides and cross-linked the modified Scl2 into hydrogels via matrix metalloproteinase 7-cleavable or non-cleavable scrambled peptides. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Exosomal miR-146a Contributes to the Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy of IL-1β-Primed Mesenchymal Stem Cells against Sepsis

Scientists pretreated human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and evaluated their therapeutic effects in a cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis model. They found that systemic administration of IL-1β-pretreated MSCs ameliorated the symptoms of murine sepsis more effectively and increased the survival rate compared with naïve MSCs. [Stem Cells] Abstract

SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis Induces Human Dental Pulp Stem Cell Migration through FAK/PI3K/Akt and GSK3β/β-Catenin Pathways

The authors showed that the migration of human dental pulp stem cells was induced by stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in a concentration-dependent manner and could be inhibited with C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 and cell division control protein 42, as well as drug inhibitors such as AMD3100, LY294002 and PF573228. [Sci Rep] Full Article

EID3 Directly Associates with DNMT3A during Transdifferentiation of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells to NPC-Like Cells

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were transdifferentiated into neural stem-like cells (uNSCLs). These cells grew in neurosphere-like structures and expressed high levels of neural stem cell markers. Researchers showed that E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation 3 (EID3) and DNA methyltransferase 3 A (DNMT3A) co-localized in cell nuclei and EID3 interacted directly with DNMT3A in uNSCLs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Autologous and Allogeneic Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exhibit Equivalent Immunomodulatory Properties In Vitro

The authors conducted studies to assess the immunological properties of equine allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) compared with those of autologous BMDMSCs. They found that autologous and allogeneic BMDMSCs both induced mild but equivalent levels of spontaneous lymphocyte activation in vitro. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Resistance for Genotoxic Damage in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Is Increased by Hypoxia but Not Generally Dependent on p53-Regulated Cell Cycle Arrest

Scientists characterized the role of p53 and contribution of hypoxia in resistance of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) to genotoxic damage. They concluded that resistance of MSC to genotoxic damage is influenced by oxygen tension but is not generally dependent on p53. [PLoS One] Full Article

IN VIVO

HIF-2α and Oct4 Have Synergistic Effects on Survival and Myocardial Repair of Very Small Embryonic-Like Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Infarcted Hearts

Researchers obtained very small embryonic-like mesenchymal stem cells from myocardial infarction patients, which possessed the very small embryonic-like stem cells’ morphology as well as embryonic stem cells’ pluripotency. Using microarray analysis, they compared HIF-2α-regulated gene profiles in very small embryonic-like mesenchymal stem cells (vselMSCs) with embryonic stem cell (ESC) profiles and determined that HIF-2α coexpressed Oct4 in vselMSCs similarly to ESCs. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibits Intracranial Hemorrhage after Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Therapy for Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats

The objective of this study was to determine whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) suppress hemorrhagic events after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) therapy in the acute phase of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in rats. The MSC-treated groups experienced a greater reduction in the incidence rate of intracerebral hemorrhage and hemorrhagic volume 1 day after tMCAO even if rtPA was received. [J Neurosurg] Abstract

Concise Review: Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Based Approaches for the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress and Sepsis Syndromes

The authors provide a concise summary of current preclinical and clinical knowledge of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as a cell therapy for sepsis syndrome and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The challenges of modeling such heterogeneous and rapidly progressive disease states are considered and they discuss how lessons from previous studies of pharmacological treatments for sepsis syndrome and ARDS might be used to inform and refine the design of the next generation of MSC clinical trials. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

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

First-in-the-World Study Looks to Repair Heart Damage

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation to conduct first-ever study combining different types of stem cells to repair heart damage for those with ischemic heart failure. The study will use mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac stem cells together to learn if the combination would be more successful than using either alone based on pre-clinical studies in swine demonstrating an enhanced synergistic effect of the combination. [HMP Communications LLC] Press Release

Orthocell Announces Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation

Regenerative medicine company Orthocell Limited has announced a research collaboration agreement with DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, for its Ortho-ATI^® stem cell approach for the regeneration of degenerate tendons and ligaments. [Orthocell Limited] Press Release

Croatia’s Science Minister Rejects Calls to Resign amid Plagiarism Scandal

In a plagiarism scandal in Croatia, the country’s highest-level research ethics committee is clashing with its science minister — who says he won’t step down after the committee found he had copied another scholar’s work. Scientists say the case raises questions about academic integrity at the top of a research system that is already riven with misconduct allegations. [Nature News] Editorial

Surprising Contenders Emerge for Trump’s NIH Chief

Could US president-elect Donald Trump be close to choosing a leader for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)? Current NIH chief Francis Collins and Representative Andy Harris (Republican, Maryland), both front-runners for job, met separately with Trump, as did billionaire surgeon Patrick Soon-Shiong. Several people familiar with the Collins and Harris meetings described them as job interviews. [Nature Breaking News] Editorial

NEW 19^th International AEK Cancer Congress
March 1-3, 2017
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

Tenure-Track Faculty Positions – Department of Biomedical Sciences (University of Pennsylvania)

Assistant Professor – Cardiovascular Repair (Bone Marrow Stem Cells)

Visiting Assistant Professor – Biology (Molecular or Cellular)

Principle Investigator – Mechanobiology Institute (University of Singapore)

Sequencing Specialist – Stem Cell and Developmental Biology (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Stem Cell Biology (University of Nebraska)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Scleroderma (Hospital for Special Surgery)

Independent Research Group Leaders – Stem Cell Science (University of Cambridge)

Tenure Track Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Position – Mesenchymal Stem Cells (University Southern California)

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