Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 9.04 | Jan 31 2017

TOP STORY

Guanylate-Binding Protein 1 (GBP1) Contributes to the Immunity of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells against Toxoplasma gondii

Researchers confirmed that human MSCs (hMSCs) prestimulated with IFN-γ showed a significant and dose-dependent ability to inhibit the growth of two types of T. gondii. However, in contrast to previous reports, the anti-T. gondii activity of hMSCs was not mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Genome-wide RNA sequencing analysis revealed that IFN-γ increased the expression of the p65 family of human guanylate-binding proteins in hMSCs, especially human GBP1. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

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IN VITRO

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Induced DDR2 Mediates Stromal-Breast Cancer Interactions and Metastasis Growth

The authors report that the collagen receptor discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) is essential for stromal-breast cancer (BC) communication. In human BC metastasis, DDR2 is concordantly upregulated in metastatic cancer and multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Hyaluronic Acid Facilitates Chondrogenesis and Matrix Deposition of Human Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Human Chondrocytes Co-Cultures

Scientists developed a composite gel based on collagen/hyaluronic acid as ideal, physiologically representative 3D support for in vitro chondrogenesis of human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) co-cultured with human articular chondrocytes. The incorporation of hyaluronic acid attempted to provide an additional stimulus to the hAMSCs for chondrogenesis and extracellular matrix deposition. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Nuclear Factor I-C Reciprocally Regulates Adipocyte and Osteoblast Differentiation via Control of Canonical Wnt Signaling

Nuclear factor I-C (Nfic) expression was altered in primary marrow stromal cells and established progenitor lines after adipogenic and osteogenic treatment. Overexpression of Nfic in stromal cells ST2, mesenchymal cells C3H10T1/2, and primary marrow stromal cells inhibited adipogenic differentiation, whereas it promoted osteogenic differentiation. [FASEB J] Abstract

CCL2 Deficient Mesenchymal Stem Cells Fail to Establish Long-Lasting Contact with T Cells and No Longer Ameliorate Lupus Symptoms

Investigators showed that transfer of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) increased MRL.Fas^lpr mouse survival, decreased T cell infiltration in the kidneys, and reduced T cell cytokine expression. In vitro, allogeneic mouse MSCs inhibited MRL.Fas^lpr T cell proliferation and cytokine production. [Sci Rep] Full Article

IN VIVO

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing Thioredoxin 1 Attenuate Bleomycin-Induced Skin Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in Scleroderma

The authors investigated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) expressing thioredoxin 1 (Trx-1) in treating systemic sclerosis-mediated skin disease following transplantation into a bleomycin-induced murine model. In vivo experiments showed that Trx-1-overexpressing-BMSCs inhibited hypoxia-induced apoptosis and inhibited fibrosis under hypoxic conditions. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Periostin Upregulates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling to Promote the Osteogenesis of CTLA4-Modified Human Bone Marrow-Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Investigators found that the bone repair effect of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4)-modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in demineralized bone matrix (DBM) in a rabbit radius defect model was significantly better than that observed for unmodified MSCs in DBM or DBM alone, and the periostin expression in CTLA4-modified MSCs was significantly higher than that in unmodified MSCs both in vivo and in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article

hMSCs Suppress Neutrophil-Dominant Airway Inflammation in a Murine Model of Asthma

BALB/c mice exposed to ovalbumin and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid to induce neutrophilic airway inflammation were systemically treated with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to examine whether the hMSCs can modulate neutrophilic airway inflammation. In addition, cytokine production was evaluated in co-cultures of hMSCs with either anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from asthmatic patients or cells of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B to assess the response to hMSC treatment. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Intramuscular Injection of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Cardiac Function in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Rats

Scientists aimed to investigate the effects of intramuscular injection of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on the cardiac function of a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) rat model. Injection of hUCMSCs markedly improved cardiac function in the DCM rats by significantly elevating left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Exosomes Promote Survival of Retinal Ganglion Cells through miRNA-Dependent Mechanisms

Investigators aimed to isolate exosomes from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) and test them in a rat optic nerve crush model. Treatment of primary retinal cultures with BMSC-exosomes demonstrated significant neuroprotective and neuritogenic effects. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

The Influence of Macrophages on Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy: Passive or Aggressive Agents?

The authors examine the evidence that suggests that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) not only respond to inflammatory macrophages and adjust their secretome accordingly, but also that macrophages respond to encounter with MSC, creating a feedback loop which contributes to the immune regulation observed following MSC therapy. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

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BrainStorm Announces Validation of NurOwn^® Cryopreservation Process

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has validated its cryopreservation process for NurOwn^® in preparation for the upcoming Phase III clinical study in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The validation involved a comparison of NurOwn^® derived from fresh mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to those derived from cryopreserved MSC. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Locate Therapeutics Deepens Development Collaboration with Heraeus Medical GmbH

Locate Therapeutics announced the deepening of a development collaboration with Heraeus Medical GmbH. The new deal focuses on the use of Locate’s “state of the art” TAOS^® scaffold technology, in new areas of orthopedic application. [Locate Therapeutics] Press Release

Meet the Scientists Affected by Trump’s Immigration Ban

Order barring citizens of seven countries from entering the United States has left many confused and afraid. Nature spoke to more than 20 researchers affected by the new policy, who described their feelings of fear, shock and determination. [Nature News] Editorial

Proposed U.S. Biotech Rules Raise Industry Hopes and Anxieties

Makers of genetically engineered products have long been on the lookout for changes in U.S. regulations. The system that divvies up the safety review of these products between the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Agriculture is in the middle of a years-long overhaul, in part to accommodate modern gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR. And a set of new proposals released last week offers hints about what those agencies still hope to change. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposium: Adaptations to Hypoxia in Physiology and Disease
March 5-9, 2017
Whistler, Canada

NEW Cord Blood World Europe 2017
May 17-18, 2017
London, United Kingdom

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NEW Postdoctoral Researchers – Regenerative, Modular & Developmental Engineering (National University of Ireland, Galway)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Proteomics & Bioinformatics (University of British Columbia)

NEW Faculty Positions – Bone Biology (Vanderbilt Department of Medicine)

Senior Scientist – Discovery Oncology (Genentech Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

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

Visiting Assistant Professor – Biology (Molecular or Cellular)

Principle Investigator – Mechanobiology Institute (University of Singapore)

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

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

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