Mesenchymal Cell News Volume 9.07 | Feb 21 2017

TOP STORY

Repeated Doses of Cardiac Mesenchymal Cells Are Therapeutically Superior to a Single Dose in Mice with Old Myocardial Infarction

Scientists have recently demonstrated that repeated administrations of c-kit^POS cardiac progenitor cells have cumulative beneficial effects in rats with old myocardial infarction (MI), resulting in markedly greater improvement in left ventricular function compared with a single administration. To determine whether this paradigm applies to other species and cell types, mice with a 3-week-old MI received one or three doses of cardiac mesenchymal cells, a novel cell type that the authors have recently described. [Basic Res Cardiol] Abstract

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IN VITRO

Effects of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Co-Culture on Calcium-Induced Differentiation of Normal Human Keratinocytes

Researchers co-cultured umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with normal human epidermal keratinocytes to evaluate their paracrine effect in the presence of high extracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) concentration. They found that MSCs suppress both proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes under a high Ca²⁺ environment in TGFβ1-dependent manner. [Stem Cells] Abstract

25-Hydroxyvitamin D₃ Induces Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The authors investigated the effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ [25(OH)D₃] on osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. They also studied the effect of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, a metabolite of 25(OH)D₃. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Effects of miR-146a on the Osteogenesis of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Bone Regeneration

Investigators aimed to identify specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in rat adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells during bone morphogenetic protein 2-induced osteogenesis. They selected the most significantly down-regulated miRNA, miR-146a, to systematically investigate its role in regulating osteogenesis and bone regeneration. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Differential Autophagy Dependent Response to DNA-Double Strand Brakes in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Sporadic ALS Patients

Scientists demonstrated that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) are a useful patient based model to study intrinsic cell molecular mechanisms of the disease. They investigated the ALS-hMSC response to oxidative DNA damage exerted by neocarzinostatin-mediated DNA double-strand breaks. They found that the ALS-hMSC responded to this stress differently than cells from healthy controls. [Dis Model Mech] Full Article

MMP-2 and MMP-14 Silencing Inhibits VEGFR2 Cleavage and Induces the Differentiation of Porcine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Endothelial Cells

Investigators studied the expression of matrix metalloproteinases during the differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to endothelial cells in vitro. MSCs were isolated from porcine abdominal adipose tissue, and characterized by immunopositivity to CD44, CD90, CD105, and immunonegativity to CD14 and CD45. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Characterization of Tunneling Nanotubes in Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells. An Intercellular Exchange of Components between Neighboring Cells

Scientists report an extensive and detailed description of types, structure, components, dynamics and functionality of the tunneling nanotubes bridging neighboring human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells obtained from Wharton’s jelly. Characterization studies were carried out through phase contrast, fluorescence, electron microscopy and time lapse images with the aim of describing cells suitable for an eventual regenerative medicine. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

IN VIVO

Mechanical Loading Improves Tendon-Bone Healing in a Rabbit Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Model by Promoting Proliferation and Matrix Formation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Tendon Cells

Researchers investigated the effect of mechanical stress on tendon-bone healing in a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction model as well as cell proliferation and matrix formation in co-culture of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells and tendon cells. Postoperative continuous passive motion therapy significantly enhanced tendon-bone healing. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Japanese Encephalitis Virus-Induced Neuroinflammation and Mortality

In vivo, eight- to ten-week-old mice were infected intraperitoneally with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and syngeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were administered through the caudal vein post-infection. MSC treatment reduced JEV-induced mortality and improved the recovery from Japanese encephalitis in the mouse model. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Extracellular Vesicles from Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Survival from Lethal Hepatic Failure in Mice

Therapeutic effects of bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and vesicles released by these cells were examined in a lethal murine model of hepatic failure induced by d-galactosamine/tumor necrosis factor-α. Systemically administered extracellular vesicles derived from MSC accumulated within the injured liver following systemic administration, reduced hepatic injury, and modulated cytokine expression. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Interactions between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and the Immune System

The authors discuss current findings regarding the interplay between mesenchymal stem cells and different immune cell subsets. They also draw attention to the mechanisms involved. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

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

Durable Responses and Sustained Low Disease Activity over Nine Months after a Single Dose of Mesoblast Cell Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Resistant to Anti-TNF Agents

Mesoblast Limited announced 39-week data from its Phase II trial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis resistant to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. The results showed that a single intravenous infusion of the company’s proprietary allogeneic cell therapy product candidate, MPC-300- IV, was well tolerated and demonstrated a durable improvement in clinical symptoms, physical function, and disease activity relative to placebo over this period of follow-up. [Mesoblast Limited] Press Release

Vericel Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Ixmyelocel-T, an Investigational Product for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Heart Failure Due to Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Vericel Corporation announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated the investigation of ixmyelocel-T for reduction in the risk of death and cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with chronic advanced heart failure due to ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy as a Fast Track Development Program. [Vericel Corporation] Press Release

Delay in Hiring Science Advisers Intensifies Brexit Worries

Policy experts want scientists to be at the table when government decides on environmental protection and membership of international collaborations. [Nature News] Editorial

Why the CRISPR Patent Verdict Isn’t the End of the Story

The US Patent and Trademark Office issued a key verdict this week in the battle over the intellectual property rights to the potentially lucrative gene-editing technique CRISPR–Cas9. But the fight for patent rights to CRISPR technology is by no means over. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)
May 10-13, 2017
Washington, DC, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Biomaterials (University of Minnesota)

NEW Assistant and Associate Professors – Regenerative & Cancer Cell Biology (Albany Medical College)

Associate/Assistant Professor(s) – Biomedical Sciences (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Faculty Position – Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Seattle Children’s Research Institute)

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

Faculty Positions – Bone Biology (Vanderbilt Department of Medicine)

Senior Scientist – Discovery Oncology (Genentech Research)

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

Visiting Assistant Professor – Biology (Molecular or Cellular)

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

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