Volume 5.06 | Feb 14

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induce Granulocytic Differentiation of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemic Cells via IL-6 and MEK/ERK Pathways
Researchers report that human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells are capable of inducing granulocytic differentiation of the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)-derived NB4 cell line as well as primary APL cells and also cooperate with all-trans retinoic acid in an additive manner. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract

Infusion of Megakaryocytic Progenitor Products Generated from Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells: Results of the Phase I Study
Megakaryocytic progenitor cells (MPs) were produced and characterized from cord blood mononuclear cells under a serum free medium with cytokines. Researchers investigated the feasibility of expansion and infusion of cord blood-derived MPs in 24 patients with advanced hematological malignancies. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Defining Incidence, Risk Factors, and Impact on Survival of Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Researchers conducted a retrospective study of all acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT), identifying both original and modified central line-associated blood stream infections incidence. The median age at transplantation was 52 years; 34 had a high HCT comorbidity index; 34 received bone marrow, 24 received peripheral stem cells, and 15 received umbilical cord blood cells. [Biol Bone Marrow Transpl] Abstract

Co-Transplantation of Third-Party Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived MSCs Promotes Engraftment in Children Undergoing Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
It has been postulated that MSCs have hematopoiesis-supportive properties. Therefore, to overcome the limitation of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), third-party UCB-derived MSCs were co-transplanted in recipients receiving unrelated UCBT. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Transplantation-Potential-Related Biological Properties of Decidua Basalis Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Maternal Human Term Placenta
Scientists obtained decidua-basalis-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DBMSCs) through enzymatic digestion and density gradient centrifugation and confirmed their capacity to differentiate into cell types of the mesodermal lineage, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. Karyotype analysis showed that the isolated DBMSCs maintained chromosomal stability after long-term culture in vitro. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract

The Plasma Levels of Soluble HLA-G Molecules Correlate Directly with CD34+ Cell Concentration and HLA-G 14bp Insertion/Insertion Polymorphism in Cord Blood Donors
The authors tried to identify the largest producer of soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA)-G among 85 healthy cord blood donors at Pavia Cord Blood Bank, correlating the sHLA-G concentration with the HLA-G 14bp insertion/deletion genotype and CD34⁺ cell concentration. [Blood Transf] Abstract

Regen BioPharma Files Investigational New Drug (IND) Application with FDA on HemaXellerate I™ Stem Cell Drug for Aplastic Anemia
Regen BioPharma, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc., announced filing of an IND application with the FDA to initiate clinical trials assessing the company’s HemaXellerate I™ stem cell drug in patients with drug-refractory aplastic anemia. [Marketwire] Press Release

STEMSOFT and The Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Group Announce Partnership
The Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Group is pleased to announce a partnership with STEMSOFT Software Inc. (STEMSOFT) that will result in a national registry of patients who have undergone blood and marrow transplant in Canada. [STEMSOFT Software Inc.] Press Release

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW Clinical Translation of Stem Cells 2013
April 22-23, 2013
Palm Springs, United States

NEW Stem Cells & Cell Therapy Summit
September 5-6, 2013
London, United Kingdom

View our events page to see a complete list of events in the cord blood community.

Postdoctoral Fellow (Mount Sinai Medical Center)

Early Stage Researcher PhD Posts – DECIDE ITN (The University of Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Position – mRNA Processing & Gene Expression in Stem Cells (University of California, Irvine)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Regulation in the Hematopoietic and Immune Systems (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow (University of Michigan)


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