Volume 7.10 | Mar 19 - Cord Blood News

Cord Blood News 7.10 March 19, 2015

TOP STORY

Enforced Fucosylation of Cord Blood Hematopoietic Cells Accelerates Neutrophil and Platelet Engraftment after Transplantation
Delayed engraftment is a major limitation of cord blood (CB) transplantation, due in part to a defect in the CB cells’ ability to home to the bone marrow. Because this defect appears related to low levels of fucosylation of cell surface molecules that are responsible for binding to P- and E-selectins constitutively expressed by the marrow microvasculature, and thus for marrow homing, the authors conducted a first-in-humans clinical trial to correct this deficiency. [Blood] Abstract

SmartDish™ with STEMgrid™-6 for Accurate Counting of Hematopoietic CFU Assays

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Peculiar Molecular Profile of Umbilical Cord-Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Drives Their Inhibitory Effects on Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth and Tumor Progression
Investigators explored whether mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from sources other than bone marrow, such as adipose tissue and umbilical cord, affect multiple myeloma cell growth in comparison to either normal or myelomatous marrow MSCs. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Detecting Primitive Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Total Nucleated and Mononuclear Cell Fractions from Umbilical Cord Blood Segments and Units
63 umbilical cord blood (UCB) segments and ten UCB units plus segments were analyzed for the response of both primitive lympho-hematopoietic and primitive hematopoietic stem cells in both the total nucleated cell and mononuclear cell fractions. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article

Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mononuclear Cells Exhibit Pericyte-Like Phenotype and Support Network Formation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells In Vitro
Researchers identified a population of highly proliferative mononuclear cells that phenotypically resembled human vascular pericytes as assessed by expression of PDGFR-β, NG2, α-SMA, and ephrin-B2. [Ann Biomed Eng] Abstract

Preclinical Characterization of DUOC-01, a Cell Therapy Product Derived from Banked Umbilical Cord Blood for Use as an Adjuvant to Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Treatment of Inherited Metabolic Diseases
Scientists developed the cell product DUOC-01 to provide therapeutic effects in the early post-transplant period. DUOC-01 cultures initiated from banked cord blood units were characterized by use of time-lapse photomicroscopy during the 21-day manufacturing process. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells Demonstrate Limited Cardiac Differentiation following Small Molecule-Based Modulation of Wnt Signaling Pathway
Investigators tested a small molecule-based modulation of Wnt signaling for directed cardiac differentiation of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells. Cells were treated with inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3 and Wnt production and secretion in a time-dependent and sequential manner, as has been demonstrated successful for cardiac differentiation of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. [Biomed Mater] Abstract

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Human Immune System Reconstitution in NSG Mice and NSG Mice Containing a Human HLA.A2 Transgene Using Hematopoietic Stem Cells Purified from Different Sources
In an effort to develop a better mouse model for human infectious pathogen infection and possible immune resolution, investigators compared the human immune system reconstitution of NOD/SCID/IL2rγ^null (NSG) mice following injection with human CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem cells purified from either fetal liver or umbilical cord blood. [J Immunol Methods] Abstract

Overexpression of COX-2 but Not Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 Enhances the Immunosuppressive Ability of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
To strengthen the immunomodulatory ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were overexpressed in umbilical cord progenitor cell-derived MSCs using recombinant plasmids and electroporation. [Int J Mol Med] Abstract

Effects of Hypoxia on Proliferation of Human Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Investigators examined the influence of hypoxia on proliferation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The mononuclear cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation from human umbilical cord blood and then, respectively, cultured under hypoxia or normoxia. [Cytotechnology] Abstract

Get More of the Cells You Need with StemSpan™ Myeloid Expansion Supplement and StemSpan™ SFEM

REVIEWS

Fetal Endothelial and Mesenchymal Progenitors from the Human Term Placenta: Potency and Clinical Potential
The authors highlight the importance of fetal microchimerism to the field of fetal stem cell biology and issues of maternal contamination from perinatal tissues and discuss specific isolation strategies to overcome these translational obstacles. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Improving the Outcome of Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation through Ex Vivo Expansion or Graft Manipulation
Relatively low lymphocyte and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell dose is a source of significant morbidity and mortality. Multiple strategies are now being studied to overcome these limitations. One strategy involves ex vivo expansion of the umbilical cord blood unit before transplantation. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field.

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine Enters into Memorandum of Understanding with Japan’s Forum for Innovative Regenerative Medicine
The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine announced it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s Forum for Innovative Regenerative Medicine, effective immediately. [The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

VAXIL Receives EU Orphan Drug Designation for ImMucin for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
Vaxil Bio reports that its lead drug candidate, ImMucin has received orphan drug designation from the European Medicines Agency of the European Commission for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma. [Vaxil Bio Ltd.] Press Release

New wallchart from our sponsor:
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (a Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology collaboration).Request your free copy.

POLICY NEWS

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)

EVENTS

NEW Stem Cells: From Basic Research to Bioprocessing
June 9-11, 2015
London, United Kingdom

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW Research Associate – Hematopoietic and Leukemic Stem Cells (Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine)

Principal Scientist – Hematopoietic Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Scientist – Cell Signaling in Normal and Leukemic Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells (Indiana University)

Manufacturing Manager – Cell Therapy (Opexa Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Leukemia Research and Stem Cell Biology (Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute)

PhD Studentship – Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Queensland University of Technology)

Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

Director – Vector Production (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

PhD Studentships – Expansion of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells (University College London)

Cord Tissue Processing Technician (Cord Blood Registry)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cord Blood News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here

Learn more about Cord Blood News: Archives | Events | Contact Us